Syracuse Sun

A new Spanish-language radio station, Pulso Central, has been established in the Central New York and Mohawk Valley region. This initiative was led by PBS affiliate WCNY with support from community members and Syracuse University faculty and staff.

Teresita Paniagua, executive director of cultural engagement for the Hispanic community at Syracuse University, described the station as "a thrilling and significant breakthrough" for the area's growing Spanish-speaking population. She emphasized its potential to become a vital resource that reflects Hispanic and Latino cultures.

The idea originated when WCNY CEO Mitch Gelman approached Paniagua in 2023 about the absence of a Spanish-language radio station in the area. Together with Ron Lombard, WCNY-FM Station Manager, they formed a task force to develop the station's structure, funding, collaborators, and programming ideas.

Syracuse University faculty played key roles in this project. Elizabeth Juarez Cummings and Javier Maymi-Perez were among those involved. The task force also included Gail Bulman, M. Emma Ticio Quesada, Sandy Siquier, Ana Diaz-Diez, Gerardo Cummings Rendón, Josefa Álvarez Valadés, and Francisco Suarez.

Whitman School of Management students conducted a survey showing strong community support for the station. It revealed interest in diverse programming such as sports and talk shows.

Pulso Central is unique as it is the first Spanish-language radio station in Central New York despite there being over 1,000 such stations nationwide. The region hosts approximately 18,000 Spanish-speaking households.

M. Emma Ticio Quesada highlighted Pulso Central as an educational tool for students at Syracuse University. Five students from her course are interning at the station.

Miranda Traudt noted that this collaboration exemplifies positive outcomes when universities partner with local communities to achieve goals like enhancing cultural heritage preservation.

Paniagua believes Pulso Central can change stereotypes about Latina/Hispanic communities by showcasing their stories.

An official launch event will take place on October 24 at WCNY studios and La Casita Cultural Center. Gelman expressed excitement about launching Pulso Central to engage listeners across 19 counties via multiple frequencies and online platforms.