WUSF radio format change gets support

Listeners of WUSF 89.7 FM apparently like what they hear since the public radio station changed to a primarily news format last year.

The station, based at the University of South Florida's main campus in Tampa, exceeded its goal for the spring membership campaign during the first weekend in April, bringing in pledges of $455,000 from 4,070 listeners. It also set new records for a single fundraising drive, topping the previous goal by more than 25,000 and getting more people to pledge than ever before.

This was only the second on-air campaign since WUSF switched to a news-and-information format, with jazz music overnight. Furthermore, WUSF-TV, one of two PBS stations based in Tampa Bay, raised more than $168,000 during its own membership campaign March 20.

Cathy Coccia, development director for WUSF, calls the campaigns a real testament to the value and importance listeners and viewers place on both stations. That's especially important in light of federal budget cut proposals directly affecting National Public Radio, she says.