This was the email chain between us.. the email from me went to american public media and the North American BBC rep from the BBC is who sent on through the network and Paul Blythe is who replied to me with the audio
Hello Paul,
I hope this email finds you well
and warm. As you might know, in the UK the weather is a popular topic of conversation — last week it dipped below zero, and judging by the press coverage, you’d think it was the end of the world
Reading your email really reinforces the value of what we do, so thank you for taking the time to write. It’s incredible to hear — as the only full-time member of staff — how much effort you put into keeping everyone connected in such a remote area.
Zoe, the WS station sound voice has recorded a message.
Best wishes,
Paul Blythe
From: Laura Lawrence <
[email protected]>
Sent: 08 January 2026 16:33
Hi Jon & Paul,
The Program Director over at KSKO-FM in McGrath, Alaska, sent in the most detailed positive feedback for BBC WS I've seen in a while. It's a lovely read so I've pasted the whole thing in below for you. When you have a moment do take a read.
Many thanks
Laura
Laura Lawrence (she/her)
Senior Business Development Associate
BBC World Service North America
**
Hi,
I manage the programming and technical matters for an extremely remote/rural NPR and BBC affiliate in west central Alaska. I am the only staff member on a full time, daily basis.
I appreciate having the BBC on to be a lead in to everyones day at 5am local time (14UTC) and as everyone ends their day at 7pm local time, (04UTC). NPR does a great job with our national news and even touches on world events, but I appreciate the BBC's perspective/reporting and how they talk about more world stories than NPR.
Being a lead in to everyones day at 14UTC is important because we are extremely rural, over 200 miles off the connected road system, you can even drive between communities in our region. We are 15 to 150 miles from other communities only reachable by air and 250 miles from the big city of Anchorage. Many of my listeners are older, some don't have internet, some don't have smart phones, some don't have tv.. and some don't have any of that. We at KSKO and you, the BBC are their outlet to the world and when they're getting the day start, you let them know what's going on with facts you can trust.
The BBC WS is clear, comprehensive and fair. I appreciate the indepth dive into the worlds leading stories. I appreciate that weather its a newscast, a report, an interview or discussion.. the point, the discussion, the facts are made clear and if necessary, explained. So much is going on in this world and it can be tough to follow and even tougher to understand... the BBC helps make understanding the world and following whats going on even easier.
Plus, I must say the audio quality is excellent. It's crisp, clean and clear. If I'm in the studio when its on the air, I often remark to myself it sounds like Chris Barrow, Tim Franks and crew are right in my studio. (I think I looked it up in Content Depot and the BBC feed is the equivalent of 256K mp3 whereas everything else is 128k mp3.
Thank you, from McGrath Alaska at 51 below F this morning (46 below C) but even when we get this cold, I tell my listeners .. Hey at least it isnt January 1989 when McGrath broke a record for the coldest ever recorded temperature with a windchill in a populated place in the US, 100 below. (Real temp was 75 below, windchill brought it to 100 below. If you remove Alaska and "population" from the equation, that award goes to Mt Washington, New Hampshire)
Paul Walker
Program Director, KSKO-FM McGrath, Alaska
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