Notes from March 17, 2006, USPRA meeting

Present: Randy Ripplinger, Ron Frandsen, Mike Kelley, Dave Adamson, Melinda Colton, Chris Williams, Nate Taggart, Mark Petersen, D. Wright, Tina Morandy, Jerri Mortensen, Michele Bartmess

Guests: Murray Superintendent Richard Tranter, Doug Wright and Mary Richards, KSL Radio, Tom Jordan, Metro Neworks, Dave Cawley, Clear Channel Radio

Mark Peterson passed out copies of USOE’s 2006 Finger Tip Facts.

Panel Discussion

Each radio media representative told about the demographics and major interests of their station(s).

  • KSL is the top rated radio station in Utah, mostly adults, talk radio and news is the focus, Mary is the education reporter (among other assignments); Doug’s show often deals with education issues
  • Metro’s 18 stations have about 2/3 of the state’s adult drive-time listeners with a news and human interest focus; education is among the top priorities for news coverage
  • Clear Channel is largely middle-age women; programming is mostly syndicated plus headline news, much of it related to crime
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    Each panel member had a good grasp of the issue facing Utah’s public schools. The panel responded to a number of questions.

  • The best way school PR people can help them is to respond quickly and honestly
  • They like e-mail contacts very much
  • They said because drive time is so important, they often have early morning needs; early morning calls are, at time, necessary
  • Reporters need calls returned promptly
  • Morning newspapers are a key source of leads
  • Reporter look for the "quirky" element of the story
  • They especially appreciate being able to go right to the sources of news – the experts in our system, students, teachers, etc.
  • USPRA members expressed some concerns that they are using reporters as "experts" rather than the real experts
  • KSL Radio staffs only 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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    Officer nominations

    Officer elections will occur at the next USPRA chapter meeting, Friday, 28 April, at Granite School District offices.