Industry News

Wayne Allyn Root’s “WAR Zone” Joins Patriot.TV

Nationally syndicated talk media personality Wayne Allyn Root’s program “WAR Zone with Wayne Allyn Root” is joining the lineup at Conservative Broadcast Media & Journalism, Inc’simg Patriot.TV.  Root says, “What an honor to join Patriot TV and their millions of conservative viewers. My weekend powerhouse TV show, ‘America’s Top Ten Countdown,’ reaches millions on Real America’s Voice TV. Now my daily video podcast WAR Zone will be on multiple dynamic platforms from Patriot TV, to serving as the official podcast of ‘The Gateway Pundit,’ reaching their 2.5 million unique daily readers, as well as livestreamed on X, Gettr, and TruthSocial. The left has tried everything to stop me, ban me, censor me, harass me, yet the popularity and reach of my shows just keeps exploding. That’s called WINNING!”

Industry News

Industry Pros Applaud RI Radio & TV HOF Inductees

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Pictured above at last night’s Rhode Island Radio & TV Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Warwick, Rhode Island are (from l-r): consultant and TALKERS columnist Holland Cooke; radio personality Doug Stephan; 95.5 WSB, Atlanta news director Chris Camp; former Saga/Audacy/Entercom GM Phil Zachary; and WPRO-AM, Providence host & NBC10 anchor Gene Valicenti. This year’s inductees included: WJAR-TV, Providence’s Mario Hilario; ESPN’s Doris Burke; WPRI/WLNE Providence’s Steve Cascione; Poder Spanish Radio’s Tony Mendez; WLNE-TV, Providence’s John DeLuca; iHeartMedia’s Andy Lamchick.

Industry News

Readers Name Katz #1.

For the sixth year in a row, the readers of The Richmond Times-Dispatch overwhelmingly votedimg “The Jeff Katz Show” the Best Afternoon Radio Show in Central Virginia. Jeff Katz is now in his 13th year as the afternoon drive host at WRVA. Katz has been named one of the 100 Most Important Talk Radio Hosts in America by TALKERS numerous times. He is also a past recipient of the Humanitarian of Year award from TALKERS.

Industry News

Media Spiritual Guide Joyce Keller Dies

Media personality and psychic medium & spiritual teacher Joyce Keller has died. She was aimg host on WGBB-AM, Freeport, New York (Long Island) for more than 35 years. She appeared on major television programs including, “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “Good Morning America.” She also served as a columnist for Lifetime Television since. Keller’s long-running radio program with international reach established her as an enduring voice in the metaphysical and self-help space.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (September 22-26, 2025)

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (9/22-26) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories

1. Government Shutdown Battle / Firing Threats
2. The Economy / Positive Growth Report
3. ICE Facility Shooting
4. Comey Indicted
5. Trump UN Address
6. Trump vs Kimmel / Kirk Slaying Aftermath
7. Tylenol-Autism Debate
8. SCOTUS OKs Trump FTC Firing
9. Gaza War / Russia-Ukraine War
10.Dem Wins AZ House Seat

People

1. Donald Trump
2. Chuck Schumer / Hakeem Jeffries
3. James Comey / Pam Bondi
4. Greg Abbott
5. Jimmy Kimmel
6. Charlie Kirk / Erika Kirk
7. RFK Jr.
8. Rebecca Kelly Slaughter
9. Benjamin Netanyahu / Vladimir Putin
10. Adelita Grijalva

To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.

Industry News

New Leadership for Connoisseur San Antonio Announced

Connoisseur Media announces that, beginning in January, current director of sales Morgan Harrison will become market manager for the San Antonio station group the includes news/talkimg KTSA. Morgan will take over for Lance Hawkins, who is retiring. Additionally, integrated sales and sports programming manager Dax Davis will rise to director of sales. Connoisseur Media CEO Jeff Warshaw says, “This is a big moment for our San Antonio team. That market is a vital part of our company, and Morgan and Dax have earned these roles through their hard work and passion for the business. We’re excited to see them lead the next chapter.” Harrison comments, “I am incredibly honored and humbled to step into the role of market manager.

