Deb Benedict recently announced that she would be retiring as the WTIP Community Radio director. Here she stands with her long-time colleague, Matthew Brown, who was selected by the WTIP board to take Benedict’s spot at the radio station’s helm.
A lot has changed at WTIP radio station over the last 20 years. People have come and gone, the station has moved from its original location, technology has rapidly advanced, and the station has steadily grown in staff and programming. From 2001 until now, Deb Benedict, WTIP’s hard working, capable and caring executive director has been out front leading, but that is about to change.
Benedict will retire on June 1. She will leave a long lasting legacy of growth and quality programing and community service behind. The station currently has nine staff members and over 1,200 members and many more fans.
Selected by the WTIP board to fill Benedict’s position will be Matthew Brown, the current WTIP program director and volunteer coordinator.
Brown is no stranger to WTIP listeners. He has volunteered and worked at WTIP since the year 2000 and came on board as an employee in 2008, when he became the host of Sidetracks.
Benedict doesn’t plan on leaving right away. She will help Brown through a few months of transition.
Before the baton finally passes, Benedict sat down to answer some questions for the Cook County News- Herald.
When you started out, did you think WTIP would grow as large as it has?
I had no idea that WTIP would grow as it did. Having run my own business before, I knew that we did not have to reinvent the wheel, but rely on the wisdom of others of the trade. Two organizations, the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB) and The Association of Minnesota Public and Educational Radio Stations (Ampers) certainly gave us the tools and mentorship to grow WTIP.
“It has been an amazing journey that so many contributed to. Our wonderful volunteers over the past 20-plus years have made it what it is today.”
Over the years there have been a large number of volunteers. Do you know how many? Can you estimate how many if you don’t have a count?
There have been well over 300 different volunteers over the 20 years on air and the early years, when many folks, like Mike Raymond, Mary and Peter Igoe and Bill Burkhart, did the hard work to get us on the air.
Do you have a highlight moment? Or moments from your work at WTIP?
In the first few months I worked at WTIP, the towers went down in NYC the morning of September 11, 2001. Buck Benson and I were hosting our Community Calendar program.
My mom, who was watching it all on TV, called in, and was describing what was happening. We then relayed it on the air. We were encouraging people to tune into TV if they had one.
It was a huge awakening to me that there was so much more training and technology we needed to do our job of serving our community.
Covering the Gunflint Trail Ham Lake fire for the three weeks it ran wild was also very memorable. We had spent a lot of time, training and technology in the 5½ years between these two events to become a more effective communicator and bridge builder for our community.
You moved from the cramped headquarters at the ACA to a new building. How rewarding was that–is that?
We outgrew the wonderful little space we originally had in the Arrowhead Center for the Arts in a couple of years.
The move to our current facility was such a gift to all the volunteers and staff. We had room for volunteers, two large(er) studios, a couple of recording studios. Public space!!
The move enabled us to create more local programming, be even more inclusive of community members, and develop more local news and features as well as have a public presence along the highway into Grand Marais.
What was the biggest change through the years? Was it in technology or the addition of more hours and more shows as you grew?
Technology has been the biggest change, enabling us to have a web stream, web site, access more national programming as well as develop more local programming, creating podcasts, teaching community members how to record, edit, and produce audio features, store our productions for future access, etc.
We essentially have become a multimedia platform. It’s not just radio anymore.
What’s next for you? I see you will be helping Matthew (an excellent choice) for a few months, but what are your plans after that?
I have no definitive plans. I want to enjoy my time up the Trail and do some traveling as well as help at the station as long as I am needed.
As the station’s new leader, Matthew will continue WTIP’s mission connecting, reflecting, and building community on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Debbie will continue to work part-time with Matthew for several months, to ensure as smooth a transition as possible.
Board Chair Dave Tersteeg said, “After a thoughtful process of choosing a successor for Deb, the board is proud to announce the promotion of Matthew Brown into the role of executive director. Matthew’s commitment to the local community and his excellent work at the station for so many years will help ensure a strong future for the station under his proven leadership.”
“I’m very excited about this opportunity to continue WTIP›s role in the community bringing together people and ideas. Deb is turning over leadership of a station that›s well-established and strong, and I›ll work to make sure we keep providing the excellent information and entertainment our listeners have come to expect,” said Matthew.
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