KUER seeks input on its future

How would you outline KUER radio's direction for the future? FM-90.1, the University of Utah noncommercial radio station, held three small meetings this week to begin gathering input to consider the long-term future of KUER.

According to a memo from station manager John Greene, public radio is all about connecting people with each other, with ideas, with art, with our past and future, and with our community and the world. He's seeking more efficient ways to accomplish those objectives.

KUER has a staff of 18 full-time radio professionals and is affiliated with three major public-radio networks: National Public Radio, American Public Media (formerly Minnesota Public Radio) and Public Radio International.

The station broadcasts 24 hours a day. Its weekday format is news, information and talk during the day and jazz music in the evenings. Weekend programming is a mixture of news, entertainment and jazz programming.

An extensive translator network allows the station to reach most of Utah.

Approximately 64 percent of the station's funding comes from individual listener contributions, local businesses, foundations or KUER sponsored events. The rest of its financial support comes from the University of Utah, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other sources.

The station began on June 5, 1960.

Posting on a query as to KUER's future path on the forum at www.utradioguide.com yielded eight responses. One respondent believes KUER is being pressured by the success of KCPW, as well as a need to know what to do with KUER's HD channels. Another said he'd listen to KUER more if it aired more BBC World News. He believes a lot of NPR news is composed more of "left-wing advocacy" pieces than actual news. Several others asked why KUER doesn't use more students in its station operations. Still another suggested using one of its subchannels to create a student-run radio station.

What's your view? KUER has a regular comment line at 581-6777 or through e-mail at fm90@kuer.org.

RADIO HAPPENINGS —KOSY, FM-106.5, will host its fifth-annual Teacher Appreciation Awards Banquet on Thursday, May 24, at Spaghetti Mama's. Listeners can nominate their favorite teachers by going to www.kosy.com.