Manager's Minute

This is the Manager’s Minute.

KGOU is proud to be a member of the group of public media stations that operate StateImpact Oklahoma.

StateImpact Reporters Joe Wertz and Logan Layden have been reporting on energy and environment issues for six years and have been gaining national recognition for their work.

More than 75 of StateImpact’s deep-dive, data-driven stories have been featured on NPR.

Eighteen different news organizations, in the U.S., Great Britain and Canada, have aired StateImpact Oklahoma’s reports.

This is the Manager’s Minute.

The end of the Spring semester at the University of Oklahoma is a time of transition for students who have spent the past several months at KGOU.

Gaylord College students Amber Friend and Zachary Brown learned how to produce stories in the Radio News class.

In her Practicum class, Macee Beheler produced Capitol Insider segments and wrote stories about state government and politics for the Capitol Insider web page.

This is the Manager’s Minute.

During the 2016 election cycle, KGOU, KOSU and StateImpact Oklahoma came together in a collaborative reporting project called Oklahoma Engaged.

Through our partnership, we provided numerous online and broadcast resources to help voters understand state questions and the election process.

Now, we are pleased to announce KGOU, KOSU and StateImpact Oklahoma have been chosen to receive a regional Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association for the Oklahoma Engaged collaboration.

This is the Manager’s Minute.

We recently welcomed two new members of the KGOU news team – Host/Content Creator Claire Donnelly and Digital News Editor/Reporter Nomin Ujiyedin.

Claire is a graduate of the University of Virginia, with degrees in literature and Spanish. She received her Master’s Degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Chicago.

Claire’s work experience includes stints at WBEZ in Chicago and WAMU in Washington, D.C.

Nomin graduated from Rutgers University, where she majored in economics and political science.

I’m KGOU General Manager Dick Pryor.

KGOU’s Spring pledge drive begins April first.

Over the past few weeks you’ve heard us say KGOU is “Powered by People.”

Well, it’s true.

We are listener supported, and those dollars allow KGOU to be an independent, reliable source of news and information.

Public service media is needed now, more than ever, and so is your support.

This is the Manager’s Minute.

Most of us have to work hard to pay the bills, watch how much we spend and try to set aside some dollars in case of emergency.

In these days of tightening budgets, KGOU is also just one unexpected event away from being in a financial bind.

Severe storms, power outages, equipment failures, changes in regulations or cuts in funding can force KGOU to dip into precious financial reserves.

The margin is shrinking, even as we grow our impact and service to the people of Oklahoma.

This is the Manager’s Minute.

Hard to believe, but KGOU has been in its “new” studios for ten years. We’re glad to be located on the University of Oklahoma’s Norman campus, but after ten years, the equipment we bought when we moved in, is showing its age.

Electronic equipment just wears out over time. The Oklahoma City transmitter needs a new tube, and the whole thing will need to be replaced before long. After ten years, our main audio console and on-air automation computers are becoming less reliable and need maintenance more often.

This is the Manager’s Minute.

KGOU, Your NPR Source.

If you’re an avid listener, you’ve heard us say that many times.

But, it’s more than a slogan. It signals our commitment to trusted news and information, and the “Dialogue of Democracy.”

That’s what public service media is all about.

The ratings, across the nation, prove the value of NPR.

In 2016, ratings for the flagship programs, Morning Edition and All Things Considered, increased 25 to 43 percent in the 25 to 54 year old age group.

This is the Manager’s Minute.

There’s been a lot of talk recently about the media and how we serve the public.

Sure, the mission of KGOU, and NPR, involves delivering important news, information and meaningful discussion.

But, we also build community.

We connect people from different places, backgrounds and beliefs.

And, we provide a marketplace for ideas and shared experiences.

One of the ways KGOU does that is through our Community Events Calendar.

This is the Manager’s Minute.

We recently completed KGOU’s internal audit for fiscal year 2016.

Business manager Cindy Cottrell did a great job crunching the numbers and working with the new independent accounting firm.

For the year, total operating revenue increased 1.3 percent over 2015.

The big reason for the increase was that giving from private sources – individuals and businesses – rose by six percent.

In fact, donations from individuals just missed KGOU’s all-time high for a single year.

So, thanks for your support.

