PuLSEfm
Encyclopedia
Pulse! Radio is the official radio station of the London School of Economics and Political Science Students' Union. Its studios are located within the East Building at the School's Houghton Street campus in Westminster
, London and it broadcasts online through the Pulse Player, as well as across campus in the Students' Union.
Pulse forms part of the LSESU Media Group alongside The Beaver
newspaper, Clare Market Review
and LooSE TV.
The station is managed by an elected Executive Committee, which is a subsidiary of the Union, and is headed by the Station Manager. It is staffed by student volunteers who act as Disc jockeys, technician
s, and producers, and is funded by the LSESU, advertising revenue, and donations.
The station broadcasts in three slots from October to December January to March and April to June each year, with vacations in between the School's Michaelmas
, Lent
and Summer Terms. Overnight and during these vacations, the station broadcasts a pre-set playlist which is adapted each week.
campus. Alongside live programming Pulse also produces a number of podcasts during the year.
Membership consists of over 50 DJs playing a mix of mainstream and specialist music, as well as several dozen other students in the areas of promotions and advertising, broadcast journalism, technical, production and programming. In September 2005 Pulse was awarded the ‘Student Website of the Year’ at the Guardian Student Media Awards 2005.
Starting in 2006, Pulse headed the LSE SU RAG Week with a 118 hour-long live broadcastathon, and along with LooSE TV organised the live broadcasting of the LSE SU election results. This has repeated every year since. The LSE SU Media Group Awards take place in the summer term, jointly organised with the other members of the LSE SU Media Group.
In 2008, Pulse became the first British student radio station to offer a 'listen again' service available through the station's website. Programmes from the past five days are stored online through the 'Pulse Player' at Houghton Street Factual.
During regular broadcast hours, content consists of DJ shows, news, topical shows, interviews and live performances. In the past Pulse has conducted interviews with José Manuel Durão Barroso
(President of the European Commission), Jacqui Smith
(UK Home Secretary), John Edwards
(2004 Democratic US Vice-Presidential Candidate), Clare Short
(UK MP), Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
(former French President), Kim Campbell
(former Canada PM), Jon Snow
(Channel 4 Newsreader), Alan Fletcher
(Dr Karl Kennedy in the soap Neighbours) and Levi Roots
amongst others.
Outside of the regular programming times, Pulse broadcasts playlists compiled by the Head of Music and Head of Programming of the station.
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
, London and it broadcasts online through the Pulse Player, as well as across campus in the Students' Union.
Pulse forms part of the LSESU Media Group alongside The Beaver
The Beaver
The Beaver is the weekly newspaper of the London School of Economics Students' Union at the LSE.Despite being published by the Students' Union, The Beaver is independent in its reporting....
newspaper, Clare Market Review
Clare Market Review
The Clare Market Review was established in 1905 and is the oldest student-run journal in the UK. It is based at the London School of Economics and published by the university's Students' Union.- Notable contributors :...
and LooSE TV.
The station is managed by an elected Executive Committee, which is a subsidiary of the Union, and is headed by the Station Manager. It is staffed by student volunteers who act as Disc jockeys, technician
Technician
A technician is a worker in a field of technology who is proficient in the relevant skills and techniques, with a relatively practical understanding of the theoretical principles. Experienced technicians in a specific tool domain typically have intermediate understanding of theory and expert...
s, and producers, and is funded by the LSESU, advertising revenue, and donations.
The station broadcasts in three slots from October to December January to March and April to June each year, with vacations in between the School's Michaelmas
Michaelmas term
Michaelmas term is the first academic term of the academic years of the following British and Irish universities:*University of Cambridge*University of Oxford*University of St...
, Lent
Lent term
Lent term is the name of the spring academic term at the following British universities:*University of Cambridge*Kings College London*London School of Economics and Political Science*Exeter University*University of Lancaster...
and Summer Terms. Overnight and during these vacations, the station broadcasts a pre-set playlist which is adapted each week.
History
Pulse began broadcasting on 1 February 1999. For the first few years Pulse broadcast for four week periods on an FM Restricted Service License. Currently the station broadcasts a live stream over the internet and around the London School of EconomicsLondon School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
campus. Alongside live programming Pulse also produces a number of podcasts during the year.
