Topics

1. Mission Statement

New York Public Radio's mission is "to make the mind more curious, the heart more tolerant and the spirit more joyful through excellent radio programming."

2. NYPR Board of Trustees

Cynthia King Vance, Chair
John S. Rose, Vice Chair
Susan Rebell Solomon, Vice Chair
Mayo Stuntz, Vice Chair
Howard S. Stein, Treasurer
Alan G. Weiler, Secretary
Laura R. Walker, President & CEO

Jean B. Angell
Tom Bernstein
John Borthwick
David R. Caplan
Judith M. Carson
Andrea Collins
Charles M. Diker
Martha Fleischman
Alan Jenkins
Alexander Kaplen
Kate D. Levin, ex officio
Anton J. Levy
Joanne Matthews
Bethany Millard
Richard A. Pace
Ellen Polaner
Jonelle Procope
Jon W. Rotenstreich
Joshua Sapan
Herb Scannell
Lauren Seikaly
Peter Shapiro
Peter Tague
Nicki Newman Tanner
Andrea L. Taylor
Keith Thomas
Wilma S. Tisch
Frank D. Yeary 

Honorary Board:

Peter H. Darrow
Eduardo G. Mestre
Thomas B. Morgan
Lulu C. Wang

3. Latest audited financial statements (attached as a PDF). A copy of the financial statements can be obtained by request (follow the "Contact Us" link on the right hand side of this page).

Overview of NYPR Radio Income and Expenses for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2013

Total Support & Revenue: $63,671,075

Program Services
Radio Programming: $36,176,778
Technical Operations: $5,029,257
Marketing: $2,793,970
Total Program Services: $44,000,005
> Total Expenses: $60,611,390
Total Assets: see report
Total Liabilities: see report
Net Asset Balance: $87,785,150

4. Click here for our most recent 990

5. Senior Staff

Laura Walker, President and CEO
Tom Bartunek, Vice President, Planning & Special Projects
Dean Cappello, Senior Vice President, Programming; Chief Content Officer
Thomas Hjelm, Chief Digital Officer & Vice President for Business Development
Margaret Hunt, Vice President, Development
Noreen O'Loughlin, Vice President, Integrated Marketing & General Manager, The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space 
Graham Parker, Vice President, WQXR
Michele Rusnak, Vice President, Finance & Administration; Chief Financial Officer

6. New York Public Radio Articles of Incorporation (attached as a PDF)
New York Public Radio Bylaws (attached as a PDF)
New York Public Radio Conflict of Interest Policy (attached as a PDF)
New York Public Radio Good Standing Certificate (attached as a PDF)
Absolute Charter of the WNYC Broadcasting Foundation (attached as a PDF)

7. MISSION AND HISTORY

WNYC

WNYC is the  most listened-to radio station in Manhattan — commercial or otherwise — and the most listened-to public radio station in the country. Consisting of AM 820, FM 93.9, and wnyc.org, WNYC aims to inform the public locally and globally on current events, politics, and civic affairs; export New York’s arts and cultural riches to the rest of the world; and give voice to diverse audiences. WNYC provides the most comprehensive news, music, and cultural programming radio has to offer, completely free of charge. Established in 1924 as a municipal radio station and operated as such for seventy-four years, WNYC, is now run as New York Public Radio.  New York Public Radio has more than 170,000 members, giving it one of the largest membership bases of any institution in the city.

WQXR

New York Public Radio acquired WQXR in 2009 from The New York Times, enabling New York City’s only dedicated classical music station to continue broadcasting exemplary classical music 24 hours a day, seven days a week. WQXR went on the air on 105.9 FM, and operates out of NYPR's facilities on Varick Street in Hudson Square. Now operating as a noncommercial listener-supported station, NYPR expands its long-term commitment to cultural excellence by preserving classical music on the radio for New Yorkers.  In July 2013, NYPR acquired WQXW 90.3 FM in Ossining, NY to extend the reach of WQXR programming into Westchester.

The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space

New York Public Radio entered a new dimension in 2009 with the opening of The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space. The Greene Space is a state-of-the-art, multimedia performance space and broadcast studio that redefines the relationship a public radio station has with its home community. The Greene Space has hosted broadcasts and live tapings of WNYC’s signature programs, including The Brian Lehrer Show, The Leonard Lopate Show, Soundcheck, Radiolab, Studio 360, and On The Media. In addition, WQXR-related music concerts and festivals, audio theater, literary readings, art exhibits, political debates, symposia, town hall meetings and other exciting public events are presented in the space. The Greene Space was created to galvanize conversations around the life, arts, and politics of our city and our world, and to be a platform for innovation and experimentation. 

PROGRAMMING OVERVIEW

WNYC

WNYC aims to inform the public locally and globally on current events, politics, and civic affairs; export New York’s arts and cultural riches to the rest of the world; and give voice to diverse audiences. At the heart of New York Public Radio’s news and information effort is our award-winning newsroom. Our reporters work tirelessly in support of our distinct news mission of providing in-depth news programming while encouraging active participation of citizens in their communities. Produced pieces are frequently aired on the nationally distributed programs Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Marketplace.

