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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Al Schares
319.273.6489
Jonathan Ahl
515.725.1700
IOWA PUBLIC RADIO PRESENTS HOLIDAY SPECIALS IN NOVEMBER
November 9, 2011 (Des Moines, IA) — Iowa Public Radio will air a number of specials during the month of November.
Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. IPR enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place. For more information about Iowa Public Radio, contact us at 515-725-1700 or visit iowapublicradio.org.
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October 24, 2011 (Des Moines, IA) — Tony Dehner has been promoted to Production Assistant for Iowa Public Radio.
Tony Dehner was promoted to Production Assistant on July 1, 2011. In his role, Tony will record live studio performances and concerts and edit and package audio for Iowa Public Radio’s Classical and Studio One music programming. Tony joined Iowa Public Radio in 1998 as Overnight Board Operator and has since worked in Traffic and Network Operations as Broadcast Master Control Operator. Prior to starting with Iowa Public Radio, Tony was a reporter at WVIK in Rock Island, Ill.
Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. IPR enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening Iowa’s communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place. For more information about Iowa Public Radio, contact us at 515-725-1700 or visit iowapublicradio.org.
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October 17, 2011 (Des Moines, IA) — Political scientists from across the state will join Iowa Public Radio’s Ben Kieffer for a roundtable discussion of presidential politics, Iowa’s role in the election process and President Obama’s performance in office. The discussion will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25 at the University of Iowa’s Shambaugh Auditorium.
Participating in the discussion are Tim Hagle of the University of Iowa, Donna Hoffman of the University of Northern Iowa, Bruce Nesmith of Coe College and Caroline Tolbert of the University of Iowa. All of the panelists are regular participants in the weekly political discussion on Iowa Public Radio’s talk show The Exchange. They’ll discuss some of the most interesting questions facing Democrats and Republicans in 2012.
The live event is free and open to the public from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the University of Iowa’s Shambaugh Auditorium, located in the UI Main Library on South Madison Street. It will be moderated by Ben Kieffer, host of The Exchange. The audience will be encouraged to join in the discussion. The evening will be recorded and broadcast on Wednesday, October 26, 2011, at noon.
Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. IPR enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening Iowa’s communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place. For more information about Iowa Public Radio, contact us at 515-725-1700 or visit iowapublicradio.org.
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September 15, 2011 (Des Moines, IA) — Stacey Godfrey has been named Executive Administrative Assistant, Jason Burns has been named Broadcast Operations Specialist and Scott Stuntz has been named Broadcast Operations Specialist for Iowa Public Radio.
Stacey Godfrey joined Iowa Public Radio as Executive Administrative Assistant on June 1, 2011. Stacey most recently served as a Legal Administrative Assistant and Legal Secretary for Hopkins and Huebner, P.C. in Adel, and has served in similar executive administrative support roles at Terrus Real Estate Group and The Meyocks Group in central Iowa. Stacey attended Grand View University in Des Moines, where she studied Business Administration and Marketing.
Jason Burns joined Iowa Public Radio as Broadcast Operations Specialist on June 20, 2011. Burns most recently served as Operations Manager for Sturgis Falls Broadcasting in Cedar Falls, and has served in a similar operations and on-air talent position at Cumulus Media in Waterloo. Jason received his Bachelors degree in Communication Arts from Wartburg College.
Scott Stuntz joined Iowa Public Radio as Broadcast Operations Specialist on June 20, 2011. Stuntz has spent the past five months working in Hawaii, and has previous work experience with Iowa Public Radio, serving as a temporary Broadcast Operations Specialist and earlier as a student board operator. Scott received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Iowa State University.
Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. IPR enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening Iowa’s communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place. For more information about Iowa Public Radio, contact us at 515-725-1700 or visit iowapublicradio.org.
