UPDATE ON WLVR INCLUDES A NICE NEW JOB POSTING • MORE NIELSEN AUDIO RATINGS FOR DIARY MARKETS

In early October, we featured the upcoming debut of WLVR, a new NPR News/Talk station that serves Allentown-Bethlehem [link]. WLVR signed on November 1^st, just as promised.

We reached out to Christine Dempsey, the Senior Vice President, Radio at Lehigh Valley Public Media, to see how things at WLVR [link] are going.

(Scroll down to learn more about a job opening at WLVR.)

Dempsey told us that WLVR was on the air prior to the official date in a testing mode. Since then, Dempsey and her team have been added national programs to the schedule [link]. The schedule is now nearly complete.

Christine Dempsey

Spark News: What was the first big challenge WLVR faced?

 Christine Dempsey: “We were very ambitious and decided to go live with local election coverage just 4 days after WLVR was launched. It was the first time that Lehigh Valley Public Media had different live, local coverage on three platforms – radio, TV, digital – simultaneously.”

SN: We asked Dempsey about community response to the new station?

Dempsey: “The anecdotal feedback from the community has been positive. A handful of folks missed having the college music station on 91.3 FM. We informed college station listeners that they could still access music on-line and soon on a mobile app that we are developing.”

“When we launched, we had not yet introduced our local hosts for the national shows. My goal was to get the station on the air a full year ahead of the 2020 Presidential Election.”

SN: When is the first pledge drive?

Dempsey: “We are planning on having on having our first drive in Spring 2020.  Before that, we are seeking Charter Members through on-air spots.”

SN: Early in your career, you worked at Allentown’s community station WDIY when they started. Isn’t this somewhat ironic?

Dempsey: “As someone who has been in public broadcasting for 30 years, I feel very fortunate to have experienced starting a new station twice in the same market! Building WLVR is a rare and rewarding opportunity for me.”

SN: Who are some of the people who are already on the station staff?

Dempsey: “Our team is growing. Brad Klein is our Morning Edition Host and Reporter. Brad has worked at NPR, WNYC, and MSNBC. He also ran his own media company, Twangbox Productions.”

“At NPR, Brad was the leader of the team that conceived and produced the national Peabody Award winning program Heat.”

“Our News Director is Jen Rehill. She brings over 15 years of media experience to our organization.  She has been a program producer, reporter, podcast producer, host and she was State Capitol Bureau Chief. Jen has worked at WHYY, WITF, WHP and reported for WVIA, WQLN and WDUQ. During the events of 9/11, NPR relied on Jen as their field reporter from the crash site near Shanksville.

Map of WLVR’s primary coverage area

SN: Tell us about the job that is now open at WLVR?

Dempsey:  “We are looking for an energetic, personable, relatable radio Host/Reporter for PM Drive. This person will be WLVR’s local host for ATC, Marketplace and The Daily.”

“In the past, Allentown-Bethlehem has been an underserved news market. We need someone who can engage with our community both at events and on social media. Previous experience with multi-platform reporting is important to us.”

People who are interested in applying should send an email to wlvtapplicant@wlvt.org. Please put “Local PM Host-Reporter” in the subject line.

6 OF 8 NPR NEWSTATIONS IN NIELSEN AUDIO DIARY MARKETS ARE INCREASING THEIR AQH SHARE

So far, we have found only a handful of NPR News stations in markets that use Nielsen’s diary methodology that subscribe to the ratings.

We have heard that when Nielsen publishes the November numbers we will see AQH Shares for more noncom stations.

The data for the “November” book will reflect listening during the months of September, October and November.  We will likely call the next batch of numbers a Fall Quarter Report.