Advanced broadcasting students visited US99 and WBBM radio stations November  7 to engage in a guided tour and get a first-hand look at the Chicago radio industry.

The field trip began at the Prudential Building with a tour of US99, a popular country music station in Chicago.

“We met with the morning host, Melissa McGurren, and she took us in the station and introduced us to the rest of her team,” says broadcasting teacher Ms. Susan Carlson.  

The students were able  to observe  their day-to-day work life, which includes  preparation before even arriving at the studio. 

“I have much more respect because one of the guys said he wakes up about 2:30 in the morning to get ready for work,” senior Evie DiFilippo says. 

After waking up very early,  they explained to the students the many tasks they accomplish.

“All the things that they go through to create different show bits, how they produce things, how some things are pre-taped in advance, and some things they do live, and she showed all the equipment,” Carlson says. 

The students then toured one of the oldest stations in Chicago, WBBM News Radio, which is owned by CBS.

”There we met with the morning anchor, Cisco Cotto, and he pretty much did the same. He took everybody through what he goes through on a daily basis,” says Carlson,

Before leaving, they visited the Audacy Radio stage, where many famous singers have performed.  

“We got shown a video of all these singers that have been there, even some of my favorites. It felt so cool being on the stage that so many famous people have sung on,” says DiFilippo

Some of the popular artists that sang on this stage were Jason Derulo, Nial Horan, Kanye and hundreds of other artists. 

The field trip inspired some students to reconsider their career paths.

“They were having fun doing their jobs and I was like, ‘you know what I might wanna do that,’”  says senior Ronan Carmody.