Thank you for a wonderful 2013!
We’re only a few days into the New Year, but 2013 ended with a bang! In the last few days of the year, the ban on same-sex marriage was struck down in a surprising move which led to hundreds of couples rushing to the County Clerk’s office to obtain marriage licenses, and KUER's news team has been keeping listeners updated on the story. Throughout 2013, the news team reported on many other memorable topics such as Utah’s air quality, the case against Attorney General John Swallow, and the pollutants caused by Stericycle, the medical incinerator in North Salt Lake.
RadioWest continued their Through The Lens series in partnership with the Utah Film Center, and host Doug Fabrizio interviewed filmmakers of acclaimed documentaries such as The Crash Reel, Life According to Sam, and The Institute. Free screenings of the films were shown throughout the year at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. RadioWest also launched their brand new companion website, VideoWest: an online video series of short films created by Utah filmmakers. Additionally, both RadioWest and KUER’s news team took home a total of 11 awards from the Utah chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists Headliners Banquet.
KUER’s development team partnered with The Leonardo for two fantastic member events in 2013, including a special look at the Mummies of the World exhibit in February and a viewing of the Dead Sea Scrolls in December. Many NPR celebrities came to town and mingled with KUER donors, including NPR Correspondent Ari Shapiro, A Prairie Home Companion star Garrison Keillor, NPR Hosts David Greene and Robert Smith, and the staff of Science Friday. During the annual Savory Salt Lake Event, up-and-coming SLC restaurant R&R BBQ made off with the prize for best dish of the night, and KUER’s Annual Brewmixer featured bites from Rico’s and brews from Salt Lake newcomer, Unsacred Brewing. The KUER News Team hosted a Q&A brunch at Snowbird in June where they opened up with guests about the nature of the newsroom, and the development staff hosted a party for sustaining members at the Clark Planetarium in October.
KUER also held a “Design Our Hoodie” contest in the Fall which garnered tons of excellent submissions! The chosen winner was Claire Lordon, Salt Lake City native currently living in New York City. The winning hoodie was available during the Fall Fund Drive and can be seen around town on the backs of hundreds of listeners now!
All in all, we want to thank our listeners for an excellent year of reporting, discovering, and celebrating with us at KUER. We are excited to see what 2014 will bring!