Paul W. Smith is the morning drive-time host at Detroit, Michigan's WJR radio. As a clear-channel station on 760 AM, WJR can be heard throughout the Midwest, and Smith's program is known throughout the region. Smith's shows typically feature in-depth interviews with a number of notable people, including politicians, authors and business leaders within the automotive industry.
Smith has hosted the program since 1996, taking over following the death of the legendary J.P. McCarthy. His morning show has been consistently rated as the number-one radio program in metro Detroit. Before WJR, Smith hosted the morning program on CKLW with Erin Davis and later at WWDB in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but he jumped at the opportunity to relocate to the station (WJR) that served his hometown, Monroe County, Michigan. Smith also worked for a number of years in the New York, New York market.
Smith is an occasional guest host for the Rush Limbaugh radio show carried by the Detroit station 760 AM WJR.
In addition to hosting, Smith is the Detroit area chair of the Police Athletic League and is a member of its national board. His annual "Pals for PAL" golf fundraiser finances the bulk for the local PAL programs. He is also a proud member of the Arab Community in Southeastern Michigan which occasionally conflicts with his political leanings. Beginning March 13, 2006, Smith began authoring a Monday column for the Detroit News which borrows heavily from former Detroit Free Press columnist Bob Talbert.