KUT Public Media in Austin, Texas, has announced a $1.5 million gift from veteran Austin journalists Lynne Dobson and Greg Wooldridge through their Tejemos Foundation.

The single largest gift in the history of the public broadcaster, which is affiliated with the University of Texas at Austin’s Moody College of Communication, will support Texas politics-beat reporting and help expand the staff of the station’s daily news magazine, Texas Standard. In addition, the gift from the longtime radio and community music supporters will help improve and sustain KUT’s music services. In recognition, KUT will rename the station’s community room after the late John Aielli, who hosted the “Eklektikos" music show for more than 50 years, beginning in 1970. Aielli died in 2022.

“Music, nature, parks, and green spaces are the lifeblood of Austin, and truth in journalism and social justice are the lifeblood of society,” said Wooldridge. “KUT provides a voice for all of this.”

(Photo credit: KUT Public Media)