If you listen to the nightly news and feel that you just don’t completely understand national and international issues, you may want to tune into WQUB radio, the area’s National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate, for an in-depth analysis.
“NPR’s ‘Morning Edition’ program, which runs from 6-9 a.m. weekday mornings, draws from more than 300 news staff—reporters, correspondents, newscasters, editors, producers, hosts and bloggers—in the U.S. and abroad, from Washington D.C. and New York to Shanghai and Baghdad,” says Marifaith Mueller, WQUB studio manager. “They have the capacity to stay on top of breaking news, follow the most critical stories of the day and track complex issues over the long-term. With a three-hour daily time slot, we can give these issues the time necessary to really explain them.”
A similar program, “All Things Considered,” contains detailed interviews with celebrities, book authors, producers and other arts-related professionals and is aired from 4-7 p.m. weekdays.
“Our programming appeals to a wide variety of listeners, from young adults to the elderly, and all levels of education” says Mueller. “We offer unique content that is just not offered on any other station in the tri-state area.”
WQUB 90.3 FM was founded in 1948 as the on-campus Quincy College radio station, then called WWQC-FM. In 1979, the station increased to 10 watts of power and broadcasts could be heard just outside of Francis Hall, the main administrative building. In 1988, the station began its association with NPR and today, WQUB operates at 28,000 watts and covers nine counties in western Illinois and northeastern Missouri.
“Based on results of a membership survey last fall, we have streamlined our on-air schedule to create a strong base of NPR programming with a few additional syndicated favorites such as ‘The Diane Rehm Show’ and ‘Here and Now,’” says Maureen Hill, membership and development manager. “We offer classical music every weekday afternoon, and Marifaith produces an evening easy listening program called ‘Romance by the River’ every day.”
The station’s website, www.wqub.org, lists the full programming schedule and offers continuous online streaming, links to show websites and podcasts of local programming.
WQUB is funded through grants from the Illinois Arts Council and Corporate Public Broadcasting, underwriting from local businesses and member support.
“Underwriting is very similar to advertising except that there is no call to action,” says Hill. “We work within a company’s marketing plan to target the specific audience they want to reach. Since we do not have as many advertisers, a company stands out. We are a good fit for companies that realize the importance of being associated with NPR and wish to reach that type of audience.”
“Community support is crucial in these economic times,” agrees Mueller. “With all the cuts in state and federal grants, we count on our listeners and the community at large for support.
“We’re very strategic when it comes to programming,” she continues. “NPR programming is costly and we have extra fees to add programming from different sources. We need our listeners to support public radio like they support their internet or cable providers. Think about what it would be like if you did not have our resources at your disposal.”
The station conducts official membership drives in the spring and fall of each year, but will gladly accept members at any time. For more information about membership and underwriting opportunities, contact Hill at 217-228-5432, ext. 4006, or visit www.wqub.org.
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