WEKU RADIO NETWORK CONTINUES TO GROW THROUGH NEW INITIATIVES
Whether you wake up to WEKU news with Bryan Bartlett during Morning Edition, tune in on your way home with Cheri Lawson and All Things Considered, or catch up on midday news with Here and Now, you’ll often hear stories by Frankfort-based Ryland Barton and other journalists across the state.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every weekday, listeners are kept informed by two-minute newscasts from the Kentucky Public Radio Network, a unique collaboration boosting the reach of critical stories. KRPN is made up of four public radio stations: WFPL (Louisville Public Media), WKMS (Murray State University), WKYU (Western Kentucky University) and WEKU based at Eastern Kentucky University.
The four stations’ long-standing collaboration has fortified their individual public service missions by sharing news content that’s relevant across the Commonwealth. As print media continues to cut staff and coverage, KPRN has continually expanded its cooperative reach.
Loyal listener Elizabeth Wacthel has noticed, as WEKU became her most trusted source of news during her 40 years serving Eastern Kentucky University. She retired as Director of the Training Resource Center in 2015, but she still depends on WEKU.
“I’ve always found that the reporting is intelligent, not superficial. That’s been very important to regional stewardship, which is so important to Eastern Kentucky University,” Watchel said.
Building on the success of KPRN, the four stations recently joined with three others to form the Ohio Valley ReSource. This seven-station collaboration covers issues of regional importance for Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio.
The Solutions Journalism Network non-profit organization recently awarded the ReSource a $40,000 grant to highlight the challenges and successes of the Kentucky Valley Education Cooperative. The grant will fund a series of stories beginning this fall and extending into 2018. The stories focus on the best practices of educating children suffering from familial drug addiction and innovative training preparing students for high-tech jobs critical to growing the Kentucky economy.
For more information or to read important news, visit weku.fm and ohiovalleyresource.org.
Published on March 19, 2018