The UC Riverside faculty and staff newsletter Inside UCR includes a feature in the current issue about a long-standing ANR program housed at the Southern California campus, News and Information Outreach in Spanish (NOS).
The article traces the program's journey from its inception in 1981, when radio news stories were sent to California radio stations on gigantic reel-to-reel tapes, through a 27-year-long uninturrupted stream of information from the University to the Spanish-speaking public. The stories are still mailed directly to radio stations, but are also available for online listening on demand on computers worldwide.
Myriam Grajales-Hall, NOS manager, told writer Todd Ransom that the radio new stories provide very practical tips that the Hispanic listeners can apply to their daily lives.
Added public information representative, Alberto Hauffen:
“Because we are research-based, we have the credibility and have established a good working relationship with the news media. They use what we give them.”
The program's effectiveness and longevity has given it a devout following. Listeners often contact the NOS office directly for more in-depth advice on health issues.
“They look at us as a trusted friend,” Grajales-Hall was quoted. “It’s a big responsibility, but we can guide them to the right people.”