Longtime KFGO News Director Paul Jurgens to retire

FARGO (KVRR) – KFGO Radio News Director has announced that he is stepping down from the position, effective Friday, May 29. Jurgens joined the heritage radio station in March, 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. “It has been a wonderful place to work, and I will truly miss the people here and the interaction with the listeners, and such events as the annual KFGO Christmas Party where thousands of listeners show up at 6 a.m. to mark the holiday, and the June picnic in the station parking lot,” Jurgens added.

While Jurgens is leaving KFGO in a full-time capacity, he may return to the station on a part-time basis in the future.

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, eight Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association and hundreds of other awards from the the six-state Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association and Associated Press in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.

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

“Jurgie has been a mainstay of KFGO for decades,” said KFGO Operations Manager Joel Heitkamp, “what a career.