WNYC, New York Public Radio: An Overview

WNYC 93.9 FM and AM 820 are New York's premier public radio stations, broadcasting the finest programs from National Public Radio and Public Radio International, as well as a wide range of award-winning signature local programming.

WNYC, New York Public Radio comprises WNYC 93.9 FM and WNYC AM 820. As America's most listened-to public radio stations, reaching over one million listeners each week, WNYC FM and AM extend New York City's cultural riches to the whole country and air the best national offerings from affiliate networks National Public Radio and Public Radio International. WNYC FM 93.9 broadcasts a broad range of daily news, talk, cultural and classical music programming, while WNYC AM 820 maintains a stronger focus on breaking news and international/ global news reporting. WNYC, New York Public Radio maintains a busy centralized newsroom and its award-winning reporters contribute regularly to local news broadcasts and to the nationally aired news programs Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Marketplace. From its studios in lower Manhattan's Municipal Building, WNYC produces signature daily interview programs, hosted by veteran journalists Brian Lehrer and Leonard Lopate, as well as the nationally broadcast On the Media with Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield, Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen, Radio Lab and Selected Shorts.

WNYC, New York Public Radio's commitment to community and youth education has always been an important part of its mission; recent initiatives include the creation of Radio Rookies, an ongoing youth journalism workshop training program operating in all five New York City boroughs; consulting with the New York City Board of Education on the development of its new 9th Grade Music Curriculum; and the creation of a daily classical music and culture program, Soundcheck with John Schaefer, that extends classical music education in its broadest sense to WNYC's diverse and growing audience.

Continual innovations such as these reflect WNYC's long and distinguished history of providing New York and the nation with unique news, educational, cultural, and public affairs programming. WNYC AM 820 is one of the oldest radio stations in America, having been established on June 2, 1922, six months before the BBC opened its doors in London, while WNYC 93.9 FM, New York's only non-commercial classical music station, signed on in 1943.

Before January 1997, both stations were owned by the City of New York and operated by the WNYC Foundation, a not-for-profit organization established by private citizens committed to the cause of public radio. In 1995, the WNYC Foundation agreed to purchase the two WNYC radio licenses from the City of New York for $20 million and WNYC, New York Public Radio is now run as an independent, not-for-profit organization. Grants and listener contributions cover more than 60% of the operating budgets for the two radio stations.

Mission Statement

As a flagship station of the American public radio network, WNYC, New York Public Radio's mission is: "To make the mind more curious, the heart more tolerant and the spirit more joyful through excellent radio programming that is deeply rooted in New York."