[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17980]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF WUOM-FM

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, it is with pleasure that I, along with my 
Michigan colleague, Senator Stabenow, congratulate WUOM-FM on 60 years 
of successful broadcasting. Over the past six decades, WUOM-FM, the 
University of Michigan's flagship public radio station, has become a 
fixture in public broadcasting, distinguishing itself through the 
breath and depth of its programming and through its unwavering 
dedication and service to its many listeners throughout southeastern 
Michigan.
  Since its inception as a small radio station broadcasting in the Ann 
Arbor area, WUOM-FM has been a consistent and important voice in public 
radio in Michigan. In 1950, WUOM broadcasted its first Michigan 
Football game, a tradition it would enjoy for the next 50 years, and in 
1958, it broadcasted its first Detroit Symphony Orchestra performance 
from the Ford Auditorium. Two years later, Michigan Radio broadcasted 
Senator John F. Kennedy's famous campaign speech at the University of 
Michigan, where he spoke about public service as a responsibility of 
freedom, a speech that helped to bring about the creation of the Peace 
Corps. In 1971, WUOM joined National Public Radio and became one of the 
first radio stations to air ``All Things Considered''.
  WUOM has grown and evolved since its first public broadcast on July 
5, 1948. Today, Michigan Radio, which includes WUOM, WVGR and WFUM, 
broadcasts from Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and Flint, respectively, and 
enjoys the largest listening audience of any public radio station in 
the State and is among the leaders nationally. Michigan Radio's 
programming format changed from classical music to a news and 
information format in 1996. With this change one thing has remained the 
same: the superb quality of each and every broadcast segment. With more 
than 400,000 listeners tuning in each week, Michigan Radio has become 
an important source of news and information about local, state, 
national and world affairs for the listening public.
  As technology has evolved, so has Michigan Radio. Today, it is 
broadcasted in high definition and is accessible from mobile devices 
across Michigan. Listeners can tune in to programming from National 
Public Radio, Public Radio International, and the BBC, as well as local 
programs, such as the Environment Report and Jack Lessenberry's Essays 
and Interviews.
  WUOM has been the recipient of many awards throughout its history. In 
the past year alone, Michigan Radio has earned more than 30 awards. The 
most notable was the 2008 National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best News 
Documentary, which was awarded for ``Ashes to Hope: Overcoming the 
Detroit Riots.''
  Michigan Radio has forged an impressive reputation for quality 
programming, public service, and integrity. It is in this spirit that 
we know our Senate colleagues join us in congratulating each individual 
who has contributed to the success of WUOM-FM over the past 60 years, 
dedicating endless hours, energy, and hard work in pursuit of 
excellence in public broadcasting. I wish them another 60 years of 
outstanding achievement.

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