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Upcoming Programming Changes: A Note from Program Director Tracy Ross

Perhaps you've noticed over the years that most program changes happen during the summer.  This is because our fiscal year ends at the end of June along with the yearly subscriptions of the national programs we air.  July first is a sort of holiday for those of us at WKMS and our gifts to you are the freshly wrapped programs on our schedule.  I'm confident you'll find enjoyment and value in these programs in the year ahead.

Folk Alley (Saturdays from 5-7 a.m.) plays a mix of artists that will be familiar to fans of Music from the Front Porch and Sounds Good.   Host Elena See plays an intelligent blend of new and established Americana, roots and folk artists and features many exclusive live sessions from musicians like The Secret Sisters, Darrell Scott, Robert Ellis and The Stray Birds.  There’s nothing too heavy in the mix so it’s a great way to ease into a Saturday morning.  Folk Alley replaces TED Radio Hour and Only A Game on our schedule.  TED Radio Hour can still be heard Sunday evenings at 7. It is bittersweet to say goodbye to Only A Game which has been on our schedule for many years.  

We will welcome On The Media (Sundays from 9-10 a.m.) to our schedule.  Most news programs cover the events of the day; On the Media examines how the various news agencies cover the events of the day.   This program is especially relevant in a world where “fake news outlets” and “alternative facts” seem to be more prevalent than ever.  Hosts Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield are veteran reporters who have a great rapport.  This will be an exciting and relevant program to hear following Weekend Edition Sunday.  I think OnThe Media will become appointment listening for our audience.  Travel With Rick Steves moves to 11 a.m. following The Splendid Table.  A Prairie Home Companion will air from Noon - 2 p.m. which will allow more people to listen following their busy Sunday morning.  We bid a fond farewell to Dr. Bob Lochte and The Eisenhower Hour, which has been entertaining listeners for well over a decade.  Dr. Bob announced his retirement from the program earlier this year.

Reveal (Sundays from 6-7 p.m.) has the same engaging storytelling style as This American Life but with more teeth.  Reveal is the Peabody Award-winning investigative journalism program for public radio produced by The Center for Investigative Reporting.  Host Al Letson and his team take a look at the people behind the stories we hear on the news.  Recent episodes featured a look at those who profited from America’s housing bust, and an examination of the techniques police departments teach their officers to use when dealing with civilians.  Reveal replaces Fresh Air Weekend, which excerpts parts of interviews that can still be heard in their entirety every weekday at 6 p.m. on Fresh Air. 

These programming changes will add considerable value to the WKMS schedule, but the added costs to the WKMS budget will be quite small.

As always feel free to email me with any programming comments at tross1@murraystate.edu.