STLPR 2021 Annual Report

Understanding Starts with Stories with Listening with the Facts with Conversations Here

As we all continue to grapple with the numerous challenges we’ve faced over this past year, we know that the way through is to rely on one another. That’s why I’m so grateful that you and thousands of others across our community continue to come together to make sure St. Louis Public Radio thrives.

You ensure that this trusted voice remains loud and clear when solid information is crucial, throughout the pandemic, through every election, and as we step up to meet new challenges and reckon with those too-long ignored.

Because of you, St. Louis Public Radio can deliver on our purpose to report on essential stories and issues: the police and criminal justice, climate change and the environment, state and national politics, social and racial equity, revitalizing education, celebrating culture and history.

All the while, Jazz KWMU-2 and Classical KWMU-3 offer musical inspiration and harmony with just a click of a button, ensuring that your day never goes out of tune.

Our mission of public service is one St. Louis Public Radio commits to every day—with stories that matter and with important facts and truths that illuminate the amazingly dynamic spirit of this great region we call home.

Thank you for making it possible.

Tom Livingston, Interim General Manager

Our Mission

We exist to inform and provide a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas and cultures for a more inspired and engaged public.

Keeping Our Region Connected

St. Louis Public Radio delivers accuracy and understanding by bringing context and humanity to the issues and ideas that affect life in the metro region, Rolla, Quincy and rural areas in Missouri and Illinois.

1.9 million

podcast downloads

From six local podcasts including daily news podcasts The Gateway and St. Louis on the Air, plus Cut & Paste, Politically Speaking, We Live Here and Where It Hurts.

667 thousand

listeners, on average per month, to KWMU-1, Jazz KWMU-2 and Classical KWMU-3

Three channels, with news and music services, to inform, entertain and inspire.

3.6 million

unique visitors to stlpr.org for local news coverage.

Award-Winning Local Journalism

Local journalism has the power to shape our communities. We take that responsibility seriously, going beyond the headlines to provide the accuracy and understanding our region deserves. The following stories were recognized with awards during the 2021 fiscal year, July 2020 through June 2021.

The killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville by police sparked protests around around the country and in St. Louis.

Regional Edward R. Murrow Award

Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

‘Be The Change’: One Man’s Journey From Protester To Police Officer

Marissanne Lewis-Thompson

Regional Edward R. Murrow Award
Missouri Broadcaster’s Association Award

Digital/
Certificate of Merit in Convergent Media

One Ballot’s Journey: How Absentee And Mail-In Ballots Are Counted In Missouri

Kayla Drake, David Kovaluk

The Smith family gathers at New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church.

Regional Edward R. Murrow Award

Feature Reporting

Family, Officers Mourn The Rev. Carl Smith, Who Taught Others How To Cope With Death

Chad Davis

Regional Edward R. Murrow Award

Podcast

Where It Hurts – Season One: “No Mercy”

Sarah Jane Tribble, KHN and St. Louis Public Radio staff

Accurate and ethical gathering and reporting of information — nationally and locally — is the cornerstone of a fair and effective democracy and an informed and rational republic. Support for organizations and institutions lighting the way is absolutely critical at this moment.

a member from St. Louis, MO

Missouri Broadcaster’s Association Award

Best Local Website

stlpr.org

St. Louis Public Radio Newsroom

Recovered COVID-19 patient Melissa Stone and her cat Long Boi spend time in her St. Charles apartment.

Missouri Broadcaster’s Association Award

Convergent Media, First Place

We’re Here, And We’re Blessed: COVID-19 Patients In St. Louis Describe Disease

Sarah Fentem

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft has approved a petition to allow Missouri voters to decide whether to expand Medicaid.

Missouri Broadcaster’s Association Award

Documentary/Public Affairs, First Place

Yes, There Is A Difference In Missouri Between Absentee And Mail-In Voting

Jason Rosenbaum

Cardboard cutouts Cardinals fan Dan McMasters late parents and his two children in the stands at Busch Stadium. McMasters thought it was a fun way to have generations of his family bond over baseball.

