About KUT Public Media

Our mission and vision
Our operating principles
Our history
KUT FAQ
Advisory Board
Reports and documents
Community Representation Statement

Connecting, Informing and Inspiring Central Texas

Who We Are
KUT News, KUTX 98.9, “Texas Standard,” and KUT and KUTX Studios are four entities operating under one independent, non-profit umbrella: KUT Public Media.

KUT Public Media informs, connects and strengthens the Central Texas community. Through independent local, regional, national and international news, and transformative music and community storytelling, we bring people together, amplify voices and provide critical information. KUT Public Media is a voice of — and for — the Central Texas community.

KUT Public Media – KUT News, KUTX 98.9, Texas Standard and KUT and KUTX Studios – informs, connects and strengthens the Central Texas community.

KUT News, Reliably Austin
KUT News provides reliable, independent reporting that informs and engages Central Texans. Our award-winning journalism – which is free to all – sparks public dialogue and influences policy, from housing affordability and zoning reforms to water conservation efforts. Known for our in-depth and investigative journalism, we play a vital role in shaping local conversations and driving meaningful change.

Texas Standard, The National Daily News Show of Texas
Texas Standard, an hourlong weekday news magazine, airs on 30 public radio stations statewide. It is produced by KUT News in Austin in collaboration with KERA North Texas, Houston Public Media and Texas Public Radio in San Antonio. This collaboration delivers statewide newscasts to 130,000 Texans each weekday, allows Texas voices to tell the story of our state to national audiences, increases coverage of statewide issues and boosts reporting from underserved regions – from the ranches of West Texas to the border with Mexico.

KUTX 98.9, The Austin Music Experience
KUTX 98.9, the 11-time winner of “Best Radio Station” in the Austin Music Awards, is Austin’s go-to source for music from local, national, and international artists. The station celebrates and supports Austin’s music scene through features like the Austin Music Minute, Artist of the Month, Song of the Day, and over 300 Studio 1A performances annually. Community events like Rock the Park and KUTX Live at Scholz Garten during SXSW bring fans and artists together.

KUT and KUTX Studios
KUT and KUTX Studios, the podcast arm of KUT Public Media, creates distinct listening experiences for people who care about the people, places, culture and history shaping the greater Austin community.

Ninety-five percent of the station’s operating budget comes from the local community through individual donors and sponsorships from local businesses.

The KUT and "Texas Standard" newsrooms deliver accurate local news to help Texans make informed decisions – free to all, without paywalls or subscriptions.

A Standard-Bearer for Trusted, Independent News – and a Catalyst for Civic Engagement

Independent, paywall- and subscription-free journalism via KUT News and “Texas Standard”
Non-partisan voter guides that help Central Texans stay civically engaged and make informed decisions.
Spanish-language news via KUT En Español
Statewide news collaboration with The Texas Newsroom, a collaborative effort among KUT News, KERA North Texas, Houston Public Media and Texas Public Radio in San Antonio, to optimize resources and capitalize on journalistic expertise from across the state.

Two photos left to right: a firefighter attempting to extinguish a brush fire and a screenshot of a KUT News Instagram post alerting people that Austin Energy customers are without power during a winter storm. — KUT News delivers real-time safety updates on local emergencies through radio, social media and direct alerts via our free app. As the backbone of Central Texas’ broadcast emergency alert system, KUT News and KUTX 98.9 play a critical role in keeping the public informed.

A Lifeline in Emergencies

Real-time safety updates on severe weather, wildfires and other disasters via radio, KUT News app notifications and social media; updates also reach KUTX 98.9 audiences
KUT News social media channels harnessed for emergency communications, earning the Excellence in Social Media Engagement award for 2023 ice storm coverage

The Central Texas broadcast emergency alert system relies on KUT News and KUTX 98.9 to reach the public

Two photos left to right: four members of KUT News on stage, wearing local street signs for a live performance sketch about the history of Austin's famous Sixth Street and a photo of a band performing at KUTX Rock the Park, a free, family friendly music concert series that takes place every spring and fall. — We celebrate local culture through podcasts, live journalism events and on-air programming that highlights the people, places and creativity that define our region. KUTX 98.9 and TMX.fm, for example, amplify Austin’s music scene and Texas artists through award-winning programming and a 24/7 all-Texas music stream respectively.

Promoting Local Culture and Music

Showcasing Austin’s music scene and elevating local artists to a national audience through award-winning KUTX 98.9
Amplifying Texas artists and musicians of all genres on TMX.fm, the Texas Music Experience, a 24-hour live stream of an all-Texas playlist powered by KUTX 98.9
Podcasts that tell unique Texas stories: Black Austin Matters, Tacos of Texas, 24 Hours in Austin, Vamos Verde, about Austin FC, and more
Highlighting Austin arts and culture through the Austin Cultura and Arts Eclectic programs on air and online
Uncovering stories about Austin’s people, places and culture through ATXplained, the podcast and semi-annual live journalism event, which draws 1000+ people to each performance

Two photos left to right: an audience sitting and listening to a panel of four people talk about Austin's urban bat colonies at one of KUT News' Field Guide to Austin events and a photo of three volunteers sorting carrots at the Central Texas Food Bank, one of the many local non-profits we support by promoting their work through our communication channels. — We bring Central Texans together through free public forums, live music events and community meetups that foster civic engagement and celebrate local culture. We support nonprofits with thousands of public service announcements, spotlight volunteer opportunities, and offer a comprehensive Field Guide to Austin that highlights the people, places, and stories that define our city.

Bringing Central Texans Together

Free public educational forums and live events encouraging civic engagement, plus listener meet ups that support local restaurants and venues
Free and low-cost community music events like family-friendly KUTX Rock the Park and KUTX Live at Scholz Garten, featuring local, national and international musicians and drawing hundreds of guests every year
5,500+ Public Service Announcements annually supporting Central Texas nonprofits
12 local non-profits spotlighted annually, on air and online, to support volunteer recruitment via KUT’s Get Involved series
A comprehensive online Field Guide to Austin for newcomers and old-timers, highlighting the sites, sounds and stories that make Austin “Austin”

Two photos from left to right: a woman and a man with headphones mentor a young man - also in headphones and in front of a laptop - on an audio story and Texas Standard Managing Producer Laura Rice, wearing headphones and holding a microphone, poses with Kaiya Little during NPR's Next Generation Radio Project in Austin in 2024. — We invest in the next generation by providing paid internships, mentoring, and hands-on training to more than 30 students each year from local colleges and universities. Our journalists also serve as adjunct professors and guest lecturers, and lead intensive learning experiences like the NPR Next Generation Radio program.

Investing in the Next Generation

30+ paid interns annually from UT Austin, Texas State University, St. Edward’s University, Austin Community College and more, who gain hands-on experience in preparation for journalism and other media-related careers
A university resource for journalism expertise: KUT journalists serve as adjunct professors or guest lecturers for area journalism programs
Intensive, hands-on mentoring for a small cohort of students each year during a weeklong, digital-first intensive via the NPR Next Generation Radio program

Privacy
It is KUT News' and KUTX 98.9's policy not to rent, sell, swap, exchange or trade the names, email or mailing addresses, phone numbers - or any other submitted audience information - with any other organizations. We consider the security of your information a top priority.

KUT News and KUTX 98.9 are units of The University of Texas at Austin. Learn more about the University's privacy policies here.