Eastern Michigan University’s public radio station, WEMU, is winding down to the end of era as station manager and executive director Art Timko, 64, will retire after 42 years of service. The Timko era will vanish after Dec,31, leaving behind a great legacy and a blueprint for the future.
“It is going to leave a big hole, the station is a reflection of him and his vision,” General Manager Mary Motherwell said. She will be replacing Timko on an interim basis as EMU conducts its search to replace Timko.
Wardelia Wade, junior, working at WEMU, said “Great experience! He did many different things to make sure the radio station runs efficiently. His presence will be missed. It will be weird to think of the radio station without him here.”
Wade is understating how much Timko means to WEMU, which is 45 years old.
Just to name a few of the tangible things Timko has done for WEMU: transformed WEMU into its current state of jazz, blues and local news during the 1970’s, increased the station signal from 10 watts to its current 16,000 directional live music broadcasts, published four record albums in 1984 from music recorded at the station, started the station’s annual fall pledge drive and rented its tower to cell phone companies.
“Local news began in the 1970’s when the station was not affiliated with NPR [National Public Radio] and was a 10 watt station,” Timko said about reformatting WEMU. “We keyed on news in this area, we are a community radio station … that commitment has grown with a professional staff and coverage of political and local news of this area.”
The major challenge WEMU faced is said by Program Director Clark Smith, “It is the most public radio intensive area in the country.
“We carve our niche with our format of jazz, blues and news,” Smith said when talking about how WEMU has become successful, “Best coverage of local news in this area.”
Timko made WEMU the top source for jazz, blues and local news in Washtenaw County by dedicating resources and finding the niche in market for that type of audience.
Motherwell said her goal of the station is to remain viable and to still occupy a highly visible role in the community.
“Stretch the boundaries of jazz and blues music to attract a younger demographic,” Motherwell said “Continuing to be a resource to the community and be an ambassador to EMU for the community.”
One of the last challenges Timko faced at the station was pulling together the funding to make WEMU the first public radio station in Michigan to broadcast in high-definition radio. WEMU currently sports two channels on the HD radio, WEMU-1 and WEMU-2.
WEMU does face a new challenge with the new Congress coming in. The new Congress is attempting to reduce public broadcasting funds.
“The federal grant supplies the University with about $198,000, and replacing that from the stream of funds would be difficult if it is reduced or eliminated,” Motherwell said.
The three main accounts for funds for WEMU a
re EMU, which pays for six full-time workers and student help; the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in the form of annual Community Service grants; and listeners and businesses, which contributed $588,000 to WEMU last year.
For WEMU that challenge will be faced without Timko. He plans to begin his free time down in Florida with his wife for his daughter’s wedding.
“Just taking time off…spend sometime not doing anything; I expect it not to last long,” Timko said about his retirement plans. “Maybe somewhere down the road [WEMU] will need my help, and I will help them.”
Once Timko leaves, he expects WEMU will remain vibrant and community fulfilling radio station.
“It will be a stronger station, contributing even more to the quality of life to people in this area,” Timiko said. “ It will be a real leader in this community.”
