In the 32-year history of the NAB Crystal Radio Awards, only seven stations have been honored five times and recognized with the NAB Crystal Heritage Award. KFOR-AM/Lincoln, NE, becomes the eighth station to join that prestigious group at the 2019 NAB We Are Broadcasters Celebration, April 9 in Las Vegas.
“Being part of the community for 95 years is what this award is all about,” said Julie Gade, Alpha Media Lincoln Market Manager. “KFOR has been a large part of this community for a long time. It started in David City, Nebraska, and in 1924 it became kind of the community bulletin board and that hasn’t changed. KFOR is still the voice of the community.”
Considering today’s radio landscape, being recognized as one of the best in the business is no easy feat, according to Gade. “I personally have never been associated, full-time, with an AM signal until 2014. Pride for ‘your’ station was normally an FM or an AM/FM combo,” recalled Gade. “Deregulation gave us all the ability to be associated with multiple stations. KFOR’s dedicated staff has shrunk to nine over time, but we encourage all employees from all six of our stations to become involved in reporting the news of our community. This allows KFOR to remain current and timely on anything happening within our signal footprint.”
Gade said it’s a pretty simple formula to be a successful part of your community. “The basis of KFOR’s approach has always been news, weather, and community service. That has not changed over the years. The pride we all have in servicing the community is the ‘why’ we all get up and come to work every day.”
“The Crystal Heritage Award was a surprise,” said Gade. “We were thinking we needed another Crystal Award to get the Heritage Award, so when we got it this time, we were all kinda of shocked. It comes with a sense of pride that this radio station has had over the years. This the cherry on top of the cake. To say we’re thrilled would be an understatement.”
Hell of a concept!
I dunno.
Think it might work?
Well done, KFOR!