Tar Heels team up on the radio

While Karen Clark ’96 and Melissa Wade ’91 never knew each other at UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, both use the skills they learned at Carolina daily as colleagues. The two are the voices that narrate many commutes or afternoon breaks — as midday talent on two prominent Raleigh radio stations — Foxy 107/104 and The Light 103.9.

Using her skills

Clark grew up in Durham, and Carolina was her dream school. She did morning announcements at her high school and knew she wanted to pursue a career in radio.

“Radio was my first love,” said Clark. “I didn’t really listen to the music. I would bounce around to all the radio stations and listen to the talent.”

At Carolina, Clark became a broadcast journalism major and worked part-time at station G105 to strengthen her skills.

After Carolina, she worked in commercial radio and for Raleigh’s K97.5 on the weekends. A year later, Clark left radio to work at Columbia Records as a promotions manager, where she collaborated with artists like Beyonce, Will Smith and Mariah Carey. She then worked for Capitol Records as a promotions manager throughout the southeast.

She returned to the Triangle to run a wedding planning business in Raleigh for six years. She used public relations skills from the Hussman School to promote her business and attract clients.

Clark also wanted to return to radio, so she now works at Foxy 107/104 as their midday radio personality.  She plays music, gives local traffic updates and shares news stories. She also promotes local events and new books, products or businesses. She also discussing trends and news as an on-camera correspondent for ABC 11 biweekly.

“My journalism degree helps me now in so many ways,” said Clark. “I use my knowledge from Carolina to decide what information is pertinent to my listeners and what interests my audience.”

Though married to a Duke University alumnus, Clark bleeds Carolina Blue, talking about Carolina often in her on-air segments.

An institution of excellence

For Melissa Wade, there was “no question” she’d attend Carolina. The Durham native majored in communications at Carolina and took part in department-led productions at PlayMakers Repertory Company. She was also involved in the Black Student Movement and the BSM Gospel Choir.

“UNC is an institution of excellence. The University pushes you to be the best you can be at what you do. It prepared me to be great at what I do,” said Wade.

In her junior year, a friend who worked at a local radio station told Wade she had a great voice and got her an internship at Foxy 107/104.

Soon after, the station’s general manager asked her to do the morning show. During her senior year, Wade co-hosted the show and returned to Carolina for her classes.

After graduation, Wade worked in Pittsburgh for a few years but, like Clark, returned to the area. She is now the assistant program director and midday personality for The Light 103.9, where one of her shows can be heard nationally on all Radio One stations. While Wade is on air, she fulfills daily programming duties like scheduling music and making promotional decisions.

Now Clark and Wade work in the same building. They’re friends, bonding over their shared love for Carolina. “We’re proud of our University and just proud to be Carolina alumni,” Wade says.

Clark and Wade have also come together to support Carolina for events like GiveUNC with radio ads/spots that helped to raise over $50k for the Sonja Haynes Stone Center.