With one year as general manager tucked under his belt, J. Mikel Ellcessor says he's making these changes to fill in some gaps he sees in the market. "There are too few opportunities for curious adults to stay informed," Ellcessor says in this morning's press release. "These changes will make more relevant, high quality news and information available and create many more opportunities for people to engage in the Detroit conversation locally and nationally.”
With the addition of WDET-TV and the launch of the Support The Arts (STAR) program -- which will set out to provide cost-free on-air air time to small, nonprofit arts and cultural organizations -- Ellcessor also sees community outreach as pivotal to the station's future.
Monday-Thursday: It's all about talk news.
From 5 to 10 a.m., everything's pretty much the same with Morning Edition and The Takeaway, although a new voice, that belonging to Detroit Today producer Amanda Le Clair, will be heard on Morning Edition.
The 10 a.m. to noon block, once anchored by On Point and Tell me More, will now feature The Craig Fahle Show with, yes, none other than expert interviewer Craig Fahle himself, whom we used to hear from 1 to 3 p.m. on Detroit Today.
On Point and Tell Me More move to the 12 to 2 p.m. slot and will be followed by a with a new music show called Soundcheck. Expect live performances, interviews and critiques.
Nothing changes from 3 to 7 p.m., with Fresh Air, and All things Considered and Marketplace running at their usual times.
From 7 to 11 p.m.. the Craig Fahle Show will re-air, backed by re-airings of Tell Me More and Soundcheck.
Insomniacs and gravediggers can still catch BBC World Service.
Jazz DJ Ed Love, who once held down the signal from 8 p.m. to midnight will now be heard Saturday and Sunday nights from 7 to 10 p.m.
What's new on Friday?
Daytime programming mirrors Monday through Thursday's lineup with the exception of the 3 to 4 p.m. block, when Speaking of Faith will air in place of Fresh Air.
From 7 to 11 p.m. everything changes, with cornerstone public radio production This American Life kicking off the evening. That show will be followed with more music programming. A couple Chicago music journos nerd out on Sound Opinions and we'll pre-party with local radio talent Jon Moshier from 9 to 11 p.m. on his show, Modern Music.
What's with the weekend?
With several new programs on the bill, WDET says goodbye to some old staples.
Brace yourself.
Car Talk, The Tavis Smiley Show, Deep River (with Robert Jones), Folks Like Us (with Matt Watroba) and Arkansas Traveler (with Larry McDaniels) will no longer air.
Instead we'll get Ann Delisi's Essential Music a bit earlier in the afternoon -- 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. -- and an hour less.
Following her show is Ann Arbor radioman Rob Reinhart who'll bring us his Essential Music followed by Acoustic Cafe, a culmination of live performances.
Reinhart takes listeners to 7 p.m. and will be followed by two hour blocks coming by way of Ed Love and Jay Butler, the latter of whom is taking Michael Julien's late slot, as he moves to Sunday afternoons.
Sunday's are a bit different, too. Instead of Weekend Edition Sunday, we'll hear This American Life at 8 a.m., followed by Acoustic Cafe, Ann Delisi and Michael Julien.
Another addition comes by way of Nick Austin's New Soul Sunday, which, Ellcessor says, will be an excellent mix of both modern and classic soul sounds.
Interesting to say the least -- tell us what you think.
