WHJJ
Encyclopedia
WHJJ is a radio station
in Providence, Rhode Island
. The station was previously assigned the call letters WJAR, adopting its current call letters in 1980
when previous owner Outlet Communications sold the station.
By the 1970s, WJAR's music had become Top-40, where it briefly gave longtime format leader WPRO
some competition. Later, WJAR's format eased over to adult contemporary. When Outlet sold WJAR ro buy what is now WSNE
-FM in 1980 (ironically, the two are now sister stations), the new owners briefly continued the adult contemporary sound, but eventually went in the direction of talk radio.
In the mid-1980s, WHJJ attempted to shore up its news image by adopting an "All News, All Morning Till 9" format. From 5am to 9am every day (including weekends), WHJJ broadcasted a dual-anchor news, weather, sports, and traffic format. Often, the news anchors would read exactly the same copy over and over again. It was very similar to the "Headline News" approach.
In the early 2000s, WHJJ was the Rhode Island affiliate of Air America Radio
with the affiliation lasting until 2005. In 2005 and 2006, WHJJ won Associated Press
awards for the Massachusetts/Rhode Island area; the 2005 award was for special events coverage of the Democratic National Convention
, while the 2006 honor was for news station of the year. In December 2006, WHJJ owner Clear Channel
Broadcasting fired afternoon drive veteran Arlene Violet
, after sixteen years, as part of a company wide cost cutting measure. As a result, Helen Glover had the only local talk show left on the station's weekday schedule. Also thanks to Clear Channel downsizing, "local" newsbreaks during midday hours are fed from a hub in Syracuse, NY (WSYR
) providing local AP headlines.
WHJJ was home to the notorious talk host Steve White in the early 1980s.
, The Sean Hannity Show
, and Jim Quinn
, as well as other syndicated programs such as Mark Levin
, Bill O'Reilly
, and America in the Morning with Jim Bohannon
. Glover's show was moved from Noon–3 P.M. to 8–10 A.M., effective September 17, 2007 when WHJJ acquired the rights to The Rush Limbaugh Show
when crosstown rival WPRO
ended its more than 20 year run with the program to concentrate on a full local schedule (traditionally, Clear Channel stations have had priority to Limbaugh's program since it is Clear Channel–owned Premiere Radio Networks
that syndicates the show).
WHJJ is also radio flagship to the Pawtucket Red Sox
minor-league baseball team as well as to football and men's/women's basketball games of the University Of Rhode Island
.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. The station was previously assigned the call letters WJAR, adopting its current call letters in 1980
1980 in radio
The year 1980 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:* 20 March - The pirate radio station Radio Caroline sinks.* 29 October - President Carter on a visit to Pittsburgh gives a nationally broadcast campaign interview to KDKA-AM of that city....
when previous owner Outlet Communications sold the station.
History
As WJAR, the station was a charter member of the NBC Radio Network, affiliating with the "Red" network upon its launch on November 15, 1926. In the 1950s, as NBC Radio cut back its programming hours, WJAR began more local programming, playing MOR music with live personality DJ's.By the 1970s, WJAR's music had become Top-40, where it briefly gave longtime format leader WPRO
WPRO (AM)
WPRO is a radio station located in Providence, Rhode Island. The station is owned by Cumulus Media, and airs a talk format. WPRO's studio and transmitter are located in East Providence, at the Salty Brine Broadcast Center, named after WPRO's longtime morning host...
some competition. Later, WJAR's format eased over to adult contemporary. When Outlet sold WJAR ro buy what is now WSNE
WSNE
WSNE-FM is a radio station serving the Providence, Rhode Island market with a Hot Adult Contemporary music format. The station is licensed in Taunton, Massachusetts to Clear Channel Communications. Its studio and offices are located at 75 Oxford Street, Providence, Rhode Island, and its...
-FM in 1980 (ironically, the two are now sister stations), the new owners briefly continued the adult contemporary sound, but eventually went in the direction of talk radio.
In the mid-1980s, WHJJ attempted to shore up its news image by adopting an "All News, All Morning Till 9" format. From 5am to 9am every day (including weekends), WHJJ broadcasted a dual-anchor news, weather, sports, and traffic format. Often, the news anchors would read exactly the same copy over and over again. It was very similar to the "Headline News" approach.
