Rural radio talk-show hosts emphasize info, not ideology

Don Neagle at WRUS-AM/FM in Russellville, Ky.

When most Americans hear the phrase "talk radio," they probably think of right-wingers stirring local outrage about national issues, as Stuart Thompson reports for The New York Times.

But many if not most local radio talk-show hosts, especially those in rural communities, emphasize information over ideology. Amy Cobb of Kentucky Living magazine illustrates that with an excellent series of short profiles of broadcast personalities at local radio stations in the state, most of whom reach rural audiences. She shares punchy anecdotes about how the hosts got into broadcasting, what their shows cover, and what they love about broadcasting. Most feature quotes emphasizing how the broadcasters serve the public.

Greg Dunker at WKYX-FM in Paducah shared with Cobb how the station worked to inform locals about rescue and recovery efforts following the deadly tornadoes in December. Tim Smith of WWKY in Winchester told Cobb, “Local radio is extremely important to local communities. We take what we do very seriously.”

Don Neagle, a Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame member whose career at WRUS-AM/FM in Russellville spans nearly 70 years, is semi-retired but still brings big issues home to Logan County through a wide-ranging interview show, "Feedback," with guests from all over. "I’ve tried to cover so much, and hopefully the information is good and useful for people to hear," he told Cobb.

Cale Tharp of Hodgenville has also had long a radio career, but dreamed of owning his own station. In 2018 he bought WLCB-AM's license and a year later "the same building on the downtown square that had once been home to the station where Tharp spent time as a kid," Cobb reports. "His 'program' has no name because Tharp says he’s on the air all day long," playing country music and talking.

Kentucky Living is a publication of the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives.