60Celebrating Six Decades As Kansas City's Public Radio Station
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SPRING 2017 THE MEMBER NEWSLETTER OF KCUR 89.3 YEARS STRONG 60Celebrating six decades as Kansas City’s public radio station ON THE YEAR IN REVIEW 2016 COVER To celebrate Serving you our 60 years in broadcasting, we’re looking back on how is a privilege KCUR got its start — and the amazing things that have For KCUR, 2016 was a Linda Sher, midday announcer Greg Echlin, sports reporter ElleSylvia Moxley Maria Gross, producer, Central Standard happened since. year of contradictions. See story ............ 6-7 We lost Steve Bell, a long- time staff member, the proliferation of fake news made our work more WHAT’S difficult, and to many of us, journalism itself felt INSIDE under attack. Introducing the Kansas News In other ways, it was an Service .................. 2 extraordinarily good year. We held our first-ever Volunteers of gala, our audience has the Year ................. 3 never been larger, and Ron Yurman, announcer Suzanne Hogan, announcer/producer/reporter Michael Byars, morning announcer we continue to see strong Guiding you financial support from the through the Trump community. transition .......... 4-5 Over the past few months, KCUR we’ve heard from many KCUR Financials ............. 8 of you that you value our work more than ever. It is a privilege to serve STAFF as Kansas City’s source You may know their voices, for in-depth news and but can you name the faces entertainment. of these KCUR personalities? As always, thanks for listening. Ron Jones, director of community engagement Elle Moxley, reporter Photos by Brandon Parigo Dan Videtich Photography Nico Leone KCUR General Manager Frank Morris, national correspondent Laura Ziegler, special correspondent Steve Kraske, host, Up to Date 1 Introducing the Volunteers of the Year Each year, KCUR honors two volunteers for their dedication and service. This year, Kansas News Service the panel selected Nic Zweifel and Stacy Kearney for their involvement in two of our most important endeavors — fundraising and community outreach. Veteran journalists explore health issues statewide Susie Fagan Jim McLean Nic Zweifel Stacy Kearney Public radio has always been a priority in my A few years ago, I was looking for ways to give life. In fact, before I drove my first car off the back to organizations that are important to my dealer’s lot, I set KCUR as the #1 preset on my family and knew KCUR had to be included. radio. Since my first time answering phones in the pledge room, I’ve been hooked. Amy Jeffries Meg Wingerter Bryan Thompson In 2013, I was invited to participate in a KCUR- sponsored focus group about the station’s There are so many wonderful people who call relationship with “millennials.” This meeting led in to pledge their support, and if you’re lucky, KCUR is expanding its events that affect the health forces at work and the ongoing to an exciting realization: There are other young you get to hear how KCUR plays an important coverage of Kansas with of Kansans. concerns of our citizens. Email listeners who are passionate about public radio! part in their lives. The time spent with the KCUR staff and the other volunteers is the the addition of journalists managing editor Jim McLean at The energy and ideas from that meeting In its first few months, the best. No matter which shift you work, you formerly connected with the [email protected]. sparked an effort to form a station-supported, Kansas News Service has have interesting conversations with interesting Kansas Health Institute. The volunteer-led, young friends group of KCUR The Kansas News Service is people who share your love for KCUR. newly-created Kansas News covered the debate over guns called Generation Listen KC. Service will bring you original on college campuses, how a made possible by a group of People look at me funny when I tell them, “I reporting on some of the issues Medicaid backlog is affecting funding organizations, led by Since its creation, Generation Listen KC has love the KCUR Pledge Drive!” But it’s true! I’ve that affect Kansans most — services in nursing homes, the Kansas Health Foundation. hosted events ranging from public forums, answered phones, stuffed envelopes and even health, education and politics. the future of the state’s water Other funders include the discussion panels, happy hours and storytelling introduced my daughter to some volunteering supply and how tobacco United Methodist Health fundraisers. Together, we’ve created a model opportunities. Who knew mailing hats could be The group is based in Topeka, companies may help close the Ministry Fund, the Sunflower other stations can follow when starting their so much fun? working in close partnership gap in the state’s budget deficit. Foundation, the REACH own young friends groups. with public radio stations Healthcare Foundation and I am grateful to volunteer with such an amazing My experience with Generation Listen KC has KMUW in Wichita and Kansas As we move forward, we need the Health Care Foundation of group of people at such an important place in allowed me to invest in building the future Public Radio in Lawrence. your help. Tell us what you Greater Kansas City. the lives of Kansas Citians. community that I want. I love this station and Together, they dive deep and would like to see covered and the people who make it what it is. I am looking track the policies, issues and why. Help us understand the forward to achieving more in 2017! 