- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Zafasi Named Membership Director at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio

John Hill — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 12:59:20 +0000

Grace Zafasi, a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has been named the new membership director for . ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio is the home of K��Vlog��ýR FM 89.1 and KLRE Classical 90.5 and serves as the region’s NPR news and information provider. Housed within the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio is a public service unit of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock where university students gain professional experience by working as interns and part-time staff members. “So far my job at K��Vlog��ýR and KLRE has been a really cool experience,” Zafasi said. “I’ve learned a lot about the importance of being an NPR affiliate station and being connected to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock puts us in a great position. Our newsroom is nicely connected with university departments, and every year we get wonderful students who serve as interns for our radio stations and get a chance to see what it’s like to work in a newsroom.” In her new role, Zafasi is responsible for membership services, donor relations, organizing the annual fund drives, event planning, and working with Friends of KLRE/K��Vlog��ýR. With a listenership of about 80,000 people per week, Zafasi is dedicated to showing the community the value of public radio. “Individual donors make up over 50 percent of our revenue, which helps us to independently report on stories, companies, and organizations without any ethical conflict,” she said. “Radio is a very unique platform. I am trying to encourage everyone to see the value of public radio. In a state like Arkansas, people like to know what is happening in their local communities.” Zafasi joins ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio from Mental Health America of Ohio, where she served as coordinator of the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Coalition and manager of support groups. She has also previously worked as coordinator of residence education at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work and master’s degree in social work from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Zafasi and her wife, Alison Zafasi, an oncology and hematology nurse at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, live in Little Rock with their dog Ella.

Hibblen, Breen Take Home Diamond Journalism Awards for K��Vlog��ýR

John Hill — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 19:27:18 +0000

The 2022 Diamond Journalism Awards, hosted by the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, honored reporters in states throughout the region on June 30. The competition was for journalism that was broadcast or published. Shining through as finalists were K��Vlog��ýR’s News Director Michael Hibblen and local Morning Edition Host and Reporter Daniel Breen, and featured the following stories: Category: Explanatory Reporting- Radio/Audio Title: Credit: Michael Hibblen The interview aired on K��Vlog��ýR’s Not Necessarily Nashville on June 28, 2021. Category: Politics- Radio/Audio & TV/Video Title: Credit: Daniel Breen Breen’s story aired nationwide on NPR’s All Things Considered on May 7, 2021. Category: Politics- Radio/Audio & TV/Video Title: Credit: Michael Hibblen The report aired on K��Vlog��ýR on Sept. 7, 2021.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio to Air 100th Episode of Arts & Letters

John Hill — Thu, 26 May 2022 20:08:34 +0000

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio will air its 100th episode of the fan-favorite program, Arts & Letters, this week. The episode, which features writer, director, and producer Harry Thomason, will air at 7 p.m. Friday, May 27, and 9 p.m. Sunday, May 29, on K��Vlog��ýR 89.1. “We are so happy to be able to present our 100th episode filled with true tales and Arkansas adventures,” said J. Bradley Minnick, executive producer and host of Arts & Letters and an associate professor of English at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “This milestone show is dedicated to retired ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor Joel Anderson and is in memory of former K��Vlog��ýR station manager, Ben Fry.” In the 100th episode, Thomason discusses his memoir, “Brother Dog: Southern Tales and Hollywood Adventures.” Thomason shares stories from his childhood in Calhoun County, Arkansas, and his start in directing and producing. Told with humor, grit, and an open heart, Thomason’s memoir shares his small-town, working-class childhood in the late 1940s, 50s and 60s. Since the early 1970s, Thomason has been one of the best-known Southerners working in Hollywood. He has directed, written, or produced 11 films and eight television series. His credits include “The Shining Season,” “The Blue and the Gray,” and “The Fall Guy.” Together with his wife, Linda Bloodworth Thomason, he also produced the hit CBS TV series, “Designing Women” and “Evening Shade.” Founded in 2014, the award-winning Arts & Letters is in its eighth season and celebrates contemporary humanities work from Arkansas, the mid-south, and beyond. Over the years, the show has featured popular and controversial Arkansas historical figures like John Gould Fletcher, Orval Faubus, Sue Cowan Williams, Helen Spence, Sen. Hattie Wyatt Caraway, Johnny Cash, and Albert Porter. Music is also at the heart of Arts & Letters. Their partnership with amazing musicians and sound engineers helps bring the stories to life for their listeners. Over the years, they’ve worked with musical groups Still on the Hill, Folk Family Revival, the Mallet Brothers, Radio Birds, and Handmade Moments, and many more. The Arts & Letters crew includes Minnick, Mary Ellen Kubit, story editor and producer, and Joseph Fuller, sound engineer. The Arts & Letters staff will celebrate with a Zoom event, “From Arkansas to Hollywood,” at 8 p.m. Friday, June 10. The Zoom event will feature live music from Jesse Wells of Welles, a visit with Harry Thomason, and the technical wizardry of Joseph Fuller of Orchestra of One. “This has been a fantastic journey that continues to engage and inspire us with story and music,” Minnick said. “We’re just getting started.”

