Meet the Staff: Caroline Janes

By Piper Blake
Assistant Web Content Manager

Caroline Janes is one of KTSW’s many on-air DJs. Not only does she work for the programming department, she is also a music assistant director and has worked with Other Side Drive and the multimedia department. She’s a modern day KTSW renaissance woman – she has done it all. 

With College Radio Day on Oct. 4 it’s important to showcase the voices of our own college radio station and how those voices have impacted our programming. Janes is an amazing example of what dedication looks like and I was luckily able to sit down with her for an interview to ask a few questions about KTSW’s impact on her.

The Interview

As I was walking up to meet Caroline, she was sitting out front of the Trinity building (KTSW’s station building) at a picnic table underneath an umbrella. I was immediately struck with the feeling that she belonged sitting on a busy street at a café somewhere focused on nothing but what is on her laptop screen. 

She was wearing a white short sleeve button up with neon designs on the front, paired with some high waisted blue jean shorts, fitting for an overly warm fall afternoon. 

I approached the table and was immediately greeted with a huge smile and a get-down-to-business determination. Janes was already preoccupied with some sort of work on her laptop, but before I could even sit down, she dove into asking me questions about my day and how I wanted this to go.

“She’s the type of person that if you give her a task, she will run with it. We actually met on College Radio Day two years ago and went on air together. We were both so excited.”

– April Gutierrez (Program Director)

By the time I could get my laptop from my bag she had already answered five of the questions I had planned to ask her. People like Janes are the ones that could change the world in a day because they have so many plans and things they want to do. 

A member of KTSW since 2017, Janes has changed from many paths in her college career due to the radio station.

“I credit KTSW to how I figured out what I wanted to do” Janes said.

She started out in the graphic design program but switched to a history major. Due to KTSW being saturated with mass communication majors, her perfect fit didn’t come till she came upon advertising but she still gets her multimedia fix with a minor in art. 

Janes has her own radio show “Times Like These” that she has been working on for her fifth semester now. She is coming up on her 30th episode this week which she thinks is “just crazy.”

The show is a mix of indie rock and pop. “My initial idea was combining newer and older indie rock and pop but now it has kind of evolved,” Janes said. She now does themed playlists. However, her biggest goal for this semester is getting more interviews on her show. 

“I like soloing it, I do. It’s nice having my own show and playing my own music. It’s like nothing else.”

– Caroline Janes

As a music assistant director, she said, “It’s cool getting to be in a sort of leadership role, I guess. It’s cool getting to connect with people in that way.” Janes has been able to edit people’s album reviews and artist interview articles for the blog and have a bigger influence on what is played on air. Not only is she a DJ and music assistant, but she has dipped her hand into the multimedia department as an illustrator and the promotions department. 

Janes said she is open to doing anything in mass communications and would love to work for a radio station or a magazine. She has interned for two companies, Margin Walker booking agency and Austin Monthly. Both have been great experiences for her and KTSW has given her an outlet to bulk up her portfolio and lead her into her future careers. 

Her biggest reason for joining KTSW was to make friends and she has made so many this way. She said, “It’s going to be so weird not being a part of this organization when I graduate.” However, she will be on her new path of life and using all her experience she has gained to pursue her dream career. 

Janes favorite parts of being at KTSW have been interviewing Summer Rental, collaborating with Conner Yarbrough on the staff picked playlist. She also interviewed many bands at South by Southwest. Janes loves College Radio Day and National Women’s Day because KTSW does 24-hour broadcast on those days. 

Janes said that Yarbrough has been her biggest influence during her time at KTSW due to his commitment and how well spoken he is. She admires his strong opinion and how he handles everything in the office. 

Once she graduates, Janes wants to stay in Texas and do something with magazine layout. She doesn’t know for sure if she can see herself DJing professionally, but wouldn’t totally shoot down the idea. Janes has knowledge of many departments at KTSW which makes her a well-rounded job candidate due to her experience. 

“Anyone that works at KTSW or applies, I would encourage people to try different departments. It really is a great opportunity to explore what you want to do.”

– Caroline Janes

Favorite Song on KTSW:
Generationals – I Have Turned My Back on the Written Word
Favorite Segment:
The Boogie Block with Kyle Emmot
Favorite San Marcos band:
Summer Rental 

Featured image by KTSW Social Media.