Jason Burns of Iowa State University - Iowa Public Radio

Iowa Public Radio’s Master Control studios serve as the network’s central hub—its “air traffic control”—overseeing the flow of every broadcast heard across the statewide system. Located on the second floor of Iowa State University’s Communications Building in Ames, the facility houses IPR’s Broadcast Operations, IT, and Engineering teams. From this vantage point, staff monitor, manage, and maintain the technical backbone that keeps IPR’s news, music, and cultural programming reliably on the air for listeners across Iowa. The space is tightly integrated with IPR’s broader mission as a community‑based public radio network that provides free, local news and music statewide.

Master Control connects directly to IPR studios in Iowa City, Cedar Falls, and Des Moines, ensuring seamless coordination across the organization’s statewide studio and transmitter network. The Ames facility has long been part of IPR’s operational footprint, but that chapter is nearing its end: Iowa Public Radio plans to relocate to a new Ames location by June 30, 2028, following Iowa State University’s decision to repurpose the Communications Building. Until then, Master Control continues to serve as the technical heart of the network, keeping IPR’s statewide broadcasts running smoothly every hour of the day.

Biography:

Jason Burns has spent more than a decade keeping Iowa Public Radio’s statewide network running smoothly. Since joining the organization in 2011, he’s helped ensure that listeners across Iowa get reliable, high‑quality broadcasts every day. His work touches everything from radio automation and transmission systems to the behind‑the‑scenes processes that keep a large public media operation humming.

As Iowa Public Radio’s Broadcast Operations and Facilities Manager, Jason focuses on building supportive teams, improving workflows, and solving the kinds of technical puzzles that come with managing more than two dozen signals. With experience that ranges from on‑air work to data analysis, the brings a practical, people‑centered approach to public media operations and a steady commitment to making sure great radio reaches the audience.

Email:

Address:Iowa State University, 1013 WOI Road, Ames, Iowa, United States, 50011-1067