Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy is in Israel and did an extensive, exclusive interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Ruddy is pictured above being interviewed in the streets of Tel Aviv by senior correspondent John Huddy as he previews the interview. See this clip here.
iHeartMedia promotes Care Jones to market president for its New England markets Providence, Rhode Island; Manchester and Portsmouth, New Hampshire; and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
iHeartMedia division president Jeff Thomas says, “Over the past three months I have had the opportunity to work with Care and I can say without hesitation that she is the best person for this important role. Her leadership and coaching skills make her a perfect fit for the position.” Jones comments, “I’m absolutely thrilled to step into the role of market president at iHeartMedia — it’s an incredible honor and an even greater opportunity. I can’t wait to celebrate big wins, chase bold goals and grow alongside a truly exceptional team.”
Multimedia sports platform OutKick and sports personality Dan Dakich sign a multi-year contract for Dakich to continue as the host of the “Don’t @ Me” program. As part of the new deal, Dakich will step away from
hosting his radio show on Cumulus Media’s WXNT-AM, Indianapolis “Indy’s Sports Ticket 1430 AM” and he will be exclusive to OutKick starting April 1. OutKick senior vice president and managing editor Gary Schreier says, “Dan Dakich has been a vital part of OutKick’s success. He provides unique insight and never hides from sharing his opinion. That combination is what OutKick stands for and we’re thrilled to have him for the years to come.” Dakich comments, “I’m beyond thrilled to continue as the host of ‘Don’t @ Me.’ This journey with OutKick has been incredible and has allowed me to share my opinion unapologetically. I can’t wait for what’s to come as my OutKick show continues to stand out among other sports shows that are afraid to speak their minds.”
WYPR Announces Local Programming. Baltimore Public Media announces an update. To WYPR’s daily programming schedule that programming director Maxie Jackson says “aligns with Baltimore Public Media’s mission to connect, inform, and enrich the voices and communities of Baltimore and the world.” This includes news director Mat Bush hosting the live “WYPR News Roundup” every Friday at 2:00 pm as well as the addition of staffers including executive producer Amy Walters, senior producer Malarie Pinkard-Pierre, producer Elizabeth Nonemaker, and senior podcast producer Mark Gunnery. Jackson adds, “This growth would not be possible without our members, who have stepped up in a major way since the dissolution of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. We’re seeing historic levels of engagement in our fundraising drives and translating that investment into action and expanded options for our audiences.”
WRFH Wins College Station of the Year from MAB. Hillsdale College’s radio station WRFH-FM, Hillsdale “Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM” is named 2026 College Audio Station of the Year by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters during its 2026 College Audio Awards. This is the fourth consecutive year and fifth time since 2019 WRFH has won the honor.
The most discussed stories yesterday (3/30) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
Talk host Chris Stigall – who’s heard on Salem Radio Network and Salem News Channel in morning drive (6:00 am to 9:00 am ET) – announces in a social media video that will run for congress in the
Missouri 6th congressional district. Stigall is a Missouri native who graduated from Northwest Missouri State University and who says five generations of his family have called the 6th district home. He says, “After prayer, believe me, a lot of prayer, and careful consideration with my family, on this 250th anniversary of our great country this year, I’ve decided it’s time to join in the fight.” Stigall says he’s leaving Salem Media to run after U.S. Rep. Sam Graves announced he’s not running for reelection. See TV5 in Kansas City’s coverage and Stigall’s video here.
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
Good News/Bad News: Fender‑benders, slip‑and‑falls, and other “injuries caused by the negligent, careless, or reckless actions of others” will always happen. That’s the good news…for personal injury attorneys. Their bad news is that supply WAY-exceeds demand, and their advertising reflects it.
It all looks the same. The billboards are interchangeable: a headshot and a promise of six-figure settlements. When everyone is saying the same thing, differentiate with gimmicks. TV spots are either goofy shtick or tough-guy talk. Where I live, “The Heavy Hitter” has a phone number jingle Southern New Englanders can sing from memory. Competitors’ numbers are even easier, 444-4444 and 777-7777.
