WRUF
Encyclopedia
WRUF is a radio station
that operates from the University of Florida
's main campus in Gainesville
, broadcasting at 850 kHz. WRUF is a news/talk/sports station. Unlike its Public sister stations, WUFT-TV and WUFT-FM
, WRUF is a commercial station and, despite being state-run, is run no differently than privately-owned commercial stations.
The station signed on in October 1928 and is the fifth-oldest station in the state.
WRUF features a mixture of local and syndicated programs, including Jim Bohannon
, Dr. Joy Browne, Larry King Live
and Sporting News Radio
, plus religious programming on Sunday mornings, including Bill Gaither, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
and local church services. Network news are provided by Associated Press
and CBS Radio
.
The News Director for AM850 is Tom Krynksi, Assistant News Director is Forrest Smith, and the Sports Director is Steve Russell.
WRUF's news and sports departments, staffed almost entirely by School of Journalism students, are fairly large for a station of its size; by at least one account it has the largest local radio news department in Florida.
A WRUF microphone used by sportscaster
Walter Lanier "Red" Barber
during the 1930s is part of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum's collection. It has been displayed in the museum's "Scribes and Mikemen" exhibit, and from 2002-2006 it was a part of the "Baseball as America" traveling exhibition.
The station is a former affiliate of the Atlanta Braves
radio network, the largest radio affiliate network in Major League Baseball
. It also carries Florida Gators
football, basketball and baseball. However, it is not the flagship station for football and basketball; that distinction belongs to Jacksonville's WFXJ
.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
that operates from the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
's main campus in Gainesville
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, broadcasting at 850 kHz. WRUF is a news/talk/sports station. Unlike its Public sister stations, WUFT-TV and WUFT-FM
WUFT-FM
WUFT-FM 89.1 is an NPR member radio station owned by the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, broadcasting news from NPR.UF has been involved in broadcasting for almost nine decades. It owns WRUF , one of the oldest radio stations in the state, and sister television station WUFT-TV was...
, WRUF is a commercial station and, despite being state-run, is run no differently than privately-owned commercial stations.
The station signed on in October 1928 and is the fifth-oldest station in the state.
WRUF features a mixture of local and syndicated programs, including Jim Bohannon
Jim Bohannon
James E. "Jim" Bohannon is an American broadcaster who has worked in both television and radio.During the 1980s he was a fill-in for Larry King when King had his popular nighttime national radio program. He also does much work with the Smithsonian Associates...
, Dr. Joy Browne, Larry King Live
Larry King Live
Larry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly....
and Sporting News Radio
Sporting News Radio
Yahoo! Sports Radio, formerly Sporting News Radio is a United States sports radio network that broadcasts sports news, talk, scores, and highlights 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. On August 1, 2011, it was announced the network would change its name to Yahoo! Sports Radio, effective...
, plus religious programming on Sunday mornings, including Bill Gaither, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...
and local church services. Network news are provided by Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
.
The News Director for AM850 is Tom Krynksi, Assistant News Director is Forrest Smith, and the Sports Director is Steve Russell.
WRUF's news and sports departments, staffed almost entirely by School of Journalism students, are fairly large for a station of its size; by at least one account it has the largest local radio news department in Florida.
A WRUF microphone used by sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
Walter Lanier "Red" Barber
Red Barber
Walter Lanier "Red" Barber was an American sportscaster.Barber, nicknamed "The Ol' Redhead", was primarily identified with radio broadcasts of Major League Baseball, calling play-by-play across four decades with the Cincinnati Reds , Brooklyn Dodgers , and New York Yankees...
during the 1930s is part of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum's collection. It has been displayed in the museum's "Scribes and Mikemen" exhibit, and from 2002-2006 it was a part of the "Baseball as America" traveling exhibition.
The station is a former affiliate of the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
radio network, the largest radio affiliate network in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. It also carries Florida Gators
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
football, basketball and baseball. However, it is not the flagship station for football and basketball; that distinction belongs to Jacksonville's WFXJ
WFXJ (AM)
WFXJ is a Jacksonville, Florida sports-talk radio station. Local programming includes The Tom McManus Show featuring former NFL linebacker and author Tom McManus and The Pete Prisco Show. WFXJ also is the home of the Jacksonville Suns, the AA minor league affiliate of the Florida Marlins and the...
.