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KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio 

Description

KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio informs and enriches the lives of our listeners with award winning news and distinctive civic and cultural programming. We bring our listening community local, national, and international perspectives on events via NPR, PRI, American Public Media, and BBC broadcasts. KUOW's program format comprises news reports and features, call-in/talk, interview and performance programs. Our goal, as a public service, is to meet the needs of our growing community in King County, Puget Sound, and Western Washington.

Mission Statement
The mission of KUOW Puget Sound Radio is to create and serve a more informed public that is challenged and invigorated by an understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and cultures. KUOW is a private, nonprofit public radio station serving King County, Puget Sound and Western Washington with local, national and international news and information. We provide extensive coverage of civic concerns, technology, education, the environment, health, the arts and culture in our community. KUOW is a founding member station of NPR.
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KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio
4518 University Way NE Ste 310 
Seattle 
WA
98105-4535 
(206) 543-2710 

Wayne C. Roth 
President, CEO & General Manager 

Programs

KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio Programs

KUOW has a core staff of highly experienced, award-winning reporters, editors and producers. KUOW's news department is a professional, nationally recognized operation, receiving numerous local, regional and national awards for excellence in journalism. In 2006, KUOW was awarded 10 awards by the Society for Professional Journalists Northwest Regional Division. Reports filed by KUOW staff are often heard on NPR's Morning Edition, Day to Day and All Things Considered, as well as PRI's Marketplace.

KUOW-Produced Programming accounts for more than 27 hours each week, with another 50-60 hours per year for KUOW's Program Venture Fund, Speakers Forum and KUOW Presents. These programs broadcast a wide range of local and national features, including lectures from noted academics, politicians, historians and artists; author readings from Town Hall Seattle, Richard Hugo House and others; and unique, topical radio features and diaries from the U.S. and abroad.

The Program Venture Fund (PVF) is integral to KUOW's mission and identity as a public broadcaster. The goal of KUOW's PVF is to generate high-caliber, investigative and explanatory reporting on a wide range of topics specifically focused on the Puget Sound region. Staff and independent producers apply for special funding needed to develop new programming in the form of series, feature reports or short audio segments. KUOW also makes these programs available to a broader national audience via content distributors such as NPR, PRI and others.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

KUOW is an innovative public service. In addition to providing online access to KUOW and KUOW2 (48 hours of programming a day), we now broadcast HD programming that improves listening quality and choice. As a founding station member of the innovative and efficient Northwest News Network (N3), we can bring reporting of news and events from the Pacific Northwest to our King County listeners that was previously unaffordable. We continue to be recognized as a leading public radio provider.

Our public service depends on strong annual support from our listeners. The quality of our service is made possible by generous gifts from individuals and families who recognize the value of the news and information we make available to the people of Puget Sound. With the pressure on local and regional journalism, we are conscious that we continue to be an outstanding source for news and information. We intend to improve the quality of our service to meet the increasing needs of our listeners.

Evaluation


KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio (KUOW) programming is heard on KUOW 94.9FM in Seattle, KXOT 91.7FM in Tacoma, KUOW 1340AM in Tumwater, 90.3FM in Bellingham, HD digital radio (the first public radio station in the county with a separate HD signal) and www.kuow.org.

Proven Success
KUOW is ranked #1 among both commercial and public radio stations in the Seattle/Tacoma metro market. KUOW has been able to make investments in local services and has added local programming and more news staff to their newsroom.

KUOW’s news and information format reflects the values and interest of our region, and connects listeners to people, places and ideas of differing perspectives. The Seattle community values public radio and 10 percent of listeners are also contributors.

Best Practices
In 2009 KUOW embarked on two new initiatives that have grown out of KUOW’s commitment to the development of local content. The Public Insight Network is a new way for KUOW’s journalists to find sources and information for a story where local residents agree to help cover the news. Also it hired a senior editor and investigative reporter to focus on longer-form series and reporting of key issues in the Puget Sound region.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
3/10/2010 $15,000.00support general operating expenses.
6/21/2007 $20,000.00support general operating expenses.
9/16/2004 $15,000.00support general operating expenses.

Financials

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