BOB EDWARDS WEEKEND

BEGINNING SATURDAYS – MAY 12,  2006

WUTC-FM announces plans to air Bob Edwards Weekend, a 2-hour interview showcase with celebrated host Bob Edwards.  One of public radio's most respected and best-loved personalities, Edwards takes the airwaves each week to highlight the life and work of fascinating people with interesting things to say.  The program will begin airing Saturday, May 12^th at 2 PM.

"Bob is a public radio icon," says program director Mark Colbert, "an incredible persona.  He helped set and continues to perfect the on-air standard for public radio, and WUTC listeners can again look forward to enjoying his signature style every week.  We're thrilled to have him back in our schedule."

Bob Edwards Weekend highlights the life and work of people who have something interesting to say, from newsmakers, historians, and authors to artists, actors, and lots of regular folks too.  Guests have included:

• Former President Jimmy Carter
• Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich
• Actors George Clooney and David Strathairn
• Former gang members in L.A. and the priest who helped them leave the gangs

Each program includes an artful mix of natural sound, music, readings, and film lips, depending on the guest.  The interview format changes with each show.  Typically, Edwards speaks with 3-5 guests for 10 to 20 minutes each, but occasionally, a guest's interview will comprise an entire hour.  Edwards regularly goes outside the studio – to Oklahoma City for the 10^th anniversary of the Murrah Federal Building bombing; to Chicago for a conversation with Studs Terkel in his home; to Austin for interviews with artists and filmmakers at the South by Southwest Festival.

For millions of listeners, Bob Edwards is public radio.  During his 30 years hosting NPR news programs, he created a bond with listeners that have had no match in public broadcasting.  As host of NPR's Morning Edition for nearly 25 years, Edwards built the largest weekly audience in morning broadcasting, radio or television.  Edwards under-stands that public radio audiences want to hear conversations that are intelligent, entertaining and interesting.

Bob Edwards Weekend is produced by XM Satellite Radio and distributed nationwide by Public Radio International.