Industry News

Mays Named OM for Connoisseur Chicagoland

Connoisseur Media’s suburban Chicago cluster announces the addition of Gordon Mays as operations manager.  The company says Mays has been in a similar role in Milwaukee mostimg recently and brings nearly 25 years of experience into the market including recent operations and programming gigs in the Milwaukee and Rockford markets. Mays will oversee seven music brands as well as talk outlets WJOL-AM, Joliet; WKRS, Kenosha, Wisconsin and sports talk WLIP. Mays says, “It’s so exciting to be joining Connoisseur Chicagoland right now and getting to work with such a talented, passionate team that I’ve followed and admired for many years.”

Industry Views

SABO SEZ: Prescience from the Past

By Walter Sabo
a.k.a. Walter Sterling, Host
WPHT, Philadelphia, “Walter Sterling Every Damn Night”
TMN syndicated, “Sterling on Sunday”

imgHave you noticed a profile pattern for the mass shooters and political assassins? 20-30 years old. Living at home or close.

Here’s a deep dive, highly predictive profile that was written by a true radio GREAT:

“He’s a crown prince as a teenager. A crown prince when he suddenly finds his crown gone and he’s just a commoner and he must enter the next stage of life – well I’ll tell you what happens:  He generally doesn’t, that’s why you have a new generation of guys who have not taken on family or familiar responsibilities.

They are not about to give up the Crown Prince role and so we have a whole new generation of porn readers who will forever and ever and ever be catered to, and they get to the point where they cater to themselves. Many of them never grow up.

There is more than one guy who is 30 years old today who is totally, completely being supported by his mother and father. And as a matter of course, because he is after all a Crown Prince and a Crown Prince has prerogatives and one of them is to live off the family larder, he will continue to do this throughout most of his life.

This is a very new thing in America, and I say we have not seen the end of it. We’ve only seen the very beginning of it now. He who is really searching for identity.

I’m gonna make a suggestion here. I will suggest that this man is a dangerous man. Any man who has been suppressed, any man who has lost identity is a man who is prone to take up with wild, divergent, and often quite dangerous and irrational political crusades merrily to give himself his own identity, something, some charge that he can ride on.”

Jean Shepherd
WOR Radio Star
Author, A Christmas Story
from audiobook, LIFE IS, 1965

Walter Sabo has been a C Suite action partner for companies such as SiriusXM, Hearst, Press Broadcasting, Gannett, RKO General and many other leading media outlets. His company HITVIEWS, in 2007, was the first to identify and monetize video influencers.. His nightly show “Walter Sterling Every Damn Night” is heard on WPHT, Philadelphia. His syndicated show, “Sterling On Sunday,” from Talk Media Network, airs 10:00 pm-1:00 am ET, and is now in its 10th year of success. He can be reached by email at sabowalter@gmail.com.

Industry News

WURD, Philadelphia Announces Founder’s Day Gala

Urban talk WURD, Philadelphia is preparing to celebrate its annual Founder’s Day Gala on Friday, October 3, at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center, from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The evening will include a tribute to WURD founder, Walter P. Lomax Jr., M.D., live music and entertainment, a dance party, the presentation of Community Impact Awards, and the officialimg launch of Freedom Journeys, a new multimedia storytelling initiative celebrating pivotal figures in Philadelphia’s past and present.  Freedom Journeys, created in partnership with Renee Chenault Fattah and Love Now Media, will highlight 250 iconic Black Philadelphians — living and deceased — whose lives and work have helped shape the city. WURD president and CEO Sara M. Lomax says, “Founder’s Day will be a wonderful evening in a beautiful setting — where we will celebrate my father’s life and legacy, have great food, amazing live music and soul-filling affirmations of our culture. But we also aren’t going to shy away from what’s happening in this country. WURD has never done that, and this year’s Freedom Journeys is both celebration and resistance.”

