Top News/Talk Media Stories for Week of June 24 – 28
The presidential race and Thursday night’s debate in Atlanta combined as the most-talked-about story in news/talk media during the week, landing atop the Talkers TenTM. At #2 this week was the numerous primary races, followed by the U.S. migrant crisis at #3. The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed in news/talk media during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. See this week’s complete chart here.
Leland Conway and Mark Larson host from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. KOGO program director Mary Ayala says, “I’m thrilled about our new afternoon lineup. It showcases some incredible local talent who are ready to tackle tough San Diego issues head on in addition to providing listeners with insights and perspectives on national news and politics as we navigate this crucial election year.” Penrose comments, “I am excited about the announcement of this new contract with iHeartMedia and proud to be serving under a great San Diego leadership team. Onward and upward for Newsradio 600 KOGO and San Diego. Let’s GO!”
states in a press release, “It’s with a great deal of regret that I announce today the end of an era in local broadcasting. KURM has been a mainstay in this region for nearly 45 years, dedicated to the coverage of local events across a three-state region. Our style of radio is hard to do. That, coupled with some unfortunate health circumstances, have led to this decision.” Steve Womack put the station on the air in 1979 and the Herald Leader says he managed it for 11 years before leaving to join the Army ROTC program at the University of Arkansas. Steve Womack tells the paper, “It’s a sad day, to be sure. But over time, not only has this business changed dramatically, but the listening habits of people have changed. There are simply too many outlets competing for consumers. My father is an institution. He’s among the last of a vanishing breed. He is KURM, and if he is unable to continue, it is fitting that the station retires with him.” 
Celebrity Golf Chair. This year, the Broadcasters Foundation will debut The BFOA Pickleball Challenge, which will take place from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, followed by cocktails and dinner. The Pickleball Challenge is designed to give junior-level broadcast professionals the opportunity to network with their peers and executives, learn more about the Foundation’s charitable purpose, and have fun. MacCourtney states, “The Celebrity Golf Tournament is the second largest Fundraiser for the Broadcasters Foundation. The funds we raise are essential to continuing the Foundation’s mission. Requests for aid continue to escalate and we must be there to help every broadcaster who qualifies.” 
welcome back ESPN NFL insiders Adam Schefter and Field Yates, who will be sharing their expert insights and engaging with fans throughout the event.” ESPN Chicago director of content Danny Zederman states, “‘Football Fest’ is the unofficial kickoff of the NFL season, and I am excited about this year’s fest, from the stars we’ll have in the room to the show we have planned. We listened to fan feedback, and we’ve added new ways for fans to interact with their favorite ESPN Chicago and Bears Radio Network personalities, as well as a live onstage version of our fan-favorite, unfiltered podcast ‘Crosstalk Unhinged’ with Carm, Jurko, Waddle, and Silvy.”
When it comes to advertisers who cancel, Elon Musk said it loud and clear at the NY Times Dealbook Summit, “Go F-Yourself.” He claimed advertisers who objected to content on X were “blackmailing him with money” by canceling ad campaigns on his X platform.
about 25 million Americans — turn to Newsmax for their news at least weekly. Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy says, “Newsmax’s rise is even more stunning considering the newness of our brand, Big Tech efforts to thwart us, and several virtual TV distributors still keeping us from their subscribers.” Newsmax recently announced its plans for an initial public offering later this year with a listing on the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq.
the FCC’s requirement to do a foreign ownership review and Audacy’s request that the FCC grant a limited waiver of that review in order to more speedily exit Chapter 11. This request is under heavy scrutiny due to the political aspects of the case. Carr recently told the Post that the FCC should not allow a “Soros shortcut” – a term used by the Media Research Center in its Petition to Deny filed with the Commission – but must follow FCC procedure. Audacy argued in its opposition to the Petition to Deny that there is nothing unique about this request, saying that the FCC “granting a limited waiver deferring its foreign ownership review to facilitate a licensee’s prompt emergence from bankruptcy is consistent with the Communications Act.” Audacy adds that the notion that the limited waiver is new “completely ignores longstanding precedent establishing the Commission-approved special warrant process used in a number of prior transactions to allow licensees to emerge from bankruptcy promptly, while affording the Commission sufficient opportunity to review foreign ownership issues post-emergence.” 
brand manager Drew Anderssen states, “We know our listeners trust KRLD for news updates, and now more than ever, where you get your information matters. We’re excited to bring Chad and his wildly popular show to KRLD and deliver trusted news and insights to our listeners. His conversational, informative, and funny takes on issues will be a refreshing addition to our weekday programming.” Benson comments, “I’m so excited to be a part of KRLD, a legendary station with a long history in DFW and North Texas. I look forward to connecting with listeners about the biggest issues we’re facing today.”
media on the costs and impacts of unintentional shootings by Black children in America. BIN president Tony Coles states, “This campaign is a shining example of the role community leaders play in the programming on the Black Information Network. This topic has been a part of so many stories we have aired, and keeping children and families safe is vital to the communities we serve. Bringing this campaign to life started with the BIN Local Roundtable and would not be possible without them.” The BIN Local Roundtable was designed as a forum for business and civic leaders from local communities across the U.S. to provide perspective and collaborate with BIN’s leadership team regarding the network’s programming and local engagement.
continue to host his nightly 12:00 midnight to 1:00 am show as well as his 11:00 pm to 12:00 midnight heard on Sundays. Red Apple chief John Catsimatidis says, “It is with great pleasure that I announce Dominic as our 3 to 4 pm host. Dominic is an exceptional broadcast journalist and political commentator who presents all sides of issues relevant to our listeners. He’s done an excellent job with his overnight programs and I know he will do the same with the 3:00 pm hour.” Carter comments, “I’m excited about hosting an afternoon slot and grateful for the trust that Mr. Catsimatidis and [president] Chad Lopez have shown in me. It’s an honor to serve the New York City area listeners, especially on a powerhouse station like WABC Radio, as well as WLIR 107.1, our sister station on Long Island.”
The best thing about attending media conferences like TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond, which occurred last week on June 7, is the opportunity to hear diverse viewpoints from industry experts. Gatherings like these also provide the opportunity for attendees like me to “chew” on some of the great ideas presented by the expert panelists and think about solutions to some of the challenges raised during the discussions.
the rapid growth and distribution of the Salem News Channel, and in HC2 Broadcasting’s expansion.” HC2 operates stations in markets including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Houston, San Francisco, Phoenix and more. HC2 Broadcasting president and CEO Les Levi comments, “We are excited about our partnership with Salem Media Group and delighted to be launching the Salem News Channel on our TV broadcast platform. The channel will be available for the first time to broadcast television viewers, who should enjoy the network’s rich and informative news content.”
