January marked an exciting month for Riot Radio (the Riot), the campus radio station for Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), when it re-launched as a visual radio station streaming online 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Riot Radio provides an excellent forum for conversations of all types,” said Greg Murphy, dean, School of Media, Art & Design. “This visual radio station allows students to explore ideas and collaborate on contemporary solutions to issues that concern them and their peers. It is a great venue to engage emerging communications media and a fun vehicle to share interests in music, sports, news and just about anything else that has an audience.”

A term that refers to the adding of visuals to regular audio radio broadcasts so audiences can interact with radio stations while listening in, visual radio is designed to give listeners a richer understanding of what they are listening to and the subject matter.

Operated by the Student Association, the Riot connects all members of the campus community together through a 24-hour video feed on the cutting edge of radio technology. Through the use of new technology and media, it provides a visual and audio creative platform for students and staff and improves the sharing of information.

Close to 50 programs run on the Riot from Sunday through to Saturday with students responsible for producing content and presenting radio shows unique to their audiences. Listeners can expect to hear about a variety of topics including current affairs, sports, new music and fashion.

“We are so excited to offer this opportunity to Durham College and UOIT students,” said Laura Ferr, station co-ordinator, Riot Radio. “This is an endless creative outlet for students.”

Formerly located in the Marketplace Café in Gordon Willey building at the Oshawa campus, the station is now located in Room B105, also in the Gordon Willey building, and streaming at www.riotradio.ca.

“This is about new and innovative ways – the best of technology that is used in media today can be recombined and used for students to talk to each other around the world as hosted and connected by our students here on campus,” added Murphy. “It gives people a chance to push out new content of relevance to students around the world using technology they are all interested in.”