Mission Statement
Mission: Our Mission is to enrich the mind and nourish the spirit, thereby enhancing the lives and expanding the perspectives of our audiences, and assisting them in strengthening their communities.
Vision: We will be an indispensable resource for our audiences and an essential public service for our communities.
Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
In addition to serving more people through growth in our listening, digital and live event audiences, Minnesota Public Radio's impact is reflected in industry recognition.
Noteworthy awards include: For MPR News - 2016 National Murrow Award for Overall Excellence; 2015 George Foster Peabody and Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards for “Betrayed by Silence.” For 89.3 The Current - 2016 Station of the Year award at the FMQB Triple A Conference; 2016 Program Director of the Year, Non Commercial at the FMQB Triple A Conference for Program Director Jim McGuinn. For On Demand services - 2016 Academy of Podcasters Podcast Movement Awards for Codebreaker, The Dinner Party Download, and Brains On!
In the wake of the death of Minnesota music icon Prince, The Current rose to the occasion to become “the World’s Prince Memorial.” The station played the internationally renowned artist’s entire music catalogue non-stop for 75 hours, providing broadcast and streaming programming and complementary online content that drew listeners and website visitors from more than 200 countries. In addition, 8,000 fans of The Current visited the website to vote for their favorite albums 893 Essential Album Countdown.
The Uncertain Hour, a new podcast from Marketplace’s Wealth and Poverty desk, achieved 1.4M downloads and excellent reviews in its first six-part season timed to the 20th anniversary of welfare reform. Marketplace also launched a multi-platform series “How The Deck Is Stacked,” a collaboration with FRONTLINE and PBS NewsHour, to explore different facets of the American public’s economic unease.
Classical MPR brought classical artists to more than 30,000 students in 60 schools across the state to experience a live performance and educational presentation from one of eight Minnesota classical ensembles. And through the Choral Works Initiative, MPR reached thousands more students and residents through choral clinics at schools and colleges, and community “Bring the Sing” events in St. Paul and Duluth. Classical also orchestrated a “Bridge of Song,” a joint choral singing event between Dallas and the Twin Cities focused on healing during a time of turmoil in our two cities. YourClassical.org celebrated its first-year anniversary, reaching more audiences than anticipated through unconventional and innovative delivery of classical music.
Current Goals
MPR’s strategic plan, Audiences First, puts audiences at the forefront of all we do. We aspire to: create and deliver indispensable and engaging journalism and cultural content; build and deepen relationships with our loyal audiences; increase positive community impact for the communities we serve; and ensure financial flexibility that supports future growth and increased service to Minnesota, the nation and global communities who look to us.
We are exploring ways to create MPR and APM programming that serves more people in our rapidly changing region and nation. Becoming more relevant to more people in more communities is a top priority—especially reaching out to communities that currently may not find us relevant.
Keeping all our content accessible on multiple devices and platforms is another top priority, ensuring individuals are able to access and engage with it easily, intuitively and conveniently. We are seeking to employ cutting-edge technology, expertise and innovation to expand our digital and on-demand content, enhance our strong broadcast programming, engage our communities in new ways, transform the audience experience, and increase our impact on the people and communities we serve.
Community or Constituency Served
Minnesota Public Radio’s serves curious people of all ages living in countless communities. MPR’s three regional broadcast services primarily meet news, information and cultural needs of the residents of Minnesota and its border communities. MPR and it’s national broadcast production and distribution arm, American Public Media, serve national and global audiences through radio and digital programming. MPR seeks to serve new and diverse audiences that reflect our rapidly changing communities and country.
Geographic Area Served
MPR's regional broadcast service includes a 45-station radio network (the largest regional network in the country), covering nearly all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states. APM's national programming reaches radio listeners all over the United States through nearly 1,000 regional stations. Digital services have no geographic boundaries.