The Brian Lehrer Show

Supplementing the work of the newsroom is the Peabody award-winning program, The Brian Lehrer Show. During his daily two-hour talk news program, Brian Lehrer synthesizes the major issues of the day and provides a conduit for analysis between his interviewees and callers, and moderates a discussion that always covers both sides.

The Brian Lehrer Show and the WNYC newsroom have teamed up to produce the interactive political blog, It’s a Free Country, which brings you the latest news in politics and invites readers to be a part of the journalistic process - readers are encouraged to comment, submit ideas, and foster conversation around the issues at the forefront of our daily lives.

The Leonard Lopate Show

The Leonard Lopate Show is the cornerstone of WNYC’s New York-based cultural programming. Broadcast every weekday from 12 pm to 2 pm, this interview show covers everything from hip-hop operas to haute cuisine to home repairs.

New Sounds and Soundcheck

Each weekday, John Schaefer hosts New Sounds at 11 pm, which explores the vistas of contemporary music. Soundcheck, also hosted by John Schaefer, is our daily interview program about music, and a showcase for the region’s best new cultural offerings. These programs are a key component in igniting passion for classical and other types of music, educating listeners about music, and motivating participation in music and the arts.

National Programming

WNYC’s nationally distributed programs include Studio 360, On the Media, The Takeaway (co-produced by Public Radio International), Radio Rookies, and Radiolab.

Studio 360

Studio 360 is a weekly, one-hour look at the intersection between art, popular culture and everyday life. Hosted by novelist and journalist Kurt Andersen and distributed by Public Radio International, Studio 360 is heard nationwide. Through richly textured stories and insightful dialogue about everything from opera to comic books, Studio 360 presents ideas that are provocative, moving and always engaging. Discussions have included Woody Allen musing on how jazz shaped American culture; rapper Guru on the repetition in music, art and dance; Eric Bogosian and William Styron talking about drugs in the art world; and Teller of Penn & Teller in a rare speaking role discussing secrecy in all its guises.

On the Media

On the Media takes a magnifying glass to the American media machine and enlightens and entertains us with their findings through analysis, investigative reporting, and satire. Hosted by Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield, On the Media is a co-production with NPR and distributed nationally as a weekly show. Since On the Media was re-launched in 2001, it has been one of NPR's fastest growing programs. It has won Edward R. Murrow Awards for feature reporting and investigative reporting, the National Press Club's Arthur Rowse Award for Press Criticism, and a Peabody Award. In January 2005, On the Media became the first public radio program to offer its content via podcast.

The Takeaway

The Takeaway combines reporting, lively conversations, and online comments from listeners at www.thetakeaway.org. The Takeaway is a unique partnership and co-production of global news leaders including PRI (Public Radio International) and WNYC, in collaboration with the BBC World Service, The New York Times, and WGBH Boston. The Takeaway uses the vast newsgathering resources of its editorial partners to access local intelligence, gather authentic voices, and feature a range of perspectives.

Radiolab

Radiolab premiered in 2005 as a special science-based national public radio program, relying on storytelling techniques (narrative, characterization, surprise, and revelation), personal stories, and innovative sound design to make complex science understandable and compelling. Radiolab has grown from a fledgling start up to one of the most popular programs in public radio today. Radiolab has won peer awards from radio producers (such as three Third Coast International Audio Festival awards), and accolades from the science community.

Radio Rookies

NYPR’s Peabody-award winning youth media outreach program, Radio Rookies, provides journalism training, personal development, and empowerment to underserved New York City teenagers in all five boroughs. This uniquely transformative media education model provides these youth an opportunity to make their voices heard in our community, while introducing millions of radio listeners to the often neglected perspectives and challenges faced by inner-city teens. Rookies have reported stories ranging from the realities of teen pregnancy and the foster care system, to falling in love and struggling with obesity. Radio Rookies seeks to alleviate the negative representation of youth in the media by inviting public radio listeners to experience, appreciate, and relate to the daily lives of the Rookies and so many other youth in similar circumstances.

WQXR

Operated as a non-commercial public radio station on the 105.9FM frequency, WQXR (also on 90.3 FM in Ossining, NY) provides a new environment for audiences to access, learn about, and enjoy works from the European and American classical canon as well as compositions written by 20th century and contemporary masters. WQXR leverages cultural partnerships with prominent orchestras, ensembles, and presenting agencies that enable WQXR to serve as a broadcast and digital home for the live concert broadcasts that emanate from important stages around the world and thus expand the reach of classical music within New York and beyond. A new radio station called "Q2 Music" was launched simultaneously with Classical WQXR 105.9, which features "500 Years of New Music" with a contemporary focus. It also features large-scale festival programming and concerts from The Greene Space and other venues around New York City.

