Lisa Polizzi Named WBEN-AM, Buffalo Brand Manager
Audacy names Lisa Polizzi brand manager for news/talk WBEN-AM, Buffalo. In this role, Polizzi will oversee the station’s content strategy, talent, operations, and branding. She was a longtime news
director at WIVB-TV, Buffalo and served as a weekend anchor at WBEN-AM in 2002 and at sister WGR-AM in 1999. Audacy Buffalo SVP and market manager Tim Wenger states, “Lisa’s extraordinary background in leading award-winning content generation in local television news will be invaluable for WBEN as it continues to evolve as the radio station that’s always there when the community needs it the most. I look forward to Lisa taking an already stellar brand to new heights.”
an hour of the radio program “The Todd Starnes Show.” Additionally, Todd Starnes is hosting an exclusive, one-hour television program on Newsmax 2. Starnes says, “I’m honored to be a part of the great lineup at Newsmax. And it’s exciting to see the synergy between radio and television.” Next month, Starnes’ radio program launches in Houston on KYST-AM “920 Patriot Talk.”
several other KNBR staffers were released from the station in a budget move. Santangelo’s first shift on “The Game” will be as a fill-in host for Dan Dibley on the afternoon drive show “Willard and Dibs” tomorrow (12/21). Also let go from KNBR last month was digital team member Jake Hutchinson, who recently joined “The Game” in a similar capacity. He says, “I am truly grateful to Audacy and 95.7 for this opportunity and recognition of what I bring to the table. The people I’ve worked next to from 95.7 have always been motivated, innovative and encouraging. They were enormously fun to share press boxes and interview rooms with, and I am ecstatic to now be able to work with them.” 
Bart Winkler to late-night host (10:00 pm to 2:00 am). “Maggie & Perloff” with Maggie Gray and Andrew Perloff continue in morning drive and Amy Lawrence remains in overnights. Audacy sports format VP and CBS Sports Radio brand manager Spike Eskin comments, “This new lineup reinforces the network’s commitment to delivering around-the-clock sports coverage, connecting fans nationwide with expert analysis, compelling interviews, and premier sports commentary. We look forward to kicking off the new year with this improved weekday programming slate.”
that the company trains its agents to not take 
As TALKERS magazine reported yesterday, rock radio personality Jim Ladd died over the weekend at age 75 after suffering a heart attack. In remembering Ladd and his contributions to the radio industry, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents a profile piece on Ladd that he wrote years ago while serving as special features editor for Inside Radio. 
why we won’t stop helping people get out of debt. When you aren’t weighed down by payments, you can live and GIVE like no one else.” Examples of giving include Ramsey listeners helping Sarah, a widowed mother of four, get current on her mortgage payments so she wouldn’t lose her house. A single mother of three received $2,500 to help with Christmas. Shoppers at Kroger had their groceries paid for. A church helped a couple get back on their feet after a job loss. Even Ramsey employees got into the act. Melissa kicked off the show with the story of her three-year fight against an aggressive form of breast cancer. She told listeners how Ramsey Solutions rallied around her, paid her full salary while she was out and provided the family with meals, prayer, and support. The Ramsey Network says, “‘The Annual Giving Show’ wraps up a wildly successful year for the Ramsey network. ‘The Ramsey Show’ is the second largest nationally syndicated radio show. It’s now heard on more than 640 stations. The YouTube audience has more than 100,000 subscribers and 250 million views. And ‘The Ramsey Show’ podcast is only the fourth show ever to eclipse one billion downloads.”
management, with Rod Lakin and David Yadgaroff, even with you. ‘The Marks and Reese Show’ is amazing, the success that we’ve had, over 6 years now that we’ve been working together, I’ve been at WIP almost 7 years, and what we’ve done in 6 years, the community that we’ve made, the show that we’ve made has been nothing short of amazing… And as great as the show is, everything kept coming back to the hours that I’m working. I don’t work until 10 or midnight, but I’m not getting home on most nights until 7:30. As my kids get older, I’m missing all these activities – softball, soccer, basketball, even dinner every night. Since my kids have been alive, I’ve been working this shift. And I had to ask myself ‘is this something I could see myself doing for the next five years?’ The station and show deserve the commitment from somebody. It was a difficult decision and something I internally wrestled with for a really long time. And after talking to management and talking with you, and (management was amenable and asked what they could do)… I made the difficult decision to leave the Marks and Reese Show and WIP. My last show is Wednesday. It’s a very difficult decision.”