Industry News

Edison: AM/FM Listening Highest in Rural America

Edison Research data indicates that while among all Americans 13+, 38% of time is spent listening to audio on a mobile device, and 30% of time is spent listening to audio on an AM/FM radio receiver, when it comes to rural Americans, AM/FM is just as important. Edison says thatimg the popularity of mobile devices for audio listening is the most dominant in urban communities. Within that audience segment, 40% of time is spent listening to audio on a mobile device, vs. 28% of time spent listening on an AM/FM radio receiver. The mobile device also holds a strong lead in suburban communities, with 36% of time spent listening on that device compared to 30% of time on a radio receiver. However, the radio receiver is strongest in rural communities where it matches the listening time of the mobile device, each receiving 34%.

Industry News

NYPR Waives Fees for At-Risk Public Stations

New York Public Radio is announcing that in response to the unprecedented threats facing public broadcasting, it is launching the Station-to-Station Programming Project that will make its roster of nationally syndicated programs – including “Radiolab,” “On the Media,” “The Newimg Yorker Radio Hour,” and “Terrestrials,” as well as “Freakonomics Radio,” “Science Friday” and “Today, Explained,” which NYPR distributes – available to at-risk public radio stations at no cost. This initiative comes as the CPB prepares to wind down at the end of September, following a $9.4 billion rescission package Congress approved in July, putting the future of more than 1,500 public radio and television stations nationwide in jeopardy. NYPR says, “This initiative will allow stations to redirect funds they would typically use to license our programs toward sustaining their vital local operations and reporting.”

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (9/24)

The most discussed stories yesterday (9/24) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

  1. 1. Deadly ICE Detention Center Shooting
    2. Trump vs Kimmel
    3. James Comey Investigation
    4. Russian Jets in NATO Airspcace
    5. Government Shutdown Looms
Industry News

WJR, Detroit Partners with Denise Ilitch

Cumulus Media partners with Michigan community and business leader Denise Ilitch for her podcast, “The Denise Ilitch Show,” to be heard on news/talk WJR beginning September 27.img Ilitch’s program focuses on conversations with guests who exemplify her values of overcoming adversity, staying positive, and giving back. The show will air monthly on WJR on Saturday at 5:00 pm. Ilitch says, “I’m thrilled about the partnership with WJR and Cumulus to bring the positive message of ‘The Denise Ilitch Show’ to a wider audience. All of us agree that the stories we explore on this show have the potential to inspire leadership in big and small ways, locally and nationally.” Ilitch is president of Ilitch Enterprises and is currently serving on the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan. Her father’s company launched the Little Caesar’s Pizza corporation.

Industry News

WTOP’s Basch to Step Away; Hubbard Seeks Morning Co-Anchor

imgHubbard Radio’s all-news WTOP-FM, Washington is looking for a new morning drive news anchor after Michelle Basch informed the company she will leave her position at the end of the year to relocate out of DC. WTOP director of news and programming Julia Ziegler wrote in a memo to the stations staff, “Anyone who knows Michelle Basch, knows how much she and her husband Mike adore their cabin in Pennsylvania. Michelle and Mike have decided to move there full-time in the Spring, which means Michelle will be leaving WTOP after nearly two decades. The good news? Michelle will continue to anchor AM Drive through the end of the year. She will then do some reporting for us until she and Mike are fully moved to PA. Michelle’s passion for news, commitment to excellence and drive to ‘first get it right, then get it first’ will be greatly missed in this newsroom.” See more and apply here.

