Bob Lonsberry is definitely a unique Salt Lake radio host. That's because his show airs live each day from Rochester, N.Y., some 2,200 miles away.
Lonsberry's 6-10 a.m. weekday talk show on KNRS (AM-570) isn't syndicated either. Lonsberry does this show with only the Salt Lake area in mind and only for this one radio station."I'm not aware of another situation like this," Lonsberry said.
New radio technology allows Lonsberry's show to sound so local, and he believes the geographic distance between him and his Wasatch Front audience is irrelevant.
"Geography is a non-issue . . . I have a familiarity with Salt Lake and Utah," he said, explaining another new technology -- the Internet -- means he can keep in touch and informed on Salt Lake-area issues by reading daily newspapers and other sources.
"I scour, not scan the Internet," he said.
Larry Crandall, KNRS program director, says that while Lonsberry's situation is unique, he is informed about the Salt Lake area.
"He gets a lot of e-mails and people enjoy him," Crandall said. "Bob has a lot to say, and his show isn't driven by phone calls."
Crandall said this show may be on the forefront of a new style of non-syndicated shows, where the host isn't physically in the area served.
Lonsberry's show started last month after AM-570 discontinued its all-news format and switched to a "Family Values" talk radio format. It's too early for any ratings on the Salt Lake show yet, but Lonsberry also does a two-hour midday talk show on WHAM in Rochester, and it is the highest-rated talk show in that market and has been around for five years.
His style is to talk about four to five different topics per hour, although in cases like a recent debate over gay Scouts, Lonsberry makes exceptions and made it the day's only subject.
"I think it's local talk . . . I just pick topical things," he said. "The goal is not to be lukewarm but to be entertaining and informative."
It's easy to knock Lonsberry's show because of the geographical distance, . but when you listen to him you'll realize he's doing very well with the show.
Although it is no secret that his show is based in Rochester, you won't hear him say that very often. He gives the correct Utah time, Salt Lake weather/temperatures and even has local call-in numbers, not toll-free lines.
Andrew Peters does news updates during Lonsberry's show, Dan Pope does weather and Mike McKay is the traffic reporter. Paul Harvey's program also airs at about 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
All this is so smooth that geography doesn't seem to matter. In fact, it's fun to listen to someone on the East Coast talking about Utah so much -- kind of like a national newscast featuring Utah or Utah-related news.
"I'm just a moron," he occasionally tells listeners to declare his sincere humility about not professing to know everything.
Lonsberry, 40, has been a newsman for 15 years and has won more than 80 media awards. Born in Canisteo, N.Y., he worked for 15 years as a daily metro newspaper columnist for the Democrat Chronicle. He just kind of fell into the radio host job and really enjoys it -- especially because he still writes a daily newspaper column, too.
Lonsberry is also a member of the LDS Church, another factor that probably helps him relate to the Salt Lake audience. He sometimes acknowledges his religious affiliation on his show but stresses his is not a Mormon program.
He also has his own Web site at boblonsberry.com
RADIO HAPPENINGS -- "Johnson and Johnson" on KUBL created a sticky situation last week by staging a "Human Easter Egg Roll" on April 21. They had contestants roll in chocolate and honey and then try to get concert tickets to stick to them. This week the duo offered free mammograms by medical professionals to celebrate Secretary's Day . . . KSL and the Salt Lake City Credit Union presented more than 400 teddy bears, donated by schools, companies and individuals, to the Salt Lake Police Department Monday to help calm children during traumatic situations . . . "Fisher and Todd" on KISN interviewed two actors of the former "Brady Bunch" TV show Wednesday.
Deseret News radio editor Lynn Arave can be reached by e-mail at lynn@desnews.com or by phone at 237-2168.