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.

Colorado Matters

Health Care Bills Could Hit Southern Colorado City Hard; Aurora’s Motels Becoming Less Affordable Housing; Eclipse Drew Science Celebs To Colorado in 1878

The nation’s first round of health care reform brought Medicaid expansion and, a local health care leader says, improved medical treatment for poor working people in the Southern Colorado city of Pueblo. Now, that official says, those gains are threatened by Republican reform proposals in Congress. Then, inexpensive motels along East Colfax Avenue have provided a haven for people who might otherwise be homeless, but rates are rising and options are disappearing as development closes in on the community. And, with a solar eclipse coming on August 21, a look back to an 1878 eclipse that drew science celebrities, including Thomas Edison, to Colorado.
By Andrea Dukakis
Colorado Matters

Small Business Optimism In The Trump Era; Climate Change And Severe Weather; ‘Red Dirt’ Country Music

CPR News is tracking stories about Coloradans who stand to lose or gain under President Trump. Today, a hear from small businesses who say the future looks bright. Then, from a hailstorm so bad it shut down a shopping mall to temperatures so high planes were grounded, the West has seen some intense weather lately. How much of that is connected to climate change? And, the sounds of red dirt country music will fill the small town of Limon this weekend. Lincoln County hopes the first Colorado Prairie Music Festival will boost tourism. Plus, six months after Denver began enforcing new rules on short-term rentals, listings on sites like Airbnb and VRBO has dropped dramatically.
By Andrea Dukakis
Colorado Matters

DIY Ways And Other Ideas To Counter Climate Change; The Rich Inner Lives Of Animals

Rats can get depressed. Some pigs are extroverted and others are introverted. A conversation with two scientists who say animals have rich inner lives. Then, 100 ways to reverse global warming, ranked in order. Some are unconventional and others can be achieved in your backyard. Plus, Denver walks the line between a fearful immigrant community and federal immigration law. The debate over Denver as a sanctuary city. Also, a professional drone pilot who says racing makes him feel like superman.
By Andrea Dukakis
Colorado Matters

Coal Rolling Crackdown; CU Football Punishments; Death Penalty History; ‘America’s Got Talent’ Standout

The fallout from a Title IX controversy at the University of Colorado Boulder, where university officials were recently punished for mishandling allegations of domestic violence against a former assistant football coach. Then, coal rolling is when people tweak their engines to belch black smoke. Some do it to be funny; others as a form of political protest. Colorado lawmakers recently passed a bill to crack down on it. Also, a death penalty scholar on Colorado’s execution history. Last, a deaf singer who was on Colorado Matters years ago is making a splash on ‘American’s Got Talent.’
By Andrea Dukakis
Colorado Matters

Colorado And The Paris Climate Accord; Sen. Cory Gardner Helps Negotiate Healthcare Revamp; Boulder Dentist Is An Ironman

The United States is backing out of the Paris climate accord but at least nine Colorado mayors have pledged to uphold the deal. We discuss what the withdrawal will mean statewide. Then, Cory Gardner is one of a small group of Republican senators hoping to revamp healthcare. He provides some insight to how he’s approaching the project. And, five years ago Boulder dentist Tom Bogan didn’t know how to swim because he was afraid of drowning. Now he’s participating in Hawaii’s Ironman competition. Also, Alex Honnold made a “generation-defining” climb last weekend. We spoke with him in 2015.
By Andrea Dukakis