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Part 4: The 90s
<Part 3: The 80s <Part 2: Beginnings <Start
Please note: This article was orginally published in 2001 and references that time. Some information is out of date.
The early nineties were difficult times for public broadcasting in North Carolina. State funding was cut during a budget crisis, just as NPR raised station fees for the cost of covering the Persian Gulf War. Changing politics in Washington threatened the future of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the main source of federal funding for public radio. Thanks to unprecedented support from listeners and corporate sponsors, WUNC was able to emerge from thi fiscal uncertainty with a stronger, more diverse funding base. Today, development director Regina Yeager manages a sophisticated fund-raising program that supports the station's annual $3.2 million (2001 figure) operating budget. Business manager Bob Levin and his staff keep track of spending, payroll, and notices to contributors.
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| WUNC General Manager Bill Davis in 1995 |
Local Voices in the 1990s
Adam Hochberg began reporting from the state capitol and the General Assembly in 1990. This clip is one of his early reports, fed by telephone line from Raleigh to the WUNC Chapel Hill studios. Listen as the state legislators consider a new motor vehicle requirement during the summer of 1990. Adam would continue to report on the General Assembly through the mid 90s and now reports on US Southeastern issues for NPR. (This report featured here was among the first prepared directly at the NC Legislature.)
Listen Now!
Melinda Penkava (shown here during an early 90s WUNC fund drive) reported on a wide range of local and state issues. We've collected two of her stories from 1993. First, a complete (16 mins.)four-part sound-rich feature investigating the wild ponies controversy on the NC Outer Banks. The second story is about the last Durham Bulls game held at the old DAP: Durham Athletic Park, before moving into their new home stadium.
Wild Ponies:
Listen Now!
Durham Bulls:
Listen Now!
Under the leadership of program director Michael Arnold, WUNC increased its news staff during the nineties (pictured, WUNC News Staff in 1998; L-R: Leda Hartman, Diane Toomey, Paula Press, John Stempin (news director), Amy Nelson, Gillian Ashley, Brian Buckner, and Chris Hosken), WUNC News Staff in 1998 providing comprehensive coverage of health care, education, the changing economy and the legislature. Today, news director Emily Hanford directs a staff of eight reporters and producers who present newscasts and longer, sound-rich reports that deepen the understanding of events and issues affecting the state.
WUNC moved in 1999 from its studios in Swain Hall to the new James F. Goodmon Public Radio Building on campus property off Highway 54. Chief engineer David Wright oversaw the construction, which was made possible by the contributions of thousands of listeners, as well as some larger gifts from community donors. A planned expansion is expected to be complete by the summer.
WUNC’s recent growth includes new service to communities in Eastern North Carolina. Programming is provided to WRQM/Rocky Mount-Wilson, as well as to the Outer Banks. WURI/Manteo-Roanoke Island and WBUX/Buxton reach listeners in those areas, and a new station at Columbia, NC, is scheduled for construction to expand service Down East.
It’s been a long strange trip from 1976 to 2001, but through all the changes, WUNC Radio remains committed to providing this unique public service of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Note: In September 2001, after this artice was published, WUNC started is daily full servicce of news and information with special programs on the weekend. The rest of this site documents that continuing legacy.
On to Part 5: Image & Audio Scrapbook>
