Utah Public Radio Begins New Programming Based on Listener Survey Results

Utah Public Radio will introduce an exciting line-up of new programs to Utah beginning Monday, Aug. 10, according to Program Director Tom Williams. The statewide network, a service of Utah State University and division of the College of Humanities and Social Science, has responded to listener requests for fresh and invigorating public radio offerings in news, culture and entertainment, he said.

News lovers can look forward to Here & Now, an NPR co-production with WBUR in Boston. A diverse selection of BBC programs will be heard with the addition of Assignment, The Inquiry, The Conversation, Trending, Business Daily, Witness, The Forum and The Arts Hour. UPR is also embarking on a partnership with the Salt Lake Tribune to air and contribute to Behind the Headlines, hosted by Jennifer Napier-Pearce.

Many new programs are centered in the arts, such as q from the CBC and Live Wire! from PRI. Performance and storytelling arts are showcased in The Moth from PRX, NPR’s Bullseye and BackStory featuring the American History Guys. Humor and trivia are the focus of Ask Me Another.

Science takes center stage with Radiolab and BBC Discovery. Marketplace Tech Report, StarDate and a new collaboration with USU’s College of Science called Science by the Slice will debut as features throughout the broadcast day.

To ensure listeners have immediate access to emerging innovative content, UPR Presents will be a dedicated timeslot for national series like Invisibilia, which provide compelling content but are not produced weekly. UPR Presents will also showcase locally produced specialty programming like The Source and Playing Shortly, designed through collaborations with USU science and arts communities.

The new schedule also represents UPR’s continued commitment to fine arts programming with Performance Today moving to weekday evenings, opera to Sunday evenings and Beethoven Satellite Network gracing the late night hours.

The changes are the result of an extensive listener survey initiated in February 2015. According to Williams, those results show that UPR listeners highly value news, information and entertainment programs. They also expressed a high appreciation for locally produced content, which will be enhanced by the creation of an assistant news director position and with additional intern reporters through the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

“The survey results present us with an opportunity to reimagine; to analyze not only the selection but the best placement of all programming within the schedule,” said UPR General Manger Peg Arnold. “We believe this schedule preserves highly valued public radio essentials, like ‘Morning Edition’ and ‘All Things Considered.’ At the same time it invites listeners to hear the latest generation of creatives who are advancing public radio news and cultural programming in inventive ways.”

The new offerings are broadcast throughout Utah on UPR’s 36 transmitters and translators.

“Now more than ever, we in public radio have excellent resources to understand the diversity of listeners’ interests,” Arnold said. “That knowledge enables us to advance our mission as a responsive public radio network and a vibrant public service of Utah State University.”

Established in 1953, UPR introduced public radio to the state of Utah. Broadcasting from the main campus of Utah State University in Logan, UPR is committed to enriching the lives of listeners throughout the state of Utah with quality programming designed to inspire the mind, engage the imagination and perpetuate the habit of lifelong learning.

More information is available by contacting program director Williams, tom.williams@usu.edu, general manager Peg Arnold, peg.arnold@usu.edu, and by calling (435) 797-3138.

A full program schedule can be found online at UPR.org.

Contact: Tom Williams, UPR program director, (435) 797-3135, tom.williams@usu.edu

Source: Utah Public Radio