CAR TALK WEEKEND EDITION THE DIANE REHM SHOW BBC WORLD SERVICE A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION MARKETPLACE KUOW NEWS KUOW PRESENTS WEEKDAY THE CONVERSATION SPEAKER’S FORUM SOUND FOCUS THE SWING YEARS AND BEYOND KUOW PUGET SOUND PUBLIC RADIO MORNING EDITION 2008 REPORT TO CONTRIBUTORS TO THE POINT DAY TO DAY ALL THINGS CONSIDERED AS IT HAPPENS WAIT, WAIT…DON’T TELL ME! THIS AMERICAN LIFE THE WORLD KUOW’S MISSION IS TO CREATE A MORE INFORMED PUBLIC, ONE CHALLENGED AND INVIGORATED BY A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF EVENTS, IDEAS AND CULTURES. Left, Wayne C. Roth, General Manager. Right, Frank Woodruff, KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio Board President. kuow puget sound public radio board of directors Frank Woodruff, president Jennifer O’Connor, vice president Stephanie Ellis-Smith, secretary Allan Steinman, treasurer Norm Arkans, ex officio Katharine Barrett Lee Daneker Christine Deavel Nelson Dong Jon Eastlake Joan Enticknap Robert Flennaugh II Alden Garrett Steven Gilbert Arif Gursel Jany Jacob Dennis Kenny Pauline Reiter, past president Wayne Roth, ex officio Veronica Smith David Valdez Thank you to our friends Jon Bridge, Ritajean Butterworth and Sturges Dorrance (Past President), who concluded their service as KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio board members in 2007. 1 As I think about the state of public radio in general and KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio in particular, two memorable programming events come to mind. Both are examples of the power and intimacy of a well-told story. These are stories that provide local-to-global context, stories that strengthen the value of our public service, stories that define public radio. Many listeners wrote to express how moved they were by National Public Radio’s (NPR) earthquake coverage in central China. When the earthquake struck, All Things Considered hosts Melissa Block and Robert Siegel and seven other NPR staff- ers were already in Chengdu to prepare a series of stories about China’s culture and emergence as an economic superpower. Among the many dramatic moments was Melissa’s report about a young couple’s frantic search for their 2-year-old son and his grandparents in a collapsed apartment building in the city of Dujianyan. In an interview with the Washington Post, Robert Siegel said, “I think [radio] is a medium that, every decade, is declared dead and somehow it manages to survive. When you have TV, you always have to have pictures, and that gets in the way of language. There’s something very natural about talking to people and hearing the human voice. It’s a very elemental form of communication…You didn’t need a translator to understand…You could hear it in the voices.” We also heard from many people responding to KUOW’s five-part documentary about Seattle’s Purepecha community of immigrants. A Village Away from Home: Seattle’s Purepecha Community, explored what happens when people from the rural hill-towns of central Mexico are transplanted in Seattle suburbs. KUOW reporter Liz Jones revealed this “hidden village” in South Seattle to thousands of listeners. She described how the indigenous Purepecha language, culture and traditional lifestyle are vanishing in parts of Mexico, but reappearing here. Liz traveled three thousand miles to a small Purepecha village called Quinceo to bring us stories of hope and despair as divided families seek jobs in the Mexican countryside and along the shores of the Duwamish. The series gave a voice to those who are affected by immigration issues in Seattle and Quinceo and caused many others to take notice. A Village Away From Home was supported by the KUOW Program Venture Fund. Many thanks to all who support public radio! wayne c. roth, general manager The two programs that the general manager mentions in his remarks are prime examples of what makes KUOW a resource of tremendous value to our community. The depth and breadth of news and information coverage available on public radio surpasses that of any other medium. It is a window on our world that all of the dedicated professionals at KUOW work diligently every day to bring into our homes, cars and workplaces. Almost two years ago, KUOW launched a second service to expand the news and information programming available to our listeners. The service is broadcast on KXOT 91.7 fm in Tacoma and is available as a live-stream on the Internet at KXOT.org. KXOT offers many nationally syndicated programs not heard on KUOW, as well as a limited schedule of local programming focused on the Puget Sound region, which we plan to increase in the future. If you have not yet discovered this service, I encourage you to do so. For the growing number of you who have digital radios, you can listen to KXOT on KUOW’s second digital channel—KUOW2. Ten years ago, few of us would have predicted the myriad ways that we are able to receive audio programming today. Traditional AM and FM broadcasts will be around for many years to come (and most likely forever), but last year our programs were also delivered via Internet streaming, podcasts and online archives. Significant resources were devoted to