25th Year for KGCS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 14, 2009
Judy Stiles
(417) 625-9777

Reunion Planned at Homecoming . . .
KGCS Celebrates Quarter Century of Service

JOPLIN, MO (SNS) - KGCS-TV at Missouri Southern State University is celebrating 25 years of television service to the University and the Joplin community.  The station began operations in the fall of 1984 as a cable channel in Joplin known as MSTV.

KGCS-TV is one of the few University-operated over-the-air television stations in Missouri.   It now broadcasts a digital television signal to more than 187,000 homes throughout the region. 

One of the original community service program offerings by the television station was coverage of Joplin City Council meetings, a service that continues today with live broadcasts from Joplin City Hall of the council meetings on the first and third Monday of each month.  KGCS continues serves the region in many ways, with public affairs and community-focus programming.  One such program serving the community is the Newsmakers interview program, featuring guests and topics of regional interest. 

Another feature that has stayed the same over the years is the commitment to hands-on opportunities for Missouri Southern students.  Students provide the production assistance for programs, and are encouraged to produce their own television programs.  Student-produced programs over the years have included interview programs, cooking programs, comedy shows and music presentations.  An example of a current student-produced program is Southern Sports Sunday, where students cover Missouri Southern football and basketball games. 

KGCS-TV provides an excellent opportunity for students to learn about television by gaining hands-on experience in the areas in which they are interested, whether it is on camera or working behind the scenes, says Judy Stiles, KGCS General Manager.  The skills gained at the station have helped many graduates on the road to successful careers. 

Throughout the past 25 years, hundreds of communication graduates have passed through the television studios.  Alumni now work throughout the country in the communication field, with titles ranging from news director and videographers to producers and corporate media sales.

A reunion of television alumni is planned during Homecoming weekend at Missouri Southern Sept. 25-26.   For more information about the reunion, contact the MSSU Alumni Association  at (417) 625-9355 or KGCS-TV at (417) 625-9777.

 

News Bureau Hom