Patel Joins K��Vlog��ýR as Political and Government Affairs Reporter

John Hill — Fri, 20 May 2022 13:30:49 +0000

Ronak Patel has joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio as the new political and governmental affairs reporter for , a National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate. His duties include covering Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s administration as well as the Arkansas General Assembly, members of the state’s U.S. congressional delegation, local politics, and election coverage. “We’re excited to have Ronak with us,” said Michael Hibblen, news director for K��Vlog��ýR. “He brings a strong journalism background to K��Vlog��ýR and is part of a steady expansion of the staff of the newsroom which will enable us to do even more original reporting. He has good news instincts and is a strong writer.” A graduate of Little Rock Central High School, Patel attended the University of Central of Arkansas (UCA), where he graduated with a major in English and a minor in journalism in 2021. He got interested in journalism while working for UCA’s student newspaper, the Echo. “I saw the student newspaper, the UCA Echo, needed staff writers, and they were open to volunteers who weren’t journalism majors,” Patel said. “I did that my junior year and really enjoyed it. I changed my minor to journalism. During my senior year of college, it was the 2020 election, and I had political reporting. The professor did a great job of talking about politics, and that made me interested in going into political journalism.” As a student, Patel also reported on a state legislator requesting syllabi from UCA, a report that won a second-place award for in-depth reporting from the Arkansas College Media Association. Since graduating, he’s landed positions at the Southwest Times Record and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Despite his experience in print, Patel has always been a fan of broadcast and figured he would wind up working in broadcast eventually. “While I started off in print, I knew that I would have to venture out of print with the way the industry is changing,” Patel said. “I took a broadcast class at UCA, and I was always a fan of NPR. Steve Inkeep of NPR was always one of my favorite political reporters.” Since starting at K��Vlog��ýR, Patel said his favorite story has been an , George W. Donaghey Distinguished Professor of History at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, about his new biography, “Winthrop Rockefeller: From New Yorkers to Arkansawyer, 1912-1956.” “I’ve always been a big fan of Rockefeller, and I love reading about history,” Patel said. “Getting to talk to someone who is an expert on what Rockefeller did for the state and who he was as a person is interesting. I think a lot of people forget the impact that Winthrop had on the state, and it’s interesting to share that history with our Arkansas listeners about a figure who gets overlooked sometimes.” Outside of work, Patel enjoys watching basketball, either the Milwaukee Bucks or the UCA Bears, and playing video games. He also serves as a board member for the Society of Professional Journalists and encourages people to support local news. “I would encourage people to pay more attention to local politics and local news,” Patel said. “I used to only look at national news, but it’s important to learn about what is going on in your community. It’s cool to read feature stories that you can’t always get from a national news organization.”