Missouri Broadcaster’s Association Award

Sports, First Place

Cardinals ‘Cardboard Nation’ Connects Generations Of Baseball Families

Wayne Pratt

The Education and Writers Association Award
National Edward R. Murrow Award

Education Reporting

Black at Mizzou: Confronting Race On Campus

Lauren Brown and American Public Media Reports

STLPR connects me to the world, both here locally, and the global community. I love the in-depth, trustworthy reporting, the terrific human interest programs, the ability to hear so many diverse stories and viewpoints, all in one location. It’s ‘home’ to me.

a member from Ladue, MO

Ericka Harris, one of the founders of The Collective STL, emphasizes breathing in her sessions, because when her students step outside the studio and into other situations she knows they will always have their breath.

Missouri Broadcaster’s Association Award

Feature Reporting, Certificate of Merit

Black Yoga Group Offers African Americans A Space For Self-Care During Stressful Times

Andrea Henderson

Engaging Our Region in Crucial Conversations

Through programs and events, St. Louis Public Radio brings people together for stories and conversations from a wide range of perspectives.

New Podcast

St. Louis Public Radio partnered with KHN (Kaiser Health News) to produce Where It Hurts, a podcast exploring the experiences of the rural town of Fort Scott, Kansas, in the year after its only hospital was closed. The first season, titled “No Mercy” launched September 29, with seven episodes. “Where it Hurts: No Mercy” Won a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award 2021 and was one of three Scripps Howard Award finalists for excellence in radio/podcast coverage.

Mini Journalism School

A six-week lecture and discussion series designed to foster a greater understanding of the decisions, ethical considerations and techniques that go into creating credible, fact-based news.

25th Anniversary of St. Louis on the Air

In September, our signature talk show celebrated 25 years on the air, sharing the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is enjoying a larger audience than ever before as a podcast, with just under 1 million downloads for the fiscal year.

Delivering the Arts

The Next Set: Live From Jazz St. Louis

This new show, produced by St. Louis Public Radio and Jazz St. Louis, brings the improvisational art of live jazz music, performed from the Ferring Jazz Bistro stage, into the ears of listeners across the region. Gene Dobbs Bradford hosts the show and interviews the artists. Fridays and Sundays at 8 p.m.

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Broadcasts

Through weekly rebroadcasts, St. Louis Public Radio connected listeners at home to the music of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra while live performances at Powell Hall were canceled due to the pandemic. For more than a decade, St. Louis Public Radio has broadcast Saturday night SLSO concerts live from Powell Hall, featuring 25 concerts each season alongside interviews with conductors, musicians and SLSO staff.

Connecting Local Musicians to Audiences

Conceived at the start of the pandemic, the STLPR House Show helped listeners connect with a community of people who create and support live, local music.

Financial Highlights

Community
Support

91%

CPB & MPB

Other
Grants

Revenue($ in thousands)

Community Support	$8,062
Corporation for Public Broadcasting & Missouri Public Broadcasting	$596
Other Grants	$236
Total	$8,894

Individual &
Foundation
Support

80%

Corporate
Support

18%

Events &
Other Support

Community Support($ in thousands)

Individual & Foundation Support	$6,441
Corporate Support	$1,412
Events & Other Support	$209
Total	$8,062

Total Operating Revenue($ in thousands)

Program
Services

63%

Fundraising
& Corporate
Support

24%

Administrative

10%

Depreciation

Total Expenses($ in thousands)

Program Services	$5,605
Fundraising & Corporate Support	$2,163
Administrative	$902
Depreciation	$187
Total	$8,857

Cash & Investments at Year End($ in thousands)

* Financial results are pending completion of audit.

Supporters

The support from our more than 750 Cornerstone Society and Legacy Society members and 26,000 member households has ensured that everyone in our community has access to trusted, engaging and enlightening public radio. We couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you.

Corporate Supporters

20 Minutes To Fitness

A Call To Conscience, Inc.

