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Frequently Asked Questions |
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RADIO PROGRAMS
Q: Where on my radio dial can I tune in to KUAC?
A: Tune to 89.9 if you live in Fairbanks, Fort Wainwright, Eielson AFB, Ester
North Pole, Moose Creek, Two Rivers, Fox, Chatanika, Salcha or the surrounding area.
Here's where to tune if you live in one of the following communities served by KUAC Radio translators:
Bettles-93.1
Circle, Central and Circle Hot Springs-91.7
Delta-91.7
Eagle-91.7
Healy-101.7
Nenana-91.1
Nome-91.3
Tok-91.1
Q: What about listening to KUAC-FM online?
A: You listen to KUAC-FM live online by going to our homepage and clicking Listen Now. You can also find news stories that have aired on KUAC and listen to them anytime. KUAC archives news stories as MP3 files. Our online stream is also offered as an MP3 file. So you will need a streaming audio player that can handle MP3 files, and there are lots of them available. Go to our Stream Info page for more information and links to the various download sites for audio players. Keep in mind in order to listen online or to streaming information your computer needs a sound card with speakers or headphones.
Q: How do I find out when programs are scheduled?
A: KUAC's daily Program Guide lists our programs by day and by week. You can also click on the name of any underlined program to visit the program's website.
Q: Why did you move Alaska News Nightly? I've been listening to it at 5:00 pm for years.
A: Listeners have been telling us they'd like to hear the entire national news program All Things Considered "live" from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm, making it more timely and providing continuity across the week. Moving Alaska News Nightly to 6:00 p.m. also ensures more listeners may hear this important statewide news program in its entirety.
Q: What happened to Alaska Edition?
A: Alaska Edition is the morning show on KUAC-FM airing from. It consists of NPR's Morning Edition, KUAC local news, Alaska Public Radio Network (APRN) morning newscasts, locally produced news features, reports from other Community Radio of Alaska (CRA) stations and our local announcer reading the weather and other important announcements. At one time it featured an hour of local experts, community commentators, and regional news, but several years ago we decided to do fewer of those features and concentrate our news reporters' efforts on gathering hard local news. Local experts and commentators can still be heard in our local news reports giving their opinion and offering context to important issues facing Fairbanks, North Pole, and the surrounding borough. Those local reports can be heard during Alaska Edition between 7 a.m. and 9a.m.
Q: Why did you add the business program Marketplace? Isn't there enough business news already?
A: Marketplace is better classified as public radio's daily magazine on business and economic news "for the rest of us." The content is presented in a manner better suited for the average radio listener, rather than for business enthusiasts. The world-class reporting staff at Marketplace has won every major award in radio broadcasting since the show's inception in 1989, including the Peabody Award for Excellence in Broadcasting and Cable and the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Journalism Silver Baton.
Q: Why do you air so much classical music and what's with the opera on Sunday?
A: Throughout the week we address the listening tastes of a number of different audiences. Opera, especially The Metropolitan Opera which broadcasts live from New York on Saturdays from December to May every year, has a dedicated group of devotees in Fairbanks. The Metropolitan Opera's contract allows us to record their live broadcast on Saturday morning and replay it on Sunday. Whether it's the Metropolitan or NPR's World of Opera, consider Sunday to be Opera Day. We're proud of the diversity of music that can be heard on KUAC and presenting performances that would otherwise be inaccessible.
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NEWS
Q: Where do you get the stories you read on the air?
A: Like other news outlets we receive tips and story ideas from various sources including the public, press releases, notices of public meetings, and background knowledge of certain "beats" or areas we cover.
We also subscribe to the Associated Press (AP), which is a wire news service. The AP does some of its own reporting, but more often it takes news stories from other members, like the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Anchorage Daily News and Juneau Empire and rewrites them for its radio service. So while sometimes it may sound as if we are reading something you saw in the local paper, it actually came from the AP news wire service.
KUAC continues to enjoy a long track record of producing award-winning news coverage. While we don't view ourselves as "competitors" with other stations or papers, we do take pride in evaluating for ourselves and pursuing stories we think are important to our listeners. As a result we often report on stories before other news outlets.
