What is WKAR Radio Talking Book?
WKAR Radio Talking Book operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week serving persons who have difficulty reading conventional printed material. Thousands of people in mid-Michigan cannot see well enough to read this. Though most Radio Talking Book consumers are blind, many have other conditions that make reading difficult, including dyslexia, or difficulty picking up a book or newspaper.
WKAR Radio Talking Book provides these people access to news and information
they can use to live better independently.
Who Listens?
WKAR Radio Talking Book serves more than 1,000 individuals in their homes and is also available in more than 300 care facilities throughout mid-Michigan. More than half of the Radio Talking Book audience is over 65 years of age, and 80% of these individuals live independently.
What RTB Listeners Hear
WKAR Radio Talking Book features material from 3 Michigan newspapers (Lansing State Journal, Detroit News, Detroit Free Press) and 4 national newspapers (USA Today, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor) that includes international & national news, state & metro news, business news, editorials & features, sports & Sunday comics, and updated weather forecasts with severe weather alerts.
WKAR Radio Talking Book also features grocery & department store advertisements, community calendar information, and prime-time television listings & movie reviews. In addition, the service features information of particular interest to persons who are aging or who have handicapping conditions (Prime Time).
The Services are Free
WKAR Radio Talking Book services are free! The special radio receiver needed
to listen to Radio Talking Book programs, which are broadcast on a sub-channel
carrier band of 90.5 FM WKAR, is loaned free of charge to individuals who qualify
for the service.
From 90.5 FM WKAR
WKAR Radio Talking Book is located within the FM 90 broadcast studios. 90.5 FM WKAR is a 24-hour non-commercial public radio station, which airs a variety of classical, jazz, and folk music programs, licensed to Michigan State University. The 90.5 FM WKAR and Radio Talking Book broadcast coverage area can be heard within a 70-mile radius from East Lansing.