If you will be in Las Vegas for the NAB Show, turn on local TV there. You will howl. Some firms pitch “we charge less,” like a radio station dropping trou’ on rate to grab the whole buy. And there are the nationally syndicated spots, customized for local firms, in which cartoonishly terrified insurance executives beg to settle. Or the hard-boiled attorney threatens to “beat them in court.” Baloney! A jury trial is the last thing most personal injury firms want. Too time consuming, too risky.
Like radio’s, a lawyer’s inventory is perishable. We can’t monetize yesterday’s unsold avail. And lawyers can’t add the client who didn’t come in yesterday for that free, no obligation consultation. No “intake,” no sale. Which is exactly why they should be using radio.
“The lawyer is in, the meter is off” is the proposition when attorneys host brokered weekend talk shows and take listener calls. No look-alike billboard or tacky TV spot can humanize the attorney – and demonstrate comforting counsel – like eavesdropping on a conversation with a caller’s relatable situation. So instead of slogans or shouting about settlements, build the client’s message around four words that are turning callers into clients on weekend talk radio: “Tell me what happened.”
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn
Some of New York’s Republicans are up in arms over former New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa’s performing a skit with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani that promoted adoption of cats. Sliwa – a well-known cat lover and proponent of cart adoption – recorded the skit with
Mamdani that was shown at the Inner Circle, the annual press corps roast. Some Republicans are accusing Sliwa of cozying up to the Democrat mayor who beat him in November. But Sliwa, who is now part of the WOR, New York morning show, tells The New York Times that its hypocritical of Republicans and WABC owner John Catsimatidis to complain, noting that “Mr. Catsimatidis met with Mr. Mamdani last week and that Mr. Trump has met with the mayor in the Oval Office.” See The New York Times story here.
Talk Media Network morning show host Joe Thomas (left) – host of “First Thing Today with Joe Thomas” is pictured above with WGOW-AM program director Michael Yaffee (right). Thomas did his morning program from his soon-to-be affiliate en route to CPAC in Dallas. Thomas says, “What a great city! What a great bunch of people!”
The most discussed stories over the weekend (3/28-29) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
Salem Media reveals a deal with The Roku Channel that will see its Salem News Channel available on Roku’s ad-supported streaming channel. Salem notes that while Salem News Channel has long been available through a dedicated Roku app, this new distribution places the network 
directly within Roku’s Live TV guide, allowing viewers to discover as they browse and begin watching instantly. Salem News Channel VP and general manager Cary Pahigian says, “This is a significant expansion of Salem News Channel’s reach, which already increased viewership by over 178% this year. Being part of The Roku Channel opens the door for entirely new audiences to discover the unique news and opinion that SNC provides.” This news comes two weeks after Salem announced Salem News Channel is joining Amazon Prime Video’s free, ad-supported TV (FAST) channel.
Salem Media is adding “That KEVIN Show” starring Kevin McCullough to three of its owed-and-operated stations. A combination of the Monday-Friday show and the live Saturday edition are joining the program schedule at KDXE, Little Rock; KSLR, San Antonio; and KNTH, Houston. The program is now heard on 419 affiliate stations.
Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (3/23-27) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:
Stories
People
To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.
Cumulus Media promotes Darlene Park to regional vice president, Cumulus Central Indiana. In this role, Park adds oversight two more Indiana music outlets to the Indianapolis stations she is overseeing that
include sports talk WXNT-AM. Cumulus Media president of operations Dave Milner comments, “We are thrilled to promote Darlene to Regional Vice President for Central Indiana, where she will oversee Indianapolis, Kokomo, and Muncie. Since joining Cumulus Media, Darlene has proven to be a strong leader who builds positive, high-performing cultures. Her ability to inspire teams and drive consistent, impactful results makes her exceptionally well-suited to lead this expanded region.”
