WSHU Public Radio
Owned by Sacred Heart University (SHU), WSHU Public Radio is a nonprofit, listener-supported group of public radio stations in Connecticut and on Long Island whose mission is to be the leading, clarifying voice of our region—on-air, online and in the community. As a National Public Radio (NPR)-affiliated licensee, WSHU works hand in hand with SHU to serve our community.
As a public radio station, WSHU is not only invested in informing and engaging our community; we are also rooted in the Pioneer Spirit and aligned with SHU’s academic goals. Through our WSHU Corman News Fellowship Program, two SHU School of Communication, Media & the Arts graduate students receive extraordinary training and real-world experience annually that allows them to follow their dreams of becoming NPR-style investigative reporters.
SHU faculty and staff are regularly showcased as experts—from panel discussions on WSHU’s popular “Join the Conversation” series to guest speakers on “The Full Story,” WSHU’s weekly talk show on regional issues. Thanks to a grant from the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, WSHU partnered with Sacred Heart University’s Discovery Science Center & Planetarium to put microphones in the hands of eighth-grade students to produce a podcast series that allowed them to grapple with the effects of climate change in their communities.
WSHU’s numerous accolades include a Peabody Award nomination, multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards, an Investigative Reporters & Editors Award and a National Academies of Science, Engineering & Medicine award.
Strengthening WSHU as a Community & Academic Partner
Now We Lead provides an opportunity to strengthen the partnership between WSHU and SHU to deliver content that characterizes the very best of public media. Your commitment will expand WSHU’s relevance in the community and advance SHU’s academic mission by:
Investing in technology
WSHU’s role in our communities is enabled by our core terrestrial signals and digital-anywhere streaming platform. This drives the need to invest in technology to ensure that our infrastructure meets and exceeds industry standards. Your generosity will power streaming capabilities and broadcast technology that allows for growth while maintaining resiliency.
Expanding innovative programming
WSHU listeners depend on our regional news coverage and continue asking for more. Your commitment will help us grow the WSHU Corman News Fellowship Program, allowing SHU students to hone their skills as NPR-style reporters. You will make possible the creation of content and cultivation pathways for our new digital audience. You will also enable strong partnerships with SHU departments to produce content, including the new series “Spirituality and the Environment,” as well as lectures and programming at the Sacred Heart University Community Theatre.
Increasing outreach
In a world where media options proliferate, WSHU faces increasing competition. Our goal is to redefine radio in a way that meets the needs of our changing audience while aligning with SHU’s mission. Through the campaign, you can enhance our capacity to engage directly with our listeners, collect and measure their feedback and determine how and where to deliver the content they demand.