KUOW.org, where you can access all of our current local programs, archives of most of the local programs broadcast within the last ten years, and a wealth of background and supplementary information on the subjects they cover. As technology advances, KUOW will continue to improve our facilities so that you will always be able to listen to our award-winning programming through the medium that best serves your needs. The Board of KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio owes an enormous debt of gratitude to Wayne Roth, who this year celebrates his 25th anniversary at the helm of the station. His vision and efforts as general manager, along with those of the many other talented and devoted individuals serving alongside him, have made KUOW one of the preeminent public radio stations in the country. As important as their contributions have been, however, none of this could have been achieved without the generous support of our listeners. We sincerely thank you for being part of this experience. frank woodruff, kuow puget sound public radio board president 1 LOCALLY PRODUCED PROGRAMS 2 “Public radio is an irresistible force that inspires me to entertain alternative viewpoints. The local programs harness the heartbeat of Seattle, while the national and international programs keep me in touch with the rest of the world….”—Stacey, Seattle WEEKDAY KUOW PUGET SOUND PUBLIC RADIO NEWS senior host: steve scher news director: guy nelson talk show producers: katy sewell, david hyde In fiscal year 2008, staff in the KUOW newsroom produced Weekday is KUOW’s signature daily public affairs program. an array of award-winning news coverage, reporting on Every morning on Weekday listeners hear compelling the important local and national stories affecting our region. discussions between host, guests and listeners that engage KUOW reporters Ruby de Luna, Phyllis Fletcher, Liz the curious and promote understanding of local and national Jones, Amy Radil, Marcie Sillman and Deborah Wang along issues and events of the day. Interviews with world leaders with announcer/reporters Jamala Henderson, Patricia Archbishop Desmond Tutu and President Bill Clinton and Murphy and Derek Wang filed reports on the leading stories local and state politicians King County Executive Ron Sims of the year. Reports included the November 2007 elections; and Governor Christine Gregoire inspired listeners to the Alaskan Way Viaduct tunnel or rebuild vote; the firing ask and to act. Last year, programs explored issues including of Federal Prosecutor John McKay; the Sonics’ departure the use of Blackwater Security Consulting in Iraq and from Seattle; and the Dalai Lama’s visit to Seattle. This past the privatization of the global war on terror; Puget Sound year, KUOW news staff also produced several multi-part politics; land development and the environment; and specials on the diverse issues and events affecting our region, bridging the science vs. religion divide. including a series on climate change; the 100th Anniversary of Pike Place Market; the evolution of dance in the Seattle THE CONVERSATION theatre scene; and troubled doctors and addiction. KUOW senior host: ross reynolds news reports and specials are archived at KUOW.org. talk show producers: david hyde, jeannie yandel The Conversation, KUOW’s daily news call-in program, NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK (N3) continued to provide compelling and provocative talk radio. The Northwest News Network (N3) is a news consortium Guests included Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire; supported by KUOW and eight other public radio broad- environmental activist Denis Hayes; Superintendent of casters who in total operate 52 stations in Idaho, Oregon and Seattle Public Schools, Maria Goodloe-Johnson; journalist Washington. N3 reports are filed from all over the region and author Susan Faludi; and Pulitzer Prize-winner and are aired daily by supporting stations in the region and Samantha Power. Listeners weighed-in on issues as varied often across the country on other public radio networks and controversial as the resegregation of Seattle’s schools; and through NPR. In FY08, N3 reporters Tom Banse, the affect on our national psyche of the 9/11 terrorist attacks; Austin Jenkins, Elizabeth Johnson and Chris Lehman, led and whether concern over global warming will translate to by regional news editor, Cathy Duchamp, filed 1,118 news action. To expand the show’s reach, The Conversation added pieces, the majority of which aired on KUOW. Award- short interviews and author conversations to the customary winning reports included Flood Victims Return Home; call-in format. Traumatic Brain Injury: A Northwest Soldier’s Struggle; and Boondoggle in the Desert? Hanford’s Troubled Waste Plant. SOUND FOCUS senior host: megan sukys SPEAKER’S FORUM hosts: dave beck, jeannie yandel producer: sara lerner talk show producer: jeremy richards KUOW’s Speaker’s Forum airs lectures given throughout In September 2007, KUOW’s The Beat started production the region by authors, journalists, and local, national with a new format—personal, narrative-driven interviews and international political and academic figures.