Connecticut Public Radio WNPR and Fairfield University WVOF announce partnership

Connecticut Public Radio WNPR and Fairfield University WVOF announce partnership

Image: WNPR/WVOF announcement

"Morning Edition," "Where We Live" and "All Things Considered" are some of the signature programs on Connecticut Public Radio station WNPR in Hartford that will be heard on Fairfield University's WVOF 88.5 FM radio station under a partnership announced today by the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network (CPBN) and Fairfield University. Under the three-year agreement, both WNPR and WVOF will greatly increase their audience reach and generate more local coverage through a planned Fairfield County News Desk that will be located on the Fairfield University campus. Both parties anticipate that the arrangement could lead to a more comprehensive partnership in the future that could include television and online offerings.

Under the agreement, WVOF will broadcast the WNPR program schedule every weekday morning from 5 to 10 a.m. and every weekday afternoon from 4 to 6 p.m., as well as weekend mornings from 5 a.m. to noon. With a presence on campus, WNPR will provide exciting new educational opportunities for students to apply and enhance their journalism, announcing techniques and production skills. Fairfield University offers a major in New Media Film, Television, and Radio, which is among the most popular majors.

Jeffrey von Arx, S.J., University President welcomed the partnership with WNPR. "WNPR has a reputation for exceptional programming, which we look forward to presenting to our regular listeners, as well as a new audience throughout Fairfield County," he said. "The expanded educational opportunities this arrangement provides to our students makes the partnership especially appealing."

Image: WNPR/WVOF announcement To date, several of the University's faculty members have been interviewed by John Dankosky on WNPR's 'Where We Live,' and the feedback has been extremely positive.

Jerry Franklin, CEO of Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network said, "We're excited to partner with such a distinguished university. This will allow WNPR to extend its broadcast reach, while creating an ongoing opportunity to produce richer content for listeners within an enhanced educational environment for the faculty and students. This partnership is a natural extension of our station's commitment to education in Connecticut."

Under the WNPR/WVOF collaboration listeners will be able to tune into such weekend programming as "BBC World Service;" "It's Your World," in depth interviews with world leaders; "Studio 360," a weekly arts magazine; "Weekend Edition," the two-hour morning news magazine; "Car Talk," featuring America's funniest auto mechanics taking calls from weary car owners from all over the country; "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me!," an hour-long quiz program, with some of the best and the brightest from news and entertainment; "Living on Earth," a source for environmental news; and "Speaking of Faith," a program on religion, meaning, ethics, and ideas.

WVOF expanded and upgraded its radio station when the addition to the John A. Barone Campus Center was completed in 2001. Technical arrangements are under way and it is anticipated the new on-air WVOF-WNPR partnership will begin August 1, 2008. An additional benefit to the partnership will be cross-promotional opportunities, including, events at the Quick Center for the Arts and selected athletic events.

Fairfield University is a Jesuit University, rooted in one of the world's oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions. More than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 35 states, 46 foreign countries, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are enrolled in the University's six schools. In the spirit of rigorous and sympathetic inquiry into all dimensions of human experience, Fairfield welcomes students from diverse backgrounds to share ideas and engage in open conversations. The University is located in the heart of a region where the future takes shape, on a stunning campus on the Connecticut coast.

WNPR, an affiliate of National Public Radio, Public Radio International and American Public Media, is the public radio affiliate of the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network. It serves over 200,000 listeners in Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island with news and information. Its award-winning local programming includes "Where We Live," " The Faith Middleton Show" and "Front and Center With Ray Hardman." The Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network also includes CPTV, the public television affiliate. It is a locally and nationally recognized producer and presenter of quality public television programming, including UConn Women's Basketball, original documentaries and educational programming. CPTV has the distinction of providing more children's programming than any other public broadcasting station in the country. Overall, the network brings a broad spectrum of public affairs, entertainment, sports, and educational programming to viewers, listeners and readers. For more information, visit http://www.wnpr.org .

Posted On: 06-19-2008 10:06 AM

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