Industry News

Vintage Cable News/Talk Video Documents Early Hannity Performance

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A fascinating example of early cable news/talk television history has been posted today (9/22) on the TALKERS MEDIA YouTube channel series “Up Close Far Out with Michael Harrison.” The episode presents key segments from a vintage program that served as one of the forerunners of modern cable news/talk television. This particular installment preserves what was likely the first documented appearance of Sean Hannity hosting a national network cable television program. The series, titled “Talk Live,” ran for several years in the mid-1990s on CNBC. It covered news and politics, as well as a wider scope of popular culture including arts & entertainment. Not only did it feature an array of guest panelists, but it also showcased a variety of guest hosts. Several of them were drawn from the ranks of radio. Talk radio was the hot new thing in the exploding world of interactive post-fairness doctrine media at the time and television executives were trying to identify hosting candidates from radio to make the transition from audio to video. This particular installment was spearheaded by media impresario Roger Ailes, who went on to form the FOX News Channel. It originally ran 31 years ago, on October 15, 1994, and holds particular interest for students and fans of talk media history. Hannity was, at the time, a rising star as a local host on WGST in Atlanta and was most likely being scouted by Ailes for consideration as a TV host for his forthcoming projects. The episode also featured a noteworthy panel booked by then-CNBC producer Vicky Pomerance that included the late radio talk show legend Bob Grant, then of WABC, New York; international talk media mainstay Victoria Jones, then of WWRC, Washington, DC (currently executive director of PR firm, the DC Radio Company); and TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison. Their conversation delivers fascinating retrospective insight into the issues surrounding the burgeoning talk radio medium, circa the mid-1990s, such as the Fairness Doctrine, as well as the growing rift between liberals and conservatives, and the public’s growing disillusionment with the legacy media and political establishment. Looking back at the video, Harrison states, “Watching his performance more than three decades ago, it was evident that Sean was a natural for the medium – displaying remarkable looks, poise, knowledge and glibness that would serve him well as he went on to become a top-rated, long-running superstar at FOX News Channel and one of the most successful radio talk show hosts of all time.” Check out the video by clicking here.

Industry News

Audacy and MOGL Partner for NIL Sports Marketing

Audacy announces a new strategic partnership with MOGL, an athlete influencer technology platform, that will allow it to integrate NIL sponsorships into its sports audio portfolio. Audacy says the collaboration is designed to “give brands streamlined access to college athleteimg influencers while enhancing Audacy’s cross-platform marketing capabilities.” Audacy says MOGL’s AI-powered matching system allows brands to quickly connect with athletes whose profiles align with campaign goals. Audacy chief revenue officer Bob Philips says, “Sports is where Audacy wins and sports media is evolving beyond traditional boundaries. This partnership with MOGL is a testament to our commitment to innovation, providing a powerful content-driven approach that benefits athletes, schools, and our advertising partners. Together, we’ll empower our clients to deliver authentic, high-impact campaigns that resonate with today’s fans and drive measurable brand outcomes.”

Industry News

iHeartMedia Enters into Partnership with Hello Divorce

iHeartMedia and Hello Divorce – a comprehensive online divorce platform built for the mass market – announce a partnership. According to a press release, Hello Divorce combines technology and expert guidance to radically simplify the legal, financial, and emotionalimg complexities of divorce – helping people navigate every stage of the process faster, more affordably, and with far less conflict. Hello Divorce says its service “goes far beyond digitizing forms and redesigns the entire divorce experience with proprietary technology and AI to eliminate costly errors, reduce delays, and remove the bottlenecks that wreak havoc on divorce timelines.” iHeartMedia president of corporate development and ventures Joe Robinson says, “Hello Divorce offers a powerful solution for one of life’s most challenging transitions. This partnership gives them a unique opportunity to connect with people nationwide through our platforms, delivering resources and guidance that can truly make a difference.”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Petrowich Joins WYPR. Baltimore Public Media’s WYPR announces that journalist Sarah Petrowich joins the organization’s news team. She previously served with Delaware Public Media. BPM chief of content Danyell Irby says, “It is more crucial now than ever that we continue to hold public officials accountable and provide in-depth reporting on decisions made in Annapolis that affect our daily lives. I am excited that Sarah will bring that needed journalism excellence and ethical reporting to the WYPR news team.”