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For more information, contact:
Mary Grace Herrington
Iowa Public Radio | 515.725.1701
John McCarroll
Iowa State University | 515.294.6137
Sheila Doyle Koppin
Board of Regents – State of Iowa | 515.281.3332
August 4, 2011 (Des Moines, IA) – Iowa Public Radio announced today the intent to acquire KZHZ-FM and KZHC-FM – a purchase supported by Iowa State University and approved by the Board of Regents for the State of Iowa. At a cost of $1.75 million, IPR will fund and operate KZHZ-FM and KZHC-FM streaming the first ever 24-hour classical music service for the greater Des Moines metro as well as residents in Madison, Warren, Marion, Clarke, Newton, Jasper, Adair, Union, Lucas and Dallas counties.
Playing the dual role of IPR board member and fiscal agent, Iowa State University’s Vice President for Business and Finance, Warren Madden, said “IPR has long sought to fill the gap in Des Moines with a strong, reliable FM signal. As their fiscal agent, ISU is able to support an internal financing platform allowing the maturing statewide network to exercise its muscle for true growth.”
“Upon the creation of IPR, the organization was challenged to integrate operations of the public radio groups licensed to Iowa’s public universities, reduce their financial dependency on university funding and manage growth to serve a statewide audience,” said Robert Donley, Executive Director for the Board of Regents. “It is clear that with the acquisition of the Des Moines stations in addition to newly constructed stations in Ottumwa and Bettendorf and their planned expansion next year in Sioux City that IPR is fulfilling a key tenet in their strategic plan to become a statewide network.”
With the addition of KZHZ-FM and KZHC-FM, IPR will serve a population of over 400,000 in the greater Des Moines metro and forecasts an increase in membership and corporate sponsorships. This move will also allow IPR to reevaluate other signals serving the area to expand news and alternative music programming and eliminate redundancy. “Our members in the greater Des Moines area can now rely on a stronger, more reliable FM signal and our corporate sponsors will benefit from a greater reach in audience,” said Mary Grace Herrington, Chief Executive Officer for Iowa Public Radio.
The sale transaction is expected to be completed over the next few months. Herrington notes a marketing campaign will then launch to inform listeners, donors, corporate sponsors and other stakeholders.
Iowa Public Radio offers three streams of programming – news, classical and alternative music and broadcasts throughout the state on 21 frequencies. The organization has annual combined revenues of over $6 million. The five-member Iowa Public Radio Board of Directors includes one representative from each of Iowa’s public universities as well as two community leaders appointed by the Board of Regents.
Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. IPR enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place. For more information about this event or any of Iowa Public Radio’s programming, contact us at 515-725-1700 or visit iowapublicradio.org.
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June 28, 2011 (Des Moines, IA) -- Iowa Public Radio will provide a live broadcast of the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra’s “Yankee Doodle Pops” on July 1, 2011, as part of its ongoing Performance Iowa series.
Iowa Public Radio’s broadcast of the Des Moines Symphony's Yankee Doodle Pops concert begins with a program preview with host Jacqueline Halbloom at 8 p.m. Scheduled guests include Maestro Joesph Giunta and operatic tenor Eduardo Villa, who will be featured in the evening’s performance. The concert, broadcast from the lawn of the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines, begins at 8:30 p.m. and will feature patriotic favorites, including a special tribute to the Iowa National Guard.
Performance Iowa showcases Iowa's best performers as well as visiting musicians making a special stop in Iowa and in our studios. Host Jacqueline Halbloom goes behind the music in each broadcast with IPR’s classical music team and celebrity guests.
Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. IPR enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place. For more information about Iowa Public Radio, contact us at 515-725-1700.
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June 23, 2011 (Des Moines, IA) -- Iowa Public Radio announced today the expansion of the News, Studio One and Classical formats in several Iowa communities. Effective Monday, June 27, 2011, the changes reflect a response to audience requests and listening patterns.
All Iowa Public Radio programming is available online and via mobile device free of charge, 24 hours a day. Information about listening online or via mobile device is at www.iowapublicradio.org/about-ipr/listen-live-help.html.
