Christian joins outrageous radio

Listeners are used to 'shock jocks' in the United States. They have been tuning in to Don Imus and Howard Stern for over 30 years.

The concept has caught on locally, with Markland Edwards joining the list of outrageous Jamaican radio announcers.

Edwards, who got his start in broadcasting through Christian radio station Love FM, currently hosts 'Action Tonight' five nights a week on the Nationwide News Network (NNN). That company also airs Ragashanti Live which is hosted by Kingsley 'Ragashanti' Stewart, local radio's most controversial personality.

While he developed a strong religious base at Love FM, Edwards says 'Action Tonight' gives him an opportunity to explore issues that would not even be considered by his previous employers.

"It's a night-time, prime-time show that presents different themes, even things that are taboo, like anal sex and oral sex. We go outside of the box," said Edwards, who has held the 8-11 p.m. slot on NNN since October.

not another sex show

While 'Action Tonight' covers adult topics, Edwards stressed that it is not another sex show. Each night offers something different, like family counselling, retro music, entertainment industry stories and interviews with local celebrities.

He admits the show's strong sexual content gets most attention, something that has not gone down well with some of his Christian friends and members of the Emmanuel Apostolic Church in Portmore, where he is a member.

"Some people have issues with it, plus having sponsors like (liquor company) Wray and Nephew and me going to events like Sting and Reggae Sumfest," Edwards said.

"But I tell people that I'm not a Christian broadcaster, I'm a broadcaster who is a Christian."

This is Edwards' second stint at NNN. He went there in 2008 to host the Holy Hype weekend gospel programme, then moved to Wednesdays with the more diverse Entertainment Office.

The 41-year-old Edwards says he has been a practising Christian since his early teens. After leaving St Catherine High School, he attended the University of the West Indies (Mona) for one year, then in 1998 moved to Toronto, Canada, where he lived for 10 years.

Edwards worked on small radio stations like CJMR 1320 and Flow 93.5 in Toronto but says he found a far more competitive radio scene when he returned home, with the most popular shows driven by edgy or chatty hosts.

The controversial Stewart - whose show has been ordered off the air by the Broadcasting Commission - is arguably king of afternoon radio, while Irie FM's Ron Muschette and Hitz 92's Jennifer 'Jennie Jennie' Small compete for market share in the mornings.

While determined to make inroads, Edwards insists he will not go the shock route to break 'Action Tonight'.

"I push the envelope but I stay within the perimeters of the Broadcasting Commission's policies," he said.

"For me, the show is really about entertainment and educating people."

- H.C.