Andrea Dukakis

Colorado Matters Reporter / Producer / Host

@adukakis[email protected]

Andrea Dukakis is a producer/reporter/host for Colorado Matters on CPR News. She has produced and reported for CPR for nearly two decades. Prior to joining CPR, Andrea worked at NPR and ABC News.

Education:
Bachelor's degree in English, Princeton University; Master's degree in journalism, Columbia University.

Professional background:
Andrea Dukakisreports, produces and hosts stories for Colorado Public Radio and has been at CPR for nearly two decades.Prior to coming to Colorado, she spent three years at National Public Radio in Washington, D.C. Andrea has also worked at ABC News in New York. She's reported national stories for several NPR programs, including "Morning Edition," "All Things Considered," "Justice Talking" and "Living on Earth," as well as for BBC's "The World."

Awards:
Andrea has received awards from PRNDI (Public Radio News Directors Incorporated),Colorado Broadcasters Association, Associated Press and the Colorado Community Health Network.


Q & AWhy I became a journalist:
I have always been fascinated by people and their unique experiences, and I love the news. So, it was a perfect fit. I grew up in a political family, and we always talked about issues and politics at the dinner table. But I never wanted to work in politics – I always preferred understanding issues from different perspectives. I think the most powerful stories are the ones told by those who are affected, whether it be health care reform, welfare, education, justice issues or the economy. And, I enjoy telling those stories.

Why I got into radio:
While I was in journalism school, I was offered the chance to help out at WBAI – a public radio station in New York City. I had written a story for school on Amerasian children who moved here from Vietnam after the war. The folks at WBAI let me turn it into a radio story – and I was hooked. I liked it better than print because radio adds a special texture to a story. And I preferred radio to television because I think people being interviewed are more honest when they talk into a microphone, rather than a camera.

How I ended up at CPR:
I was newly married, and my husband wanted to move to the mountains. At the time, I was at National Public Radio in Washington, D.C. We moved to Denver, and I began talking to people at Colorado Public Radio. It was really the only place I wanted to work – and the rest is history.

Coloradan teaching mental health counseling in Ukraine

Colorado counselor leads retreat in Ukraine for war widows

The war in Ukraine has left many women widowed and without mental health support but Coloradan Josh Kreimeyer is determined to help them face their grief and share their challenges with others. Kreimeyer is an associate professor of counseling at Colorado Christian University and recently wrapped up a four-day retreat in Ukraine for widows of the war.

Colorado pollsters give their take on Trump’s lawsuit over an Iowa poll. And, what are polls for anyway?

Two Colorado pollsters say the recent election offers a glimpse into the differences between the Colorado electorate and the country as a whole and sheds more light on the views of the state’s Latino voters. Also, they say President Trump’s lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and Iowa pollster J. Ann Selzer is yet another challenge to the polling industry, which has been attacked in recent years for inaccurate data.
Former President Jimmy Carter

Denver historian on Jimmy Carter’s civil rights legacy

Denver historian Gwen Scott, 98, says Jimmy Carter’s upbringing in the deep South was pivotal to his lifelong fight for racial justice. Scott co-authored the book “Blacks through the ‘Ayes’ of our American Presidents, about the impact of U.S. presidents on the lives of Black Americans. She says Black voters were pivotal to Carter’s successful gubernatorial election in Georgia that paved the way for his presidential bid.
chemistry-class

Kids’ book explores intersection between magic and real science

Kids’ books often are infused with magic: potions, curses, spells and fortune-telling. Maybe it’s because children can imagine a world adults might see as far-fetched. Now, a new book for kids ages 9-13 called “Do You Believe in Magic?” by Denver author Laura Krantz, describes how much of what is considered magic is rooted in scientific fields like astronomy, chemistry and botany.
RTD LIGHT RAIL TRAIN BELLVIEW STATION I-25

Nov. 15, 2024: Voter-approved proposition will fund victims’ services through gun excise tax; Holding RTD accountable

Colorado voters approved a proposition in the last election that funds victims’ services and other support programs through an excise tax on guns. We talk with an advocate about efforts to reduce gun violence. Then, what’s next for RTD now that voters have weigh-in on new board members and funding? Also, how the fantasy novel “Navola” helped the author escape climate change anxiety. And a mother’s immigration story is at the heart of “Avaaz,” now playing at the Denver Center Theater Company.
Voters on Election Day in Aurora

Colorado and national politics trend in opposite directions

The pundits and pollsters told us to be patient but the results of the 2024 Presidential election came quickly. By early Wednesday morning, Donald Trump had clinched the race to be the 47th president of the United States. In Colorado, a very different picture emerged as the state ovewhelmingly chose Kamala Harris. We reached out to Seth Masket, professor of political science and director of the Center on American Politics at the University of Denver, who has been tracking the Republican party over the past four years for a forthcoming book.