Today is a day of celebration for us at Louisiana Radio Network, as today marks our 50th anniversary.
LRN had its first broadcast on October 7th, 1974, and has been providing news and programming to radio stations across the state ever since.
Jim Engster started in 1983 as an anchor and reporter; today, he’s the owner of the company.
“There were only a few state networks around at that time (that LRN started),” says Engster. “Now there are networks in 32 states with 3,000 radio stations.”
Engster says the network has grown tremendously over the last 50 years.
“Louisiana was on the ground floor with 12 stations,” Engster notes. “And ultimately, we have become a network of stations all across Louisiana, and it provided programming that our listeners and our affiliates have desired now for one-half century.”
Engster says LRN, which is based in Baton Rouge, provides a very important service for radio stations that might not have the means to send staffers to cover the Capitol.
“It’s a little harder to get to the state capitol when you’re in Arcadia than when you are in Gonzales,” Engster says; “and as a result, many of our affiliates are in places that are 300 miles, 200 miles, in some cases almost 400 miles away from us.”
Engster says no matter where in the state news is happening, LRN is there to cover it.
“The Louisiana Radio Network is one of the few statewide entities covering Louisiana from Mandeville to Madisonville to Monroe and parts unknown,” says Engster. “We provide something that nobody else does, and we’re appreciative of the fact that so many people have embraced our programming all these years.”
Engster says the service that LRN provides is invaluable to radio listeners throughout the state.
“We need to have an educated populace; and as we know, many newspapers unfortunately because of the economic environment have gone by the wayside,” says Engster. “But most of our affiliates have stayed the course, and we’re glad to be there for them and help the cause.”
All of us at Louisiana Radio Network thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support over the last 50 years, and we look forward to serving radio listeners throughout the state for many more decades to come.
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