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Connie Walker named general manager of WUNC radio
North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC has named its new general manager at the station.
For immediate use: Wednesday, March 4, 2009
CHAPEL HILL - Connie Walker, interim program director of North Carolina Public Radio® - WUNC, has been named general manager at the station, a broadcasting service of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The veteran of public radio will manage the station that broadcasts at 91.5 FM in the Chapel Hill/Raleigh/Durham area; on 88.9 FM in Manteo, serving the northeastern outer banks and coastal communities; and on 90.9 FM from Rocky Mount, serving parts of eastern North Carolina and the Sandhills.
The station has distinguished itself for its award-winning, 24/7 news-and-information service. It ranks in the top 30 stations for public radio listeners nationally, despite being in the country's 43rd largest market. The station's $7.4 million budget is supplied mostly by listener contributions and business sponsorships.
"There's nothing more satisfying than doing a national search and finding the perfect candidate right here at home," said UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp. "We are confident that Connie will make an already strong station even stronger."
Walker has served as interim program director at WUNC since July, when previous general manager Joan Siefert Rose left to become president of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development in Durham.
Previously, Walker was the station's news director for three years. She came to WUNC in 2005 from Wisconsin Public Radio, where she was news director for 10 years. She was president of Public Radio News Directors Inc. from 2002 to 2006.
WUNC has won awards in each of the last four years from Public Radio News Directors Inc., the Radio and Television News Directors Association and the Associated Press.
Walker said her main focuses as director will be working in the community to raise awareness of WUNC and positioning the station for strong financial support from the community.
"I think this is the best job in public radio, and I'm honored to have the opportunity to lead WUNC," Walker said. "It's a great station because it has an incredibly dedicated, talented staff and very loyal listeners. I want us to build on what we've already achieved and move the station forward with a continued commitment to quality and service to our audience."
Walker grew up in Watertown, Wisconsin, and earned a bachelor's degree in 1983 from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. She graduated magna cum laude with a journalism major and an English minor.
"The State of Things," WUNC's noon weekday show, and periodic issue-oriented series called "North Carolina Voices" originate locally, focus on North Carolina and are broadcast statewide on public radio stations. Originating locally at WUNC and also broadcast nationally on public radio stations are "The Story with Dick Gordon" and "People's Pharmacy." The station is also home to "Marketplace" Innovations Desk Bureau reporter Janet Babin.
The station airs local, national and international news updates on the hour and talk shows including offerings from National Public Radio, American Public Media and Public Radio International. Weekday highlights include "Morning Edition from NPR," "All Things Considered," "BBC Newshour," "Marketplace" and "The Diane Rehm Show."
On weekends, WUNC airs programs including the local show "Back Porch Music" and the national program "A Prairie Home Companion."
Note: Walker can be reached at (919) 445-9170 or (919) 445-9215.
Contact: Susan Houston, (919) 962-8415, susan_houston@unc.edu