Connoisseur Media agrees to sell its five South Dakota radio stations to Brookings Radio, LLC, locally owned and operated by Cami Powers, her husband Derrick Powers, and Chad Hogie. Brookings Radio, LLC will acquire KBRK-AM and KBRK-FM licensed to Brookings, KDBX-FM licensed to Clear Lake, and farm news formatted KJJQ-AM and KKQQ
-FM, licensed to Volga. The transaction is pending regulatory approval by the FCC and is expected to close in early summer of this year. Connoisseur Media CEO Jeff Warshaw states, “The Brookings market did not fit into the long-term vision we set out for Connoisseur. As we pursued a potential sale, we looked for local quality operators to purchase these stations and found that the best operators in the market already worked for us! This is not the first time we have encouraged some of our local management to break into ownership so that they could continue to serve the communities we are so committed to. We are incredibly happy that Cami and her group stepped up to the challenge.”
The Bangor Daily News reports that Blueberry Broadcasting has fired George Hale from his co-host role on talk WVOM, Bangor after 22 years on the program. The report indicates that management appeared on the program with host Ric Tyler to say that 94-year-old Hale was exiting the
show while Hale was away on vacation in Florida. Blueberry vice president Bruce Biette told the paper it is “time to evolve the station.” Biette added, “Simply put, George has had a magnificent media career. He’s the reason a lot of us chose to get into this business, and we here at Blueberry Broadcasting appreciate everything he’s done for VOM.” The Daily News states, “WVOM is an influential station because it is one of only three in the state that runs a locally produced news talk show and the only one based in the Bangor area. WGAN and WLOB, with shows hosted by conservatives Matt Gagnon and Ray Richardson, respectively, are based in the Portland area.” See the Daily News story here.
Wisconsin broadcaster Civic Media closes on WZTI-AM, Milwaukee and
two FM translators it acquired last fall from Milwaukee Radio Alliance. Civic Media plans to continue to air the classic hits format with local news on the signals. Civic Media operates progressive news/talk WAUK in the market.
The most discussed stories yesterday (3/24) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
Longtime Philadelphia SVP and market manager for Audacy’s Philadelphia station group David Yadgaroff announces he’s retiring from the company. He tells his staff, “Leading these iconic stations has been a great privilege and working alongside our team has been the most rewarding part of my journey. Our team has consistently delivered
unique, compelling content, embraced meaningful evolution, and made a real difference for our communities, our advertisers and one another. I am incredibly proud of the people in the Philadelphia radio market and across the country, whom I’ve had the opportunity to hire, train and mentor. Watching their growth and success has been a joy. After an extraordinary run of dedicating myself to radio and my colleagues for decades, it feels like the right time to step away and take time for myself, spend more time with family and friends, pursue new opportunities and contribute to organizations in meaningful new ways. I leave with deep gratitude and confidence in the future.” Audacy region president Mark Hannon says Yadgaroff will stay in his position through the end of May as they work on a smooth transition for the staff and the stations’ clients. The Audacy cluster includes news/talk WPHT and sports talk WIP-FM.
By Pamela Garber, LMHC
Grand Central Counseling Group
New York
In ongoing discussions about the dwindling relevance of radio in the modern world, the medium is grudgingly defended as a reliable “first responder” during times of public emergencies.
Nothing beats having an old-fashioned battery powered radio handy when confronted by hurricanes, tornados, blizzards, earthquakes, wildfires, floods, blackouts, and (dare I say it) weapons of war. Yes, radio is quite useful in the thick of natural “disasters” when the grid goes down, and the lights go out.
However, we are missing a huge opportunity by limiting radio to the role
of modern-day media Sterno.
I’ve been a practicing therapist in New York and South Florida for the past 25 years, and although not a host, I have served, and continue to participate, as a guest on broadcasts across the nation, discussing the emotional connections between hot news topics and people’s feelings. I am not alone in the perception that people of my profession have performed for decades as fully invested members of the talk radio family.
