# WNYT (internet radio)

WNYT was the college radio station for the New York Institute of Technology. It was closed down at the end of the Spring 2023 semester after the Communication Arts program was discontinued. WNYT began and remained a completely student-run station with a faculty advisor.

## History

Located on the Old Westbury campus of New York Institute of Technology, WNYT Radio was formed in 1964 as a student organization, launching in 1965. It expanded from 10 to 20 hours' programming per day in 1966. WNYT also operated as a separate closed-circuit station at the college's New York City campus when it was located at 888 7th avenue in Manhattan in the early to mid-1970s. It was entirely student operated and featured a rock format.
With the lack of available frequency allocations in the area, WNYT went through an array of changes through the years in its broadcasting mediums — carrier current, closed circuit, the background music for Cablevision’s on-screen program guide, and most recently, Internet streaming audio. In addition changes have occurred in the programming formats WNYT has relied upon, from all rock music to its current open format.
Starting in 2012, WNYT Radio began broadcasting NYIT Bears sports on their station, bringing it to a larger audience.
WNYT Radio served as a springboard for many media careers, with its members going on to become prominent members the New York media market. It was one of the few college radio stations on Long Island, or the greater metropolitan area, entirely run by its students, and was therefore the voice of students con campus throughout its lifespan.
Many WNYT shows, including the political talk show Elephant Bangs Donkey, Entenmann's and M 80s, Sound System, The Verk and Santro Show, 5 - 7 Alternative, The Dream team and The Extreme Metal Show, received a large amount of interest and praise from record labels and bands in the Long Island area.

## Closure

At the end of the Spring 2023 semester, NYIT discontinued its Communication Arts program and closed down WNYT. A Sunset Gala was held at The DeSeversky Mansion to celebrate the program, the station and the people.

## Noteworthy WNYT alumni

* Alan Statsky '72, producer and news writer, NBC-TV, WCBS-TV, WOR-TV
* Bryan Jackson '73, Press Officer to Governor Mario Cuomo, Owner WCDA-FM (Albany, New York)
* Carol Silva '76, former anchor News12 Long Island
* Jim Douglas '82, former morning personality, WKJY
* Donna Vaughan '86,'87, former news director, WALK-FM
* Tracy Burgess '88, news editor, “Imus in the Morning”
* Dennis Falcone '79, nationally syndicated program producer, Premiere Radio Networks, regular on the Opie and Anthony Show, and regularly appears on Opie with Jim Norton and owner of his own entertainment company, www.dennisfalcone.com .
* Maria Milito '83, mid-day air personality, WAXQ
* Don Faithfull '80, engineer, WABC-TV
* Scotty Hart '92, former air personality, WLNG and currently at Big 98.1.
* Frank DiMaulo '87, audio engineer and editor, As the World Turns
* Steve Singer '79, audio engineer; NBC;
* John Caracciolo, vice president and general manager of The Morey Organization's radio group, founder of JVC Broadcasting
* Tom Mortensen, morning show producer, WDRE
* Mark Alan Biggs International broadcaster. Died on September 20, 2010.
* Peter K Fallon, '76 (BA), 80 (MFA), News Editor for NBC News' Today Show (1982–99), Professor of Journalism, award-winning author.
* Bruce Perens, while at Pixar was credited on Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life, co-founded the Open Source movement in software.
* Mark Rosenman Host, Producer WLIE 540am SPORTSTALKNY, Sports Author
* Matt Craig '80 Formerly of WGLI-AM and WNYG-AM Babylon, NY and WEBE 108 Bridgeport, CT. He also produces and hosts an internet radio show New York's Best Rock, now on 31 different internet stations. In addition, Matt hosts a hobby site documenting his collection of radio audio, www.bigappleairchecks.com.
* John Albertson’ 87 Photo Journalist: News 12 Long Island, NY 1987–88, WNHT Concord, NH 1988–89, DP freelance New York, NY 1989–2004, WNBC New York 2004
* Dan Moore '06, engineer, air personality, WLNG