Iowa Public Radio is committed to bringing the best possible programming to the widest possible audience. These changes were informed by listener comments and audience data and will help Iowa Public Radio reach more people with more options for programming.
Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. Iowa Public Radio enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place. For more information about Iowa Public Radio, contact us at 515-725-1700.
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June 9, 2011 (Des Moines, IA) -- Nile Hartline has been named Underwriting Sales Manager for Iowa Public Radio.
Nile Hartline joined Iowa Public Radio as Underwriting Sales Manager on March 1, 2011. Hartline most recently served as Director for Training Solutions at Learning Communications LLC and has served in similar sales, marketing and sales management roles at American Media Inc., Novations Training Solutions and The Principal Financial Group. Nile earned a BA in English from the University of Iowa and an MA in English from Drake University.
Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. IPR enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place. For more information about Iowa Public Radio, contact us at 515-725-1700.
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March 10, 2011 (Des Moines, IA) -- Iowa Public Radio is pleased to announce gift commitments totaling $550,000 – the largest gift ever received – from the long-time public radio community support group, the Friends of KHKE/KUNI. The gift will support infrastructure improvements in the Cedar Falls KUNI studios where IPR has centralized all classical and Studio One music services.
“IPR has made a commitment to continue the very popular Studio One format featuring blues, folk, jazz, alternative and vintage rock including a focus on independent artists from Iowa. We believe centralizing that service along with classical music in Cedar Falls was a good move. But they needed quite a facelift on the facility and new equipment, so we decided to fund the purchase of a new mixing console and digital routing, furniture and fixture updates and a new antenna for KUNI, “ said Steve Firman, president of the Friends of KHKE/KUNI. “We feel we’ve done our part, now we are watching for Congress to do their part by continuing federal funding for public broadcasting that ensures our programming for classical and Studio One continues.”
“Studio One is the second largest listening audience of all IPR formats with 29% of those listeners representing a 25-44 demographic according to the Spring 2010 Arbitron report, “ said IPR’s music director, Al Schares. “We continue to achieve our expansion goals not just in our footprint across the state but in attracting and retaining new, younger listeners.”
“Cultivating this precious gift from the Friends of KHKE/KUNI, a separate 501 c 3 nonprofit corporation whose purpose includes creating awareness for public radio and generating support through gifts and special projects, began in June 2009 over a lunch meeting. We exchanged ideas on the history of the organizations and our future together. It was important for me to understand their commitment to KHKE/KUNI’s music format and I am grateful for their support in sustaining the service,” said IPR’s chief executive officer, Mary Grace Herrington. The two organizations have begun discussion for a seed gift of $1,000,000 for an operating endowment.
Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. IPR enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place. For more information about this event or any of Iowa Public Radio’s programming, contact us at 515-725-1700.
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June 29, 2010 (Des Moines, IA) -- Iowa Public Radio announced today it has begun nearly $1 million in capital improvements to its facilities on the Iowa State University campus in Ames that will enhance the network's signal strength and clarity as well as provide fail-safe systems to ensure the entire network remains on the air in the aftermath of severe weather.
"The upgrades to our facilities at Iowa State University will greatly expand Ames' strategic role and serve as our technology hub," says Mary Grace Herrington, Chief Executive Officer.
The network also announced it has completed the co-location of live, locally produced music programming at Iowa Public Radio's Cedar Falls studios. Supporting the effort is the inclusion of the public broadcasting industry's most comprehensive digital music libraries and studio facilities that can broadcast live Classical and Studio One music performances before live audiences. Herrington says Barney Sherman and Curt Snook will be originating their IPR Classical programs from Cedar Falls starting July 1 to take advantage of the expanded library and studio facilities. Hollis Monroe, who has hosted Classical Music during the mid-day hours, chose not to accept a relocation offer from the network.
