From Rob Scobey, Senior Producer for International English
KNLS Says Goodbye to Mary Westheimer
She’s the reason KNLS listeners were among the first to hear about You Tube and Pinterest. Mary Westheimer has been the voice and writer of Eye on the World Wide Web for the past 18 years. But good things usually to come to an end. And Mary has decided that enough is enough. This means her reports heard during September will be her last. Mary’s writing style is very upbeat and clever, and her voice delivery reflects her writing style. She always stayed abreast of websites that would be of interest to listeners everywhere. We wish the best for her in whatever she chooses to pursue. Mary donated her services to KNLS, and she retires with our deepest appreciation.
Website Reports Will Emphasize Social Media
As we say goodbye to Mary and her reports about various websites, we say hello to George Penk and Nerice Collins of New Zealand’s Life FM, who will provide the latest on internet social media, with an emphasis on Facebook and Twitter. Longer segments will usually run on Mondays, and shorter segments will run throughout the week. In September, George and Nerice will discuss defriending on Facebook and offer tips to prevent oversharing personal information.
The KNLS English Hour serves the Pacific Rim seven days a week with great music, current news, and The Good News.
The Pacific Rim
The Pacific Rim is the reason KNLS broadcasts in English. It’s that part of the Eastern Hemisphere that encompasses the English-prevalent countries of the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. Additionally—English is widely spoken in Indonesia. And English is the official language of government and commerce in India.
KNLS is on the air daily from 800 hours UTC (Universal Coordinated Time, also known as Greenwich Mean Time) to 1800 hours UTC. Eastern Daylight Time is four hours behind UTC; Central Time is five hours behind. So, if you’re in Dallas, Nashville, or Chicago, you can listen between 5:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. If you’re in Atlanta, Miami, or New York, you can listen between 6:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Outside the U.S.—if you’re in Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, or Singapore, you can listen between 5:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. If you’re in New Delhi or Mumbai, there’s an additional half-hour offset. Listening times are between 3:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m.
You can also use this website or the KNLS listener website, www.knls.org to listen to the English Hour if you’re not into shortwave radio.
The KNLS English Hour is the Pacific Rim’s source for music to love, news to know, and a message to live. The KNLS signal stretches throughout the English-speaking world—including the planet’s most populous (1.2 billion people) democracy—India—that has English as its official language.
While we work to provide a geographical balance in the topics we feature, news about the USA is of great interest to many listeners around the world. The English Hour does tell stories about life in the United States and KNLS’ home state of Alaska. Two of the programs are titled The American Highway and Postcard from Alaska. They often include a discussion of “American” principles—principles rooted in Christianity that are universally understood and applied. And our Eye on the World stories often show the interdependence of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
Since our target audience is mostly non-Christians, our content is different from a typical Christian format station in America. While we provide our share of positive, uplifting content, some of our programming also provides an honest look at the dark side of life on Earth. Indeed, some program segments, such as a popular music selection and the 2007 AIR-award-winning report about slave trafficking in India, may raise questions that a thoughtful seeker of the truth will ask. And other segments, such as the Bible or Christian lifestyle lessons, serve to answer those questions.
Music to Love
Music is a universal language. Probably 80 per cent of the world’s pop tunes are sung in English, and are enjoyed by people everywhere, many who are themselves not proficient in English. The KNLS English hour features your favorite songs of the 80’s, 90’s, and today. International pop charts show that your favorite music is also the favorite of people who are culturally diverse—whether in Nairobi, Sydney, Singapore, or Jakarta.
The songs are rock, pop, r&b, and hip-hop, with an occasional selection of country music that crosses over to the pop charts. The KNLS English Hour generally features music by artists from the U.S., the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
In September, KNLS listeners will hear new music from Taylor Swift, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, Delta Goodrem, “Dreaming with a Broken Heart,” and Calvin Harris featuring Example, “We’ll Be Coming Back.”
Once an hour, we take a break from pop music and present Profiles in Christian Music with Gayle Crowe. These include acapella versions of newer songs that have been on Christian Hit Radio charts.
Souder & Friends
It may bring a smile or it may bring a tear. Larry Souder continues his series of fascinating people and interesting places.
Have you ever wanted to meet a Beatnik? KNLS listeners will in September on Souder & Friends. Larry will also introduce listeners to one of college basketball’s most successful coaches, and introduce the fellowship of the unashamed.
News to Know
The English hour features reports about topics of current interest. Marcy Bryan reports about entertainment, business, and religious news. Kelly Ann Monahan has the latest developments in medicine, science, and computer technology. Paul Ladd provides special reports about diverse topics, religious and secular. Doug Poling provides commentary on the news from a Christian perspective on Today’s News & the Good News. George Penk and Eden McCulloch of New Zealand’s Life FM discuss relevant topics of culture and entertainment. And George joins with Nerice Collins to discuss topics related to social media. Bob Waliszewski of Focus on the Family provides Plugged-in Movie Review. Bob rates the latest movies according to family friendliness. This is in addition to Marcy Bryan’s regular movie reviews in her Eye on Entertainment reports, Paul Ladd’s features about faith-based movies, and movie discussions by George and Eden in Culture & Entertainment. And Fred Osterman reports about the latest news in the world of radio.
Upcoming Reports for September 2012:
Pop singer Pink is the new Cover Girl. Taylor Swift has a fast-rising hit record. And Hilary Duff has a new TV show. George Penk and Eden McCulloch have more on Culture & Entertainment.
Have archaeologists discovered the bones of John the Baptist? Marcy Bryan reports.
Marcy also reports about the owners of American fast-food chain Chick Fil ‘A and the outcry of public support for their views about marriage.
A U.S. town has outlawed swearing in public. Doug Poling reports.
Doug also reports on the Nine Nanas who help the Needy.
Consumers have saved billions of dollars by using generic drugs. Kelly Ann Monahan reports.
Kelly Ann also reports on the latest findings about kidney stones.
Bob Waliszewki rates, for family friendliness, The Bourne Legacy, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, and Step Up Revolution.
Dick Brackett, Marcy Bryan, and Paul Ladd join forces to bring KNLS listeners the stories behind some of the idiomatic sayings of the English language. This is for the benefit of listeners who practice English as a second language—as well as the rest of us who claim to know English.
A Message to Live
This is what we’re about and why we’re on the air and on the internet. Our mission is to present the lessons of the Bible, including and emphasizing the Good News in an interesting, non-threatening way.
Ongoing Series
Andy Baker’s Prayer Lesson
Author’s Journal with Dick Brackett
Creation Moments with Ian Taylor
Direction with Rubel Shelley
Eye on Religion (Archeology emphasis) with Marcy Bryan
Family Minute with Brent McCloud
First Person with Paul Ladd
God’s Money with Don White
Groundwire with Sean Dunn
I Love Life with Jerry Dahmen
Life Stories with Joe Norris
Living with Conflict with Greg Taylor
Paradoxes with Bill Steensland
Promises with Royce Kessler
Profiles of the Old Testament with Royce Kessler
Refiner’s Fire with Paul Ladd
True Stories of the Bible with Bill Steensland
Uplift with Bill McClure
You Might Be Too Busy If…with Paul Ladd and Gary Holloway
KNLS Says Goodbye to Mary Westheimer
