Diné College Visits KSJD to Strengthen Community Radio Collaboration
May 21, 2025
Cortez, Co. – The Marketing and Communications team from Diné College recently visited the KSJD radio station to strengthen their relationship. This meeting explored how both entities can collaborate on programming, marketing, and community engagement.
“The whole idea was to get the Marketing & Communications team at Diné College familiar with how KSJD operates, meet the staff, and discuss how our stations can work together,” said Chris Burnside, Marketing & Communication Manager at Diné College.
Founded to serve the Four Corners region, KSJD is a public radio station dedicated to informing, entertaining, and empowering the community through news, arts, culture, and public media. Operated under the Community Radio Project, a nonprofit organization based in Cortez, KSJD thrives on a community radio model powered by volunteers. The station serves a diverse audience, including the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and parts of the Navajo Nation, with local programming supported by listener contributions, business sponsorships, and foundational grants.
The visit also allowed the Diné College team to review how KSJD’s operational model could align with KXWR, Diné College’s low-power FM station located at the Ned Hataałi Center on the Tsaile campus. Established in 2015, KXWR provides a mix of news, weather, and music, emphasizing local content.
About eight years ago, KSJD began collaborating with KXWR by providing simulcast programming when live content was unavailable. “This partnership has allowed KXWR to maintain a full-bodied schedule while providing hands-on opportunities for students to broadcast live,” explained Tom Yoder, Executive Director of KSJD.
KXWR engages students and community volunteers in its operations, offering internships and practical experience in broadcasting. Its programming integrates a variety of shows, including news updates, interviews, and cultural content, following a structured “clock format” for consistent scheduling.
Both organizations share a community-driven mission with a commitment to enriching their respective audiences. “This visit is a step toward creating innovative content and promoting connections that align with our shared goals of community empowerment and engagement,” added Burnside.
KSJD and KXWR also acknowledge the Indigenous communities whose traditional homelands they operate upon, recognizing this as an essential step toward enabling respect and justice for the original stewards of the land.
About KSJD
KSJD is a public radio station serving the Four Corners region of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, including Indigenous nations such as the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Navajo Nation. Licensed to the Community Radio Project, KSJD operates under a community radio model supported by contributions from listeners, businesses, and grants.
