The call letters KUNR first broke through the FM radio airwaves on Oct. 7, 1963 with a short 15-minute broadcast that reached listeners in a 13-mile radius. Today, KUNR 88.7 is an affiliate of National Public Radio that serves 45,000 weekly listeners in 20 communities in Northern Nevada and Northeastern California.
This year marks KUNR’s 50th year of public broadcasting on the University of Nevada, Reno’s campus. The station has become a staple in the community and continues to be a growing source of local and regional news.
“Having a 50-year legacy gives people confidence that KUNR has thrived over time and is ready to meet the next 50 years’ challenges as well as opportunities,” KUNR’s General Manager David Stipech said.
The station has developed “as a community resource that is not just reporting but helping other organizations to help solve the pressing issues of the community,” Stipech said.
According to Stipech, KUNR is providing the highest level of service in their history and their staff is working hard to make programming more informative as well as incorporating technology in areas such as social media, mobile listening and web presence to reach more listeners.
The station strives to not only to be a resource for the community, but an opportunity for students.
“We’re partnering more on campus with University departments and schools, like the Reynolds School of Journalism, to help train the next generation of journalists and provide more content for listeners,” Stipech said.
In addition to a weekly Reynolds School Media Watch segment, the station is also working with the University of Nevada School of Medicine on a KUNR Health Watch segment, and has plans to expand programming for listeners through the Beyond the Headlines segment to include the College of Business, the College of Liberal Arts and more colleges and departments.
To commemorate the anniversary, the station is hosting a variety of events. KUNR is also hosting a reception with NPR’s award-winning correspondent Jacki Lyden. This event will be held Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Milt Glick Ballroom at the University’s Joe Crowley Student Union.
According to Stipech, the event will celebrate “all of the people who have given to the station as well as those we serve.”
For tickets and information on KUNR and anniversary events, visit www.kunr.org.