WYSU Radio Station adds new segment, website

Staff report

Youngstown

Radio station WYSU (88.5 FM) began a new local interview segment last week and also revamped its website.

“Doing Good” — a three-minute interview segment — airs Tuesdays at 6:35 a.m. and 8:35 a.m. during the “Morning Edition” broadcast.

Produced weekly by WYSU and hosted by former local television journalist Gina Marinelli, the segment aims to raise consciousness about local issues and highlight efforts to address them. Marinelli, a former news anchor for WKBN-TV and WYTV-TV, is a familiar voice at WYSU, having worked at the public radio station during her college years at Youngstown State University.

“There is much selfless and positive work done quietly in our community,” said Gary Sexton, director of broadcasting at WYSU. “I look forward to highlighting some of this work.”

Sexton also praised Marinelli for her interviewing skills. “We are lucky to have her,” he said.

“Doing Good” debuted with interviews from Presley Gillespie, executive director of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp., and Youngstown Mayor John McNally. Future interviews will include John Slanina, president of the Rocky Ridge Neighborhood Association; and Chris Barzak, a published author and YSU professor.

The station’s new website at www.wysu.org was unveiled this week.

Chris Hartman, WYSU associate broadcast engineer, said it was time to make the website — which was launched in 2009 — more user-friendly.

The site is now faster and has an improved search function. It also includes more content from a variety of new outlets, including The Vindicator, the News Outlet and NPR.