KNOM needs your prayers.

In recent months, the radio mission has been hit hard by staffing shortages. As you may know, workplaces around the country are seeing employees move, resign, or find different careers altogether. In rural Alaska, where finding specialized staff comes with extra challenges, the trend puts a great deal of pressure on workplaces.

The last five years have seen a gradual change in staffing. In an economy where unpaid internships and fellowships are financially difficult to undertake for new college graduates, KNOM has seen fewer and fewer volunteers apply. Last year was especially difficult: Since the pandemic first began in 2020, the organization has had a 60% staff turnover rate. After fifty years, we acknowledge the need to hire full-time reporters and producers, pivoting from the volunteer-based staffing we’ve relied on for decades. Long-term, KNOM’s goal is to cultivate local employees who are representative of Western Alaska.

KNOM’s Board of Directors and staff are currently working to rejuvenate the organization and are on track to implement a new five-year strategic plan later this year. We know that Western Alaska is home to some of the most compelling stories in the world, and we are excited to continue sharing them. We hope, in five years’ time, to be a strong, modern multimedia organization that fully meets the needs of our audience. To make that vision reality, we need caring and talented individuals working at KNOM.

Would you pray for us? We need the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit to find the right people, both long-term and immediately. We also ask, if you know someone who would be a good fit for KNOM, would you send them our way? We have several needs, immediately and within the next six months, ranging from news reporting, production, music direction and on-air programming, to business and development. Positions are based in Anchorage and Nome, depending on the work required, and we are particularly looking for people who live or have lived in Alaska before. Job descriptions are available here. Interested people are encouraged to contact us directly by e-mailing generalmanager@knom.org.