Press Releases

June 16, 1997
Noted Public Broadcasting Leader to Take Over Management of WPBX Radio at Southampton Graduate Campus

Will Oversee WCWP at C.W. Post Campus

Contact: Jane Finalborgo
(516) 287 8313
Fax: (516) 283 4081

Wallace A. Smith, one of the nation's key leaders in public broadcasting and a founder of American Public Radio, will be the new general manager of WPBX, 88.3 FM, at Southampton Graduate Campus of Long Island University, Provost Timothy Bishop announced this week. Smith also will oversee the University's other FM station, WCWP, 88.1, at the C.W. Post Campus in Brookville. Together the stations comprise the Long Island Public Radio Network.

Smith was the first full-time manager of KUSC, the radio station of the University of Southern California and served in that position for 26 years. Under his leadership, what was once a small student-run radio station on the USC campus grew to a four-station network serving the entire Southern California region, becoming one of the most successful public broadcasting organizations in the United States.

"I'm confident that WPBX can become a really big player in public broadcasting," said Smith, who hopes to increase involvement in the station by both year-round residents and the Hamptons' seasonal concentration of outstanding figures in the arts, literature, entertainment and business. "I am impressed with the people I've met already, and I'm really pleased and excited to be coming to Long Island." Smith will take over the management of WPBX on September 1.

WPBX is a 25,000-watt National Public Radio affiliate. Like KUSC, WPBX began as a small student-run station and grew to become a vital community resource. New studios and offices for WPBX are planned in a specially designed space in the College's Academic Center now under construction.

The station currently reaches the island's East End and parts of Southern Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Expansion plans call for its signal to reach much of Long Island and southern New England. "Wallace Smith is perfectly suited to take over the leadership of WPBX as it continues to grow in size and influence," said Bishop. "He is a powerful voice for the unique role public radio plays in the lives of thousands of people. He is both a talented leader and creative programmer."

National Influence

Smith's innovation and leadership have impacted public broadcasting nationwide. In 1989 he joined with four other leading public radio station managers to create American Public Radio (now Public Radio International -- PRI). He was a key figure in the creation and development of public radio's highly acclaimed daily business news program Marketplace, the first major daily radio news broadcast in commercial or public radio to originate from Los Angeles.

Extensively involved in the arts in Southern California, he also helped to create a high-energy weekly arts news and entertainment program Live on Hope Street with Bonnie Grice to promote the arts and provide an arts perspective on issues and events.

Radio as a Link

Smith is known for using radio to provide a common meeting ground through music to link diverse populations with their own music and cultures and to connect cultural groups with one another. In orchestrating a fresh, accessible style, he broadened the scope of traditional music programming to reflect the richly diverse cultures and interests of Southern Californians.

"We welcome Wallace Smith to Long Island's public radio and to Long Island University and look forward to working with him as WPBX and WCWP make their marks in public radio," said David J. Steinberg, President of Long Island University.

Smith has served on the Board of Directors of National Public Radio and been a task force member on numerous projects for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. He was a founding director of California Public Radio and served three terms as its president.

Smith is a graduate of Waynesburg College and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, both in his native Pennsylvania. He holds a Masters and Ph.D. in broadcasting and communications from the University of Southern California. He is married to Bonnie Grice.

A residential college of liberal arts and sciences, Southampton Graduate Campus is part of Long Island University, the eighth largest private university in the country.