WBFO 88.7FM to Expand its Community Reach

WBFO 88.7 FM, a public service of the University at Buffalo, has received a grant from the Federal Public Telecommunications Facilities Program in the amount of $223,500 to install a new tower and antenna that will increase and improve service to its Western New York audience.

The tower and antenna will allow the station to deliver a significantly stronger signal to more than 1.15 million people within WBFO’s broadcast area, and add 50,000 additional listeners to its broadcast reach.

Carole Smith Petro, associate vice president and general manager of WBFO, noted that WBFO was one of only two radio stations in New York State to receive a PTFP equipment grant this year. These grants are awarded by the Department of Commerce to non-commercial TV and radio stations throughout the United States.

“These types of federal grants are challenging to obtain, and require at least a dollar-for-dollar match,” she said. “To complete the proposed project, WBFO must secure approximately $575,000 in private funding to cover an anticipated total cost of $800,000.” The new tower will stand 45 percent higher than WBFO’s current tower, and will allow the station to deliver a significantly stronger signal to more than 1.15 million people within its broadcast area. In particular, this upgrade will greatly improve WBFO’s transmission within the urban environment (downtown Buffalo), and also will provide a clearer signal to WBFO’s repeater stations in Jamestown and Olean. In addition, it will extend full public radio service to an additional 50,000 Western New York residents — one-quarter of whom currently have no access to NPR programming.

The new tower and antenna installation represents the culmination of several critical technology upgrades at WBFO — including conversion from analog to digital studio equipment (2003); conversion to an HD signal (2007); and installation of a new audio server and MediaTouch automation operational system (also in 2007). These advances were made possible through a total investment of $565,000 provided by state and federal sources ($187,000); as well as foundation grants, membership contributions, and underwriting dollars ($378,000).

WBFO 88.7FM currently reaches an audience of approximately 100,000 people per week through its main signal in Buffalo and through repeater stations WUBJ 88.1FM in Jamestown and WOLN 91.3FM in Olean. The WBFO news department offers comprehensive coverage of regional and world-wide news. The station also offers a depth of programming not available elsewhere in the community, including NPR/PRI news and entertainment programs, public and cultural affairs programming and jazz and blues. WBFO has been voted “Best Radio Station in Buffalo” for six years in a row by the readers of Artvoice.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York. UB’s more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.

WBFO-FM 88.7, the National Public Radio affiliate operated by the University at Buffalo, won three first place awards for its 2006 news coverage from Public Radio News Directors Inc. (PRNDI) at its awards banquet held July 21 in New Orleans.

In the only national contest recognizing outstanding public radio news reporting at local stations, WBFO received awards in the categories for best newscast, breaking news and commentary.

From more than 1,000 entries, a total of 87 awards were presented to 34 stations. WBFO has won three previous PRNDI awards -- two second place and one first place -- in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

"These peer-designated awards are highly prized among members of the public radio community across the nation," said Carole Smith Petro, associate vice president and general manager. "They are further testament to the outstanding efforts each and every day by the WBFO News Department, and to the value of our citizen commentary series."

In the category of breaking news, WBFO was awarded first place for its first-day coverage of the October 2006 snowstorm. With downed tree limbs blocking roadways, many staff members were unable to drive, forcing two staffers to walk several miles to work. Complicating matters, WBFO's building was undergoing a major renovation, and an emergency generator powered only computers and other broadcast equipment to allow the staff to deliver necessary information to a community paralyzed by the storm. Contributors to the storm coverage were Mark Scott, Eileen Buckley, Joyce Kryszak, Mark Wozniak, Howard Riedel, Bert Gambini and David Benders.

In the category of best newscast, WBFO received a first-place award for its noon newscast on the day of the storm.  The newscast, produced by Scott and anchored by Gambini, included interviews by Kryszak, who also covered a tour of the devastated region by then-Gov. George E. Pataki. Buckley, stranded at home by blocked roadways, interviewed people in her neighborhood and reported live during the newscast.

In the category of best commentary, WBFO was awarded a first place PRNDI for a commentary by Chris Mackowski, an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at St. Bonaventure University, on how his son's friends questioned whether Elvis Presley was real.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York. UB's more than 27,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.

