Listeners often ask about WUNC's relationship several different entities, including National Public Radio, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC-TV. People also ask about WUNC's management structure. Below, we've tried to answer some of those questions.

What is the relationship between WUNC and National Public Radio?

What is the relationship between WUNC and North Carolina's other public radio stations?

What is WUNC's relationship to the University of North Carolina?

Is WUNC related to UNC-TV?

Who leads WUNC?

What is the relationship between WUNC and NPR?

WUNC and National Public Radio (NPR) are separate nonprofit entities. NPR does not own or operate WUNC and has no role in the governance of the station. WUNC is one of more than 760 NPR member stations and pays an annual membership fee. In addition, WUNC pays NPR for broadcast rights to programs such as Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Talk of the Nation and Car Talk, as well as a fee for use of the Public Radio Satellite System maintained by NPR to distribute programs to stations. To learn more about NPR, click here.

WUNC also pays for programming from Public Radio International (PRI) and American Public Media Group (APMG), two separate nonprofit entities that distribute programs like A Prairie Home Companion, This American Life and the BBC. WUNC pays more than $800,000 annually for programming from NPR, PRI, APMG and other independent programming distributors.

NPR is a membership organization, as opposed to a network like ABC that owns TV and radio stations. NPR does not own any stations. The majority of its governing board is comprised of general managers of public radio stations around the country. As a membership organization that is owned by the individual stations, NPR's programming is created for the benefit of these stations, and stations exercise a lot of influence over policies that NPR establishes and adopts.

Half of NPR's annual budget comes from the fees paid by member stations; the other half comes from foundations and business underwriters. (WUNC is contractually obligated to carry the NPR underwriting announcements — "Support for National Public Radio comes from...." — if we carry the NPR programming.) NPR is expressly prohibited, through its by-laws, from soliciting individual donors through on-air fund drives and direct mail. Each station's membership fee is based largely on the audience size and fundraising success of the station, so the more funds WUNC raises, the better NPR does.

What is the relationship between WUNC and North Carolina's other public radio stations?

Each public radio station in North Carolina is an independent nonprofit entity. Some are licensed to the state's colleges and universities, while others are licensed to nonprofit community groups and have their own boards of directors. Each station must manage its own business affairs and raise the funds it needs for operation.

WUNC is a member of the North Carolina Public Radio Association, a statewide collaborative of sixteen public radio stations. WUNC shares reports and programs we produce with other NCPRA stations free of charge through a digital audio exchange website established by NCPRA with the assistance of the State of North Carolina.

In addition to our main broadcast service on 91.5 FM in Chapel Hill, North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC's broadcast service includes four affiliate stations. WRQM 90.9 FM in Rocky Mount and WUND 88.9 FM in Manteo allow us to share our news and information broadcasts with listeners in the eastern part of the state. WURI 90.9 FM in Manteo and WBUX-FM 90.5 in Buxton program a classical music service provided by WCPE in Wake Forest, to provide a choice of public radio listening to people living on the Outer Banks.

What is WUNC's relationship to the University of North Carolina?

North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC (91.5 FM) is licensed to the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Board of Trustees also holds the licenses for WUNC's four affiliate stations: WRQM 90.9 FM in Rocky Mount, WUND 88.9 FM in Manteo, WURI 90.9 FM in Manteo and WBUX-FM 90.5 FM in Buxton. WUNC receives no financial support from the state of North Carolina, and no direct subsidy from UNC-Chapel Hill. All staff, facilities and equipment are paid for by WUNC. The station receives indirect support from UNC-Chapel Hill that is a result of the station's status as a licensee of the University.

A professional staff operates the station, and reports to the associate vice chancellor for university relations. Both WUNC and UNC-Chapel Hill hold, as a core part of their missions, a commitment to outreach and service to the state. To enable WUNC to best serve the public, the University assures that the station management has the editorial freedom necessary to provide this service effectively and that the mission of providing such high quality programming remains paramount. WUNC maintains an editorial policy that is independent of the University.

WUNC has a Community Advisory Board, appointed by the station's general manager, that provides feedback on station policy and programming, and serves as an advocate for the station. The station provides internship opportunities to students at UNC-Chapel Hill and other area colleges and universities.

Is WUNC related to UNC-TV?

No. WUNC Public Radio and UNC-TV are not connected in any way; each is a separate nonprofit operating entity. UNC-TV is a statewide service licensed to the University of North Carolina Board of Governors, as opposed to a particular campus. UNC-TV's studios are located in Research Triangle Park.

Who leads North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC?

Senior Management
A professional staff operates the station, and reports to the associate vice chancellor for university relations at UNC-Chapel Hill.

WUNC's Senior Management Team
General Manager, oversees all operations
Associate Director of Radio, responsible for community relations to WUNC affiliate stations
Program Director, selects programs aired and supervises news, public affairs and operations staff
Development Director, responsible for all fundraising activities
Chief Operations Officer, oversees strategic planning, business functions and human resources
Chief Engineer, responsible for all technical operations

To contact these individuals, click here.

WUNC Community Advisory Board
In 2002, North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC created a Community Advisory Board to assist the station with advancing our mission and goals. While some public radio stations are mandated to have an advisory board (WUNC, because it is licensed to a state university, is not), WUNC chose to establish the board to help increase WUNC's significance to the community we serve.

Since its inception, the Community Advisory Board has provided valuable insight and counsel to WUNC's general manager and senior management team on community outreach and fundraising and feedback on formulating policy and meeting strategic goals. Approximately 13 to 17 board members meet three times a year. Members are also updated regularly by the general manager, and volunteer time between meetings to help the station expand and enhance its current role as a valuable community resource.

WUNC Community Advisory Board members generously volunteer their time and effort to help the station. Members come from all walks of life, but share a strong interest in, and affection for, public radio and WUNC in particular and an open mind about the role of public broadcasting in today's media landscape. Candidates for board positions are WUNC listeners and donors who are willing and able to share their unique talents to further the station's objectives. Each member commits to a minimum two-year term, and agrees to serve as an ambassador for the station in the community and to make an annual financial commitment to WUNC. New board members are chosen by the general manager each year. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Community Advisory Board, please contact jsrose@wunc.org.

The role of the WUNC Community Advisory Board is purely advisory; fiduciary governance of WUNC rests ultimately with the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Our list of current members is available here.