This Is a Story About Dreamers
About Father Colman Barry, a forward-thinking Benedictine monk who saw radio as the way to reach nearby communities. About Bill Kling, an economics student who embraced the unfamiliar technology of FM radio to bring this vision to life. And about the hundreds of engineers, programmers, journalists, musicians, volunteers and members who personally shaped Minnesota Public Radio into what it is today.
Signal Strength tells the story of MPR’s first 50 years, from its humble creation in 1967 to the first donor drive, the birth of programs such as A Prairie Home Companion, the creation of Classical MPR and The Current®, and the evolution of award-winning journalism that informs, inspires and entertains listeners around the world.
From its first broadcast from a single radio tower in rural Stearns County to reaching over 30 million people worldwide today, MPR has created new program formats, set new journalistic standards and launched prominent careers—all while influencing the future of broadcasting and connecting people across the globe.
As Father Colman Barry said, “Sometimes dreams do come true.”
