The forthcoming 27th annual installment of the talk media industry’s longest running and most important national gathering will be meticulously documented on video for posterity. TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison states, “Because the entire agenda of this year’s event will take place on the state of the art television soundstage ‘A’ at Hofstra University’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication and a special staging area for individual interviews will be set up on the adjacent TV soundstage ‘B,’ the opportunity to create an in-depth video time capsule of this remarkably transitional moment in talk media history will be unprecedented.” Harrison adds, “The number of heavyweight players from all ends of the business gathered in one place for one day on a television soundstage will be of tremendous historical significance. We will grab the opportunity to save everything we can for posterity. This conference will be more than just another industry ‘convention.’ It will be a ‘symposium’ for the ages reflecting and preserving a remarkably colorful and historic era in American media and culture. People all over the world and for years to come will bear witness to this ‘happening.’”
All TALKERS 2024 activities take place in the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication on the campus of Hofstra University
REGISTRATION DESK OPEN
7:30 am to 5:00 pm
Registration Director: Barbara Kurland, Business Manager, TALKERS
Assistant Registration Director: Debbie Bernstein, Associate, TALKERS
EXHIBITION DISPLAYS OPEN
8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Backbone Networks
Representatives: George N. Capalbo, CTO; George L. Capalbo, Marketing Communications Director; Richard Cerny, President
Broadcasters General Store
Representatives: David Antoine, CBRE/CBNT, Sales Engineer; Buck Waters, Outside Sales Rep
Comrex
Representative: Chris Crump, CBNE, Senior Director of Sales & Marketing
BREAKFAST
8:00 am to 9:00 am
“Studio A” Television Sound Stage
Master of Ceremonies: Kevin Casey, VP/executive editor, TALKERS
Special Conference Kickoff: “Gaining Traction in a Noisy World”
Speaker: Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo, Host, “The Joe Pags Show”
Presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award
Presenter: Mark Goldman, Co-founder/Media Relations Specialist, Goldman McCormick Public Relations.
Recipient: Howie Carr, Host, Howie Carr Radio Network
Sponsored by Sean Hannity / Premiere Networks
OPENING SESSION
9:00 am to 9:40 am
“Studio A” Television Sound Stage
Singing of the National Anthem
Performed by: Daliah Wachs M.D., Host, “The Dr. Daliah Show”
Welcoming Greetings: “Radio and Beyond”
Speaker: Michael Harrison, Publisher, TALKERS
Presentation of the Woman of the Year Award
Special Remarks: Dave Gorab, VP/GM Talk Programming, SiriusXM Satellite Radio
Presenter: Larry Young, Host, WOLB, Baltimore
Recipient: Sharon “Sherry” Madison, Executive Producer, the Joe Madison Show, SiriusXM Satellite Network
Award Acceptance: TBA
Special Presentation: The Case for AM Radio
Introducer: Alex Fife, VP/Operations, Southeast, iHeartMedia, Total Traffic & Weather Network
Speaker: Bill Brady, Owner/Host, KFNX, Phoenix
Sponsored by the Doctor Asa Show
PANEL DISCUSSION: “GENERATING NEWS/TALK REVENUE IN THE DIGITAL ERA”
9:45 am to 10:25 am
“Studio A” Television Sound Stage
Introducer: Joe Thomas, Owner/PD/Host, WTON, Staunton, VA
Moderator: Steve Lapa, President, Lapcom Communications Corp.
Panelists: Vince Benedetto, CEO, Bold Gold Media Group; John Caracciolo, President/CEO, JVC Broadcasting; Kathy Carr, President, Howie Carr Radio Network; Ron Hartenbaum, Managing Member, Crossover Media; Julie Talbott, President, Premiere Networks
Sponsored by The Martha Zoller Show
FIRESIDE CHAT: “THE STATE OF SPORTS TALK RADIO”
10:30 am to 10:55 am
“Studio A” Television Sound Stage
Host: Michael Harrison, Publisher, TALKERS
Guest: Fred Toucher, Co-host, Morning Show, WBZ-FM (98.5 The Sports Hub), Boston
Sponsored by Backbone Networks
PANEL DISCUSSION: “BRAVE NEW WORLD”
11:00 am to 11:35 am
“Studio A” Television Sound Stage
Moderator: Harry Hurley, Morning Host, WPG, Atlantic City
Panelists: Scot Bertram, GM, WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM; Heather Cohen, President, The Weiss Agency; Steven Goldstein, CEO, Amplifi Media; Matthew B. Harrison, Esq., VP, associate publisher TALKERS / Senior Partner, Harrison Media Law; John T. Mullen, GM, WRHU-FM/WRHU.org, Hofstra University.
Sponsored by Premiere Networks
PANEL DISCUSSION: “PROGRAMMING NEWS/TALK RADIO”
11:40 am to 12:20 pm
“Studio A” Television Sound Stage
Introducer: Paul Vandenburgh, Owner/Host, WGDJ (Talk 1300), Albany
Moderator: Mike McVay, President, McVay Media Consulting
Panelists: Grace Blazer, VP, National NTS Brand Coordinator, Director of News and AM Programming Florida Region, iHeartMedia Miami; Phil Boyce, SVP, spoken word format, Salem Media Group; Ops VP, New York region/WMCA/ AM 970 The Answer; Bill Hess, Corporate PD, News/Talk, Cumulus Media / PD WMAL, Washington, DC; Scott Lakefield, APD, WOR, New York; Doug Stephan, CEO/founder, Stephan Multimedia/host “Good Day” morning show; Greg Stocker, Brand Manager, WPHT, Philadelphia.
