590 MIGHTY MEMORY #508

PHOTO INDEX: WARM NEWS BILLBOARD.

WARM NEWS

One of the biggest draws to WARM Radio was its news department. When WARM transitioned from Fifties style easy listening to Rock and Roll the innovators decided the best way to bring along the moms and pops was to establish a strong news department. WARM had “editions” of News. At 12:30AM you would hear “The first Edition of WARM News. At 1:00AM you’d hear the second Edition of WARM News”. As the turbulent 60s came about WARM increased its news department. Terry McNulty was the news director when John Kennedy was shot and brought that news to WARMland. Jack Donniger headed the news team in the 60s and was known for his back and forth repartee with morning show Harry West. In 1969 Jerry Heller became the WARM News Director. From Missouri, Heller built a news team of rookies and veterans that rivaled any major market. TV station news departments as well as newspapers monitored WARM Radio.
By the late 60s WARM News dropped the live at :55 casts and did news at the top and bottom of the hour. That tradition continued through the 80s, 90s and right before WARM went to Satellite programming. Now WARM does an ABC News feed at about 10 minutes before the hour with its “True Oldies” Format. (Some weekend mornings you'll hear former WNAK newscaster and Wyoming Valley native Brian Carey doing the 'cast). For many years WARM Radio News was an institution. Women and men going to work would know they were late if they were still in the house after the 8AM Newscast. When a major event happened, listeners tuned in to the Mighty 590 to get the latest news. WARM had reporters on the scene for major murder and corruption trials. They had beat reporters that covered both Wilkes Barre and Scranton City Halls. In its heyday the WARM news department had 6 or 7 full and part time people. Their names became as familiar as the on air personalities. That alone is a testament to the important role WARM News played in the history of the Mighty 590.