March 17, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 17, 2008
CONTACT: Bobbie Fisher, Chief Communications Officer, 757.889.9107

WHRO TO LAUNCH ALL-TALK DIGITAL RADIO STATION
SpeakEasy to Feature Programs from NPR, PRI and WHRV Local Programming

Norfolk: WHRO has added to its family of digital radio stations with the launch today of SpeakEasy. The new station will feature 24-hour a day programming from National Public Radio, Public Radio International and American Public Media, and will include a daily repeat of WHRV 89.5FM’s popular call-in talk show, HearSay with Cathy Lewis.
SpeakEasy will be heard on 89.5.2, one of the digital tiers of WHRV-FM, and is being programmed by WHRV Program Director Heather Mazzoni. “For listeners without digital radios, the station can be accessed through our website, www.whro.org or www.whrv.org,” Mazzoni explained.

SpeakEasy’s programming will be intelligent, entertaining and edgy. “It will provide voices and perspectives not previously heard in this market, such as Israel Radio, Channel Africa, China Radio, Radio Sweden, Radio Prague, KBS World Radio and Radio Canada International,” Mazzoni said. “In addition, listeners will hear the second hour of the Diane Rehm Show and Talk of the Nation, as well as the radio version of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, National Geographic and Democracy Now.”
SpeakEasy is the newest addition to WHRO’s family of digital stations, which include radioNtenna, The 1920s Radio Network and Connoisseur Classics.

WHRO is a regional media company that promotes education, culture and citizenship to the citizens of Hampton Roads, Virginia through a variety of services. Every day, thousands of viewers and listeners tune in to broadcast programming on WHRO's public television and two public radio stations, WHRO 90.3FM and WHRV 89.5FM. Since its founding more than 45 years ago to support education, WHRO has employed creativity and technology to serve its mission to enrich audiences through content that educates, entertains and promotes understanding. Owned by 17 local school divisions, WHRO delivers educational and new media services to more than 286,000 students and 25,000 educators per month as well.