"We will greatly miss Hollis's on-air talent and depth of knowledge," adds Herrington. "However, we look forward to continuing to broadcast the finest music ever written -- hosted by highly talented, knowledgeable Iowa Public Radio hosts." The capital improvements at both the Ames and Cedar Falls facilities were funded by a combination of grants to the network, including grants from the state's I-JOBS infrastructure development fund. In addition to locally originated music programming, Iowa Public Radio also broadcasts talk programs, "TALK OF IOWA" and "THE EXCHANGE" from its Iowa City studios and hosts local segments of NPR's "MORNING EDITION" as well as the state's most comprehensive legislative coverage from studios in Des Moines.
"More than 50 percent of our music programming broadcast by Iowa Public Radio is locally produced with local hosts who connect Iowans with the cultural fabric of our state," Herrington says. "The steadfast commitment and the technology improvements enhance the efficiency of our broadcast operations and add even more richness to the Iowa Public Radio listening experience."
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September 9, 2010 (Des Moines, IA) -- In an aggressive move to manage growth and fill vacancies as a result of retirements and talent shifts, Iowa Public Radio is pleased to announce the following new hires and promotions:
Kelly Edmister joined Iowa Public Radio as Chief Administrative Officer on September 7, 2010. Kelly is a Certified Public Accountant and earned a BA in Finance from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, and an MBA from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri. Kelly most recently served as Assistant Controller at American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company in West Des Moines.
Don Russell joined Iowa Public Radio as a Broadcast Engineer on September 1, 2010. Don most recently served as a Chief Operator/Network Specialist at Maverick Media in Rockford, Illinois, and received his certification as a Certified Broadcast Radio Engineer from the Society of Broadcast Engineers.
Kate Wells joined Iowa Public Radio as Cedar Rapids Reporter on September 1, 2010. Kate holds a BA in Religion from Principia College. She had been a summer intern for Iowa Public Radio, and previously interned at New Hampshire Public Radio.
Kathleen Masterson joined Iowa Public Radio as the CPB LJC Agriculture Reporter on August 23, 2010. Kathleen comes from National Public Radio in Washington D.C. where she served as an Associate Producer on the science desk. She has also held print and radio journalism positions in Madison, WI and has worked on film documentaries. Kathleen has a Bachelor's Degree in English from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, and a Master's Degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin.
Charity Nebbe joined Iowa Public Radio as the Talk of Iowa Host on July 1, 2010. Charity most recently worked for Michigan Radio as the All Things Considered Host. Charity returns to Iowa having previously hosted Morning Edition, Talk of Iowa and Midday at WOI in the Ames. It was during this time that she also launched the nationally syndicated program Chinwag Theatre as the co-host along with noted children's author Daniel Pinkwater.
Jeff Schmidt was promoted to Executive Producer of Talk Shows on July 1, 2010. Jeff joined Iowa Public Radio in August of 2006 as a reporter, and was named a producer for the talk shows in 2008. Before coming to IPR, he held news management positions in commercial radio and television in Cedar Rapids and worked on a national sports radio program.
Alex Heuer was promoted to Talk Show Producer on July 1, 2010. He is responsible for producing The Exchange and also helping out with Talk of Iowa. Alex joined Iowa Public Radio as the organization's first Cedar Rapids Reporter in January 2009.
Iona Myers was promoted to Senior Development Officer on July 1, 2010. Iona attended the University of Iowa and double majored in African American studies and English. She has served IPR in underwriting sales for more than five years.
Kristy Conrad was promoted to Senior Development Officer on July 1, 2010. Kristy is a graduate from the University of Northern Iowa with a BA in Communication Studies. She has served IPR in underwriting sales for more than four years.
Amanda Acton was promoted to Communications Manager on July 1, 2010. Amanda holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of Northern Iowa and an MPA from Drake University. Amanda joined IPR December 2009 after serving in a marketing and events capacity at Children & Families of Iowa.
Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. IPR enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place.
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