Media Contact:
Tania Clow, 407-273-2300, ext. 131
tclow@wmfe.org; wmfe.org

WMFE Strengthens Core News Service

Orlando, Fla. (Nov. 19, 2009) – WMFE will add news, culture and talk programs to 90.7 WMFE-FM’s midday and overnight schedules to give the station an all news and information focus 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The new programs are from National Public Radio (NPR), Public Radio International (PRI) and American Public Media (APM). The new schedule starts Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, at 4 p.m.

In addition to more national and world news, the new programming allows WMFE to provide more local news, traffic and weather reports and move important local programming such as Intersection to a morning primetime slot – Tuesdays at 9:30.

HD Radio enables WMFE to broadcast more than one signal, with CD-quality sound. Listeners wanting news and information programs should tune to 90.7-1. Classical music fans should tune to 90.7-2.  Both streams are available online at www.wmfe.org/listenlive.

“With the availability of HD Radio technology, we can now offer listeners the best of both worlds – news and information and classical music – 24/7,” said José A. Fajardo, president and CEO for WMFE. “We are excited about the change and the opportunities it will bring to WMFE and Central Florida.”

For the new schedule visit www.wmfe.org/radioschedule. The new programs that will air on 90.7 FM are:

The Diane Rehm Show
Weekdays 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Diane Rehm’s award-winning show is a lively mix of current events and public affairs programming that ranges from hard news analysis of politics and international affairs to in-depth examinations of religious issues, health and medical news, education and parenting. The first hour is news-oriented while the second is typically devoted to one-on-one interviews with authors of newly released fiction and nonfiction.

Here and Now
Weekdays 1 – 2 p.m.
Hosted by Robin Young, Here and Now combines the best in news journalism with intelligent, broad-ranging conversation to form a fast-paced program that updates the news from the morning and adds important conversations on public policy and foreign affairs, science and technology, and the arts: film, theater, music, food and more.

Talk of the Nation
Weekdays 2 – 3 p.m. and 8 – 9 p.m.
Talk of the Nation ® links the headlines with what's on people's minds, providing a springboard for listeners and experts to exchange ideas and pose critical questions about major events in the news and the world around them. Monday through Thursday, host Neal Conan invites callers to discuss areas of topical interest, including politics and public service, education, religion, music and healthcare. Become part of the conversation by calling 1-800-989-TALK.

On Point
Weekdays 9 – 11 p.m.
On Point unites distinct and provocative voices with passionate discussion as it confronts the stories that are at the center of what is important in the world today. Host Tom Ashbrook opens with a news brief analyzing the day's biggest stories, followed by an in-depth conversation decoding a single topic with newsmakers, thinkers and callers, and closes with compelling personal reactions to news and important issues, including radio diaries, excerpts from speeches or special series segments.

On the Media
Saturdays 1 – 2 p.m.
Hosted by veteran journalists Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield, On the Media decodes what is heard, read and seen in the media every day, and arms listeners with critical tools necessary to survive the information age. With compelling reporting and uncommon insight, the program uncovers the significant issues of the day and carefully exposes the relationship of the media to culture and society.

Marketplace Money
Saturdays 2 – 3 p.m.
Each week on Marketplace Money, host Tess Vigeland looks at the week's major national and international stories that will impact the average listener's wallet. During the program, Vigeland and her guests help listeners map out the course to financial well-being, offering advice on topics like how to pay for college and whether to buy or lease a car as well as the individual impact of national stories.

The Growing Bolder Radio Show
Saturdays 3 – 4 p.m., repeating Sundays 7 – 8 a.m.
Hosted by award-winning journalists Marc Middleton and Bill Shafer, The Growing Bolder Radio Show shares inspiring stories, challenging issues, and incredible opportunities as it examines how the 50+ demographic is changing virtually every industry, every institution and every aspect of our culture. The program is a fast-paced hour featuring an eclectic mix of guests from athletes, cancer survivors, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, rock stars, CEOs, big names and no-names.

The Splendid Table
Sundays 2 - 3 p.m.
The Splendid Table is a culinary, culture and lifestyle program that celebrates food and its ability to touch the lives and feed the souls of everyone. Each week, award-winning host Lynne Rossetto Kasper leads listeners on a journey of the senses and hosts discussions with a variety of writers and personalities who share their passion for the culinary delights.

American Variety
Sundays 4:30 – 5 p.m.
As its name implies, the Florida program American Variety is an eclectic show. Host Court Lewis describes its theme as “...an anti-theme: Anything but politics!” Guests on American Variety include a fascinating mix of explorers, scientists, astronauts, artists, writers, athletes, entrepreneurs – all high achievers with a refreshing enthusiasm for what they do. The show focuses on inspiring people, positive events, and the rich variety of lifestyles and pursuits that living in America still makes possible.

The Changing World
Sundays 7 – 8 p.m.
Hosted by veteran news anchor Lisa Mullins this documentary series examines prominent global concerns every week. Each program covers a specific issue in-depth, on topics that range from gunrunning and global crime-fighting to the emerging China, cultural globalization and the burgeoning traffic in body parts worldwide.

BBC World Service
Weekdays: 11 p.m. – 6 a.m; Weekends: 12 – 7 a.m.
For more than 70 years, BBC World Service has been the globe's most comprehensive source for news. BBC, however, is far more than just breaking news. It offers a wide variety of information programming, including programs on arts, sports, science and business.

Morning Edition will air one extra hour, airing 6 to 10 a.m.  In addition, The World will move to 3 p.m. and Fresh Air with Terry Gross will air at noon and at 7 p.m.

Mainstay programs such as All Things Considered, Car Talk, Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me and A Prairie Home Companion will remain in the schedule.

For information on WMFE, visit wmfe.org.  The stations of WMFE are the non-profit, member-supported, community-based public broadcasting stations of Central Florida, serving Orlando, Daytona Beach and Melbourne.  In addition to WMFE-TV, 90.7 WMFE-FM, 90.7-2 Classical and wmfe.org, WMFE provides digital public television services including V-me un servicio de WMFE, WMFE Encore! and WMFE-ED. WMFE also supports PBS KIDS Sprout, the 24x7-preschool digital-cable network.

-WMFE-

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