Independent News Watch
 With News & Information From Around The World!

My news and information service, Independent News Watch, was really the path that led me back to Ham Radio. I owe that to a guy who had similar radio interests, heard one of my INW programs, and got in touch with me. That guy is now Amateur Extra Class licensee K8SG, Speed Gray (right). He's also a past ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) Emergency Coordinator (EC) for Kent County, Michigan. Thanks Speed! I would never have realized my life-long dream to become a Ham without your help and encouragement.

On either side are pictures of the original NEWS/SCAN and INW setup. NEWS/SCAN was an information source for local broadcasters, providing them with up-to-the-minute reports of breaking stories. NEWS/SCAN also provided many exclusive stories for our clients (among them WZZM Television, WTWN Radio [previously WLAV], and WCUZ Radio). The service began in 1979 and a year later was expanded into a regular feature on Home Town Radio, WTWN. At the time the first Gulf War (between Iran and Iraq) was raging and each night on the Bill Miller Show, we provided audio of the days events from various shortwave broadcasters. Later this included the Falklands War as well.

Expanding beyond the NEWS/SCAN monitoring service, Independent News Watch was born in 1982. Developed as a news and information programming source for broadcasters, the first show premiered on GRTV, Public Access Television for Grand Rapids, January 99th, and ran Monday through Friday each week. Initially the service provided programming recorded during the previous week. Later (below), live programs were featured. International Broadcasters were also invited to participate directly and several of them did. Listen to INW Promo Program (29 MB).

In October of 1983, the INW Monitoring Center was moved to a new home (closest right). After completing the move, a live radio version of the program debuted on WEHB Radio. At the same time, programming on GRTV was done live as well. GRTV's version featured the latest news from international shortwave broadcasters as well as special programs about various countries. On WEHB, INW focused primarily on the radio hobby, with the weekly program RadioWaves. Two years later the center was again moved (farthest right) to prepare for the final permanent location.

The latest INW monitoring facility was completed in 1987. Functioning primarily as a "hamshack," it was also set up to continue serving as evesdropper on the world for INW, the NEWS/SCAN "division" keeping the vigil.

I hope you enjoyed this brief synopsis of Independent News Watch. In the future I hope to be adding some audio files to this page so you can hear a sampling of past INW programs. If you have any comments or questions, please drop me a line.