Transfer Student Spotlight on Maddie Becker

John Hill — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 16:52:17 +0000

��Vlog��ý Little Rock is highlighting some of its outstanding transfer students in celebration of , Oct. 18-22. Maddie Becker is a senior mass communication major and intern at who transferred to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock from ASU Beebe. What is your hometown? I’m from Colorado Springs, Colorado, but I’ve lived in Jacksonville, Arkansas, for most of my life. My dad was in the United States Air Force and was stationed here when I was five. He ended up retiring here so I’ve spent most of my life in Arkansas. Tell us about yourself. I’m 22 years old and the oldest of five children. I’m a senior at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. I’m a writer for The Forum. I work two jobs while being a full-time student. I work full-time at Subway and part-time at Tacos 4 Life. In my free time, I like to do DIY projects, go hiking, bake, listen to podcasts, work out, and hangout with family and friends. I love to travel and would love to have a career that allows me to travel. Why did you decide to transfer to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? I decided to transfer to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock because it was close to home and the commute wasn’t bad. I didn’t want to go somewhere that would require me to be far from home. I also like that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is in Little Rock.. I feel like there are endless opportunities all around us. I also knew people who went to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock before I transferred, and they kept telling me about the professors and how they truly want you to succeed and they will do anything they can to help you. That pretty much sold me. During my time here, I’ve experienced that with many of my professors. What is your major, and what do you plan to do after graduation? I’m majoring in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Journalism. After graduation, I am open to any areas in communications but I would love to work in radio. My ultimate goal is to have my own radio show down the road. What is special about being a transfer college student? I transferred from Arkansas State University in Beebe, and transferring has opened up scholarship opportunities. What opportunities have you gotten through ��Vlog��ý Little Rock that you might not have had otherwise? When I transferred to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, I started writing for The Forum, and that is what ultimately led me to the internship I have now at K��Vlog��ýR. And the internship I have at K��Vlog��ýR has led me to my internship at The Ronald McDonald House next semester. I truly believe if I wasn’t at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock I wouldn’t have gotten these opportunities, and I couldn’t be more thankful!

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio Receives Anonymous $1.5 Million Donation

John Hill — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 15:07:06 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Public Radio, home of K��Vlog��ýR FM 89.1 and KLRE Classical 90.5, is closing its annual fall fund drive off on a high note with an anonymous donation of $1.5 million, the largest cash gift in ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio history. “This gift is a wonderful testament to the impact of public radio,” said Nathan Vandiver, general manager of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio. “The generosity of this anonymous gift is considerable. On behalf of the staff and listeners of KLRE and K��Vlog��ýR, I want to say a heartfelt thanks to the donor. The stations will use this gift to strengthen and expand their services as the region’s NPR news and information provider, classical music radio station, and as a local and regional news organization.” The anonymous gift comes on the final day of the drive and represents 10 times the drive’s fundraising goal of $150,000. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio also raised $100,000 by 8 a.m. Oct. 8, bringing the drive’s running fundraising total to $1.6 million. More than 80,000 people listen to K��Vlog��ýR and KLRE every week. Housed within the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio is a public service unit of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. University students gain professional experience by working as interns and part-time staff members who take part in all aspects of KLRE and K��Vlog��ýR operations with a specific focus on news reporting and broadcast production. “We are elated at this news,” said Dr. Sarah Beth Estes, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education. “The staff of KLRE/K��Vlog��ýR work tirelessly to provide quality news, programs, and music to central Arkansas. This operational gift ensures the continuity of these efforts and underscores their essentiality.”

Mary Waldo, a former K��Vlog��ýR staff member, right, reacts in joy with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio General Manager Nathan Vandiver, left, after learning of a $1.5 million dollar gift to the station. Photo by Ben Krain.

The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio Operating Endowment will provide an ongoing stream of operating funds to support the public radio stations for generations to come. The endowment is expected to provide around $60,000 per year to support the reporting, music, and cultural programming on central Arkansas’s two public radio stations. “This generous endowment provides both stability and a steady revenue source that allows us to plan for the future of K��Vlog��ýR and KLRE,” said Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor for university advancement. “This anonymous donation will leave a lasting impact on public radio in our community for years to come.” K��Vlog��ýR 89.1 is a National Public Radio affiliate and has been here to report on the COVID-19 pandemic, the rollout of vaccines, the huge economic challenges, the contentious election process, the great disruptions to education, the renewed focus on justice and equity, and much more. KLRE Classical 90.5 is Arkansas’s only classical FM radio station and continues to offer listeners a reliable, welcoming oasis of inspiration, peace, and joy.

