Corus Radio is launching an Internet-driven, 24-hour all-news radio venture, iNews880, in Edmonton at 6 am MT on Tuesday, May 20. iNews880.com and 880 AM will pump out 30-minute information packages featuring news, weather, traffic, business news, sports and local news.

User-generated content and citizen journalism reports – gleaned through blogs, i-reports and community coverage – will amount to what Corus is calling ‘experiential content.’ The UGC, reports Corus, will ensure that iNews880 is grounded in the Edmonton community, while staff journos and news partners will also be part of the mix.

Doug Rutherford, Corus Radio Edmonton’s GM and VP news-talk programming, says the moves are in line with the company’s commitment to provide ‘credible and immediate news coverage to the people of northern Alberta and the world, on radio, online and on-demand. iNews880 will bring audiences news when they want it and how they want it, with their direct involvement.’ iNews880 and 630 CHED program director Syd Smith adds the launch marks ‘an evolution in radio.’