Longtime KFGO News Director Paul Jurgens to retire

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – KFGO Radio News Director Paul Jurgens has announced that he is stepping down from the position, effective Friday, May 29. Jurgens joined the heritage radio station in March of 1983 and was promoted to news director in 1988.

“It’s has been a tremendous honor to be part of the team at The Mighty 790,” Jurgens said.

Under his leadership, KFGO News has earned two prestigious Peabody Awards from the University of Georgia School of Journalism, five Marconi Awards from the National Association of Broadcasters, and eight Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association.

In 2024, Jurgens was presented with The Pioneer Award from the North Dakota Broadcasters Association.

He said that after 43 years at the helm of the popular news radio station, it was time to take some well-earned rest.

“I’m getting to the point where I want to do something else,” he said. “There’s a lot of things that happen – phone calls, texts in the middle of the night, so I think it’s just time.”

He says, reflecting on his career, that he’s proudest of the relationships he’s built with members of this community.

“I’ve tried to respect the people that I work with. And I built up, I think, a pretty good trust with newsmakers around the region,” he said.

While Jurgens is leaving KFGO in a full-time capacity, it is possible that he returns to the station on a part-time basis in the future.

His replacement will be announced on May 28 during News & Views with Joel Heitkamp.