New Voices & Programs around town

WTAE-TV (4) will launch a new public affairs program called WTAE Listens. The goal of the program is to put a spotlight on all issues in Western Pennsylvania whether good or bad, according to station President and General Manager Charles W. Wolfertz, III. The station wants to have extended conversations with those who have the ability to make changes within the community. It is intended to give voice to those who may not normally have that opportunity.

WTAE Listens premieres January 8 at 11:30 a.m. Reporter Sheldon Ingram is scheduled as the program’s initial host, but the station plans to showcase other members of the news team as hosts of the program as well.

WESA offers new Sunday lineup

Also beginning on Sunday, WESA (90.5 FM) will feature five new programs to their line up throughout the day. Health-themed The People’s Pharmacy will air at 7:00 a.m. Freakonomics Radio, featuring stories from the perspective of economics, will premiere at 2:00 p.m. Notes from America with Kai Wright is a call-in show talking about the unfinished business in the country’s history and how to deal with it for the future. The program airs live Sunday evenings at 6:00. At 8:00 p.m. on Sundays is Climate One talking the environment with several viewpoints.

One program returning on Sundays at 3:00 p.m. is Fresh Air Weekend with reviews from the programs from the week prior.

Check the complete lineup at wesa.fm/changes.

A new voice

WESA listeners will hear a couple of new voices beginning very soon. Priyanka Tewari will take the reigns as local host of NPR’s Morning Edition from the retiring Maria Scapellato. Priyanka comes from the eastern side of the commonwealth where she has served in a similar role at WHYY, although she started her career in her native India. She has also helped to launch the South Asian radio network in New Jersey. Priyanka will officially join the station on Monday and will be heard on the air soon thereafter.

Afternoon listeners have also heard a new local voice during NPR’s All Things Considered. Jeremy Scott recently took over for Christopher Ayers who now serves as an editor in the station newsroom. Scott comes via Ohio, West Virginia, Illinois, and Alaska.