Michael Hibblen
News DirectorMichael Hibblen is the News Director of UA Little Rock Public Radio. He oversees local news coverage for KUAR, working with the staff to plan story ideas, edit news copy, and ensure accuracy and fairness in reporting.
In March 2019, he was named one of 53 fellows selected to participate in the Editorial Integrity and Leadership Initiative at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The intensive 100-day training program for newsroom leaders from across the country was funded by a $1 million grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It involved a week of training that August at the Phoenix campus, working regularly with a coach and smaller group remotely, then returning to give a final presentation and graduate in January.
A native of North Little Rock, Hibblen started in radio in 1988, spending his first five years as a DJ for music stations in central and northeast Arkansas. After a 1993 internship at the C-SPAN Cable Network in Washington, DC, he transitioned to news, working for commercial radio stations KARN in Little Rock, WRVA in Richmond, Virginia and WIOD in Miami, Florida. In 2000, Hibblen became a nationally-heard, Miami-based radio reporter for CBS News, covering major stories in the region, including the anthrax attack at a tabloid publisher, an international custody fight over Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez, and the 2000 presidential election recount. He was hired by the Miami Herald in 2003 when the newspaper partnered with NPR station WLRN to provide local news. Hibblen initially worked as a morning news anchor and reporter, later became the department's editor, then assistant news director. He also frequently wrote articles for the newspaper.
Hibblen returned home to Arkansas in 2009 to work for KUAR. At that time he resumed taking classes at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to finish his Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication, graduating in May 2013. Hibblen enjoys researching radio and railroad history in the state and is the author of Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas, which was published by Arcadia Publishing in April 2017. He has also been involved in the preservation of the railroad's depot in Perry, Ark. He maintains a personal website with details on his career and other interests: www.hibblenradio.com.
Phone: 501-916-6377
Email: michael@kuar.org
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The singer-songwriter will receive an honorary doctoral degree for her assistance in the restoration of Johnny Cash's boyhood home in Dyess. -
Arkansas reported about one-third more active cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday compared to the same day two weeks ago. But Hospitalizations fell to the lowest number since March 26, 2020.
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Benjamin Victor is working on a clay model of the civil rights leader this week at UA Little Rock. Statues of Bates and singer Johnny Cash will eventually represent Arkansas in the U.S. Capitol.
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The public can watch work being done on the Bates statue, while approval has been given for the design of the Cash statue. Both will represent Arkansas in the U.S. Capitol.
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The National Weather Service says several isolated tornados hit Arkansas on Monday night. Hail the size of the softballs was also reported.
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Arkansas transportation officials showed seven newly-purchased diesel-powered trucks on Friday that have reduced emissions compared to the rest of the department's fleet.
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The 86th Arkansas Derby is Oaklawn's final prep race for the Kentucky Derby with the winner to receive $1.25 million.
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The Department of Health reported active cases dropped by 117 people on Monday to 1,294. Officials are watching for possible new variants.
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EPIC Glass Recycling is adding services in additional communities and hopes to eventually open a plant at the Port of Little Rock.
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After Tuesday's adjournment of the 2022 fiscal session of the legislature, House members voted to keep Shepherd as speaker for next year's session.
