Monday, October 4, 2010

Buckmaster Announces New Radio Show

Posted By on Mon, Oct 4, 2010 at 9:11 AM

Having announced his plans to leave Arizona Illustrated, my friend Bill Buckmaster now fills us in his next step: A radio show on KJLL, 1330 AM.

The press release:

After 23 years as host of Arizona Illustrated, the nightly newsmagazine on KUAT-TV PBS 6, Bill Buckmaster is launching a new media venture. Starting January 3, 2011, Buckmaster brings his wealth of media experience and news insights to AM 1330, KJLL Tucson’s Jolt talk radio station with his new interview radio show, Buckmaster. Tucson’s AM 1330 KJLL is an independent talk radio station with a following of 35-to-65 year-old male and female working professionals and parents concerned about their community. The Jolt features 8 of the top 25 talk show hosts in America.

Buckmaster is a professional media communicator with more than four decades of experience in television, radio, wire service and magazines. Buckmaster has received five individual Emmy Award nominations and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Rocky Mountain Chapter inducted him into its prestigious Silver Circle Society in honor of his lifetime achievements in the television industry.

"I am very excited about this new opportunity to present to radio listeners a local, interview-driven talk show,” says Buckmaster. “I feel that this will be an opportunity for the community to hear from a wide range of newsmakers from many fields including politics, education, health, science, environment, international affairs and the media. Buckmaster is a radio program that will focus on the guests and will allow listeners

to make up their own minds on the important issues facing Tucson and Arizona."

Buckmaster will continue to provide the in-depth analysis and perspective that Bill's television audience enjoyed in more than 5,000 interviews over the past 23 years. “We don’t just tell you what happened today, we provide perspective by giving you the whole history of the subject,” says Buckmaster.

The Friday Focus will be the region’s must listen to forum, providing thoughtful, in-depth analysis on issues and concerns of the community. Also on Friday, Buckmaster will sit down with regional media representatives who willsound off on Arizona’s top stories. Buckmaster will present complex issues in easily understandable content without talking down to listeners.

“Buckmaster is a dedicated professional. During his over twenty year tenure as managing editor and anchor of Arizona Public Media’s Arizona Illustrated, he supported me in publicizing numerous authors I hosted at Borders on Oracle Road and Barnes & Noble on Broadway,” states Andrew Greely. Bill was particularly gracious to my cousin, Father Andrew Greeley, well-known bestselling author in a variety of genres including, mystery, science fiction and poetry. I know I speak for the rest of the Literary Partners Group team about how thrilled we are to play a major role in Bill's return to his first love, commercial radio broadcasting.”

John C. Scott says, “Buckmaster is truly one of Arizona’s great newscasters. His thousands of interviews have informed Southern Arizona for over two decades. KJLL is proud to announce that Bill will host his own radio show, Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Buckmaster will rebroadcast again each evening from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., giving listeners two opportunities each day to tune in. Buckmaster is part of a continuing broadcast link between KJLL and Tucson. With local news and interviews declining in the market, Buckmaster fills a void of reduced local information. Buckmaster brings his broadcast mastery to AM 1330. Buckmaster is set to debut on Monday January 3, 2011.”

Buckmaster has received numerous awards and recognition in honor of his contributions including:

• Tucson Lifestyle Magazine’s “Best of City” award.

• Highest-rated locally-produced news and public affairs program among affiliates of the Public Broadcast System (PBS).

• The inaugural Alzheimer’s Disease Public Awareness Award for his ongoing efforts to increase public awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease.

• Named Asteroid Honor: “20084 Buckmaster” by The International Astronomical Union’s Small Bodies Committee. Walter Cronkite is the only other broadcaster so honored.

"Wendee and I have worked with Bill Buckmaster for many years,” says David Levy, Ph.D. “He is one of the finest broadcasters I have ever known. His relaxed style of interviewing almost camouflages his sharp wit and intense detailed and penetrating knowledge of the world.”

As the managing editor and hands-on anchor, Buckmaster will do much of the research, writing and generation of stories and ideas while working with a distinguished group of contributing editors.

Buckmaster Contributing Editors include:

Military and Foreign Affairs

General John Wickham, Jr., former Chief of Staff, U.S. Army

Science

David Levy, Ph.D., comet discover, former Parade Magazine science editor, and founder of "Sharing The Sky Foundation"

Health

Dr. Victoria Maizes, Executive Director of the UA-based Center for Integrative Medicine

Nutrition

Jack Challem, publisher of the national newsletter, The Nutrition Reporter

Consumer Affairs

Tom Collier, former TV consumer affairs reporter

Media

Jim Nintzel, Tucson Weekly; Linda Valdez, Arizona Republic; Mark Evans, TucsonCitizen.com; Sarah Garrecht Gassen, Arizona Daily Star; John C. Scott, Tucson’s The Jolt; Dan Shearer, Green Valley News

Commentators

John Munger, former Arizona gubernatorial candidate; Vince Rabago, former Arizona Attorney General candidate; Bruce Ash, Republican National Committeeman; Paul Eckerstrom, former Pima County Democratic Party Chair

Environment

Mitch Tobin, author and former Arizona Daily Star reporter

Restaurants, Entertainment and Hospitality

Matt Russell, host of On the Menu... Live!

Legal

Donald Loose, managing partner of Loose, Brown and Associates, P.C., and author of Arizona Laws 101, A handbook for non-lawyers and Estate Planning in Arizona: What You Need to Know

Education

Dr. J. Robert Hendricks, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Educational Policy Studies and Practice, University of Arizona College of Education