SALT LAKE CITY — For 65 years, 90.1, KUER has served the state of Utah with high quality news, talk and entertainment. From its first broadcast on June 5, 1960, in the basement of Kingsbury Hall on the campus of the University of Utah to its now-statewide network of transmitters, KUER connects Utah through compelling local and national stories.
“KUER doesn’t sound like it did in 1960, because over time it has adapted to meet the needs and interests of its listeners,” said Executive Director Maria O’Mara. “I can’t think about the station’s journey without thinking of the thousands of listeners and members who have partnered with us every step of the way.”
KUER became a charter member of NPR in 1971, bringing national programming like All Things Considered to Utah audiences. Adding Morning Edition to the lineup in 1979 marked a turning point, as the station began building its statewide translator system which now covers most of Utah. The station launched its own local news department in 1986 and, in 2001, debuted “RadioWest,” hosted by trusted journalist Doug Fabrizio. In 2015, KUER transitioned away from music to an all-news format.
Over these 65 years, KUER has remained committed to amplifying the voices and stories of all Utahns. That commitment has driven the station’s expansion to Southern and Northern Utah, the creation of regional news bureaus and the launch of Avanza 88.3, Utah’s first bilingual public radio station. These efforts ensure that more people across the state have access to independent, non-commercial journalism that reflects their communities.
“65 years is an incredible accomplishment for any organization, but for KUER, those 65 years represent a real relationship with our audience,” said KUER Station Manager Cristy Meiners. “People have listened to us, laughed and cried with us, read our work and, in that very unique public radio way, supported us. This anniversary is about how we’ve grown, and it’s also about celebrating our connections with the community we serve.”
About KUER
A charter member of NPR, KUER 90.1 broadcasts from the Eccles Broadcast Center at the University of Utah, providing a commercial-free mix of local and national news and storytelling to more than 150,000 weekly listeners across the state. It is KUER’s fundamental belief that information and public engagement enrich a community. To that end, KUER 90.1 is intensely committed to building a community of world citizens through story and art, discussion and debate, sound and creativity. KUER and its HD channels can be heard at 90.1 FM or streamed online at kuer.org and with KUER’s mobile app.