Public radio news/talk stations KWMU (90.7) St. Louis and KCUR (89.3) Kansas City have announced plans to separate from the control of and operation by the University of Missouri-St. Louis and the University of Missouri-Kansas City, respectively.
St. Louis Public Radio’s KWMU, which has partnered with the University since its sign-on in 1972, plans to transition its license and governance to the Friends of KWMU Inc., while the station will keep its advisory board.
Concurrently, The University of Missouri-Kansas City seeks to transfer the management of KCUR and “Classical KC” KWJC (91.9) to a community-based, independent third party, with the nonprofit Friends of KCUR, comprised of community stakeholders and donors, overseeing the station’s operations. KCUR signed on in 1957, in partnership with UMKC.
In both cases, the timeline for transition is approximately three years, as the university and the stations’ boards negotiate the details of the separations. According to releases from both public station groups, the stations will continue operating as usual during the transition period, with no anticipated changes to programming or staffing.
“This is a transformative moment for St. Louis Public Radio,” University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor Kristin Sobolik says. “The move to independence allows STLPR to chart its own course while staying true to its mission of providing high-quality journalism and community service. We believe this transition will empower the station to remain a vital resource of unbiased news for our region and beyond. UMSL is fully supportive of this direction, and we will continue to work closely with the station to ensure a smooth and successful transition.”
University of Missouri-Kansas City Chancellor Mauli Agrawal, who notes that a group of community leaders has already contacted the university to express the intent to form a nonprofit to manage KCUR and KWJC, says, “The stations have been a valued part of our campus and Kansas City community for many years, informing and engaging our community with their high-quality news and programming. This transition will set the stage for them to flourish and grow for decades to come. We remain committed to actively supporting this transition and will work closely with the station and the community-led nonprofit to ensure they have the resources and tools needed to succeed.”
The University’s Board of Curators, which currently holds the stations’ licenses, has expressed its support for both St. Louis Public Radio’s and KCUR’s decision to separate from the University. “Together, we are confident that this transition will position stations in both communities for success in the years ahead,” Board Chair Todd Graves says.
While STLPR’s separation would include its stations carrying KWMU’s news/talk programming in Rolla, MO (KMST 88.5) and Quincy, IL (WQUB 90.3), UMKC’s news/talk KBIA (91.3) Columbia would not be affected by the transition. While curators also hold the station’s license, it will continue as currently structured, with its mission directly tied to education as the training ground for students in the MU School of Journalism.
