For nearly 30 years, The WHRO Voice has provided audio reading services for individuals who are blind, have low vision or difficulty reading standard printed material due to disability. The programs which were streamed on the web as well as broadcast on specially modified radios included readings from four area newspapers, selected books, weekly grocery ads and popular books, all read by WHRO Voice volunteers.
Due to the Corona virus pandemic and related social-distancing policies, WHRO Voice had to abruptly suspend its local reading programs and other activities normally provided by volunteers at the WHRO Public Media buildings in Norfolk and Williamsburg.
To fill the void of local newspaper readings during this extraordinary period, more than a dozen WHRO Voice volunteers with home recording capability are now producing a daily midweek program reading local highlights from area newspapers including The Virginian Pilot, The Daily Press, The Virginia Gazette (Williamsburg) and the Eastern Shore Post. The program, called The WHRO Voice Local Newsstand, is broadcast on The WHRO Voice Monday through Friday beginning at 1:00 p.m. and can be heard on specially modified radios provided to listeners as well as on smart speakers such as Amazon Echo.
The new program is also available each day “on demand” for 24 hours at whro.org/voice. It is hoped that the addition of this special program will reconnect vision impaired and print-handicapped listeners in eastern Virginia with important local news from their community newspapers. For more information, individuals can contact The WHRO Voice by leaving a voicemail at 757-889-9379 or emailing james.holzer@whro.org