WJAG
Encyclopedia
WJAG is a radio station
broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Norfolk, Nebraska
, USA. The station has been owned by WJAG, Inc. since 1922 and is managed by Bradley S. Hughes.
and talk radio
programming from ABC Radio, Premiere Radio Networks
and Westwood One
. WJAG operates during daylight hours only, in order to protect the nighttime signal of WBBM
(780 AM) in Chicago
.
In July 2008, WJAG became one of a handful of AM stations to operate a co-located FM translator. K290AT at 105.9FM carries WJAG's programming 24 hours a day, including overnight hours after the AM closes down. The nationally syndicated ESPN Radio Network fills much of the overnight airtime.
WJAG is the sister station to Norfolk's
KEXL-FM
.
WJAG was founded by the publisher of the Norfolk Daily News
. The station's original slogan was "The Voice of the Norfolk Daily News." The newspaper's city editor in 1922, Karl Stefan
, anchored the station's first news report and served as chief announcer until his election to Congress
in 1935.
WJAG's first studio consisted of a single room in the building that housed the newspaper. Early programming consisted of performances by community choral groups, barbershop quartets and polka
bands. The station's first remote broadcast was prompted by a performance by a 67-member choir. The choir was too large to fit in the one-room studio, and the station was able to obtain use of the automobile showroom at the neighboring Buick
dealer. A wire was run across the street to carry audio of the choir's performance from the dealership to the studio.
The station did not begin to sell commercial spots until after its fifth year of operation.
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...
broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Norfolk, Nebraska
Norfolk, Nebraska
Norfolk is a city in Madison County, Nebraska, United States, 113 miles northwest of Omaha and 83 miles west of Sioux City at the intersection of U.S. Routes 81 and 275. The population was 24,210 at the 2010 census, making it the ninth-largest city in Nebraska. It is the principal city of the...
, USA. The station has been owned by WJAG, Inc. since 1922 and is managed by Bradley S. Hughes.
Programming
WJAG features newsNews Radio
News Radio can refer to:* NewsRadio, the NBC sitcom which aired from 1995–1999.* News radio, the all-news or news/talk radio format....
and talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
programming from ABC Radio, 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...
and Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
. WJAG operates during daylight hours only, in order to protect the nighttime signal of WBBM
WBBM (AM)
WBBM is an all-news CBS radio station in Chicago, Illinois broadcasting on the AM dial at 780 kHz. It is owned by CBS along with WBBM-TV....
(780 AM) in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
In July 2008, WJAG became one of a handful of AM stations to operate a co-located FM translator. K290AT at 105.9FM carries WJAG's programming 24 hours a day, including overnight hours after the AM closes down. The nationally syndicated ESPN Radio Network fills much of the overnight airtime.
WJAG is the sister station to Norfolk's
Norfolk, Nebraska
Norfolk is a city in Madison County, Nebraska, United States, 113 miles northwest of Omaha and 83 miles west of Sioux City at the intersection of U.S. Routes 81 and 275. The population was 24,210 at the 2010 census, making it the ninth-largest city in Nebraska. It is the principal city of the...
KEXL-FM
KEXL
KEXL is a radio station broadcasting a Hot Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Pierce, Nebraska, USA, the station is currently owned by WJAG, Inc. and features programing from Westwood One and Fox News Radio....
.
History
WJAG was licensed on July 27, 1922, but didn't officially go on the air until September. At 12:15 p.m. on September 13, 1922, WJAG broadcast its first program: a news and farm market report. The station's initial power was 100 watts, and its first broadcasts consisted of three afternoon news and market reports: at 12:15, 3:30 and 5:30. The three reports were termed a "temporary schedule until enough (listener) cards come in indicating changes should be made."WJAG was founded by the publisher of the Norfolk Daily News
Norfolk Daily News
Norfolk Daily News is a daily newspaper located in downtown Norfolk, Nebraska, and is one of just a handful of daily newspapers owned and managed by an individual family. Kent Warneke serves as editor of the Norfolk Daily News.-History:...
. The station's original slogan was "The Voice of the Norfolk Daily News." The newspaper's city editor in 1922, Karl Stefan
Karl Stefan
Karl Stefan was a US State of Nebraska Republican politician.He was born on a farm in Zebrakov, Bohemia on March 1, 1884. In 1885 he moved with his parents to Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A.. He was taught in the public schools and later a Y.M.C.A. night school...
, anchored the station's first news report and served as chief announcer until his election to Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in 1935.
WJAG's first studio consisted of a single room in the building that housed the newspaper. Early programming consisted of performances by community choral groups, barbershop quartets and polka
Polka
The polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia...
bands. The station's first remote broadcast was prompted by a performance by a 67-member choir. The choir was too large to fit in the one-room studio, and the station was able to obtain use of the automobile showroom at the neighboring Buick
Buick
Buick is a premium brand of General Motors . Buick models are sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Taiwan, and Israel, with China being its largest market. Buick holds the distinction as the oldest active American make...
dealer. A wire was run across the street to carry audio of the choir's performance from the dealership to the studio.
The station did not begin to sell commercial spots until after its fifth year of operation.