WUFT-FM
Encyclopedia
WUFT-FM 89.1 is an NPR
member radio station owned by the University of Florida
in Gainesville, Florida
, broadcasting news from NPR.
UF has been involved in broadcasting for almost nine decades. It owns WRUF (850 AM and 103.7 FM
), one of the oldest radio stations in the state, and sister television station WUFT-TV was the first public television station in the state outside Miami. Despite this pioneering role, UF was a relative latecomer to public radio. WUFT-FM didn't sign on until 1981, bringing NPR programming to one of the few areas of the state still without any public radio at all.
For most of its history, WUFT aired a mix of classical music and NPR news programming. On August 3, 2009, WUFT's programming was switched to mostly news and public affairs, while classical music was moved to WUFT's HD2 digital subchannel.
Since 1995, WUFT has also operated WJUF 90.1 FM, licensed to Inverness
as a full-time repeater, under the moniker Nature Coast 90.
WUFT broadcasts with 100,000 watts of effective power, and reaches the following counties in north-central Florida: Alachua
, Union
, Bradford
, Gilchrist
, Levy
, Marion
, Putnam
, Clay
, Columbia
, Lafayette
and Dixie
. WJUF broadcasts with 20,000 watts of effective power, and reaches Sumter
, Hernando
, Citrus
and Pasco
counties.
WUFT also broadcasts in HD
. The HD1 signal simulcasts the analog signal, HD2 features classical music programming 24-hours-a day, seven-days a week. WUFT broadcasts Spanish language
programming on its HD3 channel, called "WUFT Ahora".
WUFT broadcasts several live weekly call-in shows: Sikorski's Attic hosted by antiques expert John Sikorski, who answers listeners' questions about antiques
and vintage collectibles; Connor Calling, featuring host Hank Connor talking to an array of authors; and Animal Airwaves - Live, hosted by Dana Hill, who interviews veterinarians from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
. WUFT also has three weekly live music performance programs: Soul Circuit with Margi Hatch, Saturdays from 8 to 10 p.m.; On the Bridge with Kristen Wanner, Sundays from 3 to 5 p.m.; and Ballads and Blues with Steve Seipp, Sundays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
member radio station owned by the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, broadcasting news from NPR.
UF has been involved in broadcasting for almost nine decades. It owns WRUF (850 AM and 103.7 FM
WRUF-FM
WRUF-FM is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Gainesville, Florida, USA, the station serves the Gainesville/Ocala area. The station is currently owned by the University of Florida...
), one of the oldest radio stations in the state, and sister television station WUFT-TV was the first public television station in the state outside Miami. Despite this pioneering role, UF was a relative latecomer to public radio. WUFT-FM didn't sign on until 1981, bringing NPR programming to one of the few areas of the state still without any public radio at all.
For most of its history, WUFT aired a mix of classical music and NPR news programming. On August 3, 2009, WUFT's programming was switched to mostly news and public affairs, while classical music was moved to WUFT's HD2 digital subchannel.
Since 1995, WUFT has also operated WJUF 90.1 FM, licensed to Inverness
Inverness, Florida
Inverness is a city in Citrus County, Florida, United States. As of 2010, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 7,210. It is the county seat of Citrus County.-Geography:...
as a full-time repeater, under the moniker Nature Coast 90.
WUFT broadcasts with 100,000 watts of effective power, and reaches the following counties in north-central Florida: Alachua
Alachua County, Florida
Alachua County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 227,120. Its county seat is Gainesville, Florida. Alachua County is the home of the University of Florida and is also known for its diverse culture, local music, and artisans...
, Union
Union County, Florida
Union County is a county located in the state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 14,916. The county seat is Lake Butler.- History :...
, Bradford
Bradford County, Florida
Bradford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 26,088. The 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate for the county was 28,118 . Its county seat is Starke, Florida. Bradford County is the home of the Florida State Prison as well as several other state...
, Gilchrist
Gilchrist County, Florida
Gilchrist County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 14,437. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 16,402. Gilchrist County has only one traffic light in the entire county and has no road with more than one lane of traffic...
, Levy
Levy County, Florida
Levy County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 34,450. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 37,998. Its county seat is Bronson, Florida. Levy is pronounced lee vee.- History :...
, Marion
Marion County, Florida
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 316,183. Its county seat is Ocala....
, Putnam
Putnam County, Florida
Putnam County is a county located in the state of Florida. The entire county makes up the Palatka Micropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 70,423. The U.S. Census Bureau 2009 estimate for the county was 72,893 . Its county seat is Palatka, Florida. The county is centrally...
, Clay
Clay County, Florida
Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2010, the population was 190,895. Its county seat is Green Cove Springs, Florida. Clay County is part of the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan area.- History :...
, Columbia
Columbia County, Florida
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 56,513. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 64,040 . Its county seat is Lake City, Florida....
, Lafayette
Lafayette County, Florida
Lafayette County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 7,022. It is the second least populated county in the state, having one more resident, according to the 2000 census, than Liberty County, Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is...
and Dixie
Dixie County, Florida
Dixie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 13,827. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 14,647 . Its county seat is Cross City, Florida.- History :...
. WJUF broadcasts with 20,000 watts of effective power, and reaches Sumter
Sumter County, Florida
Sumter County is a county located in the state of Florida, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 53,345. The 2006 Census estimate puts its population at 68,768 . Its county seat is Bushnell, Florida and the largest incorporated municipality is Wildwood, Florida. The Villages,...
, Hernando
Hernando County, Florida
Hernando County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 130,802. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 165,409 . Its county seat is Brooksville, Florida. The majority of the county's population is in Spring Hill, west portion of Hernando...
, Citrus
Citrus County, Florida
Citrus County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 118,085. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county was 141,416 . Its county seat is Inverness, Florida...
and Pasco
Pasco County, Florida
Pasco County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 344,765. The July 1, 2007 census estimate according to the U.S. Census Bureau for the county is 462,715. Its county seat is Dade City, Florida which is in the northeast part of the county - somewhat...
counties.
WUFT also broadcasts in HD
HD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
. The HD1 signal simulcasts the analog signal, HD2 features classical music programming 24-hours-a day, seven-days a week. WUFT broadcasts Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
programming on its HD3 channel, called "WUFT Ahora".
WUFT broadcasts several live weekly call-in shows: Sikorski's Attic hosted by antiques expert John Sikorski, who answers listeners' questions about antiques
Antiques
An antique is an old collectible item. It is collected or desirable because of its age , beauty, rarity, condition, utility, personal emotional connection, and/or other unique features...
and vintage collectibles; Connor Calling, featuring host Hank Connor talking to an array of authors; and Animal Airwaves - Live, hosted by Dana Hill, who interviews veterinarians from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine is the veterinary school of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Founded in 1976, it is one of six schools that compose the J. Hillis Miller Health Science Center...
. WUFT also has three weekly live music performance programs: Soul Circuit with Margi Hatch, Saturdays from 8 to 10 p.m.; On the Bridge with Kristen Wanner, Sundays from 3 to 5 p.m.; and Ballads and Blues with Steve Seipp, Sundays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Newscasts
In addition, WUFT presents a weekday news program, Front Page Edition of All Things Considered, produced and anchored by broadcasting students at UF's School of Telecommunications. The newscasts can be heard daily during Morning Edition, Fresh Air, and at 4:30 and 5:04 PM during All Things Considered.News staff
The newsroom is managed by:- Tom Krynski - News Director
- Forrest Smith - Asst. News Director
- Donna Green-Townsend - Features Unit Executive Producer
- Steve Russell - Sports Director