WJCT Brings Back Health Show. WJCT Public Media in Jacksonville, Florida is brining its flagship health program and podcast “What’s Health Got To Do With It?” back for a fifth season, beginning September 27. The show, hosted by Dr. Joe Sirven, airs on WMFE, Orlando; WMFV, The Villages; WGCU, Fort Myers; WUFT, Gainesville; and WQCS, Treasure Coast.

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (9/23)

The most discussed stories yesterday (9/23) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

  1. 1. Trump’s UN Address
    2. Gaza War / Russia-Ukraine War
    3. Kimmel Returns to ABC
    4. Dem Wins AZ U.S. House Special Election
    5. Tylenol-Autism Controversy
Industry News

Hulvey and Oliviero Join BFoA Board

imgimgThe Broadcasters Foundation of America announces that Mike Hulvey, president and chiefexecutive officer of the Radio Advertising Bureau, and Chris Oliviero, chief business officer of Audacy, are elected its board of directors. BFoA chairman Scott Herman says, “Mike and Chris each bring unique experience to our board. As head of the RAB, Mike interacts with radio groups of all sizes across the country and can help ensure those broadcasters are aware of our charitable mission should a colleague be in need. Chris is a respected executive, with roots in radio’s biggest companies and in major markets and can help spread our message of hope to that sector of the industry. We are grateful that they have committed their time, knowledge, and expertise to our cause.”

Industry News

Skyview Promotes Two to Directors

Skyview Networks promotes two to director positions within its finance and business development/communications departments. Ethan Aragon is named senior executive director,img insights. Aragon joined Skyview in 2014, and Skyview says he has “built a reputation among his colleagues and our clients as a highly analytical contributor, whose insights support the sales team, our advertisers, and our networks.” At the same time, Heather Baumanis is promoted to executive director, business development and communications. In this role, she’ll support Skyview’s business portfolio of sports partnerships and maintain and contribute to new and existing client relationships while leading the company’s internal, external, and corporate branding initiatives.

Industry News

Fellman Joins Civic Media News Department

imgWisconsin media firm Civic Media announces that Connie Fellman joins its Green Bay operations to serve as news reporter based out of the studios of its classic hits WGBW-FM. Fellman is an Emmy-winning journalist who previously served as anchor, reporter, writer, and producer at Green Bay television stations WFRV-TV, WLUK-TV, and WGBA-TV. She says, “I’m thrilled to be joining the Civic Media news team. Covering local news isn’t just a job – it’s a chance to be the voice of the community, to tell the stories that matter, and to keep people informed right here in Green Bay.”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

RTDNA Names Emcees for Murrow Awards Ceremony. The Radio Television Digital News Association announces the emcees for the 2025 Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala will be Adriana Diaz of “CBS Mornings Plus,” José Díaz-Balart of “NBC Nightly News,” Steve Inskeep of NPR, Donie O’Sullivan of CNN, Deborah Roberts of ABC News, and Yasmin Vossoughian of NBC News. The Murrow Awards Gala will be held October13 at Gotham Hall in New York City. RTDNA president Dan Shelley says, “These outstanding journalists are perfect choices to bestow one of the most prestigious journalism awards on this year’s deserving national Edward R. Murrow Award winners. Each embodies Murrow’s admonition to serve the public by seeking to report the truth, something particularly necessary in our current times.”

Deadline for LAUNCH Mentorship is 9/29. Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc and the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation remind candidates there is one week left to apply for the 2025 LAUNCH Mentorship Program for emerging female talent in radio with a focus on engineering, audio production, and technical operations. The year-long mentorship pairs a rising professional with a seasoned industry leader for one-on-one coaching and deep exposure to the technical side of broadcasting. The deadline is September 29.  You can apply here.

