The award was accepted by KALX music director Lawrence Kay Feb. 15 at a ceremony in New Orleans. Launched in the early '60s by Berkeley engineering students, the station, 90.7 FM, located in the basement of Barrows Hall, has grown to become a leading influence in college radio. In college radio, DJs choose the music they play, a freedom not available at commercial stations. The result at KALX is a programming philosophy based on diversity. Kay sees this view as central to KALX's role.
College stations are educational.
We institutionalize change and experimentation. Some 250 volunteers including students, alumni and community members donate their time to put KALX on the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Each day features a minimum of two half-hour talk programs discussing campus and local issues. Other offerings include gay and lesbian programming and shows focusing on women's issues. KALX sports offers play by play coverage of Cal games.