Acclaimed Public Radio Host Diane Rehm Celebrates 30 Years On-Air

Acclaimed Public Radio Host Diane Rehm Celebrates 30 Years On-Air

Gala marks three decades of great conversation on The Diane Rehm Show

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- WAMU 88.5 will mark the 30th anniversary of The Diane Rehm Show with a gala celebrating the work and longevity of Diane Rehm at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, tonight, Sept. 24, 2009. The gala will benefit WAMU 88.5 and its unique 24-hour mixture of news, public affairs talk programming and traditional American music.

"The world of talk radio programming has changed radically over these thirty years, but seems more important than ever to our national debates on critical issues," said Diane Rehm. "Those of us who produce The Diane Rehm Show have always been committed to civil and informative dialogue, and I am grateful to all who've had a part in the growth and success of the program, including American University, WAMU 88.5, and NPR."

The Master of Ceremonies for the 30th anniversary celebration is veteran TV anchor Roger Mudd. The program will include toasts from American University president Dr. Neil Kerwin; WAMU 88.5 general manager Caryn G. Mathes; NPR president and CEO Vivian Schiller; NPR hosts Susan Stamberg and Scott Simon; and Congressman John Dingell (D-Mich).

"I am proud to help celebrate 30 years of the work of Diane Rehm, a public radio icon who has set the standard for insightful, civil and engaging conversation," said WAMU 88.5 General Manager Caryn G. Mathes. "The Diane Rehm Show continues to grow in audience and its influence on the national dialogue, and Diane has made tremendous contributions to that dialogue as host. WAMU 88.5 is fortunate that she has made this station her broadcast home."

Rehm is a native Washingtonian who began her radio career in 1973 as a volunteer for WAMU 88.5. In 1979, she was selected to host the local morning talk show, Kaleidoscope, which was renamed The Diane Rehm Show in 1984.

The Diane Rehm Show is now syndicated to more than 140 NPR member stations and 49 HD Radio channels nationwide, and heard overseas through NPR Worldwide, the Armed Forces Network, and Sirius XM Radio. Diane reaches an audience of more than 2.2 million listeners weekly.

American University's radio station since 1961, WAMU 88.5 currently has more than 740,000 listeners in the Washington region.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: WAMU 88.5 FM

CONTACT: Lauren Zumpano, Communications Manager of WAMU 88.5 FM,
+1-202-486-1309, lzumpano@wamu.org

Web Site: http://www.wamu.org/

---

Profile: International Entertainment