Q2 Music

At the same time that Classical WQXR 105.9 was launched, a new online radio station called “Q2 Music” debuted. This new online radio destination features “Living Music. Living Composers.” and is programmed by Q2 Music’s Producer, Alex Ambrose. With a contemporary focus and commitment to emerging repertoire, it features large-scale festival programming, live Webcasts from venues around New York, including The Greene Space, and thematic shows including a weekday show with new-music superstar Nadia Sirota. Other shows include Hammered!, Mixtapes and The New Canon. To learn more about Q2 Music, visit Q2 Music homepage.

8. FISCAL YEAR 2012

During our fiscal year 2012 (July 2011 through June 2012), NYPR made great strides in fulfilling our goals to bring local, national and global audiences a thought-provoking and soul-enriching array of news, current affairs, music and cultural programming every day on WNYC, WQXR, in The Greene Space and, as of January 2012, on four New Jersey Public Radio stations.

Woven throughout all our programming, NYPR is also investing in modernizing how we bring our programs to our community and how we bring our community into our programming. To that end, in the past fiscal year we released mobile applications for WNYC, WQXR and Radiolab, and we re-launched the WQXR and The Greene Space websites as well as the sites for Studio 360, On the Media and It’s a Free Country, our award-wining politics website. New digital tools are being used to enhance our news coverage and new websites and apps are in the works for our 2012-2013 fiscal year and beyond. By harnessing these new technologies we are able to better serve our traditional local audiences and also engage with a new and much broader community of national and global listeners.

WNYC

A highlight of WNYC’s innovative use of digital resources during the past year was our coverage of the New York Police Department’s use of a policy known as “stop and frisk.” Using data from the NYPD, WNYC mapped all street stops by police that resulted in the recovery of a gun last year. Our reporting team located all the "hot spots" where stop and frisks are concentrated in the city and found that most guns were recovered on people outside those hot spots. The attention that WNYC brought to this issue helped lead to the NYPD’s recent vow to address the causes leading to record high numbers of illegal searches. WNYC’s youth development program, Radio Rookies, also participated in our stop and frisk coverage. This summer, a team of high school-age reporters worked with WNYC reporters and staff to conduct street interviews in the Bronx, talking with members of the community about their experiences being stopped by the police. The student reporters were also able to interview NYC Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly to get his perspective on the relationships between police officers and community members and the benefits and challenges of this controversial policy.

WNYC is also utilizing digital tools to expand our coverage of the social, economic and international concerns that are at the heart of our country's current conversations. For example, the launch in the fall of 2011 of Schoolbook.org, a collaborative reporting project with The New York Times, has created a new venue for discussion of important local education issues. Our coverage of politics has expanded from discussions of local civic concerns on The Brian Lehrer Show to conversations around national issues on the It’s a Free Country website. We are bringing together an even bigger community of listeners through the use of digital and mobile applications as well as by using our Jerome L. Greene Performance Space as a forum for people from across the political spectrum.

WQXR

During the past two years NYPR has also focused intently on integrating WQXR’s broadcast and programming functions into our overall station operations. The WQXR team is re-igniting a passion for classical music and fostering an appreciation of the genre with a new generation of listeners.

While continuing long-established programs like The Philharmonic This Week and Symphony Hall, WQXR is focusing on launching new programming. This year in its second season, Carnegie Hall Live will bring fourteen world renowned concerts to listeners across the nation. This year, WQXR is also ramping up our Operavore programming, which brings world-class Opera performances to audiences in New York, and to a global digital audience.

WQXR is also focusing on engaging new audiences through immersive festivals, live concerts and events held in NYPR’s Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, as well as through digital offerings on Q2 Music, the internet-based music station devoted to living composers. A highlight of our recent efforts was last November’s Beethoven Awareness Month. We will produce this festival again this year and will explore Beethoven’s legacy on the air, the web, through our mobile app and in the Greene Space.

The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space

During the past year, the Greene Space team produced over 100 events that reached an estimated audience of 1.5 million people at the live events and via digital broadcasts of these events. A recent highlight was an afternoon concert and conversation with world renowned trumpeter and Jazz at Lincoln Center Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis hosted by WQXR's Elliott Forrest. Also in collaboration with WQXR, The Knights, one of New York’s most innovative and acclaimed new chamber orchestras held performances and open rehearsals throughout the year as the classical station’s first “ensemble-in-residence.” On the news and culture front, Brian Lehrer, Leonard Lopate, John Schaefer, Kurt Andersen, Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield, and Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich all brought their shows to live and digital audiences in this venue. And to celebrate the 75th Anniversary celebration of Zora Neal Hurston’s groundbreaking work of fiction, “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” the Greene Space team produced a special month-long exploration of the intersections of race, gender and creativity through concerts, discussions and a radio play featuring actress Phylicia Rashad.

New Jersey Public Radio

New Jersey Public Radio, which operates stations in Trenton, Sussex, Netcong, Toms River and Seaside Park, is a new and growing part of our family of brands. We are working hard to ensure these stations provide news, culture and information that is relevant to their local communities, and are continuing to produce and feature more stories that focus on matters of importance to New Jersey residents.