Detroit's WWJ News Radio 950 Celebrates 100 Years

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, August 20, 2020

Entercom has announced the 100th anniversary of WWJ News Radio 950 (WWJ-AM), Detroit's news leader and America's first continuous broadcasting commercial radio station. The station will commemorate its centennial anniversary with special on-air programming today, August 20.

"WWJ has served as an important news source for Detroiters for 100 years and continues to provide the most credible and comprehensive multiplatform news coverage relevant to our city," said Debbie Kenyon, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Detroit. "We look forward to honoring our station's rich history by reflecting on key moments with integral talent and welcoming distinguished guests to celebrate with us. I congratulate and thank the hardworking staff of WWJ and look forward to another 100 years as Detroit's go-to news source."

As part of the special on-air programming, WWJ will air clips of major news stories the station has covered over the past 100 years. Programming will also feature interviews with politicians and business leaders, including David Field, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Entercom, parent company of WWJ, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and former Detroit police chief Ike McKinnon, as well as special commemorative messages from listeners. On-air veterans who have been with the station for over 25 years, including morning anchor Roberta Jasina, auto reporter Jeff Gilbert, city beat reporter Vickie Thomas and business reporter Murray Feldman, will also be highlighted in the programming.

In addition to on-air programming, WWJ News Radio 950 will also be featured during a one-hour special following local CBS News at 7:00 p.m., where host Jason Scott will spotlight some of the major stories covered by WWJ as well as the importance of local news.

WWJ News Radio 950 launched on August 20, 1920 and served as a vital news source for Detroit during the world's most trying times, including World War II, the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and the Detroit race riots in 1967. Most recently, the station has been a crucial lifeline throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout its history, the station has achieved a long list of illustrious and groundbreaking accomplishments, including being the first radio station to broadcast election returns on August 31, 1920, the first sportscast on September 1, 1920, the first missing person report on March 15, 1922, the first Detrioit Tigers play-by-play broadcast on April 19, 1927, and more.