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CPW members visit Colorado Public Radio

CPW members had a wonderful visit to Colorado Public Radio Oct. 6, hosted by Michelle Fulcher, news producer for Colorado Matters, and Jerry Brown, CPR public relations manager.

Some interesting facts and figures that we learned:

• Colorado Public Radio just celebrated its 40th anniversary and is proud to be financial strong. The bulk of funding comes from local individual, corporate and foundation funding. The annual budget is about $7 million.

• The station is about to launch Open Air, a contemporary music station at 1340 AM.

• The station's live performance studio features a $100,000 grand piano donated by a local foundation, and local bands will record in the studio for the new Open Air programming.

• The CPR building was donated about 10 years ago, and a capital campaign was held to build the sound studios.

• The station is less likely to have breaking news and more likely to air timely, in-depth features, Currently, there is one minute and 40 seconds of local news on the hour from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• With the loss of the Rocky Mountain News, Denver Post layoffs and the shrinking TV news, the goal of CPW is to have a fully functioning news room with more breaking news coverage. The station has new full-time education and health reporters funded by foundations.

• Colorado Matters is a half-hour program featuring interviews with local guests. It debuted right before 9/11.

Tour leaders: Michelle Fulcher joined Colorado Public Radio in 2007 after 25 years working for Colorado newspapers including The Denver Post and Colorado Springs Gazette. The Post won a Pulitzer for its coverage of the Columbine High School shootings when Michelle was city editor. Her journalism roots go back to high school when a teacher noted Michelle's writing skills and got her to work on the school yearbook - just as the Watergate scandal broke in Washington, D.C. Michelle soon decided that journalism would be the best way to combine her interests in writing and public policy. At CPR, she produces news and the station's popular Colorado Matters program. She'll lead Press Women's tour of the CPR facilities.

Jerry Brown committed to journalism for 20 years. He's been practicing public relations longer than that and says that his goal is keep practicing until he gets it right! As a journalist, Jerry worked for the Associated Press (during Watergate no less); three daily newspapers including the Rocky Mountain News; the U.S. Information Agency; and two trade publications. He was on the corporate public relations staff of U S West for 17 years. He joined CPR earlier this year.

After the tour, CPW members met at the nearby Maggiano's restaurant for dinner. The CPR tour benefited CPW's Scholarship Fund.