鈥淎n informed community is an empowered community,鈥 states Erika Pulley-Hayes, general manager of WAMU 88.5, the leading public radio station for NPR news and information in the greater Washington, DC, area.
Airing first on 91制片厂鈥檚 campus in October 1961, WAMU has been connecting Washingtonians with each other and the world for over 60 years through programming and work in the community. Over the years, WAMU has continued to evolve, expanding its presence beyond the FM dial to smart speakers, mobile devices, podcasts, social media, the web, and more.
WAMU remains licensed to AU and furthers the university鈥檚 commitment to service. The station is an integral part of Change Can鈥檛 Wait: The Campaign for 91制片厂. Its work in Washington, DC, exemplifies the campaign鈥檚 Lead pillar, which aims to build stronger communities locally, nationally, and globally. WAMU鈥檚 fundraising progress is reflected in the campaign鈥檚 $500 million goal. 鈥淚t鈥檚 what we live on,鈥 notes Pulley-Hayes about the importance of philanthropic gifts, grants, and sponsorships.
With six decades under its belt, WAMU is a longstanding resource鈥攚ith a very loyal audience鈥攆or individuals to turn to for information they can trust. The station produces stories without bias and hopes that being a voice of truth will positively impact the community over time.
鈥淲e support civic life in media and community,鈥 Pulley-Hayes says. 鈥淲e work to make sure that we have a community that is well-informed about the things that are happening in it, around the country, and around the world.鈥
Sharing the many voices of the region, particularly those from traditionally underrepresented areas of the community, is central to WAMU鈥檚 mission. 鈥淭here are stories in these communities that can and should be told with dignity, and it shouldn鈥檛 always be associated with crime,鈥 says Pulley-Hayes.
Voices of Wards 7 and 8鈥攁n initiative focused on two of the District鈥檚 most historically disadvantaged areas鈥攃ontinues to develop. Currently, a dedicated photojournalist presents neighborhood stories in visual form. WAMU plans to expand its efforts by adding a new journalist position to offer broader storytelling in the coming year. Similarly, the station hopes to spotlight stories from Maryland鈥檚 Prince George鈥檚 County to build more awareness about this area of the community.
Its trusted voice, brand recognition, and deep roots in the District enable WAMU to forge partnerships with local organizations. For example, through a collaboration with the Creative School in southeast Washington, DC, WAMU is helping to foster the next generation of journalists. To equip young people for a career in journalism, the station cultivates students鈥 storytelling via workshops and showcases a selection of their works online.
Likewise, WAMU partners with AU to provide student internships and work-study arrangements beyond journalism. 鈥淲e cross every business area, from marketing to sales, communication, technology鈥攚e have so many different areas of operation that it is a place that can contribute to the learning experience for students,鈥 notes Pulley-Hayes.
WAMU鈥檚 partnership with El Tiempo Latino鈥攖he Spanish-language, free-circulation weekly newspaper covering the region for over thirty years鈥攈elps reach the area鈥檚 Latino audience. The station has a reporter assigned to cover immigrant stories and, together, WAMU and El Tiempo Latino share translated content across their media channels. This collaboration furthers WAMU鈥檚 commitment to reaching the information needs of individuals across the region.
National programming, like WAMU鈥檚 1A鈥攁 show hosted by seasoned journalist Jenn White that airs on over 400 stations daily鈥攈elps further the station鈥檚 mission to connect Washingtonians with each other and the world. 1A, which has received much recognition, covers some of the day鈥檚 most pressing issues through news and conversational format鈥攖elling stories that impact the nation, not just the Washington, DC, region.
WAMU鈥檚 work does not come without its challenges. The decline of newspapers and traditional media over the past twenty years and the rise of social media, where there is little fact-checking, makes WAMU鈥檚 NPR role more critical today. The station must cut through the noise to ensure its audience has trusted information that enables them to make informed decisions in their lives and communities.
The station also needs to continue evolving. In 2018, WAMU acquired the local news site DCist, bringing a second brand and audience to the station. Now, WAMU must figure out how to remain true to its core audience while growing a new one in the digital space. Pulley-Hayes鈥檚 hopes for the two? 鈥淭hat both brands achieve the same recognition, respect, and trust of the community so that through either DCist or WAMU, we become the region鈥檚 primary source of news.鈥
To help WAMU continue to present unbiased news, share the region鈥檚 many voices, and build a stronger Washington, DC, community, .
