WJTN

Programming

Local programs on WJTN include Dennis Webster's weekday morning show and a conservative talk show hosted by John Siggins on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The station also airs a full half-hour news report in the noon hour, as well as coverage of local sporting events. Syndicated programming heard on WJTN includes Doug Stephan (on tape delay Tuesdays and Thursdays), Jim Bohannon, and Coast to Coast AM. On weekends, the station plays locally originated brokered programming, The Twilight Zone, a quizbowl ("High School Bowl") and music. In addition to its locally produced high school sports coverage, WJTN carries the Buffalo Bills and NFL on Westwood One. WJTN is also an affiliate of ABC News.

Previous programming on WJTN has historically included The Hall Closet (a liberal talk radio program hosted by the now-deceased Ray Hall) and its short-lived successor The Nancy Bargar Show, The Sean Hannity Show (now at WLKW-FM), The Dave Ramsey Show, Paul Harvey, ESPN Radio, and Fox Sports Radio.

Jim Roselle

WJTN's mid-morning man, Jim Roselle, was inducted into the New York State Broadccasters Hall of Fame in June 2010. Roselle spent more than 60 years broadcasting on WJTN in Jamestown. After graduating from Jamestown High School in 1944 Jim Roselle attended St. Lawrence University where he received a bachelor's degree in business administration, while minoring in radio programming and production. It was his experience as a play-by-play broadcaster for S.L.U. football, basketball, and baseball teams that would be a springboard to a life of success.

In 1953 Roselle began his radio career at WJTN in Jamestown, New York. Little did Roselle know that what started, as a part-time sportscaster job was truly the beginning of a life of excellence in broadcast and community involvement. This broadcast excellence has bestowed many career highlights upon Roselle, from world travel to London with Jamestown Community College, to the Soviet Union representing the Chautauqua Institution, with the Jamestown High School Acapella Choir to Austria, Germany and Italy, Jamestown High School Band to Macy's Parade and Rose Bowl Parade and a week of broadcasting live from Disney World.

Roselle is known for his interviews, most of which came from his Bestor Plaza Studio at the world famous Chautauqua Institution, starting in the summer of 1974. Roselle has interviewed hundreds of powerful speakers including: then-Governor Bill Clinton, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, political humorist Mark Russell, Jane Goodall, Lucille Ball, Tim Russert, fitness guru Richard Simmons, Margaret Meade, Loretta Lorouche, Rocky Marciano. Historians and Pulitzer Prize winners David McCullough, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and James McPherson. Poet-laureates Robert Pinskey, Stanley Kunitze and Billy Collins. Elliott Spitzer and Phil Donahue. Authors - E.L. Doctorow, Joyce Carol Oates, Amy Tan, Roger Rosenblatt. Lee Hamilton-CoChairman of the 9-11 Commission, Hamilton Jordan - President Carter's Chief of Staff, as well as Kings and Queens.

His style of interviewing was much different from those of other talk radio personalities. Roselle did detailed research on the people and subjects of his interviews, and his knowledge and insight often surprised and impressed his guests. Roselle featured "on air conversation" not just stereotype interviews.

While most known for his on-air role, it is the common person in the local community that Jim relateed to most, as signified by his show's opening, "Good morning hometown Jamestown and neighbors! Join me in a cup of happiness!" The community woke up to his voice every day, but most are unaware of his community affiliations and passions. He has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Lucille Ball Little Theatre for over 30 years; the Jamestown Boys and Girls club for more than 25 years; and most recently at the James Prendergast Library. He also has been the chairman for many community events and enjoyed golfing when he had the chance.

Roselle died on March 23, 2016 at the age of 89.