LoCAL/STATE a w~ 1rap V? T4 'Y a -?T7 AiY ""7' r r f GrrVT p '.,7 ~, £ 5 7.J? '®'t7PY Michigan Radio named best station in the country By Karr Chopra For the Daily Michigan Radio recently was named the best radio station in the nation by the Public Radio Program Directors Association. Todd Mundt, host of Morning Edition, also was honored by the association as the nation's top air personality. As well as the Morning Edition, Mundt Bests his own talk show, The Todd Mundt ow, which airs 1-2 p.m. on weekdays. Michigan Radio produces three affiliate stations - WUOM in Ann Arbor (91.7 FM), WFUM in Flint (91.1) and WVGR in Grand Rapids (104.1), which run the same pro- grams simultaneously. WUOM is primarily a talk radio station that airs classical music rom 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The PRPDA competi- tion, which judged hun- moral boo dreds of stations across the nation, ranked sta- s tions based on record- ings from a typical day, said Joan Siefert Rose, WUOM WUOM's station pro- gram director. All material for the competition was con- densed into a 20-minute assortment of the tation's locally produced material, includ- 9 g portions from each part of the listening day. Rose said she is elated with the station's popularity, but feels the award is even more special because of the process by which the winner was selected. "This is a very competitive award, voted on by our peers. It is a vote of confidence throughout the system and a moral boost for the station's staff," Rose said. She attributed the success to those who un the station as well as the station's open attitude toward risk-taking. "The station has a lot of creative energy. We try to give people the opportunity to try new things. We recognize talent and are eager to support them," Rose said. Rose said she was happy to see someone as talented as Mundt be honored individual- ly. Mundt came to WUOM about a year ago. He previously worked at Iowa State .liversity, but decided to come to the University after contemplating his career goals. "I had hoped to be on National Public Radio within two years," said Mundt; who first was introduced as the morning drive announcer. Mundt'had his first chance to pilot his own talk show in February, and the show was picked up by WUOM this past April. Mundt admits his recent national recogni- tion was unexpected. "I was very surprised by the award," he said, crediting his success to his ability to reach a younger audience as well as the nature of the show. "My show is a little more personality ori- te of ... a nda ast for the staff. f - Joan Siefert Rose station program director ented, which had some appeal to the" association, Mundt said. Before receiv- ing the honor, the station had been in contact with NPR about becoming syndi- cated nationally. Contract negotia- tions began about a month and a half ALLISON CANTER/Daily ago. "The plan here has always been to produce information for national distribution. We just never expected it to happen as fast," Rose said. With the University's approval, Mundt's show will begin airing on NPR in about three weeks. Rose said the average listener of public radio is around age 45, but the station is gaining younger listeners. Although Rose said that the station is attracting younger listeners, most students are unaware that an award winning radio sta- tion is broadcasted from the Literature Science & the Arts Building. LSA sophomore Alex Lee said he was unfamiliar with WUOM and that the station really does not interest him. "I have never heard of the station. I am not very interested in talk shows on the radio," Lee said. Although students have not been very involved with the station in the past, Rose said almost 20 students have inquired about possible station internships during the past month. ABOVE: Todd Mundt (right), a talk show personality and host of Morning Edition for Michigan Radio, interviews novelist Brad Johnson on Friday in a WUOM studio. Johnson recently wrote the book "The Bird That Flies Highest." Mundt's talk show may soon be broadcast on National Public Radio. LEFT: Mundt listens attentively during his talk show Friday. He was named the top radio per- sonality In the nation by the Public Radio Program Directors Association. In addition, Michigan Radio, which pro- duces the programming for WUOM and two other NPR sta- tions, was named the best radio station in the country. I Start at the top and work upwards. McKinsey only wants the best. So, if you're a graduating University of Michigan Ph.D. or Postdoc student - in any discipline - McKinsey is your chance to start at the top and keep excelling. As a management consultant with McKinsey, you'll be -confronted with a succession of varied and contrasting challenges. 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