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About

KUOW is the Puget Sound region's #1 radio station for news. Our independent, nonprofit newsroom produces award-winning stories, podcasts and events.

Mission // To create and serve a more informed public.

Vision // Broaden conversations. Deepen understanding.

Values

KUOW's journalistic principles are defined by the KUOW News Code of Ethics and Practices and Firewall Policy. Our organization is guided by the following core values.

  • Earn Trust

    Trust is our foundation - and it must be earned. Listen. Seek first to understand. Be fully transparent. Admit errors. Speak honestly with our audience and each other.

  • Be Curious

    Ask, test, try, build and rebuild. Challenge the status quo and your own assumptions. We enthusiastically seek ideas that surprise us and teach us something new.

  • Have Courage

    Take risks. Show grit. Tackle the uncomfortable and unknown. We relentlessly pursue the truth and don't yield to pressure. When things get tough (because they will), we remain steadfast.

  • Value Diversity

    Be inclusive and equitable. Seek a multitude of perspectives and experiences. Practice fairness. It is imperative to our journalism, the decisions we make and the culture we create.

  • Act in Service

    We act in service of the public, each other and something bigger than ourselves. Lead with respect. Offer a solution. We love what we do and go the extra mile for our mission.

  • Demand Integrity

    Set the bar high, and hold yourself and your teammates to it. We do not cut corners. We never choose what is easy over what is right.

  • Always Grow

    When we fail, we own it. Having a growth mindset means embracing what we've learned and moving forward. We take joy in pushing ourselves to be better.

  • Collaborate

    We are the sum of our parts—the magic happens when we work as one. Celebrate each other’s strengths and welcome new ideas. Treat feedback as a gift and give lots of high fives.

History

KUOW was established in 1952, when Seattle benefactor Dorothy Bullitt donated a radio frequency to the University of Washington. It was a training ground for students to learn about broadcast techniques and technology, on the air for only 8-10 hours each day.

We've come a long way since then: KUOW chartered NPR in 1970 and became an affiliate of several news networks, including PRI, American Public Media, PRX, the Northwest News Network, and the Associated Press.

  • January 1951

    The Start of KUOW

    The FCC awards the KUOW license to the University of Washington Board of Regents. Don Riggs began his long broadcasting career as a student broadcaster at KUOW in the 1950s.

  • January 1968

    KUOW Broadcasts on Saturdays

    During the turbulent times of the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1960s, KUOW started broadcasting content on Saturdays. One of the shows that premiered that first Saturday in January 1968 was The Swing Years and Beyond, which became one of the longest running radio programs in Seattle.

  • July 1971

    All Things Considered Debuts

    The biggest change to KUOW came with the premiere of a new program on May 3, 1971. That afternoon, an announcer's voice was heard saying, for the first time, "From National Public Radio in Washington, I'm Robert Conley with All Things Considered."

  • March 1972

    KUOW's First Pledge Drive

    Reduced enrollment at the University of Washington meant budget cuts from Olympia. To make up the difference, KUOW held its first on-air pledge drive in March 1972.

  • January 1995

    New Format: News and Information

    KUOW ended its classical music service and broadcast news and information full time.

  • January 1999

    KUOW Moves Off Campus

    KUOW built a new broadcast center in Seattle's University District in 1999. The station's major investment in this studio and office space reflects a continuing commitment to high quality, local news. The $5 million project was financed by listener contributions and tax–exempt bonds.

  • January 2013

    KUOW Expands Youth Program

    KUOW's youth media program, RadioActive Youth Media, becomes a year-round radio program for training the next generation of public radio journalists.