Q: How do you decide which stories to cover?
A: In evaluating a story's newsworthiness reporters usually ask certain questions:
- Is it local?
- Is it timely?
- Is public safety at stake?
- Will the story make a difference in our listeners' lives; can they act upon the information?
- Are we covering disenfranchised or disadvantaged segments of society that receive little or no coverage?
- Has the story already received coverage elsewhere and if so, how can we advance it or bring out underreported aspects?
Q: Do reporters have beats?
A: Yes, however given a four-person news team, we frequently take on stories outside regular beats. Our reporters and their beats include:
- Dan Bross: The environment/natural resources.
- Sarah Neal: Local government/schools
- Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock: Independent Native News (Alaska Natives, Native Americans and other indigenous peoples).
- Libby Casey: Military/Alaska Native/American Natives/Indigenous peoples
Q: Do reporters follow a specific journalistic code?
A: Besides continually striving for fairness, accuracy and balance, the KUAC newsroom follows guidelines set out by the Society of Professional Journalists.
Q: When does KUAC broadcast its news?
The newsroom produces three morning and two afternoon local newscasts, plus the nationally distributed Independent Native News. You can listen to up-to-the minute news during these times:
- 6:30 AM
- 7:30 AM
- 8:30 AM
- 8:35 AM – Independent Native News
- 12:20 PM
- 5:01 PM
- 5:30 PM – Independent Native News (repeat)
In addition, KUAC reporters frequently file their stories with the Alaska Public Radio Network which airs its own morning newscasts and evening news magazine at these times:
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VOLUNTEERS
Q: How do I volunteer at KUAC?
A: Volunteers are essential to KUAC and add diversity to the station. There are many volunteer opportunities at KUAC. Visit our volunteer page for more information.
Q: Can someone volunteer for the news?
A: Yes, but news volunteers must have certain skills before they can produce stories. Volunteers should have already been trained by KUAC's Volunteer Coordinator. Anyone desiring to report the news should have a firm understanding of journalistic practices, production standards and techniques. Further he/she must be willing make a long term commitment to the station and to have their pieces edited by a reporter or news director.
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FUNDRAISING AND GIVING
Q: How is KUAC funded?
A: KUAC receives funding from three major sources: individual philanthropy, corporate support (underwriting) and state & federal government allocation. Each of these sources is important to meet the expenses of the organization. Below is a table listing funding percentages from FY 2004:
| Source |
Percentage |
| Federal Funding |
38% |
| State Funding |
37% |
| Individual Gifts |
16% |
| Underwriting |
7% |
| Other |
2% |
Q: Why does KUAC have so many underwriters?
A: We are thrilled to have such solid support from the business community throughout the state. As with any other non-profit organization, KUAC seeks funding from a variety of sources in order to meet the community needs. One way we do this is to provide a means for businesses to make sponsorship gifts to KUAC, which in turn recognizes with businesses' services or products a mention during or between programs. Similar to other non-profit organizations such as American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and United Way, KUAC provides a way for businesses to meet the needs of our community and in addition meet their philanthropic goals.
Q: Why do I get so much mail asking for money?
A: KUAC FM is a non-profit entity that relies on a variety of funding streams in order to operate. For many years, public broadcasters relied solely on funding from the federal government. Over the past 10 -15 years, public broadcasters have recognized government dollars are likely to shrink, not only failing to keep up with operating costs, but also failing to adjust for inflation. There's a possibility of total elimination with additional funding.
Across the board, we're turning more and to donors (individuals, corporations and foundations) to provide reliable sources of funding. And of these three types of funding, individual giving has proven to be the most reliable.
When you receive a letter from us, we're connecting with on what we've been able to accomplish through your generosity and how your gifts help our community. We also want to allow you the opportunity to give an additional gift. Like the envelopes included in each mail piece, we want to provide a way for you to make an additional gift as your circumstances and passion allow.
You may always contact us to let us know if you'd prefer not to receive additional gift requests and we'll adjust our records accordingly.
Q: Why do I get KUAC envelope in every mailing?
