Chris Heim, KMUW 89.1 FM producer, reporter and host, has been named one of the 2009 RIAS Journalism Fellows.

The RIAS program is an outgrowth of Radio in the American Sector, a joint German-American radio station that broadcast in Berlin from the end of World War II until German reunification.

At that time, a bi-national program to foster German-American understanding in the field of broadcasting was set up in its place.

Each year, groups of American journalists travel to Germany, and German journalists come to the United States, for a program that offers an in-depth look at political, economic, cultural and other aspects of both countries and offers journalists an opportunity to develop stories as an extension of the program.

Since the agreement was signed in 1992, nearly 1,000 journalists have taken part in the program.

In the United States, program partners are the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation and a number of university journalism programs across the country.

Heim came to KMUW FM 89.1 in 2006 and hosts the eclectic weeknight world and roots music show, “Global Village” and a weekly blues/soul show, “Crossroads.”

She also produces a weekly feature, “Music Roundup,” with concert previews, CD and book reviews, along with a variety of feature pieces and specials.

Heim has an extensive background in print journalism and radio, having worked in Chicago for a number of years at WHPK, WJKL, WXRT and WBEZ. She also has written for a number of newspapers and national publications including the Chicago Tribune, JazzTimes, Utne, Global Rhythm and Dirty Linen.

More information about the RIAS Berlin Kommission and the RIAS Exchange Program is available at http://www.riasberlin.de/index.html.

KMUW is licensed to Wichita State University as a public radio station and is a charter National Public Radio member and an affiliate of Public Radio International and American Public Media.