In this week’s issue… GBH shuffles mornings, prepares new show launches – NYSBA inducts Hall of Famers – More news-talk in the Hudson Valley – Remembering Dan Sys
By SCOTT FYBUSH
*After two and a half years of an experiment in morning drive, Boston’s WGBH (89.7) is moving its unusual two-person local “Morning Edition” hosting team to new roles beginning today.
At most public radio stations, including Boston competitor WBUR (90.9), the show has only one local host handling local content alongside the national hosts from NPR in Washington and California, but as the number two player on the Boston public radio scene, WGBH tried something very different beginning in February 2022, pairing Paris Alston and Jeremy Siegel in that role.
It was an attempt to differentiate GBH’s morning drive from the more traditional approach at WBUR, with Siegel and Alston providing a more conversational, younger-sounding version of Morning Edition in hopes of gaining the same listener base that has brought GBH success in middays with its “Boston Public Radio” pairing of Margery Eagan and Jim Braude.
It’s not clear why the station is shifting course now under its new news boss Dan Lothian, but here’s what we do know: Alston will move over to TV and social media, helming a relaunched version of GBH’s long-running “Basic Black,” which started in the 1960s and was abruptly cancelled in May. That show, under a new name, will return in 2025; Alston will also be expanding her “Walk Down the Block” social media series focusing on Boston neighborhoods.
Siegel, who’s always had a focus on transit and transportation, will become the transportation correspondent for GBH News and “The World,” its national partnership with the BBC. He’ll also be at the helm of a new statewide hour-long radio show and podcast that will debut sometime next year on GBH, its Cape and Islands stations and New England Public Media in western Massachusetts.
Starting today, Morning Edition on GBH will hit the air at 6 AM instead of 5 AM, with reporter Mark Herz as interim host while the station searches for a new host.
Behold, the 2025 calendar!
We chose the 100,000-watt transmitter of the Voice Of America in Marathon, right in the heart of the Florida Keys. This picture has everything we like in our covers — blue skies, greenery, water, and of course, towers! The history behind this site is a draw, too.
Other months feature some of our favorite images from years past, including some Canadian stations and several stations celebrating their centennials (can you guess? you don’t have to if you buy the calendar!).
We will ship daily through Christmas Eve. Place your order now for immediate shipping!
This will be the 24th edition of the world-famous Tower Site Calendar, and your support will determine whether it will be the final edition.
It’s been a complicated few years here, and as we finish up production of the new edition, we’re considering the future of this staple of radio walls everywhere as we evaluate our workload going forward.
The proceeds from the calendar help sustain the reporting that we do on the broadcast industry here at Fybush Media, so your purchases matter a lot to us here – and if that matters to you, now’s the time to show that support with an order of the new Tower Site Calendar. (And we have the new Broadcast Historian’s Calendar for 2025 ready to ship, too. Why not order both?)
Visit the Fybush Media Store and place your order now for the next calendar, get a great discount on previous calendars, and check out our selection of books and videos, too!
In this week’s issue… WBUR backs off local talk - EMF's expansion in NY, nationally - Rochester broadcasters honored - Russell finds new PA radio home - Remembering Bruce Stevens - The new calendar's here!
In this week’s issue… Remembering WNY's Palvino, Harris - Will King sell Bangor stations? - Kay moves earlier - New signal on LI - Cumulus cuts hit PA, New England - Frizzell sells in NH
In this week’s issue… Saluting a small-town radio vet - Bell moves CP24 - Scott heads west - Burlington gets Air 1, "Experimental Radio" - Family Life heads down I-86
In this week’s issue… NY TV anchor, radio historian both retiring - XPN PD to retire - More Cumulus cuts - Rogers sells FMs as Corus makes big talent cuts By SCOTT FYBUSH Jump to: ME - NH - VT - MA...
