Off Mic: KSKA in Girdwood

Wed, May 27, 2009

The KSKA translator in Girdwood is on the air, but listeners have reported poor air quality. We suspect a part needs replacing and hopefully we will be able to restore better audio quality sometime this weekend. Thanks for listening and letting us know the sound quality in Girdwood needs attention.

UPDATE: 5/29/09 The sound quality has improved in Girdwood. Thanks for your patience.

A Closer Look: Macon Roberts

Tue, May 12, 2009

Photo by Zen Naylor, The Northern Light

On this week’s A Closer Look, we present the story of an Anchorage School Board member Macon Roberts whose 1940s boyhood in the Mississippi Delta cotton fields instilled a life long belief in the power of education to change lives.

A Closer Look is a half hour program on KSKA that gives us the opportunity to explore beyond our news stories and offer you additional insights into the events and people helping shape our community.

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A Closer Look: Debtor’s Rights

Tue, May 5, 2009

Today KSKA introduces A Closer Look, a half hour program that allows us to present in more depth either that background of our news stories or to profile often unrecognized people performing special work in our community.

On the first Closer Look, we presented the complete interview that formed the basis for a story on Debtors Rights broadcast on KSKA and Alaska Public Radio Network’s Alaska News Nighty.

The interview was with Jim Davis, an attorney with the Northern Justice Project and a pro bono volunteer for Alaska Legal Services. Davis’ specialty is debtors’ rights. He had come to the Fairview Recreational Center on a Friday evening to conduct a Debtors’ Rights workshop sponsored by Alaska Legal Services.

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RUNNING: Before the runoff

Tue, Apr 28, 2009

It’s Dan Sullivan versus Eric Croft in the runoff election for Anchorage’s next mayor on Tuesday, May 5. Does either mayoral candidate have a definite plan to lessen the property tax burden? What would they do to make our streets safer? How will they hold down government spending and at the same time, invest in the city?

Find out the answer to these questions and more when RUNNING returns on KAKM, Channel 7 Public TV and KSKA, FM 91.1 with mayoral candidates Eric Croft and Dan Sullivan. Anchorage Edition’s Michael Carey and KSKA’s Len Anderson will interview the two candidates Thursday, April 30 beginning at 8:00 pm. Listen on KSKA, FM 91.1 or watch on KAKM, Channel 7.

Following the radio and TV broadcasts, audio from the special edition of RUNNING with Eric Croft and Dan Sulllivan will be posted on kska.org and kakm.org.

While the official date of the Election is Tuesday, May 5, early voting has begun! For more information on Early Voting, CLICK HERE

KSKA off-air briefly tonight

Mon, Apr 27, 2009

KSKA’s engineering staff will be working out at Goose Bay this evening (Monday) to replace equipment for KSKA, FM 91.1 and KAKM Channel 7 television transmission. KSKA will be off the air for a few hours after midnight to accommodate the engineering work. We apologize for the inconvernience and thank you for your patience.

Spring Pledge Drive 2009: Membership Moose

Fri, Apr 3, 2009

On Day 3 of the Spring Membership Drive, this guy stopped by the station today to renew his membership. Have you? This time of year, the Elmo Sackett Broadcast Center is not only surrounded with moose from around the community, its packed with volunteers from all over South Central Alaska. Sometimes you hear them on-air with Bede during Morning Edition, or in the evening with Connie during All Things Considered. But most often, our volunteers our working behind the scenes, answering phones and taking your pledges, making sure that each Membership Drive is successful one.

VIEW Spring Membership Drive 2009, PHOTOS on FLICKR

Spring Membership Drive 2009: Pledge Pins

Wed, Apr 1, 2009

The pledge pins have arrived! Today KSKA kicks off our 2009 Spring Membership Drive and everyone who generously pledges $50 or more get one of these snazzy pledge pins. Every pin and every pledge keeps you connected to your community, your country and your world. If your life is better with KSKA, please make a pledge today. Thanks for listening and thanks for support your public radio station.

