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98.5 HD4 The MEL been nominated for the Christian Music Broadcasters (CMB) University Station of the Year! How about that? It’s pretty swell. The Lord has done good things and we are glad (Psalm 126:3). Here are a few pictures and videos to give a little flavor of The MEL!

98.5 HD4 The MEL operates as a fully student-run radio station at the University of Northwestern- St. Paul (UNW). It strives to give students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience to improve their skills in various areas, such as on-air, production, and other station operations.

While The MEL targets young adults and the UNW campus through a rather eclectic mix of Christian alternative, pop, and hip-hop music, the main goal of the station focuses on these four words: Pursue Christ. Pursue Craft.

The MEL is more than just a radio station though. It’s a collaborative creative community that represents the Communication Department. Students thrives on exploring the way communication is crafted. Whether it’s through film, radio, social media, podcasting, content marketing or video storytelling, we want students to find their voice. Essentially, The MEL is a personified brand identity for the entire Communication Department and serves as the main laboratory for all of our media work at UNW. Which is why The MEL also represents the acronym:  the Media Entertainment Lab.

The first weekend of December The MEL celebrates with The 98.5 Hours of Christmas broadcast. This year, we raised more than $1500 for Feed My Starving Children!

Every April, The MEL hosts the Five16 Film Festival. More than 1300 people show up to celebrate our MEL film creators. This montage photo helps show some of the red carpet excitement!

Students at The MEL are involved in many media activities. When students aren’t working concerts, or making videos, films, podcast, and other productions, there’s a good chance somebody is making something new to put on the giant MEME WALL (lower right!)!

The MEL has been impacting the media industry, especially Christian radio. Four 2022 MEL graduates landed full-time jobs out of college at KTIS/Northwestern Media in Minneapolis while a 5th landed at KFNW/Fargo. Other recent grads are working for companies like Hubbard Broadcasting, The Fallon Agency, Star Publications and various Church Media production positions. Here’s a promo piece that helps promote some of where MEL grads have landed!