KOSU prepares for historic pledge drive

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

The Campaign for New KOSU Seeks Contributions from at Least 500 Founding Members  
 
(April 23, 2008  Stillwater, OK) – KOSU, The State’s Public Radio at 91.7 fm Stillwater-Oklahoma City, 107.5, Tulsa-Bartlesville, 107.3 South Tulsa and 101.9 fm Okmulgee, is asking listeners to help support its expanded program lineup as part of The Campaign for The New KOSU.  The on-air fundraiser, which begins Wednesday, April 23 and continues through Wednesday, April 30, seeks contributions from at least 500 public radio listeners across Oklahoma, including 150 new members.  Each listener who pledges will be a founding member of The New KOSU, regardless of whether they are first-time contributors or returning contributors.  The pledge drive will help support the many new reasons to listen to public radio at Oklahoma State University, including the recent addition of news and information programs such as Fresh Air, Marketplace, This American Life and The Story, as well as evening classical music and weekend jazz programs, as well as long-time programs including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, A Prairie Home Companion and Car Talk.
 
“KOSU has made a significant investment in new public radio programs based on the results of our listener survey and feedback from the station’s town hall meeting and numerous speaking engagements,” said Kelly Burley, KOSU Director.  “Listener contributions will be more important than ever to sustain and grow our new programming services.”
 
KOSU faces much higher costs in future years because of the additional investment in programming from National Public Radio, American Public Media and Public Radio International, the three primary national program distributors in public radio.  The station relies heavily on private funding from listener contributions to pay for that programming, as well as KOSU’s State Capitol Bureau and other local news coverage.  In fact, more than half of the station’s total budget comes from listener contributors and corporate underwriting.  
 
“We urge public radio listeners throughout our coverage area in central and northeastern Oklahoma to be part of this historic pledge drive by becoming founding members of The New KOSU,” Burley said.  “Together, we will do amazing things for public radio in Oklahoma.”
 
To become a founding member of The New KOSU, call 1-800-228-4678 or pledge online at www.kosu.org .