An impact snapshot from a Press Forward grantee newsroom.

Kerry Semrad, KZUM Community Radio

Who: Kerry Semrad, general manager, KZUM Community Radio

Where: Lincoln, Neb. and surrounding communities of Lancaster County.

What: Nonprofit, listener-supported community radio station that has been broadcasting since 1978, with a mission of educating and building community through independent voices. The station’s 100+ volunteers produce more than 7,000 hours of programming per year, including music and news programs in multiple languages. The news programming includes in-depth long-form stories, including an ongoing series about local political protests happening in Lincoln.

Why: KZUM is committed to strengthening the social fabric of the county, delivering public safety updates and fostering deep community connections. The station has a diverse lineup of music, podcasts, and public affairs programming that spans many genres and cultures..

How: KZUM builds community through programming and initiatives including the following:

• The station produces a regular Spanish-language news program in partnership with Nebraska’s Mundo Latino Network.
• KZUM has a News Internship Program, supported by the Lincoln Community Foundation, that pays three reporting interns and three production interns, giving them hands-on experience, producing news reports by the end of the program. The station doesn’t require any journalism education or experience for community members to apply for the program, making it more accessible.
• KZUM will welcome an Afghan immigrant as its newest reporting intern, who will learn about covering local elections and the state legislature, bringing in voices from Lincoln’s immigrant community. “She brings her a deep passion for journalism and a strong commitment to amplifying stories from her community,” Semrad said.
• With Press Forward funding, KZUM partnered with the University of Nebraska to hire a dedicated marketing intern, who is revamping the station’s newsletter and social media presence, creating templates for a more streamlined marketing process.

 “For a small but mighty team of just five, the support from Press Forward is nothing short of transformational. It allows us to focus on what we do best: delivering independent, community-driven media that matters.”