from the WRMI Facebook page
"America@250: Due Diligence" to debut this weekend on about 50 radio stations
IRONDALE, ALABAMA — No hot takes. No name-calling. That is the self-imposed guidance for a new,
limited-run weekend one-hour radio show/podcast, America @ 250: Due Diligence.
The public service program will put into historical context key Constitutional issues being debated in American society with experts from across the political spectrum as featured guests.
The program will be co-hosted by two broadcast veterans, Steven L Herman, who is executive director of the Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy and Innovation at the University of Mississippi, and Illinois-based radio talk show producer Bill Bernardoni.
Herman is a former White House bureau chief of the Voice of America. Bernardoni’s background includes work as a campaign manager and political consultant for candidates from the state to national level.
“At a time when discourse on our airwaves is often dominated by the desire to divide, America @ 250: Due Diligence offers a refreshing remedy rooted in deep research, historical context and civil conversation,” said Dr. Andrea Hickerson, dean of the School of Journalism and New Media at the University of Mississippi. “The program fosters discussion to expand civic literacy to create a more informed electorate.”
America @ 250: Due Diligence will begin airing on about 50 AM and FM radio stations from the first weekend in June with distribution via Talk Media Network, the Public Radio Exchange (PRX), the Radio Free America project and commercial shortwave broadcaster WRMI-Radio Miami.
“There are few issues-oriented or public affairs radio programs independently produced that are free of intended political bias,” said Herman, who formally announced the launch of the program in a presentation on May 28th at the annual meeting of the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters in Alabama. “We hope more radio stations with a sincere interest in objectively informing the electorate will carry the program.”
America @ 250: Due Diligence will continue through the end of this Semiquincentennial year and a weekly online extended version will be on podcast distribution platforms.
WRMI will air "America@250: Due Diligence" on shortwave each week, beginning Saturday June 6th at 8:00 pm Eastern Time (that's 0000 UTC Sunday June 7th) on 9395 kHz going north and 5050 kHz beaming south. Your reception reports are welcome and will be answered with a special America@250 QSL card. Reports can be sent to info@wrmi.net.