KUOW announcer quits, cites program changes

Veteran KUOW-FM (94.9) broadcaster Ken Vincent, citing "irreconcilable disagreements," has quit the station where he had been the midday announcer and news editor. His resignation took immediate effect Friday afternoon.

Vincent explains his resignation on his Web site (kenvincent.com), saying he disagreed with program director Jeff Hansen's "handling of editorial, airsound, technical and compensation concerns." He said he wasn't the first station programmer with these concerns but that he had decided "not to take it any more." He wished the station well and said he hoped to return one day.

Vincent engineered the station's daily interview and call-in programs: "Weekday," "The Conversation" and "The Beat," according to his bio still posted on the station's Web site. He started at the station in 1984 and served for seven years as a reporter and local "Morning Edition" host. He left in 1991 to work in local politics and also wrote for Seattle Weekly. He returned to KUOW in 1995.

Hansen, who is out of the office until Sept. 5, could not be reached for comment.

KUOW listeners were told of Vincent's departure Monday morning during "Weekday"; host Steve Scher said Vincent had left abruptly.

"One identifiable hallmark of Ken's work [was] the musical choices that he made; they became comments on the program that added another level to the broadcast. He made 'Weekday' a better show," Scher said on air.

"His years of experience in radio and in Northwest political coverage added to all our understandings of the news. Above all, Ken remains committed to the ideals of public radio — intelligently reporting on the meaning of the news in a smart, and yet always personable manner ... I learned how to do radio from Ken Vincent, and he will be missed."

In an interview Monday, Vincent said he had been frustrated for a while but that the last straw had to do with program changes announced Thursday.

On that day, the station said its weekday 2 p.m. show "The Beat," which had primarily focused on arts and culture, would be renamed "Sound Focus." The new program, which will debut Sept. 17, will explore a subject area that goes beyond the arts to include business, science and activism, according to an announcement. And in addition to in-studio conversations, the program will now also include out-in-the-field interviews.

The station also announced it would stop airing "The Writers Almanac," the five-minute poetry and history program hosted by Garrison Keillor, which had been included as part of "The Beat" broadcast.

The reason: "it's no longer in line with our goals," an e-mailed announcement said. Although on Monday, the station explained it was actually looking for a new time slot for the program.

Florangela Davila: 206-464-2916 or fdavila@seattletimes.com