KSKA

StationAccount image

To provide quality radio services that inform, educate and entertain the people of Southcentral Alaska through exposure to diverse issues, events, cultures and ideas. Public awareness of social, political and cultural issues is imperative for a healthy society. To this end, KSKA seeks to encourage and enrich public awareness through in-depth news, thought-provoking information and culturally diverse entertainment from a wide range of sources. KSKA FM 91.1 has been Southcentral Alaska’s source of news and information since it began broadcasting from Grant Hall on the Alaska Pacific University Campus in 1978. KSKA signed on 103 FM on August 15 as Aurora Community Broadcasting with 3,000 watts of power. Around 1980, KSKA boosted power to 36,000 watts and moved to FM 91.1 on the dial. In 1993, KSKA merged with public television station KAKM Channel 7, forming the parent company of APTI, Alaska Public Telecommunications Inc. and moved in with KAKM at the Elmo Sackett Broadcast Center in 1997. KSKA tripled its coverage area in the fall of 1998 by installing a 100,000-watt transmitter. Today, KSKA broadcasts 24 hours a day from the Elmo Sackett Broadcast Center at 3877 University Drive on the Alaska Pacific University campus in Anchorage, and serves about 60 percent of the state’s population. KSKA maintains a separate programming department and revenue stream from KAKM, but shares engineering, administration and development personnel. KSKA and the Alaska Public Radio Network (APRN) recently developed a partnership that has led to consolidation of services including news operations in order to strengthen news reporting and increase local programming. KSKA's listenership has grown over the years from a few thousand to more than 30,000. KSKA broadcasts a wide variety of national, regional and local programming including National Public Radio’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Latino USA, Afropop, Talk of the Nation, Fresh Air with Terry Gross, Car Talk, Weekend Edition, The Thistle and Shamrock, and Public Radio International’s The World, Marketplace, and Prairie Home Companion, as well as regional programming such as National Native News, and Alaska Public Radio Network’s Alaska News Nightly. KSKA’s news team works closely with APRN to provide local news and information. Locally produced programs include special features and election and event coverage, including simulcast broadcast with KAKM of the popular Running series on candidates and issues, and the weekly discussion of current events with local news editors during Anchorage Edition. Other locally produced programs include Line One... Your Health Connection, a call-in health program featuring guest experts on a variety of health topics, from 2 to 3 p.m. on Mondays, and Community Forum, a public affairs call-in program on Wednesdays from 2 to 3 p.m., alternating every fourth Wednesday with Book Talk Alaska, a local all-in program. Intercambios, Alaska's only English/Spanish call-in issues program airs Sunday evenings at 8 p.m. Volunteers are an integral part of the team, performing administrative, production and development functions. Currently, about 30 volunteers work with KSKA, producing many cultural and music programs for every night of the week including Acousticity, Alaska Reader, Domingo De Estrellas, Ecos Del Coqui, Reggae Soul, Soul to Soul, Twilight Show and a variety of evening jazz and blues music programs. The Alaska Public Telecommunications Inc. (APTI) Board of Directors and a Community Advisory Board advise the station on a variety of issues. CAB meetings, open to the public, are regularly scheduled at noon on the third Wednesday of the month from September through May. CAB members include David Bennett, Sally Bostwick, Tom Brennan, Andrew Dimitriou, Diana Ede (Chair), Heidi Ely, Wayne Eski, Heather Flynn, Peter Giannini, Dr. Richard Lazur, Ann Liburd, Jim Barr, and Bill Schoephoester. KSKA conducts two membership drives annually, in October and April, in conjunction with National Public Radio’s fund-raising schedule. Other fundraisers include special events and concerts. Nearly 80 percent of KSKA’s funding comes from local program sponsors and listeners. KSKA currently has about 3,500 members. KSKA FM 91.1 translates in the following communities as: 91.9 Girdwood, 91.1 Prudhoe Bay/Unalaska, and 88.1 Seward.

Series

Caption: PRX default Series image
 
0 Pieces

  • From: KSKA
  • Updated: Jul 19, 2007

Latest Pieces