Four Pitt students are taking what they’ve been learning in the classroom and broadcasting it.

KDKA Radio and the university are collaborating on the “KDKA Next Take” news show.

The slot runs from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Friday.

Senior Jaime Ely, junior Margaux Rentzel and freshman Ryan Tarabokia will be on air. Senior Dylan Foster is the producer.

“The biggest challenge has been handling a full school course load and writing stories and recording them for the show,” Ely said. “To be on the first commercial radio station in the U.S. and to be the first to do this is special.”

The idea was the brainchild of Michael Spacciapolli, vice president and market manager of Audacy, which owns KDKA Radio.

“The time was right, the people are right and I am excited to see it only grow from here,” Spacciapolli said in a statement. “This show will bring a fresh look at local news from the perspective of the next generation, which is so crucial in 2024 and beyond.”

The show comes under the broadcast curriculum of Pitt’s Kevin Michael Smith.

“The students understand that this opportunity comes with credibility,” said Smith, a teaching professor and director of undergraduate studies in broadcast in Film & Media Studies. “KDKA is the most famous radio station in the country.”

The decision to have three people as on-air talent was to allow for flexibility with school exams or other commitments. Senior members will be replaced when the following school year begins.

On the first shows, they discussed food, sports, mental health, thrift shopping, ride-sharing, Black-owned businesses and the game of corn hole.

Because of the time slot and learning curve, shows are being pre-recorded in Pitt’s media lab. Students will receive credits.

“It is surreal,” said Rentzel, of York. “It will definitely take some time to get comfortable with everything. You can’t replicate this experience in a classroom. We are hands-on and you can’t put a price on what that’s worth.”

Tarabokia said if someone would have told him he would be on KDKA Radio his freshman year, he would not have believed them.

“We are all so blessed,” Tarabokia said. “I am learning so much. I agree with Margaux, this is surreal. They are long days. We have had some technical issues, but we are working through those. We have a wonderful producer (Dylan Foster ) who is a great problem-solver.”

Smith said Foster, of DuBois, is versatile. Foster said in his portfolio the moment he got his hands on a camera, he started visualizing the worlds he could create through its lens.

“They are a mature group and each brings a unique talent to the show,” said Smith, who believes this could be a first for college students to be on a professional station for a regular time slot. “They can’t just say anything they want on the radio. They have to do their research and it has to be fact-based.”

Ely is majoring in communication with a certificate in television and broadcast journalism. She has been an anchor, news director, political reporter, city beat reporter, and producer for “Pitt to the Point,” Pitt’s first hour-long news broadcast. She has also worked for The Pitt News.

“I have loved storytelling since I was a young girl,” said Ely, of Lancaster. “Stories have the power to bring together people and communities, and that is the aspect with which I have built my love of broadcasting around.”

Tarabokia is a communications major studying broadcasting. The New Jersey native has worked in broadcasting since high school. He is inspired by sports teams such as the New York Mets, New York Knicks and Pittsburgh Steelers. He has also done work for Pitt’s radio station.

Rentzel interned at the Luminari summer camp for high school students from the U.S. to participate in a curriculum that focuses on leadership, diplomacy, music, and cooking. Rentzel interviewed Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova.

“Being around so many journalists who work so hard motivates us,” Rentzel said. “It takes a lot of effort but we know this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

The show’s executive producer will be KDKA Radio’s Amy Mauk.

“They can learn so much from her,” Smith said. “I have no doubt this will be insanely successful. They are representing the voices of their peers so they all can be heard.”

A link to “Next Take” can be found here.

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