I generally love WAMC, however I tuned in the other day and there was a new voice giving the news…read moreupdate and I thought I had tuned into a high school radio station. Perhaps they could provide this new person with some voice training. I had to turn it off. The rest of the crew are so professional. She really needs to learn the art of public speaking.

This little local radio station is huge…read more Have you ever been to the studio on Central Avenue? You wouldn't believe that this little storefront operation is the epicenter of public radio in upstate New York and beyond. And beyond is putting it mildly. I've heard WAMC into Canada, well into Massachusetts, and almost down to Manhattan. The footprint of our local public radio broadcaster is enormous. Sure, there are times when I listen to the commentary and want to roll my eyes. And there are other times when the musical guests aren't to my tastes. Part of me wishes for more nationally syndicated content. However, I love listening to VOX Pop Food Fridays from 2-3pm. And for some reason, whenever I pop in the car, I hear Randy Simon talking about the environment. Recently, I even heard Ewan M talking about the news of the day. Food Fridays have been on fire lately. Today it was about the Jewish Food Festival. Last week was the crew from Stacks Espresso talking about coffee. It's where I first heard Mahmood Faiz from Mazadar explaining how much time and effort goes into his food at the restaurant. But some of our brightest culinary talents get featured on the show with Ray Graf, and it's always enlightening to hear people call in and ask their questions of these local experts. Deanna Fox is a perpetual favorite, but Ric Orlando, Rocco Defazio, Dora Swan, Josh Coletto, and other local luminaries have rocked that mic. Even better, if you miss the show, or want to hear them again, WAMC has the archives available online. One of these days, I may even call in with questions when it airs live. I just have to figure out a way to carve out the time.

My addiction to talk radio started with listening to the great Bob Grant on WABC in New York City…read more From Grant to Lynn Samuels, I loved the medium and recognized it as critical to local discussion. Social media has replaced it to a degree I suppose, but I still think it plays an important role in our public discourse. It appears some other reviewers have slammed this station primarily because of their political views, so I will try to balance the scales with a fair review. Talk 1300 is a small city radio station that has a mix of local talk, showcases local business and features some syndicated hosts. The morning drive host (and part owner), Paul Vandenburgh, is entertaining and brings passion and pointed opinion. Love him or hate him, he generally keeps listeners engaged with hot topics of the day. And while Vandenburgh is not quite as cranky as Bob Grant was, I would like to hear him shout at a caller, "Get off my phone!!" The State Capital show with Fred Dicker is always enlightening and features a fair number of high profile guests to discuss state and national politics. Some of the local guests are especially insightful, e.g., Sal Ferlazzo, Steve Coffey, Socha, Marini... There is a small stable of regular callers who can be entertaining. M.A., Tony from Burnt Hills, Tom and a few more. Although, I wish they spent more time on callers. That is the magic and color of local radio. On the CON side... Some of the other local hosts can be predictable, and quite honestly, don't delve much deeper than bumper sticker level discussion. The local "news" appears to be a regurgitation of headlines from local papers - there is no real news gathering. Whenever Paul asks the News Director a question about a current topic, he will stammer and add little to the discussion... often just repeating the same scripted lines he just read. Some of the regular guests can be a bore. For example, the guy from the local bank who is always stiffly plugging mortgage rates and branches in Florida. Yawn. I change the station. Overall, Talk 1300 does a good job doing what it is supposed to do: aggressively discuss local issues and wave the pom poms for local businesses.

Love 1300 Talk radio. I listen all the time. Paul in the morning is like an old friend as I have…read moreheard his voice in this slot for it seems like forever. I have listened to him for about 20 years on different stations. Melody Burns is a GREAT Lady Patriot who tells it like it is! Al Roney is always interesting and full of off beat topics and ideas. Al and all love 1300! Keep up the great work Paul. Thank you 1300

Great station! Love to hear what the student DJs are playing and discussing. I think it's cool…read morethat the students have the opportunity to run this station. Wonderful eclectic blend of programs that highlights the diversity of musical tastes among RPI students. You CAN hear RPI sports covered on Saturdays, too.

I graduated in 1991 and have been steadily employed in radio ever since and I'm making a very…read moredecent living at it. It's a great trade school to learn broadcasting. You will throw your money out the window if you go to college for broadcasting. You may read bitter reviews from some saying they wish they went to college for four years but the fact is...you'll be making the same amount of money starting in radio regardless if you have a degree or not. You'll also read reviews from people upset that the can't find a job but that's not the schools fault. If you're a good talent willing to work hard and present yourself well, you will eventually find on air work depending on the market you're searching. They don't promise you employment. The road to being successful in radio isn't easy and the pay sucks for 90% of people starting in radio and it doesn't get much better ten years later. If you're not willing to sacrafice, work hard long hours (even weekends), accept that there's a good chance you'll never make over 100,000 a year or you can't accept that you'll be let go (FIRED) every 5 years, then find a different path. Oh, looks matter in radio too. If you're overweight (worse for women) and don't have a marketable look, you'll have a hard time finding work. I know, I know....reality sucks! :-( From the stand point of a 23 year veteran in radio broadcasting, they teach you EVERYTHING you need to know about the business with state of the art equipment. It's the best school in that area. They also have the best track record of people finding employment after graduating than any school in that area. At one time while working in NC, I was working with five people who went through that school. NC is 13-15 hours and many states away.

Please don't waste your money. I graduated three years ago and haven't been able to find a job and…read morenever get the supposed updates that they send about jobs in the area. I would recommend attending four year college over this place. Not recognizable as they say they are. I do know some people who got jobs but most of them were getting paid basically minimum wage and less then when they started here. Just wouldn't recommend sorry. A lot of the class is spent using a camera and editing but a lot of it is just sitting there working on projects for weeks & weeks. No real interaction. Also some of the staff can be very snippy if you try to stand up for yourself and disagree with them. Not impressed. Plus a minus star because Albany sucks. ***Just updating this review because I've noticed that NSRT has told some people from the nineties to add some reviews. Please note in the nineties the internet wasn't even around. These people lie about the industry and Chris Familette even once told me he hopes to get as many students into to the school and make money off of them. I think he was kind of drunk but he did say that. The teachers are getting a profit off of every student, thats probably why the reputable ones left. PLEASE AVOID THE DEBT. its not worth it.. television is a dieing industry .. people don't tune into the 5 o'clock news now like they did 25 years ago. This school will not help you. .. well you may be able to get a $11 hour job doing master control or cameraman at local Albany newsstation but you're not going to be Diane Sawyer lets put it that way. My 1st exercise at this school was videotaping cars running over potholes. With iPhones nowadays people are teaching themselves. DON'T FALL FOR IT, I AM FINALLY PAYING OFF THE DEBT now. And don't fall for Cathy when she gives you the tour she's like a used car salesman selling Dodge Neons. I AM WARNING YOU GUYS, one girl in our class was very well off and she paid twice to go to this school once to study the technical aspect and then a 2nd time to study the journalism aspect... do you think they gave her a break... NO... $$$$$$