Media Award - Morehead State Public Radio

Morehead State Public Radio provides programming that is educational, informative and entertaining with an emphasis on preserving and promoting the area’s cultural heritage through the arts. This unique programming that is both live and local has received many national awards and accolades from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, National Federation of Community Broadcasters and Public Radio News Directors Incorporated.

Through the work provided by a full time staff, work-study students, interns and community volunteers, Morehead State Public Radio offers regional news, public affairs and documentary programming, as well as a variety of local cultural programs featuring arts information, storytelling and a wide variety of music including classical, jazz, folk, bluegrass and blues.

A Time for Tales is devoted to the art of storytelling featuring original stories told by regional and national story tellers, Rowan County school students and the annual Cave Run Storytelling Festival. The program encourages everyone to value, not only the stories of the professionals, but those that each of us holds in our hearts.

Americana Crossroads blends folk, bluegrass, alternative country and blues in a locally-hosted music format known as Americana. Americana Crossroads Live broadcasts live concerts of Americana music from the Morehead Conference Center. The family oriented concert series presents local, national and internationally known musicians and entertainers. Since 2000, the series has featured more than 120 performers and is currently heard on more than 35 radio stations across the United States and around the world.

Bluegrass Diversion and Bluegrass Sunday present a mixture of contemporary and traditional bluegrass, bluegrass gospel and traditional Appalachian music with festival updates, live recordings and in-studio guests. Recently added to the variety of music programs is Pickin’ Parlor, featuring an acoustic blend of bluegrass, folk, traditional music and Americana music.

Sunday Night Jazz and The Jazz Lounge showcase the finest performers of traditional and contemporary jazz and jazz vocals, as well as the standards by the masters of jazz. Nothin’ but the Blues focuses on the best in current and classic blues in all styles including Delta, Piedmont, Chicago and Texas.

Morehead State Public Radio also offers a daily classical music program of symphonic, choral, sacred and chamber ensembles performing compositions from the Renaissance to contemporary times.

Providing an emphasis on regional issues and information, The Front Page is a discussion program on public affairs and the arts while Mountain Edition provides coverage of regional news. A co-production between Morehead State Public Radio and Northeast Area Health Education Center through St. Claire Regional Medical Center, Health Matters focuses on the healthcare needs of the mountain region.

Morehead State Public Radio broadcasts 24 hours a day in digital high definition from the campus of Morehead State University, and serves more than 40 counties in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. WMKY (90.3 FM) serves as the flagship station for the network, which includes WOCS (88.3 FM) in Booneville and a translator (88.3 FM) in Inez. Web streams (live, classical and jazz) and podcast downloads are also available online at www.msuradio.com. Funding is provided by Morehead State University, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, business underwriting and listener gifts.

Recognizing the importance of presenting and preserving east Kentucky’s rich Appalachian Heritage, Morehead State Public Radio has an active community outreach that supports regional events such as Bluegrass ‘n More, Cave Run Storytelling Festival, Fleming County Covered Bridge Festival, Folkfest and the Sundown at Moonlight Summer Concert Series.

With a national reputation for excellence in cultural programming and community service, Morehead State Public Radio is one of Kentucky’s best assets for bringing the arts to the attention of the public.

Previous recipients: Barry Bernson, Cass Irvin, William Mootz, Jane S. Blake, WYMT-TV (Hazard), WKMS Radio (Murray), WEKU/WEKH Radio (Richmond), Lexington Herald-Leader, Kentucky Educational Television, Public Radio Service of Western Kentucky University, WHAS-TV (Louisville), Byron Crawford, Nick Lawrence, Arts Across Kentucky, The Lane Report, Business First of Louisville, WTCR Radio and Kentucky Monthly.