You may think you know 90.7 WKGC, but have you listened lately?
Broadcasting from the campus of Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, 90.7 WKGC is the Emerald Coast’s local NPR (National Public Radio) member station. The mixed format lineup of shows provides listeners with national news, locally produced programming, and a variety of music. The station’s on-air personalities engage listeners through programming that educates, entertains, and informs. 90.7 WKGC is also a member of the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network which broadcasts emergency messaging during natural disasters and other emergency situations.
Over the last few months, 90.7 WKGC has rolled out new programming, a new logo, and even live broadcasted the Panama City Beach Christmas Parade at Pier Park.
If you haven’t listened lately, you are missing out on a bountiful buffet of local and national programming beyond the tentpole NPR news shows such as The Blend, Cold Cases and Curiosities, Jazz for the Night Owls, Urban Groove, The Best in Blues and Soul, The Soul of Jazz, Travel with Rick Steves, Florida Frontiers, American Variety Radio, Marketplace, the wildly popular Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me game show, and more. Additionally, listeners can interact with the hosts of the new Lunch Break lineup airing Monday–Friday at noon, including ReelTalk, Sound Sessions, Creative Conversations (with Jayson Kretzer of Bay Arts Alliance), Doing Dinner, and Culinary Compass.
90.7 WKGC seeks to be a cross-section of voices within the Emerald Coast community. This is true of the music selections as well as the special interest talk programming. While the station will continue to offer longtime listeners the jazz music found at its roots, 90.7 WKGC has added the music of the 70s, 80s, and 90s as a way to energize the workday and connect with new listeners.
These changes began in November 2024 after the radio station welcomed new leadership. WKGC’s general manager is professor and author Ryan L. Terry. On-air, he hosts ReelTalk along with Bay County Film Commissioner Julie Gordon on Mondays. “If movies are your thing, give us a ring.” His professional background includes over fifteen years of experience in not only public radio, but in academia, strategic communications, and live entertainment. He published On the Convergence of Cinema and Theme Parks (in 2015) and is the author of the forthcoming book Monsters, Madness, and Mayhem: Why People Love Horror.
In a media landscape that focuses on differences, WKGC wants to shift that focus to that which makes people similar—shared experiences. The goal of 90.7 WKGC is to bring people together for constructive conversations about a variety of topics. WKGC seeks to enrich the human experience throughout the local community and around the state.
Public radio is an invaluable resource within the community. But public radio needs your support. With public media funding facing an uncertain future, it’s more important than ever to keep public radio alive along the Emerald Coast. Whether a listener is an individual considering a one-time or recurring donation or a business or organization looking for ways to connect with public radio listeners through underwriting or sponsoring, 90.7 WKGC has opportunities for every budget.
90.7 WKGC is eager to make connections between the station and the community.
For more information on how to support 90.7 WKGC, email WKGCNews@gulfcoast.edu or send a message through Facebook.
