WPLN News announces a new weekday daily news show, This Is Nashville, that will hit airwaves in the coming months. Executive Producer of This Is Nashville is Andrea Tudhope, and the show host is Khalil Ekulona.
This Is Nashville will showcase national-caliber reporting from the WPLN newsroom and will provide a forum to hear directly from decision-makers and the people who live with those decisions — immersed in the distinctive local flavor of Nashville.
This daily show will feature neighbors, artists, writers, public officials and journalists, reflecting the diversity of the region as they provide insightful and engaging conversation on wide-ranging topics and the day’s top news.
“WPLN News aspires to be Nashville’s number one source for local, original journalism,” Nashville Public Radio President & CEO Steve Swenson says. “Now, with the launch of Nashville’s only one-hour daily NPR-style news show, Middle Tennesseans will hear quality, civil discussions about issues we face and deep-dive reporting on important stories that matter to our communities.”
In 2020, Tudhope launched a national talk show around the election, while serving as the senior coordinating producer for America Amplified, a CPB-funded public media community engagement initiative. She spent five years at Kansas City NPR affiliate KCUR, producing a daily talk show and reporting daily news and long-term investigative features. Tudhope also was a print journalist in Colorado, where she was part of the team behind the Pulitzer Prize-winning series “Other Than Honorable.”
“My goal for This Is Nashville is to elevate lived experience as expertise and empower and connect diverse communities across Nashville,” Tudhope says. “I want to partner with the community to create this show, and I can’t imagine a better team to do it with than the thoughtful and talented WPLN newsroom.”
Ekulona served as the host and producer of No More Normal, the pandemic-focused radio show on Albuquerque NPR affiliate KUNM. He has also been the co-host of Good Day New Mexico on KOB4 and served as a correspondent with New Mexico PBS.
“I am honored and excited to be a part of the WPLN News team that consistently brings award-winning news to Middle Tennessee,” Ekulona says. “I look forward to learning about this great city and its amazing people through our show. Here is to the future!”
WPLN’s news team has grown from 10 journalists in 2019 to 18 journalists today, many who cover special beats like education and health care. The number of journalists will continue to grow as more This Is Nashville team members are added. See all employment opportunities.
If your business is interested in sponsoring This Is Nashville, email Suzanne Bond. If you or your foundation are interested in sponsoring the show, email Beth Fernandes.
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