midday slot. Hardy has also lent his voice and creative talents to various platforms across the station, including the creation of the wildly popular ‘Fuppets’ videos for Felger & Mazz. In addition, he has been the longtime host of the ‘Sports Hub Golf Club’ show and can also be heard on Beasley’s Rock 92.9.” Morning host Fred Toucher says, “I’ve known Hardy and admired his talent for many years. I’m very excited to begin this new chapter and feel revitalized by the new opportunity.” Hardy comments, “As a lifelong radio guy, I’m thrilled for this opportunity. I’m looking forward to working with Fred and the rest of the morning show crew on what I believe will be a great show.” Station PD Rick Radzik states, “Hardy is one of the most talented and creative individuals I have ever worked with in radio. Teaming him with Fred was just a natural fit for our new morning show. I look forward to them providing great content and entertaining our listeners for years to come.”
November reaching 2.9 billion total multiplatform minutes, compared to CNN.com’s 1.9 billion and NYTimes.com’s 1.5 billion. FOX News Digital achieved 1.7 billion total multiplatform views, compared to NYTimes.com’s 1.4 billion and CNN.com’s 1.3 billion. Looking at multiplatform unique visitors, CNN.com was #1 with 116.3 million, compared to FOX News Digital’s 88.6 million and NYTimes.com’s 70.5 million. 
Services, Division of Family & Children Services, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Georgia, and Walmart, has undertaken the mission of ensuring that every child in the Georgia foster care system has at least one gift on Christmas day. This year the program raised over $1,440,000 which will provide over 24,400 gifts to children in Georgia. 95.5 WSB program director Ken Charles says, “The 95.5 WSB audience is just amazing! For the 33rd year they’ve shown up with an incredible spirit of generosity to make sure the kids have a very merry Christmas. Our entire team supports Clark’s mission to make sure every foster child has at least one toy for Christmas and I’m so thankful our listeners come through every year!”
foreign policy correspondent. In this capacity, Turner will cover international and domestic issues at the U.S. State Department. She joined the network in 2014 as a contributor and was promoted to correspondent in 2018. She has also frequently served as a substitute anchor on several news programs, including “FOX News Sunday,” “Special Report,” “America’s Newsroom” and “America Reports.”
How many times will we research the same subject and come to the same conclusion?
news reports that aired on KYW. Tom Rickert, who serves as assistant brand manager and director of podcasts for KYW Newsradio, says, “There’s no other program that gives students an opportunity to learn from top professionals in news and sports media at one of the best broadcasting facilities in the country. And five decades in, we’re reuniting with parents who graduated from ‘Newstudies’ when they were in high school, who are now watching their teenagers graduate from the same program. We hope to keep investing in the young people of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley for generations to come, and we’re thrilled to be able to work with our partners at the Klein College of Media and Communication [at Temple University] to make this happen.” At Saturday’s graduation, KYW Newsradio awarded the $2,000 Richard Monetti Scholarship to William Bowens of Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School. The yearly scholarship is named for a “Newstudies” graduate killed in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 and honors a student whose work demonstrates overall excellence.
San Francisco will now be available on the Audacy app. CBS Stations says that CBS Local’s video streaming services are No. 1 overall in markets where they go head-to-head with other network competitors, according to data from Comscore. Audacy SVP digital audio content Tim Clarke comments, “We are thrilled to announce our strategic partnership with CBS Stations, expanding our commitment to delivering high-quality, locally relevant content to our listeners. This collaboration will give our listeners unparalleled access to timely and trusted news from major cities nationwide.”
