WJAG studio prior to1955.
WJAG studio prior to1955.WJAG broadcasts in stereo at 780 on the AM dial with a News/Talk format. WJAG is respected as one of the Midwest's oldest leading agriculture stations, with its programming designed to serve Northeast Nebraska farmers, ranchers, and those living in small communities dependent upon agriculture.
Also serving Northeast Nebraska from a separate transmitter and tall tower location (1,000 feet) is our 100,000 watt FM radio station KEXL. Broadcasting in stereo at 106.7 FM, KEXL serves listeners with adult contemporary music, plus news and sports.
In 1922, WJAG began broadcasting as a public service with 100 watts of power from a single room in the old Norfolk Daily News building in downtown Norfolk. Advertising was not accepted for the first five years. From that first crudely fashioned studio came the sounds of community choral groups, barber shop quartets and polka bands. The first announcer was the late Karl Stefan who broadcast the news daily on WJAG until 1934 when he was elected to the first of his many terms in Congress.
In the early days, when federal radio rules were more relaxed, WJAG broadcast intermittently as news or talent became available. The first radios were crystal sets constructed by amateur radio technicians; such as Mr. Gene Huse who distributed his own constructed radios without charge to "shut-ins", who had no other direct contact with the outside world. With few stations on the air, WJAG had listeners from as far away as California and Florida. Our listeners have always been termed as "Our Radio Family."
Beginning in
the 30's, the studio was located on the second floor of the old Hotel Norfolk,
with business offices in the hotel basement. The disastrous flood of 1944
forced a move to a building at 6th and Norfolk Avenue.
Finally in 1955, WJAG moved into its present building (picture of present studio). In 1980, a total renovation and expansion of the building and new broadcast equipment made WJAG/KEXL one of the most modern radio operations in the Midwest.
As a result of a fire which totally destroyed the building in 1965, WJAG now has a fire-resistant transmitter building with its own emergency power generator. The downtown studio also has its own emergency power generator. The transmitter building also contains an emergency hardened shelter for housing equipment and personnel so that, if necessary, WJAG can broadcast from its transmitter building during a disaster. Effective April 22, 1992 WJAG began broadcasting in C-QUAM stereo, just one more step in a never ending process of trying to serve the listeners of Northeast Nebraska.
KEXL's separate 1000 ft. tall tower sits atop one of the area's highest hills southwest of Battle Creek giving the KEXL FM station an effective radius of 85 miles or more. KEXL's signal effectively blankets Northeast Nebraska. (See our Coverage Map) It is Northeast Nebraska's first area-wide FM originally constructed August 1, 1971.
WJAG and KEXL, with their separate programming, have different broadcasting styles. WJAG has always been informal and personal, as originally established by Karl Stefan and Art Thomas, manager from 1932 to 1951. There's more service information and news talk for listeners, as well as Sports and special Holiday programming, on WJAG; while KEXL provides listeners with more music, in an Adult Contemporary format, interspersed with news sports, and announcements.
Art Thomas, who was manager for 19 years, established the public service pattern of WJAG with his news broadcasts, his "Voice of the Street" broadcasts, Nebraska Historical Series, "Voice of the People" programs and other services to the listener.
WJAG is affiliated with the ABC Information Network, ESPN, and the Westwood One Radio Networks, the Associated Press News Service, NOAA Weather Radio, as well as Data Transmission Network for commodity news and quotes, plus DTN color weather radar. WJAG & KEXL also employ the only farm and sports directors in Northeast Nebraska. It is because of our public service commitment that WJAG & KEXL have repeatedly received recognition from their peers, and many awards for their service.
WJAG & KEXL are proud of their large, loyal and extremely responsive audience. Listeners know that our stations will broadcast all news bulletins, storms and flood warnings, markets, police bulletins, etc. as soon as received. Our audience is periodically surveyed to determine the listener appraisal of our service. We consider public interest programming an opportunity, not an obligation.
WJAG was managed from 1932 to 1951 by Art Thomas. His son, Bob Thomas, was manager from 1951 to 1985, and third generation Robb Thomas Executive Vice President & General Manager until October 2007.
WJAG's founder, Gene Huse, died in 1961. Since that date, his son, Jerry Huse, publisher of the "Norfolk Daily News", has headed the company. WJAG is proud to be the oldest station in the U.S. under the original founding family's ownership.
A sidelight is the fact that WJAG helped organize the Nebraska Broadcaster's Association (1934), one of the first four or five State Industry groups in the nation.
Our stations recognize that our business is INFORMATION. In addition to our radio services, WJAG & KEXL also offer:
*Radio Review...........A daily publication of news, weather, sports and more distributed everyday, M-F, to over 100 locations, including approximately 40 eating locations, as well as hospitals and schools. Radio Review is also available free via the internet. Click here to read or for a free subscription via e-mail.
WJAG & KEXL encourages anyone interested in touring our stations or if you would like more information about Norfolk to call (402) 371-0780 in the USA. Bradley S Hughes Vice President/General Manager WJAG & KEXL
WJAG AM -KEXL FM,
Box 789 Norfolk, NE 68702-0789
Ph: (402) 371-0780 or Fax: (402) 371-6303
