Final Day to Support Local News and WHAV’s 2018 Programs

Tom Bergeron, who launched his career at WHAV in 1972, visits WHAV's Edwin V. Johnson Newsroom. (WHAV News file photograph.)

Tom Bergeron points to a plaque honoring late WHAV News Director Edwin V. Johnson. Bergeron appeared live on 97.9 WHAV FM last summer to urge listener support for Greater Haverhill’s only local news radio station. (Cindy Driver photograph for WHAV News.)

Over the last week, 97.9 WHAV FM has shared a few of many tidbits about how the radio station has made a positive difference in the lives of Greater Haverhill residents like you during the past year.

Critical local news not covered elsewhere, Community Spotlight delivering information about free or low-cost community services and events, comprehensive education reporting such as last summer’s ambitious “Back-to-School Countdown” and much more.

You heard from Dancing with the Stars host Tom Bergeron, who began his career at WHAV in 1972, explain that today’s WHAV is a listener-supported, nonprofit radio station.

“What you are doing here—and I don’t think people realize it—is a publicly supported station. You depend on—particularly at this time when journalism anywhere is under fire just for economic reasons if not political ones. It’s a tough time to be a journalist or to run either a newspaper or a broadcast station, and this particular type of station now depends on listener support,” Bergeron argued, in an effort to solicit listener donations and memberships.

WHAV is the only Haverhill-based news source, but only a tiny few step up to help defray the costs of operating Greater Haverhill’s only public radio station.

Can you donate $50, $100 or more today to show pride for Greater Haverhill’s only local, public radio station? It’s tax-deductible. Click now to donate to GiveBig to MyStation—non-profit WHAV’s year-end appeal. If you prefer, mail checks to:

WHAV
189 Ward Hill Ave.
Haverhill, MA 01835