'We’re going to keep doing it': Milwaukee’s NPR celebrates 60 years in radio

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Lauri Jones has been a radio announcer for more than half her life. She started her career in the commercial realm playing tunes. Now it’s purely public radio for her, all about news and information.

“People will always want fair, accurate, truthful info,” said Jones. “It may not seem that way these days, but there will always be an audience for it.”  

The host of Here and Now is also the station's operations director. She’s at this radio station at a momentous time. It’s 60 years for WUWM 89.7, Milwaukee’s NPR. “We were here before NPR. It’s a big part of our identity now. Becoming one of their first member stations was pivotal in the formation of the station,” stated Jones.

WUWM started out on the campus of UW-Milwaukee with the coverage of a five-block radius. Now the reach is much farther. “North to Port Washington,” said Jones. “West to Oconomowoc, down to Kenosha. But with streaming and apps, people can listen to us anywhere.”

Lauri has seen and lived the changes in her industry firsthand. “Before I had to worry about the audio component. Now our reporters are thinking about pictures, video they need to take, video on the web,” stated Jones. “Something for a social media post. It’s definitely changed for the better.”

General Manager David Lee has the task of taking 89.7 into the future. He knows the reputation of six decades will help him with the mission. “Radio will always be a fundamental form of communication for folks to get info in a free and easily accessible way,” said Lee. But he admits there are challenges, especially when it comes to funding. “Support for NPR comes from this station,” said Lee. “Public media doesn’t mean government media. It means publicly supported media. About 80% comes from you and me.” He adds that they continuously try to figure out how to help people understand the core value that they are providing, since fewer people are giving.

“It’s a place for stories to connect, inspire and engage people,” said Lee. David believes that achievement comes from a more community engaged newsroom.

“As with previous rate hikes. This plan is controversial,” said Lee. “Gathering the stories and questions the community is most interested in and going on a journey with them to find out. Utilizing the team’s journalistic ethics standards and reporting know how to get to the question people have.”

Because there are always questions to be answered, the need for this medium is expected to remain for a very long time.

"Because we are funded by the community, listeners and corporate underwriters,” Jones said. “As long as they have an appetite for it and continue to fund it, we’re going to keep doing it."