photo by John Day '35

Local and regional news has a new home in Colorado Springs: KRCC 91.5 FM, Colorado College’s National Public Radio station.

A locally produced half-hour weekly news show dubbed “Western Skies” started in January, focusing on environmental, military, energy, and political issues. Also featured: regular state capitol coverage and commentaries by area citizens.

In this age where radio can be captured anywhere, from anywhere, on a satellite dish or over the Internet, “Western Skies” host and producer Eric Whitney says that local programming is becoming all the more important. “We need to remain a relevant source of information in our listeners’ lives,” he says. “Otherwise they’re going to find other places to spend their time.”

Whitney plans to tap local and regional freelancers for stories, and link up with other public radio stations around the state to share content. He hopes to get CC students involved in the process.

photo by Luca Adelfio '05

The move toward local news was initiated by CC President Richard F. Celeste, who provided a three-year seed grant for the project. Eventually, KRCC will support the program with listener contributions.

Whitney grew up in Colorado Springs, attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo., and then worked at public radio station KOTO in Telluride and the now-defunct High Plains News Service in Billings, Mont.

In recent years, he made two trips to South Africa to report on the AIDS crisis and other pressing issues. His stories have appeared on such radio shows as “Morning Edition” and “Marketplace.” Recently, Public Radio International carried a shorter version of a story Whitney did for “Western Skies” on its nationally distributed newscast, “The World,” about Ft. Carson soldiers preparing to return to Iraq.

Listen to “Western Skies” Saturdays at 4 p.m.; each program is repeated Thursday at 7 p.m. on KRCC 91.5 FM or online at www.krcc.org.