Michigan Radio

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Michigan Radio is a service of Michigan Public Media, the public broadcasting company at the University of Michigan. Michigan Radio is:

  • WUOM 91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit
  • WVGR 104.1 Grand Rapids
  • WFUM-FM 91.1 Flint
The stations of Michigan Radio are licensed to the Regents of the University of Michigan.

Radio began at the University of Michigan in the early 1920s, when the University began producing programs for WWJ in Detroit. The University's strategy at the time wasn't to own stations, but to produce programs for other stations throughout the state. By the early 1940s, the University changed direction and tried to apply for an AM frequency. All AM frequencies were unavailable, so in 1944, Michigan applied for a station at 43.1 MHz in the experimental FM band. The Federal Communications Commission eventually granted a license to Michigan for 91.7 in the newly-designated FM band and WUOM began broadcasting from Angell Hall on the Michigan campus in 1948. The station moved into its new home in the LS&A Building in 1949, where it stayed until 2003.

WVGR began broadcasting in December, 1961. WFUM-FM followed in 1985, serving the Flint area. (There was an earlier version of WFUM in Flint for a few years in the 1950's, repeating WUOM from Ann Arbor.)

Michigan Radio was a pioneer in educational broadcasting, producing programs in the 1950s and '60s that were heard throughout the country on educational, and some commercial, stations. The station was a charter member of NPR in 1971.

From its first days on the air, Michigan Radio's program service consisted of music, news, discussion programs, lectures, dramas and documentaries, most of which were produced in the station's four large studios at the LS&A Building. On July 1st, 1996, Michigan Radio inaugurated a new era, entering its second half-century of broadcasting with a news/talk format. Since then, Michigan Radio has grown to become one of the largest public radio stations in the country, with 451,000 weekly listeners to the stations (Fall 2005).

Series

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1 Piece

The Environment Report's Rebecca Williams traveled to Isle Royale to meet the researchers who have been watching how wolves and moose interact for 54 years. The research project is the longest continuous study of any predator-prey system in the world.

Caption: State of Opportunity from Michigan Radio
105 Pieces

What can be done to break the cycle of poverty and improve opportunities for the most disadvantaged children?


Latest Pieces

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College students in Michigan, and around the country, have been organizing and protesting over the past year for more racial inclusion on college c...

Bought by Delta College Public Radio


  • Added: Mar 20, 2015
  • Length: 03:18
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Naton Brown's senior picture., Credit: JENNIFER DEMING / PHOTOSWITHFLAIR.COM
Here's the story of a young woman who overcame an extraordinary challenge. Her name is Naton Brown. State of Opportunity’s Dustin Dwyer learns more.

Bought by Delta College Public Radio and PRX Remix


  • Added: Mar 13, 2015
  • Length: 03:33
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: The goal of alternative programs is to get students to graduation., Credit: MICHELLE / FLICKR
Alternative schools are public schools designed for kids at risk of not graduating high school. These alternative programs don’t get a lot of scrut...

Bought by Delta College Public Radio


  • Added: Mar 13, 2015
  • Length: 03:46
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Jonesville High School counselor Bob Drake helps Joy Sutton fill out her son's FAFSA., Credit: DUSTIN DWYER MICHIGAN RADIO
Getting into college can be a challenge for any student, especially if that student comes from a low-income background. And there’s one barrier for...

Bought by Delta College Public Radio


  • Added: Feb 27, 2015
  • Length: 03:12
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: A selfie Alex and Paula took at the DHS office where they are both working to improve outcomes for young people involved in both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems., Credit: PAULA LAQUERRE
It makes sense that young people who have been abused or neglected would be more likely to get in serious trouble. But the numbers are nonetheless ...

Bought by Delta College Public Radio


  • Added: Feb 27, 2015
  • Length: 03:27
  • Purchases: 1
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Here is a fact you might not know: In the decade between 2003 to 2013 no other state cut its spending on college scholarships as much as Michigan. ...

Bought by Delta College Public Radio


  • Added: Feb 20, 2015
  • Length: 03:31
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Volunteer Pat Gold (left) and Tiara Brooks work on a story at an 826 Michigan writing workshop at Adams STEM Academy in Ypsilanti., Credit: JENNIFER GUERRA / MICHIGAN RADIO
What if third grade students could carve out time during the school day to let their imaginations run wild? State of Opportunity’s Jennifer Guerra ...

  • Added: Feb 20, 2015
  • Length: 03:40
Caption: Danielle Boshers (left), Anna Garcia, and Chris Reynolds say the University of Michigan could do a better job welcoming first generation students to campus., Credit: JENNIFER GUERRA / MICHIGAN RADIO
Lots of high school seniors are nailing down what they want to do after they graduate. For students who choose to go to college, there can be lots ...

Bought by WDBM and Delta College Public Radio


  • Added: Feb 20, 2015
  • Length: 03:40
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: A baby picture of Josette Hejka (middle) and her two adopted brothers, Mike (left) and Terrell., Credit: PHOTO COURTESY OF EDDIE HEJKA
There are a few talks nearly all parents have with their kids. There’s the birds and the bees talk. There’s the ‘don’t do drugs talk.’ Some parents...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, Delta College Public Radio, and KUOW


  • Added: Feb 20, 2015
  • Length: 03:40
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Ingham County Circuit Judge Richard Garcia, Credit: INGHAM COUNTY
Back in 2002, Michigan's Ingham County voters passed a millage to increase funding for juvenile justice. Judge Richard Garcia spearheaded that effo...

  • Added: Feb 20, 2015
  • Length: 03:46