After more than a two-year hiatus, local journalism and radio icon Jim Engster is returning to public radio and 89.3 WRKF with the launch of Talk Louisiana, a new one-hour talk radio show that will follow NPR’s Morning Edition at 9 a.m. on weekdays.
Talk Louisiana will launch on Monday, March 27.
The new show, Engster says, will be similar to The Jim Engster Show, which he hosted on WRKF from 2004 to 2014 before transitioning to commercial radio. It also shares similarities with his current afternoon show that’s broadcast on commercial stations in Baton Rouge (Talk 107.3 FM) and statewide.
There will be some subtle differences though, Engster says. “We’ll have more time to engage in more long-form interviews because of the nature of the format,” he tells Daily Report. According to a news release, Talk Louisiana will feature local newsmakers, original feature reporting and listener emails and calls.
The public radio show will simply enhances what he does.
“I’m not giving up anything,” Engster says, adding that he’ll talk about the nation’s new president and the state’s energetic governor. “This will enable us to have another venue and there’s a dearth of topics right now. There’s certainly a great deal to talk about these days.”
In a statement, WRKF’s president and general manager Paul Maassen says the station is excited to welcome Engster back.
“His 30 years’ experience in journalism and knowledge of Louisiana’s people, business, and politics, are ideal for this type of long-form discussion program,” Maassen says. “We’re very happy to launch the show before Louisiana’s regular legislative session opens.”
Engster also hosts the monthly call-in show Ask the Governor, featuring Gov. John Bel Edwards, at 2 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month.