Sponsored by The Ramsey Show
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: GLENN BECK
12:25 am to 12:55 pm
“Studio A” Television Sound Stage
Speaker: Glenn Beck, Host, “The Glenn Beck Show” / Premiere Networks
Sponsored by Resorts Casino Hotel Atlantic City
LUNCH
1:00 pm to 2:25 pm
“Studio A” Television Sound Stage
Lunch Master of Ceremonies: Michael Harrison, Publisher, TALKERS
Dean’s Message: “Welcome to Hofstra”
Speaker: Mark Lukasiewicz, Dean, Lawrence Herbert School of Communication, Hofstra University
Special Greeting: “In Front of the Camera”
Speaker: Rob Finnerty, host, “Wake Up America,” Newsmax TV
Presentation of the Humanitarian of the Year Award
Recipient: John Curley, Host, KIRO, Seattle
Broadcasters Foundation of America Donation/Spotlight
Presenter: Harry Hurley, Morning Show Host, WPG, Atlantic City
Acceptance: Scott Herman, Chairman, Broadcasters Foundation of America
Sponsored by Newsmax TV
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: “THE GREAT DEBATE”
2:30 pm to 3:00 pm
“Studio A” Television Sound Stage
Debaters: Mike Gallagher, Host, Salem Radio Networks; Thom Hartmann, Host, WYD Media
Moderator: Lee Harris, Director, Integrated Operations, NewsNation / WGN, Chicago
Sponsored by Our American Stories
PANEL DISCUSSION: “BEYOND POLITICS”
3:05 pm to 3:40 pm
“Studio A” Television Sound Stage
Moderator: David Bernstein; GM, Broadcast Operations, TALKERS
Panelists: Asa Andrew, M.D., Host, the Doctor Asa Show; Mike “Bax” Baxendale, Co-host, Morning Show, WAQY (Rock 102), Springfield, MA; Lee Habeeb, CEO/Host/Producer, “Our American Stories”/American Private Radio; Danielle Lin, Producer/Host, “The Art of Living and the Science of Life”; Walter Sabo, consultant, Sabo Media Implementers/Host “Sterling On Sunday”; Daliah Wachs, M.D., Host, “The Dr. Daliah Show.”
Sponsored by Doug Stephan’s “Good Day”
PANEL DISCUSSION: “BEHIND THE MIC”
3:45 pm to 4:20 pm
“Studio A” Television Sound Stage
Moderator: Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo, Host, “The Joe Pags Show”
Panelists: Howie Carr, Host, Howie Carr Radio Network; Dom Giordano, Host, WPHT, Philadelphia; Jeff Katz, host, WRVA, Richmond; Chris Krok, Host, WBAP, Dallas; Frank Morano, Host, WABC, New York/Red Apple Audio Networks; Martha Zoller, Host, WDUN, Gainesville, GA
Sponsored by Radio America
PANEL DISCUSSION: “THE BIG PICTURE”
4:25 pm to 5:05 pm
“Studio A” Television Sound Stage
Moderator: Michael Harrison, Publisher, TALKERS
Panelists: Kraig T. Kitchin, CEO, Sound Mind, LLC; Chad Lopez, President, WABC, New York/Red Apple Audio Network; Chris Oliviero, Market President, Audacy New York; Deborah Parenti, Publisher, Radio Ink / RBR+TVBR; Tavis Smiley, Host / Owner, KBLA, Los Angeles/Smiley AudioMedia; Lisa Wexler, Host, WICC, Bridgeport.
Sponsored by The Michael Berry Show
CLOSING RECEPTION
5:10 pm to 6:15 pm
“Studio A” Television Soundstage
Presentation of Freedom of Speech Award
Closing Reception Master of Ceremonies: Harry Hurley, Host, WPG, Atlantic City
Special Guest Speaker: Brian Kilmeade, Host, FOX News Radio / FOX News Channel
Presenter: Michael Harrison, Publisher, TALKERS
Recipient: John Catsimatidis, CEO/Owner, WABC, New York / Red Apple Audio Network
Sponsored by C. Crane
More TBA
Program agenda subject to change without notice
Attendance at the conference is limited to members of the working media and directly associated industries as well as communication students enrolled in accredited learning institutions. All attendees will be required to register in advance on the phone payable by credit card. Because attendance will be limited and the agenda outstanding, the conference is again expected to be an early sellout. The all-inclusive registration fee covering convention events, exhibits, food, and services for the day is $379. Because space will be limited and a sellout is anticipated, all registrations are non-refundable. To register for TALKERS 2024 or to obtain sponsorship information, call Barbara Kurland at 413-565-5413. The closest hotel to the conference is the nearby Long Island Marriott-Uniondale but it is nearly sold out. For a list of area hotels within a short drive to Hofstra, please click here.