About - History

In 1975 the University's school of Journalism felt it necessary to expand on their hot button AM tation KUOK and delve into the FM universe. KUOK was an impressive student outlet whose only downfall (other than exclusively reaching student housing) was being named for a ship at sea. Hoping to provide a "sense of community" the station quickly dropped its steamboat image and debuted October 15th under the new call letters KJHK. With a chic FCC license and 10 watts reaching a 5 mile radius, broadcasts were slick and well received often done outdoors in front of the journalism school. Station Manager, David Krobot, introduced a progressive rock station and began expanding programming in order to provide "something for everyone."

 The station operated as a grand opus among Midwestern music and radio for three years until the FCC placed KJHK on its "chopping block" making it a "potential small fry victim of the great Washington appetite." As the
business world became increasingly aware of the money to be made in FM radio they hungrily pressured the FCC to eliminate the non-profit, educational stations in order to make room for the money mongering corporate stations quickly populating the country. By using a law against the University's owning two stations (the other being NPR affiliate KANU) the future of KJHK lay in disarray. However, the University found a loophole in the FCC policy
and transferred ownership to the school of Journalism allowing KJHK to continue riddling the campus and Lawrence community with its progressive programming. About this time, KJHK’s wattage was increased to 100 watts.

KJHK continued and still continues to provide students and surrounding communities with cutting edge broadcasting. Wattage was upped and more programming was added in order to truly provide something for everyone. DJs such as Steve Greenwood lobbied for more experimental and "alternative" shows featuring genres and avant garde
as New Wave(!) that eventually won a larger audience and reverence for the station as well as for Lawrence. In the early 80s the station was named one of the top 7 stations in the country by College Music Journal (CMJ)and New York Rocker. They were also observed and featured in many other national music magazines such as Nutshell.

KJHK still remains one of the finest stations in the country. In 1998 KJHK increased wattage to 2900 watts thus stretching the signal to the western half of Kansas City. In 2004 the station transferred from the Journalism school to the KU Memorial Union and has remained one of the few completely student-run radio stations in the United States.
To learn more about the intangible history of KJHK browse the links below. And if you have any history you would like to add please send them our way.

NEW! Check out this article on Lawrence.com that features a run-down of KJ history and past and present DJs in honor of our 30th birthday.

Check out this link where some folks have been discussing a little bit of KJ history...