On The Air: USU helps Utah Public Radio tell stories no other station can
Fifty-five years. That’s how long Utah State University has had a radio station.
Stations KUSU and KUSR are under the umbrella of Utah Public Radio, which sends its signals throughout the state and the region.
“We transmit our signal to Utah and to parts of Wyoming and Idaho,” said Richard Meng, the general manager for UPR. “We have two stations here in Cache Valley to reach everyone in it.”
To reach its audience, UPR sends its signal to a satellite and broadcasts it to 24 different translators that can provide a clear signal for every county, Meng said.
UPR is recognized under the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. Because of this affiliation, he said the station receives some funding from the school and also some help from a few select students.
“We usually have one or two interns each year and sometimes a few part-time people to help out. We offer mostly full-time work for those out of school, though,” Meng said.
In addition to having funding and help from the school, he said UPR operates as a non-commercial station. To supplement their financial needs, the station uses support from listeners and underwriting to maintain and update its functions, Meng said.
“Unlike commercial stations which receive their money from commercials, we have people donate money,” Meng said. “We underwrite for businesses as well. It’s a much more concentrated approach to advertising.”
Also unlike commercial stations, UPR can broadcast stories and information that requires effort and time without worrying about compromising values and goals, he said.
As a member of National Public Radio (NPR) and an affiliate of American Public Media (APM) and Public Radio International (PRI), Meng said the station receives stories and material to use for their programming.
“The great part of public broadcasting is that we are able to present important information to the public that a commercial station just can’t do,” Meng said. “We can do in-depth stories and present both sides of an issue without having to just do the two-minute headline.”
The content that comes with public broadcasting is important for the radio station, he said. UPR uses a broad approach to reach the interests of residents throughout the state.
Meng said they are currently working on a series of broadcasts that involve the challenges facing and experiences of Hispanics in Utah.
Because of the university connection as well as with the residents of the state, Meng said reporters are able to have substantial sources of intellectual and useful information. Some of these include legislators, professors and community leaders.
The reliable sources and consistent portrayal of clear information is one of the assets of UPR, Meng said.
There are two other universities that offer extensive broadcasting: Brigham Young University, which uses KBYU, and the University of Utah, which broadcasts with KUER. He said each station works in an almost uncoordinated, yet functional relationship. Each station uses different information and music in addition to the few similar items, Meng said.
“We receive programming from several independent program producers, including the Beethoven Satellite Network, provider of a 24-hour-a-day classical music service. We subscribe to the Associated Press news service,” states the UPR Web site.
The main office for UPR is located on the USU campus. Radio content is broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can be heard on either KUSU 91.5 FM or on KUSR 89.5 FM. Their office can be reached at 797-3138 or toll free at 1-800-826-1495.
-nebutler@cc.usu.edu