WHO (AM)

WHO (AM) is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Des Moines, Iowa, serving central Iowa with a news/talk format. Established in the early 20th century, it has been a longtime affiliate of major national networks and a prominent voice in Midwestern broadcasting. The station has hosted notable broadcasters and covered key events in Iowa and national affairs, maintaining technical prominence on the clear-channel frequency 1040 kHz.

History

WHO traces its origins to experimental broadcasting eras associated with early stations and inventors in Chicago and Iowa City, becoming a licensed station during the 1920s broadcasting boom. It gained prominence through affiliations with the NBC Red Network and later through partnerships with syndicators linked to Mutual Broadcasting System and CBS Radio. Ownership passed through several corporate entities including media firms connected to The Des Moines Register and later acquisitions by conglomerates such as Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia, Inc.) and investment groups tied to broader consolidation exemplified by transactions involving Jacobs Media-era holdings. WHO’s talent roster and programming evolution reflect ties to personalities and institutions like announcers who worked alongside figures associated with Ed Sullivan, Jack Benny, and national commentators who moved between CBS News and other networks. The station played roles during the Great Depression, World War II, and postwar political mobilizations in Iowa caucuses, often coordinating coverage with regional newspapers and broadcast peers in Omaha and Cedar Rapids.

Programming

WHO’s schedule has combined local talk shows, syndicated national programs, and long-form news blocks, featuring hosts who have coincided with figures from Fox News Radio, Premiere Networks, and other syndicators. The station has carried programs produced by personalities connected to Rush Limbaugh-era syndication, later incorporating hosts associated with The Sean Hannity Show, The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, and other talk formats distributed through networks like Westwood One and Salem Media Group. Local programming has included morning news blocks anchored by reporters who have appeared in cooperation with the Des Moines Register and guest panels drawn from Iowa political campaigns, state legislators from the Iowa General Assembly, and commentators tied to universities such as Iowa State University and University of Iowa. Specialty segments have featured agricultural reports referencing organizations like the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and business updates linked to Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City research. Weekend and public-affairs programming has incorporated interviews with authors and public figures who later appear at events like the Iowa State Fair and academic symposia at institutions such as Drake University.

News and Sports Coverage

WHO has provided sustained news coverage of local and national events, coordinating reporting during presidential election cycles centered on the Iowa caucuses and working with national networks including ABC News Radio and CNN Radio for breaking updates. The station’s sports coverage historically included play-by-play and commentary involving collegiate athletics for Iowa State Cyclones and Iowa Hawkeyes, and partnerships with professional franchises when regional interest aligned with teams like the Chicago Cubs and Minnesota Twins. WHO’s newsroom has employed journalists who have had bylines or appearances in outlets such as The New York Times, Associated Press, and Reuters, and has provided investigative segments that intersect with reporting by organizations including ProPublica and local investigative teams at the Des Moines Register. Live event coverage has extended to statewide political conventions and emergencies, with coordination among public-safety agencies and broadcasters modeled on protocols used by entities like the Federal Communications Commission and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Technical Details

Operating on 1040 kHz, WHO is a high-power station using directional antennas and transmitter facilities situated to optimize coverage across central Iowa while complying with clear-channel protections shared historically with Class A stations on adjacent frequencies. Its technical evolution reflects transitions from early tube transmitters to modern solid-state transmitters, with facility upgrades paralleling engineering advances documented by organizations such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and standards referenced by the National Association of Broadcasters. WHO’s signal planning has accounted for skywave propagation that affects reach to markets including Cedar Rapids, Ames, and Council Bluffs, and has coordinated nighttime patterns to mitigate interference with other stations governed by international agreements like the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement. The station’s studios and offices in Des Moines are integrated into digital workflows used across iHeartMedia clusters, supporting HD radio projects, web streaming, and archived audio systems compatible with technologies from vendors such as Nielsen Audio and broadcast automation platforms employed industry-wide.

Community Involvement and Awards

WHO has engaged in community service initiatives and charitable campaigns partnering with organizations like the Iowa Food Bank Association and civic institutions such as United Way of Central Iowa. The station and its personalities have been recognized with industry honors and local awards linked to entities like the Iowa Broadcasters Association and national bodies including the National Association of Broadcasters for public-service efforts, news coverage, and editorial excellence. WHO has hosted public forums involving elected officials from Iowa and nationally prominent figures who appeared during campaign seasons alongside panels organized by universities such as Drake University and media forums connected to think tanks that coordinate events with the Brookings Institution and other policy centers.

Category:Radio stations in Iowa Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States