Constantly, a public service is broadcasting in Lubbock — free to all.
The small staff of KTTZ 89.1 FM only asks for donations twice a year, the director of development for Texas Tech University Public Media, Sherril Skibell, said. “Pledge week,” seven days of the station asking for donations from listeners, occurs once in the spring and again in the fall.
“We’re public radio,” Skibell explained of the National Public Radio talk and classical music station.
“That means we get our funding from the public. We count on our donors to give us about a third of our revenue.”
Charles Luck, a producer for Texas Tech Public Radio, works to bring quality programming to the station. Pictures by Allison Terry.
Instead of selling advertising, additional funding for KTTZ is supplied from grants, Texas Tech, and underwriting, or sponsorships from businesses.
“We use the donations we get to buy programming,” Skibell said, “which is very expensive.”
Skibell said the station has no set amounts for donations, as she mentioned all monetary gifts to the station are tax deductible. Listeners may donate by calling the station or by visiting the KTTZ webpage.
“We have started something new this year, and it was ‘Five Dollar Friday,'” Skibell said, clarifying that on the first day of pledge week, April 17, the station asked the community for support by simply donating $5.
Those who donate any amount are dubbed “members” and are entered into a drawing for a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the winner will be able to attend an opera of his or her choice, and a vacation to the Moody Gardens resort in Galveston, Texas, with a hotel and golfing package, Skibell said.
Tuesday and Thursday of this week were proclaimed “cyber days,” and the station gave away iPads to lucky donors.
Cherril Skibell, director of development for KTTZ-FM, sits at her desk at the KTTZ-FM radio station.
Givers of $500 or more will receive a year-long pass to watch free films at the Alamo Drafthouse at any time, the fundraiser said.
For $89, playing on the station’s channel of 89.1, benefactors are gifted CDs.
“We have been very surprised by the support of the community,” Skibell said.
“Last fall when we had our fund drive, we had a $5,000 gift by someone who had not given much at all, ever. They just said that they love public radio, and they wanted to give back to public radio for all of the great hours of listening that they’d had.”
Skibell estimated the station has 23,000 listeners a week.
“It’s just a good way to wake up and hear what’s going on the in world,” she said.
“You don’t ever hear about crazy celebrities or anybody like that. It’s not a soundbite. It goes in-depth, investigation and journalism.”
Recently, the station has made strides to appeal to Texas Tech students with programs like “Faith Matters,” in which individuals of different religions discuss belief, and “Inside Texas Tech,” a four-minute segment revolving around interesting details of the university.
“We want kids to think that they could be involved, too, and they can,” Skibell said.
“They are buying into a very high level of journalism. It’s not tabloid news.”
Abigail Arroyos, a producer, poses in a hallway of KTTZ-FM’s radio station.
As a part of the local programming, Abigail Arroyos, a recent Texas Tech graduate, produces “Inside Texas Tech,” with intern Sarah Self-Walbrick, a current undergraduate student and the news director at The Hub@TTU.
“Because we’re the Texas Tech Public Radio station, it’s kind of our tie to the university, as far as our programs,” Arroyos explained, listing recent stories of biologists at the university studying crocodile DNA, interviewing music researchers studying how music affects brains, and localizing global news by speaking to specialist professors.
“It focuses specifically on Texas Tech.”
The staff said donations can be made to help fund the station anytime on the KTTZ website.
About Allison Terry