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (9/22)

The most discussed stories yesterday (9/22) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

  1. 1. Tylenol-Autism Report
    2. SCOTUS OKs Trump FTC Firing
    3. Kimmel to Return to ABC
    4. Trump at UN
    5. Bondi Instructed to Prosecute Political Adversaries
Industry News

Talk Industry Brings Heavy Presence to Charlie Kirk Memorial

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Members of the talk media industry were among the thousands of mourners who traveled to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday for the memorial service for slain Salem Radio Network talk host and activist Charlie Kirk. Pictured above at the service are SRN talk hosts Mike Gallagher (right) and Larry Elder (left). Also attending from Salem were host Eric Metaxas and Salem Media CEO David Santrella and senior vice president Phil Boyce were among thousands of mourners attending Sunday’s memorial service for slain SRN talk host Charlie Kirk in Glendale, Arizona.

Industry News

Politicians Address FCC Chair Carr’s Kimmel Comments

imgDemocrats in Congress have lashed out at FCC Chairman Brendan Carr for his statements about ABC/Disney and Jimmy Kimmel’s Charlie Kirk bit that got Kimmel suspended from “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Last week, Carr appeared on the Benny Johnson podcast and called Kimmel’s statements “some of the sickest conduct possible” and added, “This is a very, very serious issue right now for Disney… We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” ABC/Disney has television affiliates owned by both Nexstar and Sinclair, which objected to Kimmel’s comments and threatened to pull Kimmel’s show from the air. Nexstar has a $6.2 billion imgmerger with Tegna in the works and needs FCC approval and critics of Carr’s comments are calling him out for appearing to threaten ABC. Republican Senator Ted Cruz, on his Premiere Networks podcast ‘The Verdict,’ disagreed with Carr saying, “Let me tell you if the government gets in the business of saying, ‘We don’t like what you the media says. We’re going to ban you from the airwaves if you don’t say what we like.’ That will end up bad for conservatives.” President Trump – who’s publicly mused about investigating his media critics – weighed in after being asked about Cruz’s response by saying, “I think Brendan Carr’s a courageous person. I think Brendan Carr doesn’t like to see the airwaves be used illegal and incorrectly and purposefully horribly.”

Industry News

LeGeyt Issues Strong First Amendment Defense

National Association of Broadcasters president and CEO Curtis LeGeyt issued a statement on Saturday (9/21) addressing the First Amendment in light of the Jimmy Kimmel suspension controversy. He stated, in part, “Let me first state affirmatively that broadcasters must be able to make decisions about the content onimg our airwaves free from government influence. The First Amendment affords our stations – and all Americans – this fundamental right, and the mere perception that broadcasters acted because of undue pressure is a problem for our credibility and the trust we have built with our audiences.

“Unfortunately, government pressure on media to cover events in a particular way is not new and it has come from both political parties. During the Obama administration, journalists decried the use of the Espionage Act to investigate reporters and demand their confidential sources. Under the Biden administration, reporters faced growing barriers to access, and local affiliate stations were targeted based on the actions of cable news networks. Today, we continue to see veiled threats suggesting broadcasters should be penalized for airing content that is contrary to a particular point of view.

“These attempts were wrong then, and they are wrong now.

“The First Amendment makes clear that broadcasters – not the government – bear the responsibility for editorial decisions. Local radio and television stations take this obligation seriously, working every day to reflect the unique and diverse needs of our communities, especially on sensitive issues. This is what makes local stations the most trusted sources of information. Ultimately, broadcasters are accountable to the viewers and listeners we serve.” See his full comments here.

Industry News

Sunset Provision at Issue for AM Radio Act

Now that the “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act” passed a full committee markup on a 50-1 vote and is headed to the full House, supporters of the Act are urging that the Senate version be the one to become law. Theimg House version contains an eight-year sunset provision on the law requiring all cars manufactured in the U.S. to have an AM radio at no extra cost. The Senate version has no sunset provision. WABC, New York owner John Catsimatidis has been very vocal supporting the bill without the sunset provision. “77WABC and all AM radio stations across the country provide life-saving information and emergency alerts to the public. While the committee’s action may be a step forward, a ridiculous last-minute change sunsets the law in eight years. AM is the backbone of the emergency alert system and tornados, hurricanes, and other disasters won’t go away.”