This is the Manager’s Minute.

As the Oklahoma legislature begins its 2017 session, this is a good time to remember the important role news organizations serve as a watchdog over state, local and national government.

KGOU will be covering the legislative session, and each week we’ll discuss the big stories in Capitol Insider.

Our nation’s founders recognized a vibrant press is critical in holding government accountable to the people.

We’re supposed to ask probing questions and connect the dots.

This is the Manager’s Minute. With the new semester beginning, KGOU is welcoming several students from the University of Oklahoma.

Amber Friend is a senior Print Journalism major at the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication – and she’s taking Radio News.

Macee Beheler is a senior, majoring in broadcast journalism. Through her Practicum class, Macee will be producing KGOU’s new weekly feature, Capitol Insider.

This is the Manager’s Minute.

Presidential Inauguration Day is Friday, January 20.

KGOU and NPR plan special coverage beginning at 9 a.m. as Donald Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States.

NPR’s Steve Inskeep and Audie Cornish will co-host from the Capitol and National Mall, with live reports, interviews, speeches and the oath of office.

At 1 p.m., inauguration coverage continues with Here & Now hosts Robin Young and Jeremy Hobson reporting on the Inaugural Luncheon and Parade.

Happy new year, everyone.

This is the Manager’s Minute.

2016 was quite a year, and the election cycle caused a lot of us in the media to step back and reflect on what we do, how we do it, and why our work is so important.

KGOU, NPR and StateImpact Oklahoma are committed to providing impactful trusted journalism you can count on every day to be well-informed.

We take seriously our obligation to deliver reliable news and information that is critical to civic engagement and a functioning society.

This is the Manager’s Minute.

As we turn the calendar to a new year, changes are coming to KGOU’s on-air voices.

After nearly 40 years on the air, Diane Rehm has retired, and beginning January second, you’ll hear Joshua Johnson and his new program, 1A, weekday mornings at 9:00.

And, January fourth is the final day at KGOU for Morning Edition host Brian Hardzinski.

Brian has spent almost eleven years at KGOU.

This is the Manager’s Minute.

The holidays are a time to celebrate hope, peace and joy.

At KGOU, we’re celebrating 34 years of service to Oklahoma as an NPR affiliate, as our number of loyal listeners keeps growing.

Nationally, NPR programs have shown about a 40 percent increase in ratings over the past twelve months.

That tells us you appreciate the trusted news and information and enriching programs we deliver every day.

And, we appreciate the financial support KGOU receives from you, our valued listeners, and friends.

This is the Manager’s Minute.

With the holidays rapidly approaching, many of us are planning special activities with friends and family, and checking items off our end-of-year to-do lists. As you wind down 2016, please consider a gift to KGOU.

If you are already a supporter – thanks for your financial commitment to KGOU and public service media. We hope you might even be able to increase your support to help us upgrade and grow.

This is the Manager’s Minute.

Now that the calendar has turned to December, and the fall semester is ending at the University of Oklahoma, we want to thank the OU students working at KGOU.

Storme Jones is host of the noon news, traffic and weather reports and produces special features.

Richard Bassett handles the community event calendars, online and on the air, and does audio engineering for local musical performances.

Both are paid student staff members, and we’re glad they will be with us over the holidays and during the spring semester in 2017.

This is the Manager’s Minute. The election is over, the leaves are turning and the holidays are upon us. November is a month of transition, and so it is this year at KGOU.

We just completed a successful partnership with the League of Women Voters, KOSU, OETA, Tyler Media, Oklahoma Watch, the Oklahoman and the Kirkpatrick Foundation to provide the Oklahoma Engaged election guide.

We say so long to Kate Carlton Greer as she begins a new position at the state Capitol. And we wish Karen Holp the best after 28 years at KGOU.

November 9, 2016

This is from the Emerita Manager’s Desk. I’m very happy to report to you one last time, for one very important moment. It is my pleasure to introduce to you the new General Manager of KGOU Radio. You may know his name.

Dick Pryor will be the General Manager beginning Monday November 14.

I’ve known Dick for many years. He’s a great person as well as a great journalist. With his experience in public media and his affinity for the audience in Oklahoma and beyond, I know that KGOU is in good hands.  Dick, welcome to KGOU.