WAMU FM 88.5

Mondo Times editors    Boulder, Colorado USA

Posted at 11:29pm on Saturday, October 10th, 2009

American University's radio station since 1961, WAMU 88.5 is the leading public radio station for NPR news and information in the greater Washington, D.C., area. With more than 700,000 listeners in the region, WAMU 88.5 is "your NPR news station in the nation's capital."

WAMU broadcasts three HD channels -- the flagship frequency at 88.5-1; WAMU's Bluegrass Country, a bluegrass and Americana station, at 88.5-2; and WAMU-3, at 88.5-3, a news and information station broadcasting international coverage from the BBC and offering public radio programs unavailable elsewhere in the Washington area.

On October 8, 2009, WAMU announced today that it is now the first public radio station available through any mobile phone through a partnership with AudioNow(TM) for mobile phone broadcast distribution. By calling (202)885-7878, mobile phone listeners can listen live to their favorite WAMU 88.5 programs. No smart phones, downloads, or data plans are required, and any phone will work.

Mondo Times editors    Boulder, Colorado USA

Posted at 10:59pm on Sunday, September 27th, 2009

WAMU 88.5 will mark the 30th anniversary of The Diane Rehm Show with a gala celebrating the work and longevity of Diane Rehm at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, on September 24, 2009. The gala will benefit WAMU 88.5 and its 24-hour mixture of news, public affairs talk programming and traditional American music.

"The world of talk radio programming has changed radically over these thirty years, but seems more important than ever to our national debates on critical issues," said Diane Rehm. "Those of us who produce The Diane Rehm Show have always been committed to civil and informative dialogue, and I am grateful to all who've had a part in the growth and success of the program, including American University, WAMU 88.5, and NPR."

The Master of Ceremonies for the 30th anniversary celebration is veteran TV anchor Roger Mudd. The program will include toasts from American University president Dr. Neil Kerwin; WAMU 88.5 general manager Caryn G. Mathes; NPR president and CEO Vivian Schiller; NPR hosts Susan Stamberg and Scott Simon; and Congressman John Dingell (D-Mich).

"I am proud to help celebrate 30 years of the work of Diane Rehm, a public radio icon who has set the standard for insightful, civil and engaging conversation," said WAMU 88.5 General Manager Caryn G. Mathes.

Rehm is a native Washingtonian who began her radio career in 1973 as a volunteer for WAMU 88.5. In 1979, she was selected to host the local morning talk show, Kaleidoscope, which was renamed The Diane Rehm Show in 1984.

The Diane Rehm Show is now syndicated to more than 140 NPR member stations and 49 HD Radio channels nationwide, and heard overseas through NPR Worldwide, the Armed Forces Network, and Sirius XM Radio. Rehm reaches an audience of more than 2.2 million listeners weekly.

American University's radio station since 1961, WAMU 88.5 currently has more than 740,000 listeners in the Washington region.