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Boo!

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgDon’t let Halloween sneak-up on you. The only holiday Americans spend more for is Christmas. So – to seem more in-touch than your robotic and/or non-local audio competitors – plan something spook-tacular.

DJs will play all the occasion-pertinent songs, good bumpers if you’re a talker. For you, the living, this mash was meant too.

— Do an event? A “safe space” parents can bring costumed kiddos? Maybe to benefit a local charity?

im

— Or a grown-ups-only party? 😉Sell a sponsorship. Try a big-box liquor store; or if your bash is at a bar, they might line-up a booze brand from the distributor.
— Costume suggestions? In years past, this has been a productive call-in topic. With family budgets tight now, those pop-up costume stores are less-affordable to some; and many funsters are imagination-challenged. Back when we “went to the movies,” Harry Potter-level characters were more obvious.
— Sell Halloween Safety Tips, PSA-sounding commercials. It’s a low-price way to give new advertisers a taste, and another way for existing advertisers to show-up.

Copy points:

1. Make sure costume masks don’t block your kids’ vision.
2. Go out early, stay in groups.
3. Warn young boys & ghouls not to run into the street from between parked cars.
4. Stick with well-lit streets in your neighborhood.
5. Give young trick-or-treaters flashlights.
6. Stay on sidewalks or walk facing traffic.
7. Tell children not to eat anything before getting home, so you can inspect goodies.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry News

WTOP Reporter Jeff Clabaugh Dies at 63

imgWTOP, Washington is announcing that its business reporter Jeff Clabaugh died last Thursday at the age of 63 after a yearlong battle with cancer. WTOP says that Clabaugh, “whose steady-paced voiceconversationally delivered money news to the D.C. region for three decades,” was “a master of consumer business news” who “gave reports twice an hour on WTOP’s airwaves and wrote punchy, popular stories for WTOP.com.” WTOP director of news and programming Julia Ziegler wrote to the staff, “Jeff Clabaugh made WTOP’s Business Reports what they are today. His work ethic was incredible. And his voice was so smooth. He was one of the best storytellers in the WTOP newsroom.” Read the WTOP story here.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories Over the Weekend (9/20-21)

The most discussed stories over the weekend on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

1. Charlie Kirk Memorial
2. The Economy / Fed Rate Cut / Record Dow
3. Kimmel Cancelled / Disney-FCC Controversy
4. Homan Investigation Revealed
5. Canada, UK & Australia Recognize Palestine

Industry News

FCC’s Gomez Cries Foul Over Commission’s Role in Kimmel Suspension

imgFederal Communications Commissioner Anna M. Gomez issued a statement criticizing the Commission’s threats against ABC that, in part, led to the suspension of the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” program. Her statement is as follows: “We cannot allow an inexcusable act of political violence to be twisted into ajustification for government censorship and control. First, an ABC reporter was told that his coverage amounted to hate speech and that he should be prosecuted simply for doing his job. Then, the FCC threatened to go after this same network, seizing on a late-night comedian’s inopportune joke as a pretext to punish speech it disliked. That led to a shameful show of cowardly corporate capitulation by ABC that has put the foundation of the First Amendment in danger.

“This FCC does not have the authority, the ability, or the constitutional right to police content or punish broadcasters for speech the government dislikes. If it were to take the unprecedented step of trying to revoke broadcast licenses, which are held by local stations rather than national networks, it would run headlong into the First Amendment and fail in court on both the facts and the law. But even the threat to revoke a license is no small matter. It poses an existential risk to a broadcaster, which by definition cannot exist without its license. That makes billion-dollar companies with pending business before the agency all the more vulnerable to pressure to bend to the government’s ideological demands.

“When corporations surrender in the face of that pressure, they endanger not just themselves, but the right to free expression for everyone in this country. The duty to defend the First Amendment does not rest with government, but with all of us. Free speech is the foundation of our democracy, and we must push back against any attempt to erode it.”