Diversity Statement

As a full service, public radio station licensed by the FCC, the primary mission of KSJE is to provide a radio programming service that encourages intellectual curiosity and critical analysis.

KSJE’s mandate is to provide for the otherwise underserved tastes, needs and interests of the public and to present material that challenges, provokes, broadens and educates in both formal and informal situations.

KSJE serves a diverse region of the American Southwest where three distinct and unique cultures have co-existed for hundreds of years. Native American, Hispanic and Anglo populations each make up about one-third of San Juan County, where KSJE is located. In addition to serving a diverse ethnic population, KSJE also serves a diverse population of arts supporters. As the Information and Cultural Beacon of the Four Corners, KSJE seeks to provide entertainment, information and programming about the arts that cannot be found on other local radio stations.

To that end, KSJE’s staff is involved in the local arts community. General Manager Scott Michlin serves on the board of the San Juan Symphony and routinely volunteers his time at community events. Classical Music and Arts host Leigh Black Irvin is a founding member of B.O.B. (Bottom of the Barrel productions) a local community theater group. Jazz host and radio technician Nick Michael helps each year with the San Juan College Summer Music Fest, a daylong festival featuring world music.

KSJE’s governing board is the board of Trustees at San Juan College. These seven individuals represent wide ethic and cultural diversity. KSJE has no control over the make-up of the board of Trustees. They were elected by the community to serve. They make major decisions about the future of San Juan College, and by extension, KSJE.

KSJE continues to increase our diversity with voices from the community and on-the-air programming. Over the past two years the radio station has invited more and more diverse guests into its studios to discuss important local issues, such as veteran’s services, homelessness, spiritual beliefs, economic development, local performance spaces and more. KSJE has become more involved with the San Juan College Summer Music Fest, San Juan Symphony classical music concerts, the San Juan College Silhouette Performing Arts Series and more. All of this involvement as a way to increase our diversity for the arts community and local residents.

In the future, KSJE plans to reach out to local high schools and community members and begin a volunteer host program. We would like to get more diversity of opinions on the air. Offering air time to local high schools, and local community members is a cost-effective way to do this.

Compensation Information: 2014: $118,099