Brown Honored in 2021 Diamond Journalism Awards

John Hill — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 14:04:53 +0000

Alexandria Brown, a senior mass communication major at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has been honored for her work with the very first story she ever made for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio. Brown, who reports and hosts “All Things Considered” and “Weekend Edition” for K��Vlog��ýR received third place honors in the Features, Broadcast category for her story, “.” The judges called Brown’s story “straightforward and interesting.” “Thank you to the judges for allowing me to receive my first Diamond Journalism Award,” said Brown, a native of England, Arkansas. “It’s such an honor to even be considered in this contest. The story I entered was the first piece I ever did for K��Vlog��ýR. It was about how an early census deadline could impact Arkansas’ economy by losing billions of dollars. This piece is special to me because it showed me how vital it is to inform our democracy about matters that impact us all that we may not even be aware of. Thank you to my fellow news team for guiding me through this and congratulations to them as well.” The 2021 Diamond Journalism Award Contest is sponsored by the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The group considered work from journalists in Arkansas and six neighboring states. “Independent and local reporting is vital to the health of our democracy,” said Nathan Vandiver, general manager of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio. “We have seen the evidence of this first-hand in the pandemic and in the run-up to the 2020 election. It’s an honor to serve our community in this way and it’s especially an honor for the hard work of our news team to be recognized among such an impressive group of journalists from across the region.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio is a listener-supported public service department of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock based in the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education. Brown is a former intern at K��Vlog��ýR, the Little Rock National Public Radio affiliate, where she’s reported on issues such as the census and a proposed city sales tax. She now works part-time as the “All Things Considered” host and a reporter for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio. She is also a recent recipient of the Arkansas Press Women’s annual scholarship and a reporter with The Forum, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s student newspaper. After she graduates in 2022, Brown plans to continue her career as a broadcast reporter.

K��Vlog��ýR Reporters Receive Honors in 2021 Diamond Journalism Awards

John Hill — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 14:27:44 +0000

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio is celebrating the success of its K��Vlog��ýR News Team for its honors in the . The contest, sponsored by the Arkansas Pro Chapter, Society of Professional Journalists considered work from journalists in Arkansas and six neighboring states. “Independent and local reporting is vital to the health of our democracy. We have seen the evidence of this first-hand in the pandemic and in the run-up to the 2020 election,” said Nathan Vandiver, general manager of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio. “It’s an honor to serve our community in this way, and it’s especially an honor for the hard work of our news team to be recognized among such an impressive group of journalists from across the region.” K��Vlog��ýR News received honors on six stories from the past year. “It’s great to see K��Vlog��ýR’s news department being honored for its reporting, especially when competing against radio and television stations from states within this region of the country,” K��Vlog��ýR News Director Michael Hibblen said. “I’m extremely proud of the work of our news staff.” Daniel Breen, K��Vlog��ýR Morning Edition host and reporter, received second place honors in Political Coverage, Broadcast and Education Coverage, Broadcast for his stories, , and, . “The breadth of what you covered, while focusing on the volunteer, is impressive,” judges said of his political entry, and of his education story, “This was a very strong entry. The story included a lot of voices with different perspectives on the problem and how to address it. Well done.” Sarah Kellogg, K��Vlog��ýR’s politics and government reporter received third place honors in Political Coverage, Broadcast for her story, . Judges called her work, a “really smart use of natural sound.” K��Vlog��ýR News Director Michael Hibblen received second place honors in Health/Science Coverage, Broadcast for his story, . Judges also made note of Hibblen’s “nice use of natural sound throughout” the story. Alexandria Brown, who reports and hosts All Things Considered and Weekend Edition for K��Vlog��ýR received third place honors in Features, Broadcast, for her story, . Judges called Brown’s story “straightforward and interesting.” Brown is a student in ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s School of Mass Communication. Judges also recognized freelance reporter Anna Stitt, who produced a series, , for K��Vlog��ýR News. This series was supported by the National Geographic Society’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Journalists. Stitt’s series received third place honors in the Documentary/Investigative, Broadcast category. Judges gave Stitt’s reporting high marks for accomplishing “the basics of what we do – give voice to the voiceless, and hold the powerful accountable.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio is a listener-supported public service department of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock based in the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education.

