Download CONTACT: Kelly Jo Cornelius or Whitney Hale, (859) 257

Public Relations
www.uky.edu/PR/News
CONTACT: Kelly Jo Cornelius or Whitney Hale, (859) 257-1754
FOR RELEASE
WUKY Still Successful at 65 Years Old
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 3, 2006) − WUKY 91.3 remains successful 65 years after
it opened on the University of Kentucky campus. Recognized as the first universityowned FM radio station in America and Kentucky’s first public radio station, WUKY is a
popular National Public Radio (NPR) station airing a wide variety of programs including
“All Things Considered,” “Fresh Air,” and “Car Talk.”
WUKY General Manager Tom Godell and News Director Alan Lytle are proud of
the radio station’s accomplishments and numerous awards over its 65-year history.
WUKY is especially proud of an Associated Press Award they received, as these
awards signify excellence in broadcast journalism. “We did receive the award for best
enterprise/investigative series at this year's Associated Press Awards,” said Lytle. “In
keeping with our goal of getting students involved with our newsroom, this is a
tremendous honor.” Noting the combined winning effort of WUKY’s news department
and the Youth News Team, a group of Lexington high school students and parents
dedicated to amplifying the voices of young people on education policy issues.
Last spring, WUKY received the Associated Press award for the Best Newscast
in Kentucky. “To win that award we had to beat out every other station in the state, both
public and commercial,” Godell said. “That’s quite an accomplishment.”
WUKY is also honored to receive two Communicator Awards in audio
competition. The Communicator Awards is an international awards program founded by
communications professionals to recognize excellence in the field. Winners are
recognized for having talent that exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose
work serves as a benchmark for the industry.
An Equal Opportunity University
WUKY broadcasts to a large portion of central Kentucky, and is easily heard
within a 60 mile radius of Lexington. “We have over-the-air listeners as far away as the
eastern portion of Louisville,” Godell said.
Internet users can also enjoy WUKY streamed programming on the Web at
http://www.wuky.org. The Web has brought WUKY listeners from all across the United
States, as well as Canada, England, New Zealand and South America.
Godell’s hopes for the future of WUKY include replacing the station’s antenna
and transmitter to improve reception and signal quality, especially in Fayette County.
He also hopes to add the capacity to transmit digital (HD) radio and expand the
programming to include a 24-hour Adult Rock music service both online and via HD
radio.
With WUKY located on the University of Kentucky campus, students have a
unique opportunity to work for the radio station in the newsroom or business office.
Generally the newsroom takes eight to ten students each fall and spring semester as
interns. The business office offers one paid position a semester. Likewise, UK
journalism students can take classes that include time spent in the radio station.
Students working at WUKY’s newsroom cover breaking news stories for class
credit. WUKY will host one intern in the newsroom this summer. Students assigned to
the business office assist with data entry, billing and other aspects of the station’s
finances and are paid for their services. WUKY hopes to expand their internship
possibilities in the future so more students have an opportunity to work at the station.
Students can get involved at WUKY by volunteering for pledge drives, news
coverage, station productions and information technology support.
Lytle, who produces the 13 local newscasts aired every day, also teaches UK
broadcast journalism students about radio news production as part of the scheduled
class work in the course, Journalism 302: Radio and TV News Reporting.
“We are always looking for energetic students who’d like to intern with our news
department,” Lytle said. “Anyone interested should drop us a line.”
To find out more about WUKY, contact the radio station at (859) 257-3221.
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In striving to become a Top 20 public research institution, the University of Kentucky is a catalyst for a
new Commonwealth – a Kentucky that is healthier, better educated, and positioned to compete in a
global and changing economy. For more information about UK’s efforts to become a Top 20 university,
please go to http://www.uky.edu/OPBPA/Top20.html