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

Can New Technology To Replace Ankle Monitors Reduce Recidivism?

Ankle monitors help law enforcement track people on probation and parole. They can also be an alternative to imprisonment and save government money. But critics say they’re unreliable, uncomfortable, and can be a scarlet letter. Now, devices — similar to smartphones — are emerging as replacements. We speak with Joe Russo, of the American Probation and Parole Association and studies corrections at the University of Denver and with Michael Hirschman, Chief Executive Officer of TRACKtech, which makes a monitoring device.
By Andrea Dukakis
Colorado Matters

Doctors, Patients Hopeful About ‘Revolutionary’ Therapy For Cystic Fibrosis

The lung disease cystic fibrosis used to be a death sentence for a child. Today, the average life span is 44 years old. For people like Kate Dankanich, living with the disease means frequent doctors visits, lots of medication, and home therapy. Dankanich is 17. She lives in Colorado Springs. She explains that one therapy involves putting on a respiratory vest, for an hour in the morning and again at night. Now, a new drug therapy, which some doctors call “revolutionary,” has been approved. It gets to the genetic root of Cystic Fibrosis. Dankanich will be starting it in a few weeks. Dr. Edith Zamanick is a pediatric pulmonologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She’s also Kate Dankanich’s doctor, and took part in the nationwide research that led to this new breakthrough therapy. Dr. Zamanick joined us on Colorado Matters to talk about its potential.
By Andrea Dukakis
Colorado Matters

Finding “The Zone” May Be Key To Happiness At Work

There are increasing signs that younger workers want more than just a big paycheck and good benefits from their employers. Studies show many young employees expect to find job satisfaction and creativity at work. A crop of companies and consultants are growing around this idea of making people happier at work. Some, like Greenwood Village, Colo.-based Crankset Group and it’s founder Chuck Blakeman advocate for restructuring the workplace altogether: eliminating the top-down hierarchy, making meetings optional and allowing workers a lot more flexibility to work and vacation when they want. Other companies, like Denver-based Helios, are developing technology to help facilitate satisfaction at work. Helios’ CEO or Chief Energy Officer, Josh Allan Dykstra said they’re marketing an app with messages to help nudge people in ways that improve their motivation and energy at work. Dykstra said it’s also clear from research that helping employees find “the zone” increases their productivity exponentially.
By Andrea Dukakis
Colorado Matters

Teen Filmmakers On Life As Children Of Immigrants

Films by two Colorado teenagers tell the stories of children caught between two worlds. “Love Me,” is about Josh Sun’s upbringing as the son of Chinese immigrants, the pressure he felt to succeed in school and his desire to forge his own path. “Finding Home” by Yolande Morrison is about Morrison’s journey from Jamaica to Colorado Springs with her mother. It focuses on her transition to a country she says offers more opportunity, and her longing for the culture of her native land. Both teens made the films with the Youth Documentary Academy in Colorado Springs. They’re part of a series called “Our Time,” airing through December on Rocky Mountain PBS.
By Andrea Dukakis