KAITLIN SCHLUTER | arts & culture editor
You tune the radio to 104.7 FM and you’re soothed to a state of consciousness with the help of “Hotel California” by the Eagles. Within minutes, the song changes and Frank Sinatra croons your way to the closet while the APU UCO Choir interrupts as you don a V-neck.
No, your radio isn’t suffering from schizophrenia; it’s tuned to KAPU’s latest morning show.
Starting last October, Faculty Advisor of KAPU Phil Reed entered the on-campus station to broadcast a show of his liking, featuring a range of music that strays from the usual Jimmy Eat World and Death Cab for Cutie.
“I have to be careful, some of it doesn’t even work together so I have to play something in between,” said Reed.
The music is mainly big band, from the ’40s and ’50s but the soundtrack of What Women Want may also find its way to your ears that feature Christina Aguilera and The Temptations. Most of the music comes from Reed’s own glove compartment.
Reed was a newscaster for 32 years before becoming a professor of speech and mass communications at Point Loma Nazarene University. He later arrived at APU to take over the student radio program and continue to teach. Now he balances the act of being in the realm of media and in the pulpit. Reed is a pastor at Monrovia Church of the Nazarene.
Reed admits that he’s tired, making sure to repeat the word three times but is excited to see where the show goes. Since first semester, the three-hour segment has developed into a show that breathes variety.
“We turned the face KAPU presents all the way around to the other side,” Reed said. “We are not trying to enhance the station’s reputation as much as we are trying to be aids to your starting the day off as a Christian on a spiritual foot that will bring you closer to God.”
The show is divided into three segments that reflect a different tone in each hour. In the 6-7 a.m. hour, the focus is on God with devotions and worship music. From 7-8 a.m. the theme changes to news, opinion, commentary and ‘kickers’, which include humorous news. In the last hour of 8-9 a.m., various issues are discussed followed by a question and answer time. The show recently discussed the necessity of the fairness doctrine.
Joining him daily in the studio is his daughter, APU alum communications major Charmaine Reed who hosted a few shows in her time at APU. The father-daughter duo provides great insight and balance.
“Charmaine is sharp-witted, [has] very fast replies, and is known to give me grief and say afterwards ‘oh daddy I love you’ so I thought this is not a bad foundation for a partnership,” P. Reed said.
According to Charmaine, her dad tends to deal with the serious news while she takes on the sillier stories. For both, it’s an experience.
“It’s a really unique and special opportunity which I think we’re both enjoying, so I hope it’s worth it to him because it’s worth it to me,” C. Reed said.
Coming up later this semester, guests Vice Provost for Undergraduate Programs and professor Diane Guido and print journalist Jim Willis will be interviewed on the show. Other topics to be expected include academic integrity and Professor of Theology C. P. Haggard School of Theology Don Thorsen’s book Evangelicals are not all.
After Feb. 26, four students from Reed’s radio workshop will be teaming up to host their own shows. Austin Cross, general manager of KAPU and junior music major assures the personalities will be dynamic.
“It’s going to be an energetic show it’s going to have some comedy it’s going to have personality,” Cross said. “Overall it’s going to be the type of show that will be used to say ‘I want my show to be like this’. It’s the type of show where you can learn a lot from their technique.”
Cross also encourages students to join the DJ team this semester where they will host their own one-hour show. No experience is necessary and the individual may discuss a topic of their choice, ranging from comedy to news.
The morning show broadcasts Monday through Friday on the 104.7 fm channel from 6-9 a.m. as well as online. The station now accepts callers to comment on issues of the day by dialing 1-866-980-KAPU. To look into being a DJ with KAPU, contact the station by emailing kapudj@gmail.com.
