1340-AM launches news talk format

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Taking the leap from sports talk to news talk, 1340 AM will dive into the deep end Tuesday morning.

The frequency was the home of WBBL, an all-sports station that moved to 107.3 FM a few months ago. Now, the station known as 1340-AM WJRW will have an all-talk lineup that provides voices from around here and around the state.

The new WJRW will utilize the resources of other Citadel Broadcasting stations in the state, including Detroit powerhouse WJR. "They can use our resources," said marketing director Christina Elsenbroek, "and we can use theirs."

Dave Jaconnette is the program director for the new station, which will sign on at 5:30 a.m.

Michael Patrick Shiels will host the morning show from the Citadel station in Lansing "and is willing to drive the 40 minutes (to Grand Rapids) when we need him," Elsenbroek said. His focus will be how the doings in the state capital affect everyone in Michigan.

Long time favorite Tony Gates will host a show on the new station, while keeping his afternoon duties on LAV-FM. Gates will anchor the 9 a.m. -12 Noon slot weekdays.

Frank Beckmann, perhaps best known as the voice of Michigan football and a Tigers broadcaster for a few years, will appear via satellite. Beckmann hosts a daily show on WJR in Detroit.

Elsenbroek said the station will "take positive stories from around the area and talk about it." She said the station will provide a "great news product," that will feature "news you can use in your neighborhood. We're talking West Michigan," she said.

But she declined to say when Beckmann will appear, or whether the Mitch Albom Show would be heard on WJRW.

The official announcement will be made at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.