Rise and Shine
I spent early August substitute hosting Morning Edition for Miranda Fulmore who was on a well-deserved vacation.
And while everyone has their routine, I thought I’d share a little bit of what goes on behind the scenes in the very early hours of the day.
I get up at 3 a.m. which also means I really try to be in bed by 9:30 p.m. the night before. If I can manage five and a half hours of sleep, it’s a pretty good night.
Breakfast (such as it is) consists of a banana or power bar and cold brew coffee which I also bring to the station in my large, insulated glass. Lunch comes around 7:30!
Lately, we’ve been trying something new at WBHM during Morning Edition. On occasion, we give a little “this day in history” at the bottom of the hour. An interesting tidbit you might not know about our area. It could be interesting or funny. Maybe you noticed?
For example, maybe you learned about the time during a Birmingham Barons game when Taco won the fast-food race at Region’s Field, or that a Bessemer chicken named Matilda was memorialized by the Southeastern Association of Magicians. And while it’s great to make you smile, it was also appropriate to let you know that Alabama native Osmond Kelly Ingram was a World War I hero who saved his ship by releasing its ammunition in advance of a torpedo strike. For his sacrifice, Birmingham West Park was rededicated as Kelly Ingram Pak in 1932.
Why does all this matter? Public radio stations are more than just relays for network programming. We provide local news, stories, weather — even the occasional interesting tidbit – all in service to our local communities. That’s why you hear “Morning Edition from NPR and 90.3 WBHM”. It’s Morning Edition (not to mention All Things Considered) for Birmingham.
(Through “Programming Notes,” we hope to keep you connected to what is happening at WBHM both internally and on-air. Have feedback you’d like to share? Or a programming question? Let me know!)
Incoming Transmission! Pt. 2
You may remember earlier this year when WBHM held a special Transmitter Drive. With your support, we raised the final $50,000 to purchase and install a new transmitter. In total, this project cost $230,000. For this edition of Program Notes, I checked in with WBHM’s engineer Darrell McCalla who oversees this project for an update […]
Meeting You Where You Are
Last week, I attended the Public Radio Content Conference – the premier gathering for non-commercial programmers, content managers and leaders in the public media ecosystem. This was the first in-person conference in more than two years and, it was good to reconnect with my colleagues in person — not just because of the pandemic, but […]
There’s Lots of Moth’s in the Air
This week, I’m writing about The Moth – not the insect, the storytelling phenomenon! If you haven’t heard, The Moth is true stories told live, without notes. It’s personal storytelling that connects us as human beings. These stories are told in different ways to millions of people each year including right here in the Heart […]
Welcome Back to Program Notes!
I spent a (mostly) restful two weeks off visiting with extended family – most of us hadn’t seen each other since before the pandemic. But even on vacation, I still listen to public radio wherever I am. Sure, I could (and often do) listen online, but there’s a part of me that’s also a fan […]
Deliberate Indifference – Inside Alabama’s Prison Crisis
You’ve probably heard of our new narrative podcast, Deliberate Indifference. And, given all the heavy news the past few months alone, you may think this is the last thing you want to listen to. I urge to reconsider. As citizens, we have a right to know how more than 500 million of our tax dollars […]
What’s in a name?
Every so often, I hear from listeners who politely (or sometimes not so politely) take WBHM to task for mispronouncing words. As Program Director, it’s my job to make sure we sound not just consistent on the air, but credible as well. Whether it’s a classical composer or name or place in the news, this […]