2 3 The first 100 Nightly show guides Americans through Trump transition The first few months of 2017 have seen Tuesdays: WNYC’s Brian Lehrer evaluates major political change. For some, it’s an how American norms are changing. How are exciting moment in our country’s history. language, ethics, the law and our institutions For others, it’s terrifying. adapting under a new and unprecedented leader? That’s why we’re proud to be airing Indivisible, a nightly gathering for everyday Wednesdays: Charlie Sykes, a leading voice Americans to talk, debate and find common in conservative talk radio, weighs the new ground in the first 100 days of the Donald administration’s first 100 days against Trump administration. American values and conservative principles. Consider it a conversation starter. Thursdays: MPR’s Kerri Miller examines American identity at this moment of change. The live call-in show is produced by WNYC Who is part of the national narrative, who is in New York City, Minnesota Public Radio left out and how might our long-term sense and The Economist. of selves change? Each evening has a unique theme: The producers of Indivisible say the show is built to “thrive where public radio has Mondays: WNYC’s Kai Wright and editors distinguished itself: thoughtful, inclusive, and correspondents from The Economist contextual.” We encourage you to bring our discuss how the world is reacting to the Kansas City perspective to the conversation. changes that are coming to Washington and what new opportunities and challenges arise Listen to Indivisible on KCUR from 7 to 8 as a result. p.m. Monday to Thursday, through April 27. MPR’s Kerri Miller is the Thursday night host of Indivisible, a call-in show focused on the first 100 days of the Trump administration. Photo by MPR. provide balanced, objective across the organization Photo by Brandon Parigo The premise of truth analysis of the key issues that every day, and it informs our will determine our future. decision making. Addressing bias in a changing political climate Of course, we can’t do this We welcome your The presidential election of these opposing viewpoints providing listeners the context without honest give-and-take perspectives, your ideas, your exposed deep divisions in and bring the truth to light in a they need to be informed with our listeners. challenges and even your America — divisions that are not nonpartisan way. participants in our democracy. scolding. We’re listening. simple cases of right vs. wrong, I want you to know that the Republican vs. Democrat, At KCUR, I’m proud to In 2017, we will continue to KCUR staff diligently tracks Donna Vestal is the director white vs. black, rural vs. urban work with journalists who hold ourselves to the highest the feedback we receive of content strategy for or any other obvious contrast. understand our responsibility standards, clarifying facts and from our audience, whether KCUR. You can reach her to give you the facts. In recent challenging assumptions. We it’s through phone calls, at [email protected]. As a free press, our challenge staff discussions, we have re- will put more resources into emails or social media. This is to recognize the complexity affirmed our commitment to in-depth coverage. We will communication is shared 4 5 60 YEARS STRONG This year KCUR marks its 60th year of broadcasting. So much has DID YOU KNOW? changed since our first broadcast in 1957! Here’s a look back at some of our greatest moments as Kansas City’s public radio station. When KCUR began broadcasting in 1957, few Kansas Citians owned FM receivers. KCUR’s first general manager purchased radios with his personal money and sold them door-to-door for $18 each. 1957 1966 1979 2003 2012 2014 2016 2017 KCUR 89.3 FM UMKC Board of KCUR begins KCUR begins KCUR General KCUR news director RadioActive, KCUR operates begins broadcasting Curators approves broadcasting what streaming the Manager Patty Cahill Frank Morris the station’s first with 59 employees, from the third floor purchase of $24,000 will soon become station’s broadcast retires after 25 years, takes on a new annual benefit, 300+ volunteers, a of Scofield Hall with of transmitter the leading program signal.