While revered programs like “The Rush Limbaugh Show,” “The Radio Factor” and Paul Harvey’s “The Rest of the Story” entertain and inform country people they are NOT the reason why country people like AM radio. Country dwellers have a special affinity for AM radio because local radio stations cover the news that matters most to country people. “School news” is a standard favorite. In addition to live coverage of high school basketball and football games, the broadcasts of school lunch menus are immensely popular. School lunch menus are read just prior to the start of school each day and are followed by a reading of daily school calendars.
Another popular radio program is the “sheriff’s blotter.” During this segment country people learn whose mailbox was vandalized the night before, who was pulled over for speeding and who was ticketed for not wearing a seatbelt. DUIs and break-ins are not included in the sheriff’s blotter program but rather headline the “local news” at the top of the hour. Of course, the favorite segment of all country people is the obituary broadcast. Because all community people are required to attend every calling hours it is important that country people tune in to the obituary broadcast to receive notification of every visitation. Like every other local radio program, the text of the obituary program is read directly from the local newspaper.
The last notable AM radio program that country people like is “community news.” During community news country people are reminded of their neighbors’ birthdays and anniversaries and learn of wedding announcements. In depth coverage on events like the women’s club ice cream social, bowling league results, teacher hirings and firings and the Farm Bureau bus trip to Wisconsin Dells predominate community news.
You forgot about WGN! I don’t think my grandpa’s truck radio (or tractor radios) ever left 720 – granted it was AM only. It’s very important to know how much the Cubs lost by each afternoon.
The country affinity for AM radio helped Colleen Callahan build a media empire. Today: the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, tomorrow: the world!
Don’t forget that country people like the 12:00 noon Swap-&-Shop show. This is a half-hour show where country people call into the radio station to tell other country people listening that they are selling something (a used Radio Flyer wagon for $10; a litter of six pups from a German Shepard Mix for $3 each) or that they are looking for an item to buy (need an electric griddle or a spud bar). They also give out their home phone number (without the area code), so the other country people can “reach” them. Basically, it’s more advanced then the classifieds, but less advanced then eBay.