In the early 2000s, WHJJ was the Rhode Island affiliate of Air America Radio
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
with the affiliation lasting until 2005. In 2005 and 2006, WHJJ won Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
awards for the Massachusetts/Rhode Island area; the 2005 award was for special events coverage of the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
, while the 2006 honor was for news station of the year. In December 2006, WHJJ owner Clear Channel
Clear channel
A clear-channel station is an AM band Radio station in North America that has the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning night-time skywave propagation. Usually known as class A stations since 1982, they are occasionally still referred to by their former...
Broadcasting fired afternoon drive veteran Arlene Violet
Arlene Violet
Arlene Violet was a nun in the Sisters of Mercy religious order. She left the order to run successfully for Rhode Island Attorney General in 1984. This was the first time the position of Attorney General in any state had been held by a woman....
, after sixteen years, as part of a company wide cost cutting measure. As a result, Helen Glover had the only local talk show left on the station's weekday schedule. Also thanks to Clear Channel downsizing, "local" newsbreaks during midday hours are fed from a hub in Syracuse, NY (WSYR
WSYR (AM)
WSYR is a 5,000 watt radio station licensed to Syracuse, New York. Owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications, it broadcasts a talk radio format under the moniker "Newsradio 106.9 WSYR." It was previously billed as "Newsradio 570 WSYR" until it became a simulcast with WPHR-FM in January...
) providing local AP headlines.
WHJJ was home to the notorious talk host Steve White in the early 1980s.
The WHJJ news team
- Bill George—Program Director / News Director / Anchor
- Kristen Lessard—Morning Anchor
Programming
WHJJ has been slowly standardizing its lineup with other Clear Channel news talk stations. As of November 2007, only one local show, the Helen Glover Show remains on WHJJ. The rest of the lineup includes standard Clear Channel talk fare, including Glenn Beck ProgramGlenn Beck Program
The Glenn Beck Program is an American talk radio show hosted by commentator Glenn Beck on Premiere Radio Networks. Since its inception as a nationally syndicated show in 2002, the program has become one of the highest rated radio programs...
, The Sean Hannity Show
The Sean Hannity Show
The Sean Hannity Show is a talk radio show hosted by Sean Hannity on Citadel Media and Premiere Radio Networks. The program is broadcast live every weekday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m...
, and Jim Quinn
Jim Quinn
Jim Quinn is an American radio talk show host based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His program, The War Room with Quinn and Rose, is aired on 12 stations across the U.S. and is also heard on XM Satellite Radio Channel 166 from 6–9 a.m...
, as well as other syndicated programs such as Mark Levin
Mark Levin
Mark Reed Levin is a lawyer, author and the host of American syndicated radio show The Mark Levin Show. Levin served in the cabinet of President Ronald Reagan and was a chief of staff for Attorney General Edwin Meese...
, Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly (commentator)
William James "Bill" O'Reilly, Jr. is an American television host, author, syndicated columnist and political commentator. He is the host of the political commentary program The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, which is the most watched cable news television program on American television...
, and America in the Morning with Jim Bohannon
Jim Bohannon
James E. "Jim" Bohannon is an American broadcaster who has worked in both television and radio.During the 1980s he was a fill-in for Larry King when King had his popular nighttime national radio program. He also does much work with the Smithsonian Associates...
. Glover's show was moved from Noon–3 P.M. to 8–10 A.M., effective September 17, 2007 when WHJJ acquired the rights to The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show is an American talk radio show hosted by Rush Limbaugh on Premiere Radio Networks...
when crosstown rival WPRO
WPRO (AM)
WPRO is a radio station located in Providence, Rhode Island. The station is owned by Cumulus Media, and airs a talk format. WPRO's studio and transmitter are located in East Providence, at the Salty Brine Broadcast Center, named after WPRO's longtime morning host...
ended its more than 20 year run with the program to concentrate on a full local schedule (traditionally, Clear Channel stations have had priority to Limbaugh's program since it is Clear Channel–owned Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Networks is an American radio network. It is the largest syndication company in the United States based on popularity of programming...
that syndicates the show).
WHJJ is also radio flagship to the Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
minor-league baseball team as well as to football and men's/women's basketball games of the University Of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
.
External links
- Talk Radio 920 WHJJ
- Providence News: September 6, 1922. Opening ceremonies began @ 20:00. Retrieved June 2, 2011.