It’s massive, it’s mind-boggling, and we-the-workin’-press are under strict instructions NOT to call it “The Consumer Electronics Show.” Lotsa luck. 100 thousand+ of us from 150+ countries will descend upon the sprawling Las Vegas Convention Center and other venues up-and-down The Strip.
Radio 103.9” and “EnVivo 93.3” – broadcast live from Brookhaven Town Hall to promote the Town’s INTERFACE Toy Drive. This year’s event collected 14 bikes, 4 TV’s $2,900 in donations and over 2,000 toys. The Bikes or Bust! Event in Ft. Walton Beach collected 400 bikes, a storage pod and a half of toys and helmets, and over $26,000 in donations. JVC CEO John Caracciolo says, “I am so proud of the JVC teams, this is truly local radio at its finest. You don’t see Pandora, Spotify or XM doing stuff like this. That’s why I totally agree with Harry Von Zell, live and local radio is the most intimate and socially personal medium in the world.”
most recently served as executive director of news with a focus on broadcast, digital content, and streaming content. CMG EVP of content, product, innovation, and research Marian Pittman says, “Misti understands CMG’s pursuit of journalism excellence. Her knowledge of multi-platform content strategies and 
audience insights makes us better every day. She exemplifies the power of dedication and what it takes to be the best.” In his new role as VP of strategy & operations, Jordan Cipala will be responsible for evaluating business development opportunities, bolstering CMG’s market-intelligence capabilities, managing M&A and integration efforts, and supporting more streamlined collaboration and execution across CMG’s business units. CMG president and CEO Dan York comments, “Jordan has been an indispensable member of the CMG team in leading our annual strategic planning process, supporting our Board interactions, and operationalizing our M&A efforts. We’re thrilled to promote from within and reward his invaluable expertise and dedication to CMG’s future and continued evolution.”
cluster of radio stations to the director of sales operations for the state of Maine. At the same time, Bronwyn Lapointe is promoted from managing outdoor properties to director of sales operations for the state of New Hampshire. Binnie 
Media EVP Faith Francis says, “Both Eliza and Bronwyn have been crucial to our success in key areas of the business, and this will give them the ability to affect change on a broader scale. We have created a great work culture here at Binnie Media, allowing people to have flexibility with accountability, and as we all know, women can multi-task!” The company says that late last year Cindi Skillin was promoted to vice president of finance, making Binnie Media’s executive team a dynamic, and diverse group. Binnie president and CEO Massimo Rosati adds, “We love this business, value our people, and always try to promote from within.”
We live in an increasingly noisy world. The accelerating advancement of media technology, with its accompanying “everybody is a star” syndrome, combine to make it increasingly difficult to get attention. By that, I mean real attention – the kind of attention that those in the professional media (and related) industries describe as “traction.”
with the success of its daytime programming, positions it as the number one network in cable news. FNC says it had the largest share of the audience in total day (46%) and primetime (48%), capturing nearly half of the cable news landscape. In primetime, FNC delivered nearly 2 million viewers and 214,000 in the 25-54 demo, topping CNN and MSNBC combined in total viewership. On a 24-hour total day basis, FNC averaged over 1.2 million viewers and 150,000 in 25-54, with a 153% advantage over CNN in viewers. FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott says, “During yet another unprecedented news cycle, cable viewers continued to choose FOX News Channel. From moderating debates to reporting in war zones and many stories in between, I am honored to work alongside this unrivaled team of journalists and opinion hosts as they continue to exceed expectations.”
Baligian is the victim of budget cuts at the station. Baligian has worked at several Motor City sports talk stations during his career and has been with WJR for the past seven years in various capacities. Baligian, who says he might be done with radio, tells the News that getting let go is hard to put into words. “The worst part is what it does to your family. I think they’re always waiting for the other shoe to drop, and that sucks. You feel like a failure… I know the life that I chose. And I mean it when I say I’m not bitter. This is the road I decided to go down.” Meanwhile, Lomas Brown is hosting the “Sportswrap” program solo.