Hold This Thought ends today on KSKA

Tue, Mar 31, 2009

Barbara Brown writes: “I am bringing Hold This Thought to an end today on KSKA. I have thoroughly appreciated the partnership, warmth and generosity with KSKA. It’s just too time consuming to continue. I am very grateful for everything KSKA did to bring it to reality - Kristin’s helpfulness and knowledge and Connie’s help and calm. Hold This Thought took off nationally when Phi Beta Kappa featured it in their national newsletter, achieving critical mass with an ever-growing audience. While it is sad that I am discontinuing it on air, it has done everything I wanted it to do - to start conversations and inspire reflection. Thank you KSKA for your enthusiasm and thoughtfulness.”

New Schedule: New Sundays

Sun, Mar 8, 2009

Our new schedule launches this week and each day we’re highlighting the changes and especially the new programs we’ve added. You can learn all about the new schedule in our update packet (PDF, 1MB) or read more here.

New Programs

World Vision Report — 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (repeat)
World Vision Report is a weekly radio program capturing the human drama behind global issues and events. Hosted by Peggy Wehmeyer, former ABC World News Tonight correspondent.

Changes

Soul to Soul — Saturday 10:00 p.m. to Sunday 2:00 a.m.
Revised time slot ends at 2:00 a.m. (rather than 4:00 a.m.).
BBC World Service — 2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
A variety of news and in-depth programs from an international perspective.
Weekend Edition Sunday — 6:00 to 10:00 a.m.
New start time
Latino USA — 7:00 p.m.
New time: one hour later
Edicion Semanaria — 7:30 p.m.
New time: one hour later
Epicentro Politico — 8:00 p.m.
New time: one hour later
Algo Nuevo con Dave Luera — 8:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
New time: one hour later
Afropop Worldwide — 11:00 p.m.
Repeat airing from Friday night at 9:00 p.m.

New Schedule: New Saturdays

Sat, Mar 7, 2009

Our new schedule launches this week and each day we’re highlighting the changes and especially the new programs we’ve added. You can learn all about the new schedule in our update packet (PDF, 1MB) or read more here.

New Programs

The State We’re In — 12:00 a.m.
The State We’re In brings you stories from all over the world, covering important global matters as well as seemingly small issues, because they too can have a big impact. The main focus is on human rights issues, as experienced by everyday people around the globe. Produced by Radio Netherlands Worldwide.
Inside Europe — 5:00 a.m.
Inside Europe is a weekly newsmagazine exploring the news and topical issues shaping the European continent. Produced by Deutsche Welle.
Travel with Rick Steves — 1:00 p.m.
A fun, hour-long practical talk show with guest travel experts and questions from travelers. It’s a lively conversation about exploring our world smartly, smoothly and thoughtfully.
The Writer’s Almanac — 1:01 p.m.
Though KSKA has carried Almanac in the past, now it’s available 7 days a week at regular times. Tune in to hear Garrison Keillor recounting the highlights of this day in history and reading a short poem or two. Listen Mon-Fri just before the 3:00 p.m. Fresh Air; Saturdays at 1:01 p.m. and Sundays at 12:01 p.m.
Left, Right & Center — 6:30 p.m.
Provocative, alive and witty, KCRW’s weekly confrontation over politics, policy and popular culture proves those with impeccable credentials needn’t lack personality. LR&C features four regular and insightful news analysts: Arianna Huffington, Tony Blankley, Matt Miller and Robert Scheer.

Changes

BBC World Service — 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
A variety of news and in-depth programs from an international perspective.
Weekend Edition Saturday — 6:00 to 10:00 a.m.
New time slot starts at 6:00 a.m.
This American Life — 10:00 a.m.
We’ve been airing the program at 10:00 a.m. for the last month, but now the time slot is permanent.
Anchorage Edition — 6:00 p.m.
This is a new repeat edition of the program. It first airs Fridays at 2:30 p.m.
Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz — 7:00 p.m.
Formerly a weeknight show, we’ve moved it to Saturdays, ahead of the locally-produced jazz show (next).
KSKA Night Music — 8:00 p.m.
Two hours of locally-selected and hosted jazz; formerly scheduled on Thursday evenings.