A: An envelope is included in every mailing to allow our donors or potential donors the opportunity to make an additional gift to KUAC. We've received terrific responses to this practice and over $10,000 in additional gifts were sent in last fiscal year ending June 30, 2005. Not all of our correspondence is a request for money; however we recognize some of the projects and services we provide to our community may inspire people to make additional gifts of support to KUAC. If you don't want use the envelope provided for a donation, you may save it for your renewal, provide us with feedback or request information.
Q: Is there any way I can direct my money so that I support only the things I want to support?
A: Yes. This is what's called restricted giving, although if we receive unrestricted gifts to KUAC, we can use your gifts where the needs are the greatest. We make every attempt to provide opportunities for donors who prefer to restrict their gifts for very specific purposes if it is in keeping with our mission, contributes to the financial health of the organization and allows us to maintain our integrity and independence.
Q: Can I make a planned gift to KUAC and Alaska One?
A: Yes! Planned gifts are ways donors can exercise one of the most personal forms of giving, treating KUAC as a part of the family. There are several different options for planned giving such as making an estate gift, a bequest or designating KUAC as a beneficiary. Because these gifts are so important to us and to our donors, we encourage you to meet with your attorney, estate planner or financial advisor before making such an important commitment.
Information about how to make a planned gift to KUAC is on our website: http://www.kuac.org/support.html.
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COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH
Q: Why doesn't KUAC provide survey cards anymore?
A: Survey cards are a practice we employed for some years with limited success. The expense to print and send the cards prompted us to revaluate how to best gain information from our listeners and supporters. We gather comments during our pledge drives, through our website and phone calls. We continue to explore options for you to provide us with important information through website surveys, focus groups and other method.
Q: Why doesn't KUAC have a community advisory council?
A: KUAC is licensed to and governed by the UA Board of Regents and is an entity residing within the University of Alaska Fairbanks under the office of the Chancellor.
KUAC is an institutional licensee and is therefore not required by law to have a separate governing board or community advisory board as do our community licensee counterparts.
KUAC's strategic plan, adopted August 2004, outlined a need for more community engagement and a strategy was put in place to begin investigating best ways to form a community advisory group to assist us in creating a stronger link to our community, identify the over-arching needs of the community, and define and implement ways KUAC can meet those needs. With the assistance of the KUAC Task Force, an ad hoc committee established in November 2005, and The Foraker Group, we look forward to establishing this group to begin work at the onset of the new fiscal year (July 1, 2006).
Q: What is an eNews?
A: Over the past several months we've used email messages we call eNews to alert our listeners, supporters and other interested people about KUAC events or circumstances that need to be communicated quickly. Examples include special coverage of breaking events, pre-emption of programming, a change in the radio schedules, promotion of KUAC features and productions, and special/seasonal programming. We want to keep a strong and current line of communication with our listeners.
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KUAC-FM AND KUAC-TV (ALASKA ONE) CONNECTION
Q: What's the difference between KUAC radio and KUAC TV?
A: The licenses of both KUAC-FM and KUAC-TV are owned by the University of Alaska Fairbanks. KUAC-FM and KUAC-TV are both rebroadcast by translators and repeater stations around the state. KUAC-FM and KUAC-TV originate their programming from the same physical location in the lower level of the Fine Arts building on the UAF campus although their transmitters are in different locations. Both stations share employees such as engineers, development professionals, and business office personnel, but there are also employees who work only for the radio station and some who work only for television station.
KUAC-FM broadcasts local news, weather and public service announcements in a live format that can respond to changing conditions rapidly. Although KUAC-FM airs national programming, local announcers and news reporters maintain a local presence during those programs. In the evenings, community radio volunteers program music, give weather forecasts and read public service announcements again maintaining that local, live connection with the listener. Throughout the year KUAC-FM broadcasts live events such as the school board meetings, borough assembly meetings, candidate forums, and music festivals.
KUAC-TV, also called AlaskaONE, airs mostly nationally distributed television programs throughout the day, although occasionally we air programs produced locally by our employees such as Anywhere Alaska and The 49th Star. KUAC-TV is programmed and presented by local people, and the local look of the station comes from highly produced, prerecorded announcements and promos. For more information on KUAC radio and TV, and the differences and similarities, visit our Inside KUAC page.
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