ACLU of Missouri

AFS-USA

Academy of Science of St. Louis

Alive Magazine

Ameren

American Parkinson Disease Association - Greater STL Chapter

Anders CPA

Arts As Healing Foundation

Ascension

BOS Bank of Springfield

Bander Center For Medical Business Ethics

Barrett Barrera Project

Benedictine Living Community - At The Shrine

Bespoke Apparel

Better Business Bureau

Big O Liqueur

Bio STL

Blackrock Consulting, LLC

Boy Scouts of Greater St. Louis

Brinton Vision

Bulrush Restaurant

Busey Bank

Butler’s Pantry

Carol House

Carpenters Regional Council

Cedar Creek Conference Center

The world needs the facts. In the age of disinformation you’re a beacon of light and hope!
a member from Litchfield, IL

Cedarhurst Des Peres

Center for Reproductive Medicine and Robotic Surgery

Center of Creative Arts

Charles Schwab-Wayman

Chesterfield Day School

Cioci’s Picturemart

Citizens For Modern Transit

Clarendale Clayton

Congregation Temple Israel

Contemporary Art Museum

Cortex Innovation Community

Craft Alliance

Dance St. Louis

Danna McKitrick

Edward Jones

EyePromise

FamilyForward

Find Your Farmer

First Community Credit Union

Forest Park Forever

Forsyth School

Fox Architects

GEHA

Gabbit Phone Service

Gateway Regional YMCA

Geniecast

Girls on the Run

Great Rivers Greenway

Greenbrook TMS NeuroHealth Center

H Venture Partners

Harness Dickey

Hill Investment Group

Humane Society of Missouri

International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum

International Schoolhouse

Intoxicology

Jazz St. Louis

JCC Jewish Community Center

JEMA

STLPR is the truth teller in our community.
a member from St. Louis, MO

Jewish Federation of St. Louis

Kent Jewelry

Known & Grown

Land Between the Lakes

Laumeier Sculpture Park

Laurie’s Shoes

League of Women Voters

Leidos

Live Nation

Logan University

Manor Grove

Mansions on the Plaza

Mari De Villa

Maryville University

McCallum Place

Metro Theater Company

Mid America Festivals

Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

Miriam School

Missouri Botanical Garden

Missouri Cures Education Foundation

Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance

Missouri Foundation for Health

Missouri History Museum

Missouri Humanities Council

Missouri University of Science & Technology

Montessori Adolescent Program

Mosby Building Arts

Netflix, Inc.

New City School

New Earth Farm

Niche Food Group

Opera Theatre of St. Louis

Our Lady of the Snows

PRX

Paraquad

Peerless Furniture

Planned Parenthood

Polsinelli

Pulitzer Arts Foundation

Quincy Area Convention & Visitor Bureau

Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital

Ready Readers

Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Roadside Systems

Roadtrip Nation

SSM Health Foundation

SSM Health

Saint Louis Art Museum

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis University, School of Law

Sandberg Phoenix

Sarefood.Com LLC

Schlafly Beer

Scotsman Coin & Jewelry

Sherwood Forest

Shubert Design Furniture

Southern Illinois University–Carbondale

Spire, Inc.

St. Louis Area Diaper Bank

St. Louis Area Foodbank

St. Louis Black Repertory Co.

St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Community Foundation

St. Louis County Library

St. Louis Oasis

St. Louis Public Library Foundation

St. Louis Public Library

St. Louis Science Center

St. Louis Sports Commission

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Stages St. Louis

Starkloff Disability Institute

Ste. Genevieve Department of Tourism

Steve Litman Presents

Swim On

Sylvan Learning

Tailored Auto

Ted Drewes

The Brennan Group

The Cabaret Project

The College School

The Gatesworth

The Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise

The Muny

The University of Tennessee at Martin

The Weingarten

The Wilson School

The Woodlands of Arnold

Thomas Cohn Associates

Thompson Coburn LLP

Tim Person & Associates, LLC

Trailnet

University College at Washington University

University of Missouri

University of Missouri–St. Louis

Urban Matter

VA St. Louis Health Care System

Vantage Credit Union

It’s 24-7 brain food that, like my college education, makes me a more informed citizen with a better sense of humor.
a member from Brentwood, MO

Villa Di Maria Montessori School

Warner Brothers

Washington University, Mini Medical School

Webster University

Webster University, Community Music School

Wellfirst

Wells Fargo

Western Governor’s University

Woods Basement Systems, Inc.

YouthBridge Community Foundation

July 2020 - June 2021 Impact Report

Keeping Our Region Connected

Award-Winning Local Journalism

Engaging Our Region in Crucial Conversations

Delivering the Arts

Financial Highlights

Supporters

Behind the Scenes