WBFO-FM 88.7, UB's National Public Radio affiliate, won 11 awards -- including top statewide honors -- at the New York State Associated Press Broadcasters Association's annual awards banquet held June 9 in Saratoga Springs.

The station captured five first-place awards to earn the 2006 Steve Flanders Award, named in memory of a New York City radio reporter who died of a heart attack while on his way to a City Hall news conference in 1983. The Flanders award -- the AP's highest radio honor -- is given to the station in New York with the most top finishes in the competition among news stories aired during the calendar year. WBFO was deemed by the judges to "exemplify the best traditions of journalistic initiative and dedication in providing a complete news service to the listening public."

WBFO won more awards than any other radio station in New York State, including New York City. It is the only radio station in Buffalo to have earned the Flanders award.

Members of the WBFO news team are Mark Scott, news director; Eileen Buckley, assistant news director and news producer and reporter; and Joyce Kryszak, cultural affairs reporter and producer.

"This award is the culmination of many years of superb reporting by WBFO's well-experienced and highly committed news team," said Carole Smith Petro, associate vice president and WBFO general manager. "As individuals and as a team, they have consistently achieved the highest standards of radio reporting. The recognition accorded by the Associated Press confirms the high regard in which they are held by the Western New York community."

WBFO won awards in the following categories:

• First place, Best News Special/Documentary, "Intelligent Design vs. Evolution," Joyce Kryszak. Kryszak packaged some of the interviews she had conducted during a conference sponsored by the Center for Inquiry titled "Toward A New Enlightenment" and produced a 50-minute special that explored the issue of intelligent design vs. evolution.
• Special mention, Best News Series, "The Visit of the Dalai Lama," Eileen Buckley, Joyce Kryszak, Gabe DiMaio and Mark Scott. In the weeks leading up to the visit to UB of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, WBFO presented a series of stories on the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhism, which included a primer on the Dalai Lama, in-depth features on Tibetan Buddhism in Western New York and the preparation of peace flags that were draped along campus roadways. WBFO also broadcast the Dalai Lama's address live, attracting a worldwide audience from people who listened to a Web stream.
• First place, Best Spot News Coverage, "Cheektowaga Tornado," Eileen Buckley and Mark Scott. After a funnel cloud was spotted in Cheektowaga late last June, Buckley was dispatched to the area where the tornado was spotted and reported live throughout the afternoon from a shopping plaza that was damaged by the tornado.
• Special mention, Best Spot News Coverage, "October Snowstorm," Mark Scott, Eileen Buckley, Joyce Kryszak, Mark Wozniak, Bert Gambini, Howard Riedel, David Benders and Christopher Jamele. WBFO staff delivered crucial information to the community in the aftermath of the paralyzing surprise October snowstorm, despite working under challenging conditions that included working in a building that was undergoing a major renovation and had little or no heat, and with an emergency generator that powered computers and other broadcast equipment -- but not the lights -- after the power went off.
• First place, Best Enterprise Reporting, "911 on Hold," Joyce Kryszak. In this piece, Kryszak talked with a Buffalo man who was put on hold during a 9-1-1 call while the victim of a shooting lay dying in his arms. She also interviewed local police officials about the problem of delayed response to 9-1-1 calls and what's being done to correct the situation.
• Special mention, Best Enterprise Reporting, "Rosa," Eileen Buckley. In this story, Buckley talked frankly with activist Rosa Gibson about her tireless efforts to eliminate the blight in her East Side Buffalo neighborhood.
• First place, Best Feature, "Camp Inquiry," Joyce Kryszak. Kryszak "camped out" with the children and counselors attending the Center for Inquiry's first-ever "skeptics" camp as they pondered the origins of life, separation of church and state and other controversial topics.
• Special mention, Best Feature, "No Soup for You," Eileen Buckley. Buckley covered the grand opening of a new soup restaurant that was based on the famous "Seinfeld" television show episode, the "Soup Nazi." She interspersed clips from the "Seinfeld episode" with the sound she gathered on-site in a very amusing, fast-moving piece.
• Special mention, Best Sports Coverage, "Sabres Fever," Eileen Buckley. In this series of four reports, Buckley explored Sabres fever in Western New York.
• First place, General Excellence in Use of Medium, "A Whole Lot of Squeezing Going On," Eileen Buckley. In this story, Buckley talked with those attending a gathering of accordionists at a local hotel.