WPKN leverages volunteers, and Brand4Market, for website design

WPKN is excited to announce the launch of the new WPKN.org website design. Revamping the website is a major, preliminary step that is part of planned technology upgrades being undertaken by the WPKN volunteer Board of Directors. The new website design, spearheaded by WPKN Board of Directors and show host volunteers, Simon Hunter and Martha Willette Lewis, captures the energy and diversity of the incredible programmers who volunteer their time, experience, and expertise to inform and entertain the WPKN audiences across Connecticut and Eastern New York.

Martha Willette Lewis, a renowned visual artist who also hosts two WPKN radio programs, Live Culture and The Flux Capacitor, created the initial website and masthead design, as well as the WPKN logo design.

Says WPKN station General Manager, Steve di Costanzo, “Over the past several years, Martha has provided WPKN with a constant creative flow of promotions for our programs and events in print, on the website and for social media. We are thrilled that we were able to leverage her talent and passion for the station in the website redesign.”

To implement the vision for the community radio station, WPKN leveraged Wendy Flanagan of Brand4Market to help add a creative dimension to the programs, and provide a new, dynamic site structure. Over 130 promotional graphics were created to enhance the programs, which leverage genres to pull similar program recommendations for listening enthusiasts. Flanagan planned that the visual assets would have a somewhat evergreen aspect, sizing them appropriately for extended use on email and social media.

Simon Hunter, WPKN Board of Directors Secretary and Partner, Chief Innovation Officer at CO OP Brand Co., says, “It was a pleasure working with Wendy Flanagan. She took the information we had available and added depth to the work – going well above and beyond our requests. She identified areas in need of technical review and helped us plan for a seamless launch of the new site. Her suggestions for how to build the site were dedicated to improving the user experience for our listening community, non-profit community, and for internal efficiencies.”

Says WPKN Operations Traffic Manager, Rod Richardson, “I’m extremely pleased with the new site. It leverages some familiar tools and our existing technology structure to maximize what we already have in place while eliminating some of the time-consuming steps I had to deal with previously. These small savings allow us to focus on the music we love.”

The new WPKN.org features the programs and hosts, combining technology feeds and visual representations so that viewers can get a better feel for the shows and hosts. The on-air personalities are celebrities to their audiences, and the new website gives them a platform on which to express themselves. The site also highlights the community programming that is specifically relevant to the listening audience, an integral part of the station charter. There is an entire section of the site dedicated to community resources for food, healthcare, voting, and area non-profits that provide community services.

About WPKN 89.5 Community Radio

Founded in 1963, WPKN is a 10,000-watt listener-supported community radio station broadcasting at 89.5 FM and streaming online at WPKN.org. WPKN’s terrestrial signal serves a potential listenership of 1.5 million people in Connecticut, Long Island, and parts of New York and Massachusetts. Programs on WPKN include live and recorded music, news, public affairs, and spoken word. The station is powered by the passion and commitment of almost 200 volunteers in our listening community and is supported by the generous donations of our listening audience. Learn more at https://wpkn.org.