Address: 400 East College Street, Georgetown, Ky. 40324; ph: 502/863-7032
This is being couched as an entirely new format for public radio: the blend of entertainment and hard news for participating stations. We recommend that you get your foot in the door early since these folks are going live in about six weeks! The venture is a partnership between World Radio and Feature Story, Inc., a syndicated service based in Washington, D.C.
Section: Features
This three-hour program will air from 3-6 p.m. EST with host Tom Martin and is one of the key ways the new operation is hoping to lure listeners. Other programs include a morning drive show with host Sam Litzinger (airs from 6-9 a.m. on both coasts). Host Betty Lee's entertainment-driven show (with editorial and acoustical content) will run from noon-3 p.m. EST.
Editor: National Program Director, Tom Martin; Fax: 502/868-6566; (Note: e-mail address has yet to be set in stone.)
Days to Contact/Days to Avoid: He doesn't want to be swamped with information on one day and have a lull on the next, so send timely faxes when you prefer.
Method: Faxes are the primary pitch route for now.
Comment: Martin receives advance summaries from U.S. News & World Report, so he can speak with journalists to provide a fresh angle to breaking news. And he's always open to a well-developed pitch that allows for: commentaries; celebrity focuses; perspective about business/social controversies; and poignant human-interest pieces.
Section: News
In addition to Feature Story, Inc. content, news will be generated at the network's Kentucky headquarters and at bureaus in London, Moscow and Jerusalem.
Editor: Director of Network News & Operations, Mike Dawahare; Fax: 502/868-6566
Days to Contact/Days to Avoid: Dawahare wants to be able to review pitches in the afternoon on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Method: Faxes.
Comment: You'll befriend these editors if you don't duplicate the boring, dry press release. For example, Dawahare's impressed with an intelligent piece that analyzes why you can't sue an HMO or why the Federal Reserve Board makes it so tough to borrow money when the economy's doing well.
Editorial/Production Contacts at World Radio
- Main Number - 502/868-6565
- Director of News and Operations for World Radio - Mike Dawahare, 502/868-6570; Fax 502/868-6566
- Director, "World Radio News" [Feature Story] - Simon Marks 202/296-9012, Fax: 202/296-9205
- Senior Editor, "World Radio News" - Bill Wax, 202/296-9012, Fax: 202/296-9205
- Host of "Early World" and manging editor of World Radio News - Sam Litzinger, 502/868-6565, Fax: 502/868-6566
- Host of "The World's First Rhythm and News Show," Director of Network Programming for World Radio - Tom Martin, 502/868-6565, fax: 502/868-6566