90 Years of WWJ 950 AM

Posted August 20, 2010

AFTRA Detroit is celebrating the 90th birthday of WWJ 950 AM. On August 8, 1920, the station started as amateur project 8MK, licensed to teenager Michael DeLisle Lyons. Even though Lyons had the backing of newspaper magnets the Scripps family, its broadcasting range was only 200 meters. The Scripps were worried that radio would come to replace the newspaper as America’s primary news source and had invested in the station through a proxy as a precaution.

Ninety years later, WWJ is currently the only 24-hour news station in Detroit. AFTRA has contracts with WWJ going back as far as 1940. The station is thought to be the first radio station in America to broadcast the news at regular intervals.

"We are so proud of the historic role WWJ has played in the broadcasting industry," said Detroit Local President and WWJ newscaster Jayne Bower "From the early days of live orchestras, play-by-play sports, quiz shows and radio dramas to the fast moving live and local news coverage of 2010, WWJ has been serving the public interest of Metropolitan Detroit with great distinction. I am especially proud of the fact that for the vast majority of the 90 years WWJ has been on the air, there have been AFTRA members on the microphone and behind the scenes."

In addition to Bower, WWJ employs many other AFTRA members, including Detroit Local Second Vice-President Greg Bowman. AFTRA Detroit also congratulates WWJ 950 AM on its continued work representing Detroit, and its commitment to excellence through a Union contract.

Click here to see a slideshow celebrating 90 years of WWJ

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