Club Meeting Updates- JPR
Today’s Program Recap: Jefferson Public Radio with Executive Director Paul Westhelle
Our speaker brought the story of Jefferson Public Radio to life, tracing its journey from a small 1969 student station on the SOU campus to one of the most expansive and influential public radio networks in the country. JPR now operates from state-of-the-art studios completed in 2018 and runs three distinct program services, a first in U.S. public radio.
Paul highlighted JPR’s award-winning journalism, including more than two dozen regional and national honors in just the last three years. That includes two National Edward R. Murrow Awards, which are basically the journalism equivalent of walking away with the crown jewels.
JPR by the Numbers
• More than 20 percent of Rogue Valley residents tune in each week
• Over 100,000 weekly radio listeners
• More than 60,000 monthly unique web and mobile users
• A newsroom staffed by 8 full time journalists
• Over 90 hours each week of locally produced programming from The Jefferson Exchange to Siskiyou Music Hall
Where JPR Is Headed
Paul outlined several priorities designed to strengthen JPR’s impact in a rapidly shifting media landscape.
• Responding to Our Times: Providing fact-based news to counter misinformation amplified by partisan outlets and social media.
• Deeper Local Reporting: Growing newsroom capacity as traditional local journalism continues to fade.
• Supporting the Arts: Preserving classical music, fostering new music discovery and championing a thriving arts scene.
• Mentoring the Next Generation: Partnering with SOU students and hosting interns from the Charles Snowden Program for Excellence in Journalism.
• Being a Community Anchor in Emergencies: Expanding JPR’s ability to serve as a trusted resource during public crises.
• Strengthening Collaboration: Working closely with other public radio stations, news organizations and arts partners across the region.
• Adapting to the Loss of Federal Funding: Building a new, fully local business model to replace the $525,000 eliminated this summer.
It was a thoughtful and energizing look at one of our region’s most important civic institutions. JPR’s commitment to truth, community service and the next generation of journalists is alive and well, which is exactly the kind of story we like to share at Rotary.
If you missed it you can find recordings of our meetings posted (may take a few days) on our YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/@MedfordRogueRotary-j6y