WHKW

WHKW (1220 AM) – branded AM 1220 The Word – is a commercial Christian radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio. Owned by Salem Communications, WHKW is a local affiliate for the Salem Radio Network and the Michigan IMG Sports Network. The WHKW studios are located in the Cleveland suburb of Independence, and the station transmitter resides in neighboring Broadview Heights. Besides a standard analog transmission, WHKW is available online.

History

Early years

WHKW began as WDBK on May 15, 1924, broadcasting with 250 watts of power. The station was owned by Stanley Broz, in the name of the M.F. Broz Furniture, Hardware and Radio Co., and was located at 13918 Union Avenue in Cleveland. The station moved to Boltan Square Hotel on Carnegie Avenue in 1925, and was using the slogan, "Broadcasting from Cleveland." In September 1927, Broz sold the station to William F. Jones, and WDBK was taken off the air. The station relocated to the Akron Beacon Journal building in Akron, and resumed broadcast operations in November 1927 as WFJC, the new call letters being derived from the owner's initials. Sam Townshend was listed as co-owner, and the first two announcers were Cyril Jones and Jerry McKiernam.