KIRO Newsradio Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Format

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, July 12, 2024 | 8:06pm CT

KIRO-FM/Seattle

KIRO Newsradio in Seattle is marking the 50th anniversary of its "Newsradio" format with a special broadcast featuring several prominent alumni. This landmark celebration highlights the station's history and enduring impact on the western Washington community. KIRO-AM, founded in 1927, transformed the Seattle airwaves on July 15, 1974, by adopting the groundbreaking news radio format and becoming "KIRO Newsradio."

As one of the first commercial stations in the U.S. to focus solely on news and talk programming, KIRO quickly became a success. By 1985, KIRO Newsradio was the top-rated station in the Seattle market and one of the ten most highly-rated stations nationwide. In 2008, the station transitioned from 710 AM to 97.3 FM.

To celebrate this milestone, KIRO Newsradio will host a special edition of "Seattle's Morning News" on Monday, July 15. Bill Yeend, the first morning news anchor from 1974, will return to the station for the event. Joining him will be other prominent alumni who have made significant contributions to KIRO and the Seattle broadcasting scene.

Dave Ross, a fixture at KIRO since 1978, and Ursula Reutin, who has been with the station since 1988, will host the special broadcast. Ross and Reutin will share the mic with their returning colleagues, offering listeners a nostalgic journey through KIRO's storied past. The alumni news anchors will each be invited to deliver an up-to-date newscast featuring KIRO Newsradio's current generation of reporters.

Special editions of "Seattle's Morning News" and "The Gee and Ursula Show" will air from 6-10am on KIRO 97.3 FM, bringing together voices that have shaped Seattle's news landscape for half a century. Media colleagues are invited to join and help cover this special event.