Education

Commentaries

WKMS welcomes community members to self-voice self-authored compositions that express opinion, introspection or humor on topics of interest and importance to our audience. If you have an opinion, interest or review you'd like to share with WKMS listeners, please see the guidelines below. The views expressed in commentaries are the opinion of the commentator and don't necessarily reflect the views of WKMS.The station will review every script before it is recorded with respect to:Libel or slander.Content that is more promotional than provocative.Accuracy.Personal attacks and ad hominem attacks.Political or religious content that promotes rather than informs.Appropriate usage, language and form for civil discourse.The station will assist authors with:Making appropriate edits.Bringing the communication to proper time length, generally about 600 words or 3 to 4 minutes of spoken word.Recording the communication in the WKMS studio (unless other arrangements that yield equally acceptable audio are agreed to).Editing the communication and placing it in the WKMS schedule.WKMS will require authors to provide the station a final script that will be filed in the news department and will be placed on the station's web site.WKMS will need authors to provide a suggested introduction for each communication as well as a standard announcer outro script that includes author name, general place of residence, and whatever other personal information might lend authority or authenticity to the communication.WKMS will schedule produced communications and inform the author of time(s). Generally these are aired three times each, but the rotation is solely at the discretion of the station.WKMS will refuse to air communications that violate rules of the Federal Communications Commission for non-commercial, educational stations. Further, WKMS will refuse to air communications that would, for any reason, undermine its goodwill with the audience it serves.If you find these terms agreeable, please email msu.wkmsnews@murraystate.edu to schedule a time in a studio to record.

"I couldn't believe my ears!"

WKMS | By Matt Markgraf

Published July 16, 2009 at 2:38 PM CDT

By Patience Renzulli

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-849615.mp3

Paducah, KY – I was sitting at my computer, writing a post for my blog, of course listening to WKMS, when I heard the news. WKMS, our own WKMS, would soon be carrying Fresh Air with Terry Gross.

I shook my head like a big wet dog. I couldn't believe my ears!

I must have been dreaming. I quickly clicked on WKMS.org. It was not a dream, it was true. I would soon be hearing the Peabody Award-winning show right here in western KY, joining the nearly 4.5 million people already listening on their NPR stations all around the country. Oh my lucky stars.

Terry Gross has interviewed Julia Child, Henny Youngman, Sidney Poitier, and Branford Marsallis. Countless authors, writers, artists, musicians, and fascinating, important people. Her shows are both timely and timeless.

Here's a recent for instance. When former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara died on July 6th, the show rebroadcast an interview Gross did with him in 1995. It was so moving; the man's words told us much about our world today.

And. Terry Gross was granted a rare interview with Paul Simon. Need. I. Say. More.

If you happen to have a spare hour or week, and you aren't familiar with the program, get on NPR.org and check out the Fresh Air Archives. But remember I warned you. You might lose a whole afternoon or month listening to those gripping discussions with some of the most brilliant people.

Back at my computer desk, not yet fully recovered from the great good news about Fresh Air, I heard Diane Rehm's unmistakable voice announcing that her show was also coming to WKMS. Well, I thought, this is a great day.

When I get a hankering for classical music I can pull up WKMS HD-2 for free on my computer. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In fact, I'll be able to have it playing in the background while I hear these two gifted interviewers, Terry Gross and Diane Rehm, asking important questions of leaders in the fields of politics, the arts, business, and science. People about whom I want to know.

The mission of National Public Radio is "To work in partnership with member stations to create a more informed public one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas and cultures".

I want to publicly thank WKMS for bringing these programs to the region. And at the same time, I want to congratulate them for launching their 24 hour all classical station prior to making these program changes. We, your lucky listeners, get the best of all possible worlds, because of your good old fashioned hard work, your initiative, and your foresight.

WKMS is one of the treasures that this great region has to offer. But it didn't just magically evolve. The people of WKMS are a gifted, tireless bunch and we simply turn on our radios, or our computers, and enjoy.

This particular lucky listener wants to say a heartfelt thank you.