Brown Awarded Arkansas Press Women Scholarship

John Hill — Mon, 10 May 2021 17:06:10 +0000

A rising star in student journalism at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Arkansas Press Women’s annual scholarship contest. Alexandria Brown, a junior mass communication major with a concentration in journalism from England, Arkansas, has aspirations to work as a broadcast reporter after her graduation from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2022. “I’m honestly so grateful to have been awarded the scholarship,” Brown said. “I’d like to thank the scholarship chair and the members of Arkansas Press Women for giving back to students like me. This scholarship will grant me more journalism opportunities to advance in my career and reach the goal of informing our democracy every day.” The APW scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding undergraduate college student in Arkansas who is planning a career in mass communication or journalism. Funding for this scholarship comes from APW’s Maudine Sanders Education Fund. Sanders, a previous owner of the Springdale Morning News, was a long-time member of Arkansas Press Women before her passing in 2011. “We’re excited to support Alexandria in her journalism journey,” said Kristin Netterstrom Higgins, president of Arkansas Press Women. “Her student experiences in the newsroom and on the local NPR affiliate show her strong desire to tell people’s stories and give them a voice. Arkansas Press Women is a strong supporter of the First Amendment, and Alexandria stood out in her desire to contribute to a better democracy.” Brown is a former intern at K��Vlog��ýR, the Little Rock National Public Radio affiliate, where she’s reported on issues such as the census and a proposed city sales tax. She now works part-time as the “All Things Considered” host and a reporter for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio. “Ms. Brown has shown a great deal of professionalism in her work as a student intern and now employee at K��Vlog��ýR,” said Nathan Vandiver, general manager of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio. “She is already a great asset to our news team. From our experience, this award is a well-deserved accolade and goes to show the great impact she will have as a journalist.” Brown also works as a reporter for The Forum, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s student newspaper. “Ms. Brown is one of the best students I have known in my 21 years at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and is an incredibly promising journalist,” said Sonny Rhodes, associate professor of journalism and faculty advisor of The Forum. “Her writing is clear, concise, and comprehensive and submitted well in advance of deadlines. I cannot overstate Ms. Brown’s outstanding work ethic and her commitment to her studies and journalism.” In addition to her work in journalism, Brown is a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps, Student Affairs Success Initiatives, and Kappa Tau Alpha. Arkansas Press Women was founded in 1949 by women working in Arkansas newspapers to provide an opportunity to compete and network in a male-dominated industry. The organization is now an association of communicators in journalism, public information, business, education, and government. APW is an affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women and will be hosting the 2021 NFPW Conference virtually in June. For more information on APW, visit . In the upper right photo, K��Vlog��ýR reporter Alex Brown is hard at working delivering Arkansas’s latest news. Photo courtesy of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio holds Spring Fund Drive

John Hill — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 22:01:03 +0000

, home of K��Vlog��ýR FM 89.1 and KLRE Classical 90.5, is kicking off its spring fundraising drive from April 12-16. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio’s spring campaign goal is to raise $100,000. All proceeds will support the reporting, music, and cultural programming on central Arkansas’s two public radio stations. K��Vlog��ýR 89.1 has been here to report on the COVID-19 pandemic, the rollout of vaccines, the huge economic challenges, the contentious election process, the great disruptions to education, the renewed focus on justice and equity, and much more. KLRE Classical 90.5 continues to offer listeners a reliable, welcoming oasis of inspiration, peace, and joy. For more information, call 501-916-6400 or email donations@kuar.org. Visit the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio . Some donors will receive a Public Radio Tote Bag.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

Zafasi Named Membership Director at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio

Hibblen, Breen Take Home Diamond Journalism Awards for K����Vlog��ýR

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Public Radio to Air 100th Episode of Arts & Letters

Patel Joins K����Vlog��ýR as Political and Government Affairs Reporter