WGBH Boston’s GBH News, New England Public Media (NEPM), and CAI, the Cape and Islands NPR station, are launching a new weekly radio news magazine aimed at bringing listeners stories from across Massachusetts through a collaborative statewide reporting effort.
“In Common: News from the Berkshires to the Bay” will debut July 4 and air Saturdays at 2pm on WGBH (89.7), NEPM (WFCR 88.5), and CAI (WCAI 90.1), while also being available through each station’s digital platforms. The one-hour program will be hosted by reporter Jeremy Siegel.
The show marks the first original program produced by the newly unified newsroom network created by the three public media organizations. It expands the stations’ existing Connecting the Commonwealth reporting initiative, which shares journalism across regional and statewide platforms.
“Our public media newsrooms are deeply rooted in their communities and uniquely positioned to report on the complex, interconnected issues shaping our state,” Dan Lothian, Editor-in-Chief and General Manager of Local News for GBH, NEPM, and CAI, said in the announcement. “As one of the largest and most trusted statewide media organizations in Massachusetts, we’ve built a collaborative that leverages our collective journalistic strength to create a must-listen program for an engaged and curious audience.”
Each week, Siegel will take listeners on what the stations describe as a “sonic road trip” across Massachusetts, highlighting stories from communities ranging from Provincetown on Cape Cod to the Berkshires in western Massachusetts. The program will focus on regional issues, community experiences, and public policy developments with statewide impact.
Siegel has reported throughout Massachusetts and internationally for GBH News and “The World.”
“We have already started collaborating with Jeremy and the In Common team and are looking forward to bringing stories from western Massachusetts to a larger audience across the state,” said NEPM News Executive Editor Liz Román.
CAI Executive Editor Mindy Todd said the partnership will help expose audiences to the distinctive character of the Cape and Islands while fostering a greater understanding of communities throughout the Commonwealth.
“Public radio is at its best when it reflects the lived experiences of its community,” Todd said. “By partnering with GBH News and NEPM on In Common we’re inviting the rest of the Commonwealth to experience the unique culture, challenges, and spirit of the Cape and Islands, while gaining a deeper appreciation for the communities beyond our shores.”
According to Siegel, the program will focus on the connections between local issues and statewide concerns.
“Massachusetts has such a special pride of place, and In Common offers a rare opportunity to truly cover the Commonwealth in its entirety,” he said. “In Common aims not just to report the news, but to build a bridge across the Commonwealth so we can see how much we truly share.”
The premiere episode will focus on Fourth of July traditions and history in Massachusetts, including the cost of a holiday cookout, Revolutionary-era stories from western Massachusetts, and the role of the piccolo in “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
The launch also reshapes GBH News’ Saturday afternoon lineup, with “In Common” airing between “The Garden Lady” at 1pm and “The This Old House Radio Hour” at 3pm. The schedule will also include “Sports in America” at 4pm and “The Culture Show” at 5pm.