Nov. 25, 2003

Contact: Phil Wilke, Kansas Public Radio, (785) 864-5016, pwilke@ku.edu; Janet Campbell, Kansas Public Radio, (785) 864-4603, jcampbell@ku.edu.

Kansas Public Radio director elected chair of state broadcasting council

LAWRENCE -- The head of Kansas Public Radio now also is the head of the state's advocacy group for public broadcasting.

Janet Campbell, director of KPR and the Audio-Reader Network at the University of Kansas, was elected Friday, Nov. 21, as chair of the Kansas Public Broadcasting Council. The council met at KU's Dole Institute of Politics.

The Kansas Public Broadcasting Council comprises the chief executive officers of the 10 public radio stations and TV stations in the state. It keeps the Kansas Legislature advised of issues relating to public broadcasting and distributes state funds to stations for equipment purchases and operating expenses.

"It's my goal to keep public broadcasting in the forefront of legislative thinking," Campbell said. "That's crucial in a rural state like Kansas. I hope that we can maintain -- or even increase -- our funding levels."

Campbell, who had been the group's vice chair since June 2002, takes over from Richard Hicks, general manager of Smoky Hills Public Television, based in Bunker Hill. Campbell also had been the organization's secretary for four years. Campbell will be chair through June and then will stand for election for a one- or two-year term.

Eugene Williams, general manager of KTWU Channel 11 in Topeka, was elected vice chair to replace Campbell.

Others on the council look forward to working with Campbell.

"I think she has a very solid approach to fundamentals of public broadcasting," said Mark McCain, general manager of KMUW 89.1-FM at Wichita State University. "She believes very strongly in the service, providing benefits to the listeners and viewers. She is not afraid to say what she thinks. So being able to speak your mind in a legislative setting is a great asset."

KANU 91.5-FM is the flagship station of Kansas Public Radio, a consortium of stations that blankets northeast Kansas with an eclectic blend of music, national and state news, entertainment, and cultural and information programming. Other stations in the KPR network are KANH 89.7-FM in Emporia, KANV 91.3-FM and K210CR 89.7-FM in Atchison.