As an essential local journalism institution, St. Louis Public Radio prides itself on the trust and support we’ve earned from our audience. We are here for the residents of St. Louis and for the champions of our city and region. Over the last several decades, that audience — whether on-air or online — has shown up for us.
This year was no exception. As we made plans to update and reassess how we fulfill our mission, we felt the guiding care of our community. Our supporters expect us to continue as a beacon of truth and a local forum for civil discourse. In this final phase of our strategic plan, we received vital feedback from our staff, board, and larger community. We know we are not alone in taking on the many daunting transitions facing journalism today: a changing audience, digital transformation, and a future where AI, in all of its complexities, is a certainty.
The local events and issues STLPR covered this past year were often heartrending and complicated human dramas showcasing the realities of our world as we live and as we shape it. The tragic shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience. Missouri’s bans on abortion and on gender-affirming care. The historic flooding. St. Louis and our surrounding regions saw their share of difficult news cycles amid the backdrop of national and international news.
We report on these narratives with the highest attention to detail and journalistic integrity. As always, our editors are careful to place people and their lives at the center of the story. That steady professionalism has led to unprecedented successes in the past 12 months.
This past year saw the largest number of annual downloads for our flagship public affairs program, St. Louis on the Air. The Gateway podcast marked its 1,000th episode. And, our local newsroom won the most awards it has ever garnered in a single year, 23 honors.
In this next year and beyond, let’s set our sights on how STLPR can reinvent its role as a community institution, how it can help guide the city and region itself, to a more vibrant St. Louis and a more vibrant Midwest.
Tina Pamintuan, CEO