On Wednesday, January 2nd at 3:30 PM, WZTE/Union City, PA will conclude program testing and transform Freedom 1530 to a new radio format entitled TalkErie.com.
Using a 24-hour news/talk format to feed multiple content streams, including AM radio, FM radio, web streaming,podcasts, social media, and online print, TalkErie.com will attempt to advance understanding on the issues directly affecting people and institutions in our region. “TalkErie.com exists to advance the narrative of the Erie region,” said Joel Natalie, station manager and afternoon host. The station is committed to a strong focus on news, with national news twice per hour around the clock, and a local newscast twice per hour weekdays from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, featuring Erie radio veterans Ron Raymond and Margaret Caldwell.
Each weekday afternoon from 3:00 to 6:00 PM, TalkErie.com will feature a daily local talk show all about Erie – theJoel Natalie Show. Natalie says he wants to address local issues in a way that utilizes the strengths of local live radio. “‘What are we going to do about Erie? What will be our future? How can we turn our region around?’ are all questions and conversations that people who love this town engage in on a frequent basis. The time is now to provide an on-air and online platform to discuss real solutions,” Natalie explained.
Joel Natalie’s daily three-hour program will be singularly focused on Erie, featuring dialogue with newsmakers and experts on the most-important topics our region faces. His show will feature news, hard conversations, controversy, opinion and fun, with an emphasis on friendships, family, and community.
Joel Natalie is uniquely qualified in our region to orchestrate this conversation on TalkErie.com. A 35-year broadcast and communications veteran, Natalie is an Erie native, who grew up in the west side Little Italy neighborhood, was educated in local parochial schools and at Gannon University. He has been an on-air personality and manager in Top 40, Adult Contemporary, and Christian Contemporary radio. In addition, he has directed the communications at a large church, has been an avid blogger and is fully immersed in the social media ecosystem. In the last several years Natalie has volunteered his ideas and voice to the various strategic planning, anti-violence and anti-poverty initiatives in the Erie region. Indeed, his most recent assignment was as regional development leader for McLane Church, offering the church’s perspective and resources to advance the Erie region. Now Natalie will bring those years of experience and investment to bear as he wrestles with Erie’s biggest challenges in a high-energy, freewheeling yet substantive conversation, that’s both engaging and entertaining.
For the other on-air hours, TalkErie.com will broadcast hosts of the Salem Radio Network. The weekday programschedule features Hugh Hewitt from 6:00 to 9:00 AM, Mike Gallagher from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Dennis Prager from 12:00 to 3:00 PM, Larry Elder from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, Eric Metaxas from 9:00 to 11:00 PM, New Life Live with Steve Arterburn from 11:00 PM to 12:00 AM, and Joe Walsh from 12:00 to 3:00 AM. A replay of the Joel Natalie Show will air again overnights from 3:00 to 6:00 AM. “Best of” and specialty programs are scheduled for weekends on TalkErie.com.
TalkErie.com can be heard beginning Wednesday afternoon on FM 105.9/W290BI for Erie city and the north suburbs,FM 103.3/W277DS for Erie County south of I-90, and AM 1530/WZTE during daytime hours throughout the region. Listeners can also utilize the station’s content-rich website at www.talkerie.com for news and program highlights, along with its Facebook page, facebook.com/talkerie, and Twitter feed @talkerie. Coming soon after launch will be a live online stream, as well as downloadable podcasts of interviews and special programming.
WZTE/TalkErie.com is owned by Inspiration Time, Inc., headquartered in Waterford, PA, the licensee of FM 106.3, WCTL.
