New Hampshire Public Radio

New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) is a public radio network serving the state of New Hampshire. NHPR is based in Concord and operates seven transmitters and six translators covering nearly the whole state. All signals carry the same programming, which comprises news and talk shows on weekdays and a mix of cultural and music programs on weekends. NHPR is the primary carrier of National Public Radio (NPR) programming in New Hampshire.

NHPR's news staff of 21 is one of the largest in the state and is the only statewide source of radio news.

History and listenership

NHPR began in 1981 as one station, WEVO, broadcasting from Concord and known as "Granite State Public Radio," after New Hampshire's state nickname. WEVO had 500 members at its start.

Over several years the station grew in size. In 1991, the newly renamed NHPR began broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Between 1993 and 2011, six other stations joined the network. In 1995 NHPR launched The Exchange, hosted by former NPR reporter Laura Knoy.

In Spring 2007 NHPR had a weekly audience of 161,100 listeners and about 16,000 contributing members. It had an annual budget of $4.5 million, with contributions from listeners, local businesses, grants and funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Contributions from listeners and businesses in New Hampshire make up more than 90 percent NHPR's revenue. NHPR does not receive funding from the state of New Hampshire.

Stations

Notes:

• ¹ WEVC was commercial station WXLQ from 1995 until it joined NHPR on January 10, 2000.^[6]
• NHPR also holds a construction permit for WEVQ (91.9 FM) in Littleton.^[7]

Translators

Programming

Local staff produces three hours each day of newscasts and feature reports on local New Hampshire news and two daily interview programs. The Exchange, hosted by Laura Knoy, is a one-hour morning news and public affairs call-in show. Word of Mouth, hosted by Virginia Prescott, is a one-hour midday general topics interview show. NHPR also locally produces The Folk Show, a live show featuring performances by local musicians, on Sunday evenings.

NHPR broadcasts the major daily news programs produced by NPR, including Morning Edition and All Things Considered. The statewide network also broadcasts programming from American Public Media, including A Prairie Home Companion and Marketplace, as well as programs from Public Radio International, including The World and This American Life. NHPR also airs programming from international broadcasters, such as As It Happens, a production of Canada's CBC Radio One, and the BBC World Service from Britain.

Writers on a New England Stage

NHPR, in conjunction with the Portsmouth Music Hall, has produced a series on New England writers and authors. So far the series has had such authors as John Updike (Terrorist), Doris Kearns Goodwin, Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code), Alan Alda, and Mitch Albom. Virginia Prescott of Word of Mouth is the interviewer, and the trio Dreadnaught is the house band. The River Run Bookstore in Portsmouth is also affiliated.

See also Writers on a New England Stage at the Music Hall's website

Notable employees

• Mark Handley, NHPR's General Manager from 1990 to 2005, was chairman of NPR's Board of Directors for two terms.

• Eric Westervelt, now a foreign correspondent for NPR who often reports on the Arab-Israeli conflict, was a reporter and news director at NHPR for several years.

References

External links

• NHPR's official website
• NHPR's program schedule