WRTE
Encyclopedia
WRTE is a radio station
broadcasting a Spanish bilingual Variety and community format. Licensed to Chicago, Illinois, USA, the station serves the Chicago area and some nearby suburbs such as Cicero, Berwyn, Stickney and nearby areas. The station is currently owned by National Museum of Mexican Art.
The station is centered in the heart of the predominantly Latino neighborhoods of Pilsen and Little Village which is home to the second largest Mexican community in the United States (outside of Los Angeles) but it is heard throughout Chicago and its suburbs, and worldwide through its website. Currently the station has a multi layered Latino community format geared at youth ages 13-34 with a focus on the variety of Latino culture, and also with a sense of keeping the community informed on various relevant topics. Its music programming is multilayered such as the Latin Alternative format M-f midnight-6pm, a youth produced community affairs block M-F at 6pm and variety programming (Mon-Fri 7pm-midnight). Most programs are produced by graduates of the "Radio Arte Training Program" whose goal is to train aspiring youth in communications.
WRTE originally signed on as WCYC with licensee, Boys and girls Club of Chicago. The Boys (and girls) Club sold the radio station to the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum (Now National Museum Of Mexican Art) in 1997, renaming the station WRTE. The Museum has since relocated studios to 1401 W 18th St (corner of 18th Street, Blue Island Avenue
, and Loomis Street); WRTE's tower and transmitter are still located at the Boys and Girls Club located at 2801 S. Ridgeway in Chicago. The actual transmitter is inside what was once the historic WCYC studio. Aside from the forementioned programming, the station also serves as a community liaison between the National Museum Of Mexican Art and local communities. Radio Arte is non for profit and offers many free training programs in media for youth, it depends on community support and takes donations at www.wrte.org by clicking on support. Til this day people drive around the area just to hear its programming which was awarded the local prestigious "2008 Studs Turkel" award for diversity in its programming, in addition to the "Coming up taller award" earlier in the decade. As of January 2009 the station is also available in HD1 and has a second channel at
90.5-2 HD2 "Radio Arte Dos" with a Spanish retro format geared at adults 25-54 with hosts that have completed its adult training course. Aside from being picked up on HD2 on an HD Radio in the area, Radio Arte Dos also can be heard through the station website. As of August 2009 the main signal is simulcast to NW Indiana on 89.5-2 HD2 which is WBEW's second HD Channel. In recent years the station has undergone many hardships including erratic staff changes, fundraising challenges and more. As of March 2010 the granting of a license by the FCC to 90.5FM WRTW in Crown Point Indiana has significantly affected the coverage of 90.5FM WRTE by close to 50%. As of Spring 2011 the frequency was put up for sale along with the building it is housed in due to financial hardship with little success. Months later (as reported by various Chicago media blogs) the station's programming director and technical director position was eliminated.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
broadcasting a Spanish bilingual Variety and community format. Licensed to Chicago, Illinois, USA, the station serves the Chicago area and some nearby suburbs such as Cicero, Berwyn, Stickney and nearby areas. The station is currently owned by National Museum of Mexican Art.
The station is centered in the heart of the predominantly Latino neighborhoods of Pilsen and Little Village which is home to the second largest Mexican community in the United States (outside of Los Angeles) but it is heard throughout Chicago and its suburbs, and worldwide through its website. Currently the station has a multi layered Latino community format geared at youth ages 13-34 with a focus on the variety of Latino culture, and also with a sense of keeping the community informed on various relevant topics. Its music programming is multilayered such as the Latin Alternative format M-f midnight-6pm, a youth produced community affairs block M-F at 6pm and variety programming (Mon-Fri 7pm-midnight). Most programs are produced by graduates of the "Radio Arte Training Program" whose goal is to train aspiring youth in communications.
WRTE originally signed on as WCYC with licensee, Boys and girls Club of Chicago. The Boys (and girls) Club sold the radio station to the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum (Now National Museum Of Mexican Art) in 1997, renaming the station WRTE. The Museum has since relocated studios to 1401 W 18th St (corner of 18th Street, Blue Island Avenue
Blue Island Avenue
Blue Island Avenue is a diagonal street in the city of Chicago, Illinois that once led to a ridge of land that early pioneers gave the name "Blue Island" because at a distance it looked like an island in the prairie. The blue color was attributed to atmospheric scattering or to blue flowers growing...
, and Loomis Street); WRTE's tower and transmitter are still located at the Boys and Girls Club located at 2801 S. Ridgeway in Chicago. The actual transmitter is inside what was once the historic WCYC studio. Aside from the forementioned programming, the station also serves as a community liaison between the National Museum Of Mexican Art and local communities. Radio Arte is non for profit and offers many free training programs in media for youth, it depends on community support and takes donations at www.wrte.org by clicking on support. Til this day people drive around the area just to hear its programming which was awarded the local prestigious "2008 Studs Turkel" award for diversity in its programming, in addition to the "Coming up taller award" earlier in the decade. As of January 2009 the station is also available in HD1 and has a second channel at
90.5-2 HD2 "Radio Arte Dos" with a Spanish retro format geared at adults 25-54 with hosts that have completed its adult training course. Aside from being picked up on HD2 on an HD Radio in the area, Radio Arte Dos also can be heard through the station website. As of August 2009 the main signal is simulcast to NW Indiana on 89.5-2 HD2 which is WBEW's second HD Channel. In recent years the station has undergone many hardships including erratic staff changes, fundraising challenges and more. As of March 2010 the granting of a license by the FCC to 90.5FM WRTW in Crown Point Indiana has significantly affected the coverage of 90.5FM WRTE by close to 50%. As of Spring 2011 the frequency was put up for sale along with the building it is housed in due to financial hardship with little success. Months later (as reported by various Chicago media blogs) the station's programming director and technical director position was eliminated.