If you haven’t noticed, in recent months KLBJ-AM has found some competition in the “news/talk” radio format. KJCE (1370 AM) switched from funky oldies, and the 1260 AM frequency, once based in Taylor, is now called KWNX and features Austin news and even a few local hosts.
Owned by Infinity Broadcasting, a New York company that owns 180 stations, KJCE should help kill off that old myth about the liberal media — if it isn’t dead yet — by countering KLBJ’s conservative lineup of Dr. Laura and Rush Limbaugh with talk that’s even further to the right. The station’s most balanced offering is MSNBC’s Don Imus in the morning, followed by “mainstream conservative” Mike Gallagher. Coverage grows more hard-core throughout the day, with Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity, the militant Michael Savage, and the latest right-wing fembot, Laura Ingraham. KJCE also owns broadcasting rights for Houston Texans football, San Antonio Spurs basketball, and Texas Rangers baseball.
KWNX’s more Austin-centric offerings include locally oriented news shows during drive times (heavy on the traffic reports and weather), familiar Austin radio voices such as news anchor David Anderson and weatherman Bill Hecke, and Round Rock Express baseball. The station has also revived the careers of locals Paul Pryor — infamous for his bouts with substance abuse and a mid-career swing from fuzzy liberal to dark conservative — and conspiracy theorist extraordinaire Alex Jones. KWNX is property of the smaller Simmons Media Group, owner of 30 stations, including Austin oldies channel KTND.
This article appears in July 12 • 2002.