News Department Update

As WTIP listeners know, our News Department is in a time of transition.

Many of you know our News Director, Joe Friedrichs, has left our station to pursue another opportunity.  We are going to miss Joe, but we are happy that he can follow his dreams.  We can’t thank Joe enough for everything he did in his time here as News Director.  We look forward to sharing news about his future adventures.

Also at this time, WTIP staff and board are in the midst of creating a Strategic Framework for the next three years, our blueprint for the future.  We’ve received more than 300 responses to our survey, held dozens of stakeholder meetings, and surveyed our volunteers and local musicians.  Thank you to everyone who has shared their thoughts with us as we build the future of WTIP.   We are listening, we’ve heard you and we are continuing in a thoughtful process.  We hope to finalize and publish our Strategic Framework in the first quarter of 2024 as we are wrapping up our 25th Birthday and heading into the future.

In the short term we’ve created a “news team” of staff members who will continue to bring you our local news and events:  Kalli Hawkins, Kirsten Wisniewski, Sterling Anderson, Chuck Olsen, Matthew Baxley, Will Moore, CJ Heithoff and Matthew Brown are meeting regularly to plan the work and continue to cover DayBreak, North Shore Morning, and the North Shore News Hour at noon and 5 PM.  Over the long term, this will continue to evolve as we learn more from daily operations and our Strategic Framework process.

We are working hard, every day, to continue to be your reliable and trusted source of news and community information.  To continue our mission to reflect, connect, and build community on the North Shore of Lake Superior.

Thank you for listening, for being engaged and for your support.  Stay tuned as we continue to build the future of WTIP.