Statements
Mission
Nashville Public Radio connects our communities to each other and the world through independent journalism, compelling storytelling, civil conversation, and music discovery.
Background
Nashville Public Radio has been a source of news, music, entertainment, and culture in Middle Tennessee since 1962. Throughout our history we have maintained a strong reputation for local journalism and storytelling that is high-quality, nonpartisan, and in-depth. Our news station was first licensed to the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County as a unit of the Public Library. In 1968, WPLN became one of 73 charter members of National Public Radio. In 1996, the Library Board, Mayor Bredesen, and the Metro Council agreed to transfer the FCC broadcast license to a new not-for-profit, Nashville Public Radio, and in 1998, we moved to brand-new studios in MetroCenter. The station's broadcast signals now reach more than 24 counties in Middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky, with a potential audience of 1.8 million listeners. Our digital programming is available globally.
In 2019, Nashville Public Radio welcomed CEO Steve Swenson, a former commercial radio executive with a 30-year career at legacy broadcasting stations, including CBS Radio and 1010 WINS. Swenson has expanded platforms & services, launching the daily show This Is Nashville; the music discovery station, WNXP 91.1 FM; and the human-powered daily newsletter, The NashVillager and NashVillager podcast - all complementing existing offerings on 90.3 WPLN News, Nashville Classical Radio, and WPLN International. Our staff size has doubled to 50+ and we continue to forge a greater, more sustainable connection with a broader audience across Middle Tennessee.
Impact
In 2022, we celebrated our 60th anniversary. Nashville Public Radio is an independent 501(c)(3), not dependent upon local taxpayers, and our organization is lean and successful. 90.3 FM WPLN News and WNXP 91.1 FM, along with FM repeater stations in Tullahoma and Cookeville, internet-based services, and HD Radio permit us to serve over 175,000 people each week. The ethos that guides this work and keeps us accountable to the community include the following core values:
* Depth of Story: With 60 years of public service, we know Nashville and can cover the story behind the story. Why are we doing this story now? Why does this matter to someone who's not directly involved? What are we adding to a story that's already been told? We lean into complexity, rounding out data and facts with narrative and analysis. Deeper context enables us to tell authentic stories with a strong sense of place.
* Empowerment & Respect: We seek first to understand why people do what they do and avoid harming those who have already been harmed. We reach out to those criticized or affected, bring diverse sources into the story, and add our take only when it serves a purpose or answers a pressing community question. We do not critique; instead we hold a mirror to the community that empowers people to solve problems & make decisions.
* Independence & Innovation: We work for the public & hold institutions accountable. We avoid following the pack or reporting in an echo chamber. We are beholden to the community, not to advertisers, and are driven by a set of values rather than a profit margin. Thus, we tell stories not about the community but rather with the community.
* Smarter Stories: Program and editorial decisions are made by merit, not by ratings. We stick with stories over time, helping us to tell more informed, cumulative stories. We speak with many voices and many dialects, recognizing that to understand the whole, the public must first understand each of its parts.
* Hopeful Journalism: Our journalism is not disparaging, hopeless, or downtrodden. We leave room for hope that positive change is attainable and tell stories that are responsible for the future of our community. We inject moments of joy that inspire people to actively engage with their community.
* Courage: We employ healthy skepticism and ask tough questions. We verify the facts and rely on multiple sources.
* Accessibility: We provide access to the intellectual and cultural resources of our city and national partners at no cost and without advertisements.
Members of the WPLN News team consistently win distinguished awards from the Tennessee Associated Press Broadcasters and Public Radio News Directors Inc. Priority goals for Nashville Public Radio include broadening and strengthening news content; strengthening ratings with strong, cohesive programming; continuing the evolution of Nashville's Music Experience, WNXP; creating frameworks for working with independent producers; increasing the diversity of our content, staff and board; ensuring facilities and tech systems provide staff with necessary tools to perform jobs efficiently; continuing community-driven content projects and increasing community feedback; strengthening and growing revenue; and identifying new sources of revenue.
Nashville Public Radio's staff and management share the following set of values that form the culture of the station:
*To operate the station at the highest level of professional standards and integrity.
*To be responsive to our listeners, members, supporters and public.
*To exhibit mutual respect for our peers and audience.
*To value the member and community support that our station receives.
*To work together in an environment that encourages participation and sharing of the decisions that affect the station and our listeners.
Needs
MULTI-PLATFORM TRANSFORMATION: Nashville Public Radio is expanding and adapting content across multiple platforms in response to a quickly shifting audience landscape. Rather than simply re-purposing radio stories, our goal is to create meaningful content, tailored to the unique characteristics of each distribution medium. For example, Tik Tok excels at short-form video, whereas YouTube is ideal for longform & visually captivating videography. Social media platforms and email newsletters are channels for direct dialogue with audiences. Each platform presents distinct opportunities for varying styles of news, storytelling, and music discovery. We will maximize our impact and audience reach when we fully leverage their specific strengths.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Public & Societal Benefit - Public & Societal Benefit NEC |
| Secondary Category: | Arts, Culture & Humanities - Radio |
| Tertiary Category: | Education - Adult Education |
Areas Served
WPLN's broadcast signal can be heard in 24 counties in Middle Tennessee & Kentucky. Many WPLN and WNXP stories are picked up to broadcast nationally via National Public Radio. Digital content is available globally 24 / 7.
| TN - Bedford |
| TN - Cannon |
| TN - Cheatham |
| TN - Coffee |
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - DeKalb |
| TN - Dickson |
| TN - Giles |
| TN - Hickman |
| TN - Houston |
| TN - Lawrence |
| TN - Lewis |
| TN - Marshall |
| TN - Maury |
| TN - Montgomery |
| TN - Putnam |
| TN - Robertson |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Sumner |
| TN - Trousdale |
| TN - Williamson |
| TN - Wilson |
| KY - Todd |
