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PROFILES in Style An Interview with WHP 580am Talk Radio’s Dennis Edwards and Melanie
Apple.
 ANNOUNCER:
"He hails from Baltimore, MD... Dennis Edwards, come on down! She was born and raised
in Bloomsburg, PA... Melanie Apple, come on down! You’re the next contestants on
‘Meet the Personalities!’ "
That’s about the sensation you get when you meet these two in person. They obviously
love their jobs, couldn’t say enough nice things about WHP and the staff, and all
around made me feel like I was watching a lost episode of WKRP in Cincinnati. They are
truly a team. They almost spoke in turn, as if they rehearsed for this interview. Hmmmmm!
When asked if Dennis and Melanie wound up in radio by accident or by design, Dennis
answered with, "I went directly to broadcasting school right out of high school, and
landed my first radio job before I graduated from school. I always wanted to be in
radio." Melanie said, "Are you kidding! I was a drama student in college; pure
naïveté and a little stupidity found me at a local radio station taking up the DJ’s
request for a little on air help." She added, "He was kidding when he asked over
the air if anyone wanted to read the news for him... I was dead serious. That was my
start."
Dennis has been with WHP for over 4 years, while October 5th marks Melanie’s 4 year
anniversary. They wound up together on the air in June of 1993 and have tackled events as
grueling as broadcasting live around the clock for days during a blizzard to ones as
joyful as Jubilee Day in Mechanicsburg. Currently both Dennis and Melanie produce the show
themselves, which includes programming, choosing topics, booking live guests and a whole
host of other responsibilities. Dennis told MODE that he really enjoys the diverse topics
that are discussed every morning. The show gives him the opportunity to express himself,
while letting the listeners and callers voice their opinions as well. Melanie thought her
radio career was over after her child was born, but Dame Media wanted her on the air, and
she just loves every aspect of the show. Most of all she likes the "education"
she gets from what callers share with her on the air. Both agree that the listeners are
very much a part of every show.
One of the more interesting facets of the WHP morning show is their "Money For
Nothing" segment. Every morning the Morning Show staff receives information from the
State Treasurer’s Office regarding money that has been forgotten or misplaced by
Pennsylvanians. Dennis and Melanie read the amount and owner’s name over the air, and
then give an 800 number where the person can call to reclaim their cash. Dennis told MODE
that over $60,000 has been reclaimed as a direct result of the show.
The Morning Show is also one of the few in Harrisburg that has an e-mail address:
morning@whp580.com. You can send e-mail to Dennis and Melanie directly. A great deal of
what they receive is discussed on the air. Melanie told us that she was amazed by the
detail and thoroughness of comments sent in via e-mail. They make really sharp
presentations, and offer a lot of interesting information. More and more of the
information received is coming via e-mail.
Finally, I’m sure no other local talk-radio show can boast that both hosts’
mothers listen every morning to "check-in" on their kids... besides this one.
The WHP Morning Show is light hearted, topic headstrong, and always interesting. On the
air every weekday morning from 5:30am to 9:00am, you can hear Dennis Edwards and Melanie
Apple on WHP 580am. |
