Revamped ‘Good Morning Wareham’ returns on Jan. 7
Show’s producers looking to foster community connection
Jan 4, 2019
WCTV’s Queen Banda reviews notes ahead of the return of “Good Morning Wareham,” a cable access show that the station has revived. Photo by: Matthew Bernat
Queen Banda has been working at WCTV for two years now. “Good Morning Wareham,” a revived version of a show that ran in years past, returns on Jan. 7. Photo by: Matthew Bernat
“Good Morning Wareham,” a cable access show, returned on Jan. 7 after a years-long hiatus.
The show is produced by Wareham Community Television and will feature the station’s reporter and Public Outreach Coordinator Queen Banda as host.
“This is our number one priority,” said WCTV Director Steve Ruiz, who had the idea to relaunch the show. “We’re reaching out to a lot of local officials – fire, police, town hall – and want to offer people a lot of information.”
The show had aired for four years as “Good Morning Wareham” and then another two years as “Morning Gumbo” under two different hosts.
Ruiz said the format will remain similar, including a mix of weather, traffic, news and guest segments, but will be slightly tweaked with Banda behind the desk.
“When Steve told me about the idea I just ran with it,” said Banda.
As the station’s roving reporter and a producer, Banda has covered many stories during her two years at WCTV. Originally from Franklin, she moved to Wareham three years ago and holds a degree in journalism from Bridgewater State University.
Banda said she’s excited to bring the show back to Wareham. This time with an emphasis on speaking with community leaders, interesting residents and local issues.
“We’re going to streamline the program and make it appealing to a lot of people, including a younger audience,” said Banda. “But really we want everyone to feel like it’s their show. We want this to become a community production.”
Banda said there are also plans to produce segments focused on larger issues in town, such as marijuana companies coming to town, the future of the Tremont Nail Factory District and the town’s new, $90 million elementary school.
While Banda has filed many reports from the field, this is the first time she’ll be hosting a program.
“It’s going to be a challenge, and I hope to meet it,” she said. “This is my passion.”
New episodes of “Good Morning Wareham” will air live Monday, Wednesday and Friday on WCTV’s public channels: Channel 9 for Comcast customers and Channel 30 for Verizon customers.
