Compiled by Courier Staff
WMCS 1290AM Radio Station appears to have heard the voices of the Black community in Milwaukee on the missing outlet for local issues following the elimination of their entire local radio talk show format several months ago. Beginning July 19, Radio Talk Show host Eric Von will return to the morning talk show airwaves.
Von resigned from the station back in February 2009. Several months ago the station also eliminated its morning local talk shows, with hosts Cassandra Cassandra and Joel McNally and replaced them with a syndicated program featuring Yolanda Adams.
With the return of Von, Adams’ show will be eliminated. The expectation is that the show will again be called ‘The Morning Magazine’. “I spoke with TJ and I stressed that ‘The Morning Magazine’ is an institution that people have an association with, and maintaining that name for the program is important.” Von said.
Von’s departure in 2009 came when he refused to accept a significant pay cut at the station. He declined to discuss financial specifics of his new deal, simply noting that he and the station “were able to come to terms that we both found acceptable.”
Von’s last position was the afternoon drive slot at the station, which is now the only news and talk program focusing on Milwaukee’s Black community, being hosted by Earl Ingram. In coming back in the mornings, Von returns to the time of day he held for 10 years when he first joined WMCS in 1991.
Von has been a signature talk radio voice in Milwaukee, offering, outside of public radio, probably the most thoughtful and serious approach to a genre that typically goes for sensationalism and polarization. His departure last year and the subsequent elimination of the ‘Morning Magazine’ left many in Milwaukee’s Black community with a sudden void in news and information focused on their interests.
Von says that he is excited about coming back, and that he did miss being on the air. “When you have been a part of the many issues that address the community for so many years, and then you hear people talk about their concerns and not have an outlet to discuss it, that is frustrating.” Von shared.
Von also says that he believes that now is a great time to return, with many issues being addressed concerning politics, MPS, the new superintendent, and more.
The time slot for the revived morning program will be 7:00 am-10:00 am.