Membership consists of over 50 DJs playing a mix of mainstream and specialist music, as well as several dozen other students in the areas of promotions and advertising, broadcast journalism, technical, production and programming. In September 2005 Pulse was awarded the ‘Student Website of the Year’ at the Guardian Student Media Awards 2005.
Starting in 2006, Pulse headed the LSE SU RAG Week with a 118 hour-long live broadcastathon, and along with LooSE TV organised the live broadcasting of the LSE SU election results. This has repeated every year since. The LSE SU Media Group Awards take place in the summer term, jointly organised with the other members of the LSE SU Media Group.
In 2008, Pulse became the first British student radio station to offer a 'listen again' service available through the station's website. Programmes from the past five days are stored online through the 'Pulse Player' at Houghton Street Factual.
Output
In term time Pulse broadcasts live on campus to students every weekday. Additionally, Pulse broadcasts continually online at www.pulse.dj.During regular broadcast hours, content consists of DJ shows, news, topical shows, interviews and live performances. In the past Pulse has conducted interviews with José Manuel Durão Barroso
José Manuel Durão Barroso
José Manuel Durão Barroso is a Portuguese politician. He is President of the European Commission, since 23 November 2004. He served as Prime Minister of Portugal from 6 April 2002 to 17 July 2004.-Academic career:...
(President of the European Commission), Jacqui Smith
Jacqui Smith
Jacqueline Jill "Jacqui" Smith is a member of the British Labour Party. She served as the Member of Parliament for Redditch from 1997 until 2010 and was the first ever female Home Secretary, thus making her the third woman to hold one of the Great Offices of State — after Margaret Thatcher and...
(UK Home Secretary), John Edwards
John Edwards
Johnny Reid "John" Edwards is an American politician, who served as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina. He was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2004, and was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008.He defeated incumbent Republican Lauch Faircloth in...
(2004 Democratic US Vice-Presidential Candidate), Clare Short
Clare Short
Clare Short is a British politician, and a member of the Labour Party. She was the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Ladywood from 1983 to 2010; for most of this period she was a Labour Party MP, but she resigned the party whip in 2006 and served the remainder of her term as an Independent. She...
(UK MP), Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry Marie René Georges Giscard d'Estaing is a French centre-right politician who was President of the French Republic from 1974 until 1981...
(former French President), Kim Campbell
Kim Campbell
Avril Phædra Douglas "Kim" Campbell, is a Canadian politician, lawyer, university professor, diplomat, and writer. She served as the 19th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 25, 1993, to November 4, 1993...
(former Canada PM), Jon Snow
Jon Snow
Jon Snow is an English journalist and presenter, currently employed by ITN. He is best known for presenting Channel 4 News.He was Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University from 2001 to 2008.-Early life:...
(Channel 4 Newsreader), Alan Fletcher
Alan Fletcher
Alan Fletcher is an Australian actor and musician, best known for his role as Karl Kennedy in long-running soap opera Neighbours. Fletcher was educated at Wesley College, Perth.-Career:...
(Dr Karl Kennedy in the soap Neighbours) and Levi Roots
Levi Roots
Keith Valentine Graham , better known as Levi Roots, is a British-Jamaican reggae musician, television personality, celebrity chef, businessman and multi-millionaire currently residing in Brixton, South London.-Music:...
amongst others.
Outside of the regular programming times, Pulse broadcasts playlists compiled by the Head of Music and Head of Programming of the station.
Alumni in the media
- Former Station Manager, Stacy-Marie Ishmael is now a reporter for the FT and the Editor of FT Tilt.
- Former Technical Manager, Phil Hutchinson is now a BBC Studio Manager working at 5Live and the World Service.
- Former Programme Controller, Alex Baker is now a presenter for GaydarRadio
- Former Deputy Station Manager, Al Smith, is a producer at Global Radio and has presented shows on Xfm
Pulse in the media
- Top Ten Student Website 2007 from mediacircus http://www.jointhemediacircus.co.uk/mediacircus/2007/06/student-website.html
- Student website of the year from educationguardian.co.uk http://education.guardian.co.uk/students/news/story/0,,1636154,00.html
- Student audio site scoops Guardian award from journalism.co.uk http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story1593.shtml