In the 60 years Kansas Public Radio (KPR) has been in operation, it never has had as many listeners as today, with an average 114,000 weekly. KPR OFFERS audio readers to the visually impaired for free with documentation of their impairment.
KPR director of development Sheri Hamilton visited with Rotary Club members Thursday to discuss the KPR’s success and to encourage more Iolans to become listeners.
KPR has a tower in Chanute, station 90.3 FM, and Rotarians who listen to the station say they receive a clear signal.
When KPR first started reaching the Chanute and Iola area, community members were excited about the news programing. After roughly a year it went away. Hamilton said additional programing fees were too expensive.
“We didn’t want to go away from the area but couldn’t afford what it was going to cost to have the all news format,” Hamilton said. “But, it’s not gone it’s available on the computer,” at www.kansaspublic-radio.org.
KPR is housed in Lawrence on the University of Kansas campus. It was started originally as a classical and jazz music format for dorms and classrooms.
As it grew out of the classrooms and into cars and homes the station brought in news broadcasts.
“We have changed over the years,” Hamilton said. “We don’t put anything on the air if we don’t think it will be meaningful and relevant.”
The award-winning station is non-profit, and like with any non-profit it struggles to keep afloat. Hamilton said in addition to fundraisers the station receives 6,000 contributions annually.
“We have 6,000 listeners that love us enough to give money to keep operating,” she said.
It cost the station $234 for every hour of programing, with 2.6 percent of its funding coming from the state.
“We are trying to be less and less dependent on those dollars,” Hamilton said, adding that she firmly believes the reason why the station has been in operation for 60 years is because of what it offers.
Morning the station streams in National Public Radio, which is the second most listened to radio network. Throughout the day there are programs such as “All Things Considered,” “This American Life” and “Car Talk,” which comes in as the most listened hour on KPR.
Classical and jazz music are still a part and on the weekends KPR has added “Trail Mix,” which is folksy type music.
The station reaches a slightly larger male audience — but not by much, at 53 percent of males and 47 percent of females. The classical music segments reach 52 percent of males and 48 percent of females.
Hamilton said studies have shown that people who listen to KPR are more intelligent and have a higher chance to hold a higher degree of education.
On the political spectrum the station brings in 37 percent of liberals/somewhat liberals, 25 percent of middle road, 28 percent of conservative/somewhat conservative and 10 percent with no response.
Hamilton said she doesn’t believe KPR is skewed one way or the other and that if the station is then it “wouldn’t be doing its job.”
“You have to listen and decide for yourself, but I just don’t hear it,” she said.
The station will give out a special radio that has books read out loud. There are about 300 volunteers a week that go to the radio station and record books. Audio reader listeners even may request a certain book to be recorded.
For more information visit the stations website at www.kansaspublicradio.org.
KPR interest is at a peak
