by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Hosts of a local news radio show were juggling milestones along with their day-to-day responsibilities recently.
Chuck and Colleen White are the husband-and-wife team that hosts “Just Speak Up!” on AM-600. It is a program that was developed in their living room, where they would talk about the news of the day. Just over a year ago they thought that other people were having the same conversations, but didn’t have a radio show to call to talk about Jacksonville issues. That is how the idea was born and the show continues to mature at its one year anniversary.
“I think we are more polished after being on the air for a year,” said Chuck White, who owns NAI Commercial Jacksonville, a commercial real estate business. “We also get a lot more callers. We’ve developed a radio family.”
More callers mean less time to cover issues the team may have planned on covering, but sometimes that leads to a stronger exchange of ideas.
“On one show I made a comment about the quality of home construction in Marsh Landing,” he said. “A few minutes later we had a contractor call in, then a builder. We had expertise assembled to add to that conversation. We now have traction in this market and we’ve built that over the last year.”
That development has come on their terms. They are not employees of the radio station. They purchase time on the station for their show and hold monthly sponsor luncheons to find advertisers.
“Colleen does the prospecting for sponsors and I close the deal,” he said.
The prospecting has been good enough to allow “Just Speak Up!” to grow from Mondays and Wednesdays to all five weekdays.
“We’ve had some great response from both listeners and advertisers,” said Colleen White, who is an attorney with her own practice.
The couple was surprised to be recognized when they attended the 2011 Political HobNob hosted by AM-690, IMPACTjax and the Jacksonville Regional Political Leadership Institute.
“We were in the elevator with this couple and the woman said ‘You’re Chuck and Colleen!’ It was great,” she said.
While the routine may change as the two get more comfortable with the show, they often consider how many calls to answer during the show. Normally, 6-7 is the preferred amount for the one-hour program.
And though things change, they often stay the same as evidenced by a recent show when the couple talked about their 20th wedding anniversary, their son Chuck graduating from Riverside Military Academy and their one year anniversary for “Just Speak Up!”
“I think that’s one of the things people like about the show. We have lives just like they do and they can relate to us,” said Colleen, who normally ends the show telling Chuck what they will be having for dinner. “And we really do eat what I tell him on the show” she said.
Prior to Election Day, they discussed the city elections, but they try to stay away from politics if they can.
“Our best shows are when we don’t talk about politics. We usually have a better, more well-rounded, local show,” said Chuck, who does the show in the studio like he would in the living room, shoes off and tie either loosened or off.
The radio station is glad to have “Just Speak Up!” as part of their lineup.
“For over a year, Chuck and Colleen have brought our listeners insight, wisdom and wit from noon to one Monday through Friday,” said Henry Hoot, regional vice president of Chesapeake Portsmouth Broadcasting. “We are grateful to have them as part of our daily programming. They are both intelligent, kind and good friends to Talk Radio 600 WBOB.”
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