Name Jim Engster | ||
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Jim engster interviews brad davis at the andone museum lsu
James R. Engster is a journalist and host of “The Jim Engster Show” heard live on Louisiana radio stations that include flagship station WBRP-FM in Baton Rouge; WSLA-AM in New Orleans; KMBS-AM in Monroe; KROF-AM in Lafayette and KASO-AM in Minden/Shreveport. The show is heard Monday-Friday from 4-6 p.m. CST and offers callers the chance to talk to live guests who appear in studio or via telephone. Topics vary widely from news to politics to interviews of prominent personalities.
In March 2017, Engster launched “Talk Louisiana” on 89.3 WRKF-FM, the National Public Radio affiliate in Baton Rouge. The show airs weekdays at 9 a.m. CST, connecting listeners with Louisiana newsmakers through live interviews and original feature reporting.
Engster is also owner and president of Louisiana Radio Network, which provides news, sports and agricultural news statewide. In 2014, he served as president of the National Association of Statewide Radio Networks, known as StateNets, which provides customized, regional radio advertising campaigns for marketers nationwide. Engster is a political analyst for WAFB-TV 9 in Baton Rouge.
With a career spanning three decades, Engster has interviewed 10 Louisiana governors and reported on every gubernatorial election since 1975. He currently hosts "Ask the Governor" a monthly call-in show for listeners to directly speak with Governor Jon Bel Edwards about issues that concern them. It airs statewide every third Wednesday of the month at 2 p.m. CST. Other prominent politicians Engster has spoken with include former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Dick Cheney.
In addition, Engster has shared the microphone with thousands of guests including journalists Dan Rather, Ted Koppel and Carl Bernstein; writers Ernest Gaines, Dean Koontz, John Berry, Rex Reed and Ann Coulter; astronaut Mark Kelly; political activist Ralph Nader as well as actors Debbie Allen, Max Baer, Jr and Pam Grier.
Engster is a 1981 graduate of Louisiana State University and was inducted into the LSU Manship School Hall of Fame in 2012.
From 1983-1998, Engster served as a reporter and news director for Louisiana Network. In 1998, he began hosting “Louisiana Live,” a syndicated call-in talk show airing on more than 20 affiliates. “Louisiana Live” was named best public affairs program three times by the Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press Managing Editors.
From 2003-2006, Engster served as general manager of WRKF-FM. In 2006, he returned to Louisiana Network as general manager. In April 2010, Engster bought a controlling interest in the network after the Federal Communications Commission granted its permission. Now serving as president, he renamed the company Louisiana Radio Network to reflect the medium. From 2004-October 2014, “The Jim Engster Show” was heard live on NPR affiliate WRKF-FM.
In addition to his work in radio, Engster also is a long-time featured columnist and current president of Tiger Rag Magazine, “the Bible of LSU sports.” Acquired by LRN in 2000, the magazine focuses on sports at Louisiana State University. It analyzes numerous LSU sports teams, including football, baseball, basketball, and track and field. Engster’s column “Statistically Speaking” incites frequent comments from readers and LSU insiders.
Throughout his broadcasting career, Engster garnered several industry awards. The Public Relations Association of Louisiana named him Communicator of the Year in 2008. The YWCA Greater Baton Rouge awarded him the Racial Justice Award in 2011 for his “tireless on-air advocacy of racial and social issues.” He served as president of the Baton Rouge Press Club in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. He served as vice president of the organization in 2008 and 2010.
Engster is a New Orleans native, born January 15, 1958.