About KCUR
KCUR 89.3, Kansas City’s NPR member station, first broadcast in 1957. A charter member of NPR, KCUR holds itself to the highest journalistic standards in service to the citizens of Kansas, Missouri, the broader Midwest, and the nation.
WHAT WE DO
As a vital and vibrant institution, KCUR serves the public by reporting on and sharing information about local governments, politics, education, health care, arts and culture through the voices of the people living those stories.
Through our journalism, we hold people in power accountable for their actions and track progress on their promises. We spotlight the creative works of artists, musicians and innovators who make the world and our community more vibrant.
We bring people together through events intended to inspire and engage. We produce local programming that connects our audiences with issues, ideas and each other; we bring the world to Kansas City and Kansas Citians to one another.
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
Shared knowledge is critical to a well-functioning society and participation in democratic processes. It is also a catalyst for human connection, empathy and compassion.
We share knowledge to help people better understand the world around them so they can make informed decisions about their own lives as well as those of their families, friends and neighbors. We convene public conversations to create and strengthen the social fabrics that are crucial to progress in any community.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
We believe in access to quality news and information for all. We believe that journalism is knowledge with a specific function in society and the lives of individuals. We believe it is our duty to share that knowledge.
To reach the widest audience possible, our journalism must be free and accessible to anyone and independent from influence. We believe journalism is critical to the connectivity and upward mobility of the Kansas City region and each individual who calls it home. We believe access to the arts nurtures the human spirit.
BUILDING THE FUTURE
It is our duty to grow and serve the Kansas City region to the best of our ability, adapting to changing needs, desires and platforms. We must always represent the diversity of our region in our staffing, outreach, sources and reporting.
As technologies and behaviors change, we will meet our audiences where they are using the tools and methods of delivery they prefer. We must continuously identify financial models that allow us to uphold our mission, our promise and our beliefs. As a public service institution, we must proactively seek out audiences who don’t have the resources to find us individually.
Above all, our work must be free for those who need it to be.
