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Scott Blankenship Named New Host for American Public Media's Classical Music Programming
November 28, 2006
American Public Media has named Omaha native Scott Blankenship as its new host for Classical 24, effective November 4. He is heard on Classical Minnesota Public Radio, including KSJN 99.5 FM in the Twin Cities, overnights on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.
“Scott has a great, fresh approach, a lot of energy and understands the value of a good story,” said Silvester Vicic, manager, Classical 24. “His wide-ranging interests in all things are a great asset to what he brings to our audience.”
Blankenship's love and appreciation of classical music began at public radio station KVNO in Omaha, Neb., where he spent 13 years in various on-air and management roles, including five years as morning drive-time host.
Blankenship started his radio career in college when he began working as a volunteer at a local cable radio station announcing alternative and new rock music. Indications that radio was in his blood go back to age five when he used a corkboard and a beat-up phonograph as a makeshift radio studio; his father's Air Force-issue flashlight served as his "On Air" light.
In his spare time, Scott is an avid cyclist and amateur playwright with several produced scripts to his credit.
Minnesota Public Radio® operates a 37-station radio network serving virtually all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states and produces programming for radio, Internet and face-to-face audiences. Programs produced by Minnesota Public Radio and its national production and distribution arm, American Public Media™, reach 14.4 million listeners nationwide each week. Of these, more than 780,000 listen regionally and in surrounding states. American Public Media is the country’s second largest producer of national public radio programs, with a portfolio including A Prairie Home Companion®, Weekend America®, Saint Paul Sunday®, Marketplace®, Marketplace Money®, The Splendid Table®, Speaking of Faith® and special reports produced by its national documentary unit, American RadioWorks®. Minnesota Public Radio, along with its sister company Southern California Public Radio, is part of a larger family of companies within American Public Media Group — a national nonprofit organization whose purpose is to develop resources, services and systems to support public media for public service. A complete list of stations, programs and additional services can be obtained on www.mpr.org and www.americanpublicmedia.org.
Classical 24 is an award-winning, nationally syndicated classical music service dedicated to live classical music programming 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Classical 24 is produced by American Public Media and distributed by Public Radio International, reaching over 2 million listeners per week.
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Source: Data are copyright Arbitron, Inc. Arbitron data are estimates only.
Spring 2005/Fall 2005 average
Press Contacts:
Jennifer Haugh
Minnesota Public Radio
651-290-1369
jhaugh@mpr.org
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