CHARLOTTE, NC (Thursday, March 26, 2020) – Ensuring all residents of the Charlotte region have up to the minute coverage of the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic, WFAE has created a robust programming response.
“As the region’s leading news organization, we have a particular obligation to serve you during this pandemic,” WFAE CEO Joe O’Connor said in a recent statement. “WFAE and NPR will stay on-the-air and online as long as it takes to provide you not only the latest headlines, but trustworthy context to assist you in making critical decisions regarding your and your family’s well-being.”
WFAE’s journalists and programming teams have developed the following:
Live Blog
WFAE.org/coronavirus provides up-to-the-minute coverage of the regional, national and global efforts to combat the virus as well as how local government, businesses, schools and community organizations adopt new policies and procedures to help residents find the services they need.
Social Distancing Series
Social Distancing is a new series, hosted and produced by Sarah Delia. Delia will focus on the challenges of living in the weeks to come. Her interviews will be done from her kitchen table. Listeners are already reaching out with their stories by calling 704-916-9114. Social Distancing airs as part of WFAE’s in Morning Edition and All Things Considered broadcasts.
Amplifier Presents: Songversations
WFAE’s popular music podcast Amplifier recognizes Charlotte musicians are suffering as concerts and live performances are canceled. Host Joni Deutsch believes people need music to cope in this time of uncertainty. Songversations will bring local musicians together virtually with audiences everywhere to create a special interview/performance experience. Deutsch will invite musicians who have been featured on the Amplifier to share their music or to compose something new. A launch date for the series is not yet confirmed.
Newsletters – The Frequency & More
WFAE launched an afternoon issue of its weekday newsletter The Frequency with the latest update on the Covid-19 outbreak in our region. In addition to The Frequency¸ WFAE’s other newsletters, Education, Inside Politics and recently launched arts/entertainment newsletter, Tapestry, also will focus on how the pandemic’s widespread impact on our community. To register for WFAE’s emails, visit WFAE.org/Newsletters.
Continual Coverage and Context
Charlotte Talks - WFAE’s weekday program Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins continues to connect listeners to critical data and top decision makers regarding how we can absorb and live in this unprecedented health emergency. Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins airs at 9 am Monday through Friday, with rebroadcasts Monday through Thursday at 7 pm and Saturdays at 7 am. An archive of all Charlotte Talks broadcasts is available at WFAE.org/CharlotteTalks.
On My Mind/SouthBound - Tommy Tomlinson, the Pulitzer Prize finalist host of WFAE’s SouthBound podcast, will now offer his signature On My Mind essays daily during, what he’s dubbed “Virus Days”. On My Mind and SouthBound can both be found online at WFAE.org.
BizWorthy – This weekly feature with the Charlotte Ledger's Tony Mecia, examines all things business in Charlotte. Since the outbreak, Mecia and Morning Edition co-host Marshall Terry, have discussed the dramatic hit taken by restaurants and other businesses.
Inside Politics Podcast - Launched in 2019 to cover every dimension of the Republican National Convention in Charlotte, WFAE’s Inside Politics podcast now turns to how the RNC deals the pandemic. Inside Politics is available at WFAE.org/InsidePolitics and wherever podcasts are available.
Local/National/International Coverage - WFAE will continue its mission of providing journalism that informs, enriches and inspires through its daily program service, local news reports and reporting from our partners at NPR, the BBC and others. This includes regular reporting from WFAE’s Health & Science reporter Claire Donnelly and Education reporter Anne Doss Helms. On March 23, WFAE began airing a new live special program from NPR titled The National Conversation with All Things Considered, focused on the pandemic. The National Conversation will air Mondays – Thursdays at 9:00 p.m.
As always, WFAE’s multi-platform content is free so the Charlotte region has access to the critical information they need to make the best decisions for the health and safety of themselves and their families.
WFAE’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the work being done by our partners in newsrooms around the world, is made possible through listener support. As our journalists continue to report from the frontlines of this health emergency, WFAE seeks tax-deductible donations of any amount at WFAE.org/donate or at 704.549.9000.