Kentucky Public Radio
 | |
| Type | Public Radio Network |
|---|---|
| Country |
 United States |
| Broadcast area |
 Kentucky |
| Key people | Capital Bureau Chief Kenny Colson, WEKU News Director Charles Compton, WFPL News Director Rick Howlett, WUKY News Director Alan Lytle, WKMS News Director Chad Lampe (Board Chairman) and WKYU General Manager Peter Bryant |
| Launch date | December 1997 |
| Affiliation | National Public Radio |
| Affiliates | WEKU, WUKY, WFPL, WKYU, WMKY, WNKU, WKMS |
| Official website | http://www.kypublicradio.org |
Kentucky Public Radio Network (KPRN) is a grassroots public radio network. While it maintains a statehouse bureau, the network has seen itself as providing support services. Instead of a focus on production, KPRN promotes cooperation between partner-stations through a story exchange, a statehouse bureau, and group buys of programming. That assistance then allows a partner-station to develop programming which is uniquely suited to its audience. Under the KPRN system, news directors and program directors are the gatekeepers; not network executives.
Kentucky Public Radio Network has served partner-stations for over ten years. In December, 1997, using a desktop computer as a server, a fast internet connection and basic FTP software, seven public radio stations began the free exchange of news items among themselves.
Five years later, the seven partner stations joined together in creating a statehouse bureau in Frankfort, Kentucky. KPRN hired Tony McVeigh, a veteran reporter, to manage the bureau, created an editorial board to supervise the operation, and established a system for collecting each partner-station's share of the expenses. KPRN estimates it would take 2½ full-time reporters to generate the same number of stories generated by their network.
The Public Radio Partnership of Louisville acts as the bureau's administrative head, at no cost to KPR. WUKY, Lexington maintains KPRN's listserv (which distributes copy and advisories) and network server (which distributes audio). The five members of the KPRN Editorial Board, who are elected by the partner-stations, receive no additional remuneration. The KPRN Statehouse Bureau has a budget of $60,000 per year.[1]
In January, 2011 WKMS News Director Chad Lampe was elected Chairman. The position was previously held by WFPL News Director Rick Howlett. [2]
In December, 2011, Louisville-native Kenny Colson was named the State Capital Bureau Chief for Kentucky Public Radio Network. Upon the announcement, WFPL News Director Gabe Bullard said, “In a time when news organizations are contracting, Kentucky Public Radio is doubling-down on our dedication to hard-hitting, in-depth coverage of state government, and Kenny’s knowledge of politics and of Frankfort will be a great asset to us. We’re very happy to have him on board.” [3]
Affiliates
| Location | Frequency | Call sign | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 88.9 FM | WEKU | Eastern Kentucky University |
| Lexington | 91.3 FM | WUKY | University of Kentucky |
| Louisville | 89.3 FM | WFPL | Louisville Public Media |
| Bowling Green | 88.9 FM | WKYU | Western Kentucky University |
| Morehead | 90.3 FM | WMKY | Morehead State University |
| Highland Heights | 89.7 FM | WNKU | Northern Kentucky University |
| Murray | 91.3 FM | WKMS | Murray State University |
The network also exchanges materials with West Virginia Public Broadcasting and Virginia Public Radio.
References
- ↑ Compton, Charles. KPR Policy Manual. WEKU (Issued January 28, 2008).
- ↑ WKMS News Director Elected Chairman of Kentucky Public Radio Board WKMS Press Release http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wkms/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1754578
- ↑ Kentucky Public Radio Announces State Capital Bureau Chief WFPL News Release http://www.wfpl.org/2011/12/19/kentucky-public-radio-announces-state-capital-bureau-chief/
External links
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