From Rob Scobey, Senior Producer for International English
Social Media
Last month--we announced the start of a segment titled Culture & Entertainment. This is in addition to segments KNLS already runs dealing with—well—culture and entertainment! Culture & Entertainment is hosted by George Penk and Eden McCulloch of New Zealand’s Life FM. Longer segments are heard some on Wednesdays. Shorter segments are scattered throughout as are our Eye on the World segments. Life FM is kind enough to share George with us for another program. Starting in July, George and Nerice Collins, director of social media for Life FM, will host Social Media. During these segments—George and Nerice will talk about—well—social media! In the first segment, scheduled for July 16th, George and Nerice will discuss Facebook postings from U2’s Bono. Bono addresses the concepts of dignity and humility with regard to his father’s illness. You’ll enjoy the energy and insights that George, Eden, and Nerice bring to these programs.
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 July, you’ll hear new music from Gym Class Heroes featuring Ryan Tedder of One Republic, Jason Derulo, Jesse J, Justin Bieber, Linkin Park, Norah Jones, Swedish newcomer and Eurovision winner Loreen, British boy bands One Direction and The Wanted, a new song “Guardian” from 90’s favorite Alanis Morissette, and the edgy but thoughtful song “Some Nights” from Fun.
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.
It was a favorite way to hear your favorite music in the 20th century. Larry Souder introduces us to a juke box collector on Souder & Friends. Larry must be feeling musical in July. He also features an organ tuner.
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. And Bob Waliszewski of Focus on the Family provides Plugged-in Movie Reviews. 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 and Paul Ladd’s features about faith-based movies. And Fred Osterman reports about the latest news in the world of radio.
Upcoming Reports for July 2012:
Vogue magazine has changed its rules to discourage super skinny modeling. George Penk and Eden McCulloch have the scoop on Culture & Entertainment.
George and Eden also discuss the appeal of Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber
Apple is removing Google maps from the I-Phone and offering its own map service. Marcy Bryan reports.
Marcy also reports on the hydroplate theory that challenges conventional geology regarding the formation of Earth as we know it.
You can own your very own missile silo! Doug Poling reports on Today’s News & the Good News.
Doug also reports on a 73-year-old Japanese woman who climbed Mount Everest—twice.
Something is killing dolphins and pelicans off the coast of Peru. Is climate change to blame? Kelly Ann Monahan reports.
Kelly Ann also reports on world-wide efforts to ban fluoride from municipal water supplies.
Bob Waliszewki rates, for family friendliness, Rock of Ages and People Like Us.
This pro football general manager founded the Ronald McDonald houses, which benefit families of seriously ill children. Jim Miller of the Philadelphia Eagles speaks with Paul Ladd on First Person.
Paul also introduces listeners to early U.S. president James Madison on The American Highway.
The English Express
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
New Program—Social Media
