Josh Wescott, former radio news director and host of a top ranked morning show in the Madison market, has joined Big Radio stations in Monroe and Freeport to enhance the company’s local news presence.
Wescott worked in the Madison radio market as news director for WIBA-AM for more than five years. He led a team of local journalists and anchored an award-winning newscast that earned accolades as winner of “Best Newscast, Major Market” from the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association. Wescott was host of the top ranked “Madison in the Morning” local news program for several years.
“Good journalism requires a lot of good listening and attention to what matters most to those in the communities they call home,” Wescott said. “Our news will talk about what people are talking about, be factual, and will ask the next question so people can reconnect with their local communities and schools in a way that journalism hasn’t consistently afforded in recent years.”
Prior to coming to Big Radio, Wescott spent 13 years overseeing day-to-day operations of Dane County government, where he was responsible for helping construct annual operating and capital budgets around $900 million. He helped design, implement, and administer a wide range of public policy to enhance public safety, mental health, and water quality. In addition to his many years’ experience in local government administration, Wescott will mark 25 years this summer working in emergency medical response. He serves as a deputy chief for two area emergency medical services departments and as an instructor for two Wisconsin technical college districts.
“Online and social media disinformation is steadily driving people back to how they used to find out what’s happening, and Big Radio is well-positioned to meet this moment and lead the re-emergence of local radio news in this region and beyond,” Wescott said.
Wescott will serve as morning drive news anchor for stations in Monroe and Freeport and regularly report on news stories of local and regional interest. He joins a Big Radio news and sports department consisting of nearly 35 professionals who provide local news seven days a week, 365 days a year and broadcast more than 500 local high school sporting events a year.
Big Radio owns and operates ten radio stations in Monroe, Freeport, Janesville, and Beloit areas. Big Radio is owned by father and son Scott and Ben Thompson.
