AUSTIN, Texas – March 2, 2016 – “Texas Standard” is celebrating one year of exploring and reflecting, statewide, on what it means to be Texan.
The one-hour daily news show made its debut on public radio stations around the state one year ago today, Texas Independence Day. Now heard on 24 stations across the state – including KTEP in El Paso, which joined the network this week – “Texas Standard” is living up to its tagline, “the National Daily News Show of Texas.”
“Our vison in launching ‘Texas Standard’ was to give voice to the stories that are important to Texas and to elevate the conversation on the issues and triumphs of our state – and I believe we’re accomplishing that,” said Stewart Vanderwilt, director and general manager of KUT Public Radio, where the show originates.
Already, “Texas Standard” is accumulating professional accolades. Last week, the Texas AP Broadcasters recognized the show for the following work:
- Investigative Report– “The State Pays Some Workers With Disabilities Pennies per Hour,” reported by Alain Stephens
- News Anchor or News Team– David Brown, managing editor and host
- Reporter– Joy Diaz
Much of the show’s success can be attributed to a strong spirit of collaboration among the four partner stations: KUT Austin, KERA North Texas, Houston Public Media and San Antonio’s Texas Public Radio. “Texas Standard” enables reports from partner stations to reach a statewide audience. This cross-station collaboration provides a platform for Texans to connect across communities in the same way NPR’s “Morning Edition” connects listeners to stories from across the U.S. and around the globe.
Our mission continues: Just this week, the partner stations launched weekday state-wide public radio newscasts. This first-ever achievement was made possible with a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The state-wide newscasts, which use reports from across the state, are heard on public radio stations three times per day (8:04 a.m., 10:04 a.m. and 12:04 p.m. on KUT 90.5).
Additional “Texas Standard” milestones include:
- TexasStandard.org reached 1 million unique visitors for the month of July, due, in part, to the story “10 things about the Sandra Bland traffic stop every Texan should know”
- “Texas Standard” enjoys statewide support from high profile sponsors, including Texas Mutual Insurance Company, Texas Christian University, Texas Children’s Hospital and the Texas Tuition Promise Fund. Sponsors have been attracted to the show because it attracts an educated audience, many of whom are thought-leaders in their communities.
About “Texas Standard”
“Texas Standard” sets the bar for broadcast news coverage, offering crisp, expansive coverage of politics, lifestyle and culture, the environment, technology and innovation, and business and the economy — from a distinctly Texas perspective. Hosted by award-winning journalist David Brown, the hour-long daily news magazine is grounded in the best traditions of American journalism: fact-based, independent and politically neutral reporting.
“Texas Standard” is a project of KUT Austin, KERA North Texas, Houston Public Media, and San Antonio’s Texas Public Radio, as well as news organizations across Texas.
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Contact: Erin Geisler, KUT Public Radio, (512) 475-8071