MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The natural gas industry is launching a six- to 12-month public relations blitz to tell its side of the story about exploiting the Marcellus shale reserves, launching a paid half-hour talk show and one-minute promotional ads on 49 West Virginia radio stations.

The West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association won’t say how much it’s spending on the deal with WAJR-AM of Morgantown and its members and independent affiliates.

“There’s a lot of misinformation out there and a lot of misunderstanding,” Executive Director Corky DeMarco said. WAJR’s Morgantown market manager, Gary Mertins, will host “Inside Shale.” He says it is no different than other paid 30-minute segments that air now.

Though industry insists its practices are safe, many citizens and environmental groups are worried about the prospect of water and air pollution, ecosystem damage, road destruction and other issues.

Morgantown is being sued by Charleston’s Northeast Natural Energy over its recent adoption of an ordinance aimed at banning drilling and fracking within city limits and up to a mile beyond.