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Jefferson Public Radio

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jefferson Public Radio
TypePublic Radio Network
Country
United States
Broadcast area
Oregon
California
Programming
AffiliationsNational Public Radio
Public Radio Exchange
American Public Media
Ownership
OwnerSouthern Oregon University
History
Launch date1969 (1969)
Links
Websitewww.ijpr.org

Jefferson Public Radio (JPR) is a regional public radio broadcasting network serving over a million potential listeners in Southern Oregon and the Shasta Cascade region of northern California. Owned by Southern Oregon University, the network is headquartered on the SOU campus in Ashland, near Medford. It is named after the proposed State of Jefferson, an area which roughly corresponds to its vast and mostly mountainous coverage area of 60,000 square miles (160,000 km2).[1][2]

JPR's flagship station, KSOR in Ashland, signed on in April 1969 as a 10-watt station operated by students at what was then Southern Oregon College. It began moving away from its college radio roots during the 1970s, becoming a full NPR member by the end of the decade. In the early 1980s, it began building a massive system of translators covering large portions of Oregon and California, and now claims one of the largest translator network of any public radio station in the country.[3]

At first, KSOR was not familiar with the history of Jefferson. However, by the time KSOR began to build full-power satellites later in the decade, it realized that its service area was virtually coextensive with the State of Jefferson. It rebranded itself as "Jefferson Public Radio" in 1989, feeling that name was more than appropriate for its growing network and the area it served.[3]

Programming

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The network broadcasts local programming as well as programs from National Public Radio, Public Radio Exchange, American Public Media, and the BBC World Service among other sources.

Its programming is organized into three broadcasting services. Most listeners in the JPR service area can choose between all three services, giving them a programming choice comparable to those in far larger markets.[4]

Classics & News

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"Classics & News" was KSOR/JPR's original radio service and can be heard throughout the JPR broadcast area. The service has the most translators and the most powerful signals. On weekdays the service plays NPR's news programs Morning Edition, and All Things Considered, and local classical music programming during the midday. In the evenings, the service runs WFMT's Beethoven Network hosted by Peter van de Graff, branded as State Farm Music Hall. For many years, it signed off from 2-5 a.m., but now airs 24 hours a day.[5]

Ten FM stations and 28 translators make up JPR's "Classics & News Service". Outside the JPR area, C & N broadcasts in Mendocino on a translator.

Call sign Frequency City of license State Class ERP
(W)
Height
(m (ft))
FCC info
KHEC 91.1 FM Crescent City California A 125 54 m (177 ft) FCC (KHEC)
KLDD 91.9 FM McCloud California C3 1,100 447 m (1,467 ft) FCC (KLDD)
KWCA 101.1 FM Palo Cedro California C2 4,900 450 m (1,480 ft) FCC (KWCA)
KNHT 102.5 FM Rio Dell California C1 4,500 509 m (1,670 ft) FCC (KNHT)
KNYR 91.3 FM Yreka California C2 400 721 m (2,365 ft) FCC (KNYR)
KSOR 90.1 FM Ashland Oregon C 38,000 810 m (2,660 ft) FCC (KSOR)
KSRG 88.3 FM Ashland Oregon A 230 410 m (1,350 ft) FCC (KSRG)
KZBY 90.5 FM Coos Bay Oregon A 880 150 m (490 ft) FCC (KZBY)
KLMF 88.5 FM Klamath Falls Oregon A 95 659 m (2,162 ft) FCC (KLMF)
KOOZ 94.1 FM Myrtle Point Oregon C1 9,000 451 m (1,480 ft) FCC (KOOZ)
KSRS 91.5 FM Roseburg Oregon A 2,000 93 m (305 ft) FCC (KSRS)

Rhythm & News

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"Rhythm & News" is JPR's second oldest service, designed to complement C&N while running Morning Edition and All Things Considered for a longer period. During the middle of the day, local hosts program a show called "Open Air" that features a unique blend of indie rock/pop, AAA, and Americana music. The evening features adult album alternative programming from World Cafe and "UnderCurrents". Like "Classics & News", "Rhythm & News" also signed off the air from 2-5 a.m. for many years before adopting a 24-hour schedule.[6]

There are five FM stations and six translators broadcasting the "Rhythm & News" service.

Call sign Frequency City of license State Class ERP
(W)
Height
(m (ft))
FCC info
KNCA 89.7 FM Burney California C0 30,000 629 m (2,064 ft) FCC (KNCA)
KNSQ 88.1 FM Mount Shasta California C2 1,200 475.6 m (1,560 ft) FCC (KNSQ)
KSMF 89.1 FM Ashland Oregon C2 2,300 412 m (1,352 ft) FCC (KSMF)
KSBA 88.5 FM Coos Bay Oregon C3 2,700 184 m (604 ft) FCC (KSBA)
KSKF 90.9 FM Klamath Falls Oregon C1 6,500 horizontal
2,000 vertical
687 m (2,254 ft) FCC (KSKF)

News & Information

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"News & Information" is JPR's extended news service offering JPR's only local talk show, The Jefferson Exchange,[7] as well as the NPR talk shows 1A, Here & Now and Fresh Air. It airs the BBC World Service overnights.[8]

Eight AM stations and three FM stations carry the "News & Information Service".

Call sign Frequency City of license State Power
(W)
ERP
(W)
KNHM 91.5 FM Eureka California 500
KPMO 1300 AM Mendocino California 5,000 day
77 night
KMJC 620 AM Mount Shasta California 1,000 day
29 night
KJPR 1330 AM Shasta Lake City California 1,000
KHWA 102.3 FM Weed California 15,500
KSYC-FM 103.9 FM Yreka California 10,000
KRVM 1280 AM Eugene Oregon 5,000 day
1,500 night
KAGI 930 AM Grants Pass Oregon 5,000 day
123 night
KTBR 950 AM Roseburg Oregon 3,400 day
20 night
KSJK 1230 AM Talent Oregon 1,000

Expansion

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In 2004, as a response to a perceived lack of public radio programming in other cities, Jefferson Public Radio began expanding its service outside of the traditional State of Jefferson. Stations in Eugene and Mendocino were purchased for the news and information format, and the news and information station in Eureka was purchased by JPR from an owner who had programmed it with the BBC World Service 24 hours a day. The purchase of the station in Eureka was particularly controversial as it was thought that it would compete directly with Humboldt State University's KHSU.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mission & History". Jefferson Public Radio. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  2. ^ Pogue, James (2022-03-04). "Notes on the State of Jefferson: A secessionist movement brews in northern California". Harper's Magazine. Vol. April 2022. ISSN 0017-789X. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  3. ^ a b Rissr, James (April 17, 2003). "Public Radio Paradise". American Journalism Review: 44 – via LexisNexis Academic.
  4. ^ "JPR Stations". Jefferson Public Radio. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  5. ^ "Classics & News Schedule". Jefferson Public Radio. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  6. ^ "Rhythm & News Schedule". Jefferson Public Radio. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  7. ^ "The Jefferson Exchange". Jefferson Public Radio. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  8. ^ "News & Information Schedule". Jefferson Public Radio. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  9. ^ "USA/UK: Lobby group to appeal end of local BBC relay in California". BBC. April 14, 2004. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
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