News Radio 1020 KDKA (KDKA-AM) in Pittsburgh has some programming changes coming January 3, 2019. Wendy Bell and Lynne Hayes-Freeland will be joining the station’s on-air team as afternoon drive host and midday host, respectively. In addition, the station will expand its local weekday news coverage to 8:00 p.m. ET daily and will add local morning newscasts on the weekends.
Bell will co-host afternoon drive with station veteran Marty Griffin, weekdays 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Bell joins Entercom after spending 18 years as an anchor and reporter for WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh. She is a 21-time Emmy and five-time Edward R. Murrow Award winner. Hayes-Freeland will host the midday time slot, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. She previously served as a reporter, producer, and talk show host for KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh since 1977. The move marks Hayes-Freeland’s second stint with News Radio 1020 KDKA, having begun her broadcast career as a producer for the station in 1976.
“The new KDKA News Radio 1020 will serve our community in a way that reflects the energy and pulse of Pittsburgh in 2019 and beyond,” said Michael Spacciapolli, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Pittsburgh. “These programming additions will help elevate KDKA as the go-to destination in Pittsburgh for news, weather, traffic, business, sports and opinion.”
“KDKA is a powerhouse radio station and Marty Griffin is a trusted friend who, like me, loves helping people,” said Bell. “Spending four hours a day with a team that truly cares about this city is a tremendous honor and I look forward to the opportunity to serve our listeners.”
Other programming changes include new timing for the station’s morning show. Larry Richert and John Shumway will air weekdays, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Current afternoon drive host Robert Mangino will transition to 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Mangino will also host shows on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
