Mission: WBGO is a publicly-supported, cultural institution that champions jazz and presents news to a worldwide audience through radio, other technologies and events.
Organizational values that guide WBGO in accomplishing its mission are:
* A belief in the vibrancy and continuance of jazz as a cultural art form
* Educational outreach is an important part of the station’s programming
* A diverse, open workplace that supports the development and enhancement of the staff’s talents and skills
* Listeners, members and the general public deserve to be treated with respect, quality service and information
Results: In December 2011, WBGO flipped the switch on a new antenna and transmission system atop 4 Times Square in Manhattan, enabling the station to improve its signal for a potential million listeners.
WBGO's News Department continues to be among the most award winning news teams in New Jersey, and across the public media spectrum.
Geographic areas served: New York, New Jersey, and world-wide on the web
Programs: Jazz Night in America hosted by Christian McBride is produced at WBGO in partnership with NPR Music and Jazz at Lincoln Center and airs on NPR stations nationwide.
WBGO Kids Jazz Series is a free concert series introducing young people to jazz each Spring and Fall.
WBGO's Jazz Appreciation Month Next Generation Festival is a broadcast festival during the month of April featuring some of the metro area's best college and high school jazz ensembles.
The Checkout and The Checkout: Live, produced by WBGO, highlights what is happening on the jazz scene today with artist interviews, performances and reviews. The Checkout is available nationwide through the Public Radio Exchange.
the jazz bee, WBGO's HD2 channel launched in 2012, is a showcase for emerging jazz artists, and iconic artists when they were emerging.
Were it not for Newark Public Radio, Inc., I would not have an opportunity to hear jazz 24 hours a day in the New York/New Jersey market. The radio station offers a wide range of jazz, not just concentrating on the old masters, but continues to introduce audiences to the younger musicians making names for themselves. I work as an artist manager, managing jazz artists. I have the opportunity to have my clients introduced to a very large jazz market. Many of my clients have been helped personally with their increased notice in magazines and other journals as a result of being played on WBGO. We need jazz radio to help keep this music alive. I don't know what we would do in this business without Newark Public Radio, Inc. Can you imagine a market as large as New York/New Jersey without a 24 hour station devoted to America's classical music? I sure can't. Thank God for Newark Public Radio, Inc.
I was introduced to WBGO almost 30 years ago, at the suggestion of a friend, when the music I'd grown up with no longer moved me. It has taught me all about jazz and now jazz is the music that moves me the most. Besides the music, the station produces excellent local news programming, such as the weekly call-in show with Newark's mayor Corey Booker. And the station is ever-innovative: it now broadcasts live from the Village Vanguard on Wednesday nights. There is no station like it in the world!
