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 of good old terrestrial radio and listening in the same space in which the station exists.
A reasonable question might be, Why? It’s because even though I work in public radio, I’m still a fan of public radio which means I still listen – sometimes with a Program Director’s ear.
Frankly, it’s not always easy to turn that part of my brain off! I’m always interested in hearing other stations even if I am listening on vacation – how their hosts sound, what promos they run, the local programming and news. And while I’m proud of how WBHM sounds, it would be naïve to think there’s only one correct way to do things.
So when something stands out, I take notice.
In recent years, I’ve visited Asheville, North Carolina several time and in addition to the great hiking, food, and even more great hiking, I always listen to Blue Ridge Public Radio. Now, this almost feels ridiculous to type, but I kinda fell in love with how they introduce their underwriting announcements! This is a bigger deal than you might think.
Lots of thought goes into everything you hear at WBHM from newscasts to stories to breaks within the programs and, yes, to beginning our underwriting announcements. These things all build up over time and, as a listener, you feel more comfortable with WBHM.
We used to say “Support for WBHM comes from…” and then deliver the underwriting message. And there was nothing wrong with that! But when I heard Blue Ridge Public Radio announcers say “Together with our listeners, support comes from…” I thought it was the perfect way to encapsulate that both listener and business support power WBHM. After all, we’re all in this together.
(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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
