Jefferson Public Radio
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).
| Type | Public Radio Network |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
First air date | 1969 |
Broadcast area | Oregon California |
| Owner | Southern Oregon University |
Launch date | 1969 |
| Affiliation(s) | National Public Radio Public Radio International American Public Media |
Official website | Official website |
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 the largest translator network of any public radio station in the country.
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.
Programming
The network broadcasts local programming as well as programs from National Public Radio, Public Radio International, 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.
Classics & News
"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.
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 (MHz) | City of license | ERP (W) | Height (m (ft)) | Class | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KSRG | 88.3 | Ashland, Oregon | 230 | 410 m (1,350 ft) | A | FCC |
| KZBY | 90.5 | Coos Bay, Oregon | 880 | 150 m (490 ft) | A | FCC |
| KHEC | 91.1 | Crescent City, California | 125 | 54 m (177 ft) | A | FCC |
| KNHT | 102.5 | Rio Dell, California | 4,500 | 509 m (1,670 ft) | C1 | FCC |
| KLMF | 88.5 | Klamath Falls, Oregon | 95 | 659 m (2,162 ft) | A | FCC |
| KLDD | 91.9 | McCloud, California | 1,100 | 447 m (1,467 ft) | C3 | FCC |
| KSOR | 90.1 | Ashland, Oregon | 38,000 | 810 m (2,660 ft) | C | FCC |
| KOOZ | 94.1 | Myrtle Point, Oregon | 9,000 | 451 m (1,480 ft) | C1 | FCC |
| KSRS | 91.5 | Roseburg, Oregon | 2,000 | 93 m (305 ft) | A | FCC |
| KNYR | 91.3 | Yreka, California | 400 | 721 m (2,365 ft) | C2 | FCC |
| KWCA | 101.1 | Palo Cedro, California | 4,900 | 450 m (1,480 ft) | C2 | KWCA FCC] |
Rhythm & News
"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.
There are five FM stations and six translators broadcasting the "Rhythm & News" service.
| Call sign | Frequency (MHz) | City of license | ERP (W) | Height (m (ft)) | Class | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KSMF | 89.1 | Ashland, Oregon | 2,300 | 412 m (1,352 ft) | C2 | FCC |
| KSBA | 88.5 | Coos Bay, Oregon | 2,700 | 184 m (604 ft) | C3 | FCC |
| KSKF | 90.9 | Klamath Falls, Oregon | 6,500 horizontal 2,000 vertical | 687 m (2,254 ft) | C1 | FCC |
| KNCA | 89.7 | Burney, California | 30,000 | 629 m (2,064 ft) | C0 | FCC |
| KNSQ | 88.1 | Mount Shasta, California | 1,200 | 475.6 m (1,560 ft) | C2 | FCC |
News & Information
"News & Information" is JPR's extended news service offering JPR's only local talk show, The Jefferson Exchange, as well as the NPR talk shows 1A, Here & Now and Fresh Air. It airs the BBC World Service overnights.
Eight AM stations and one FM station carry the "News & Information Service".
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | Power (W) |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRVM | 1280 AM | Eugene, Oregon | 5,000 day 1,500 night |
| KNHM | 91.5 FM | Eureka, California | 500 |
| KAGI | 930 AM | Grants Pass, Oregon | 5,000 day 123 night |
| KSJK | 1230 AM | Talent, Oregon | 1,000 |
| KPMO | 1300 AM | Mendocino, California | 5,000 day 77 night |
| KMJC | 620 AM | Mount Shasta, California | 1,000 day 29 night |
| KTBR | 950 AM | Roseburg, Oregon | 3,400 day 20 night |
| KSYC | 1490 AM | Yreka, California | 1,000 |
| KJPR | 1330 AM | Shasta Lake City, California | 1,000 |
Expansion
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.
See also
- List of radio stations in Oregon
- List of radio stations in California
- Oregon Public Broadcasting
- Southern Oregon Public Television
- Jefferson (Pacific state)
External links
- Official website
- April 2003 article about JPR from the American Journalism Review