During this period, it has become obvious that the one-time talk radio mainstay of the in-house or “go to” mental health professional has become an endangered species. Some of the biggest names in radio were practicing therapists. They were a familiar part of the talk (even news/talk) format. Without turning this into a historical essay or a scold, it is sad to note that most of them are gone.
Ironically, now more than ever, the deeply troubling events in the world, the nation, and our local communities, constituting news and statistics, are bringing deep emotional pain and crippling anxiety to the masses… especially the kind of people likely to tune in to talk radio. Professionals. Businesspeople. Workers. Parents.
Looking for younger demos? Gen-Z is perhaps the most anxiety-plagued segment of the population. These “kids” need support, guidance, and understanding.
Hurricanes and heat waves are not the only disasters that call for the helpful and healing power of radio.
The hot topics of the day: crime, inflation, corruption, disease, ignorance, racial strife, and identity politics – not to mention the ever-lingering threat of nuclear devastation – are not merely subjects (and excuses) to vent blame, anger and hate. They contribute to an environment of deep fear and institutionalized discomfort. There are millions of real-life, personal “disasters” going on out there, exacerbated by relationship betrayals and family breakdowns, that make a heavy snowstorm feel like an adventure by comparison.
Stoking people’s fear and anger with cherry-picked cherry bombs is only a small part of the equation when it comes to serving the desperate needs of both current and potential listeners.
It would be a good thing to bring back to the talk radio menu some psychology shows and professional purveyors of emotional clarity, available in the local communities, as guests to dole out much sought compassion, empathy, guidance, and old fashioned advice.
Pamela Garber, LMHC is a practicing therapist based in NYC and South Florida and a longtime guest mental health commentator on radio and television news programs across the nation. She can be contacted by phone at 646-745-6709 or email at Pamelagarber@gmail.com. Her website is Grandcentralcounselinggroup.com.
The most discussed stories yesterday (3/23) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez issued a statement on Friday (3/20) after the FCC’s Media Bureau approved the Nexstar/TEGNA merger, which Gomez notes violates the existing 39% national ownership cap in
federal law. She says, “The FCC has once again chosen bureaucratic cover over public accountability. This merger was approved behind closed doors with no open process, no full Commission vote, and no transparency for the consumers and communities who will bear the consequences. A transaction of this magnitude, which includes new and novel issues before the FCC, demands open deliberation before the full Commission, not a quiet sign-off meant to avoid public scrutiny. Given the increasingly alarming pace of reckless media consolidation, the American public deserves to know how and why this decision was made.
“Local journalism is under extraordinary strain. Across the country, newsrooms are being consolidated, reporters laid off, and editorial decisions made far from the communities broadcast stations are licensed to serve. The Nexstar/TEGNA merger will accelerate exactly that trend, concentrating broadcast power in fewer corporate hands, shrinking independent editorial voices, and prioritizing national business interests over local needs. Nexstar has already begun cutting newsrooms throughout the country, and as these billion-dollar companies grow even larger, their increased negotiating leverage will drive up fees that translate into higher monthly bills for those families who can least afford them. The consequences of this rubber stamp approval will be felt in living rooms and newsrooms across the country, resulting in fewer voices, less competition, and higher costs for consumers.”
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
If you work in radio, you’ve heard every flavor of AI anxiety. Some fear it will wipe out jobs. Others treat it like a super shortcut – cranking-out spots, promos, and proposals faster and cheaper. Kate O’Neill’s What Matters Next lands squarely in the middle of this tension, and its message is one radio people need to hear: AI isn’t the disruptor. Human behavior is. AI just accelerates the consequences.
The book’s central argument is blunt: The organizations that thrive in an AI-driven world are the ones that stay relentlessly human. Not sentimental – human. Curious. Adaptive. Willing to rethink habits that calcified long before the first smart speaker ever said, “Now playing.” That’s a mirror radio hasn’t always wanted to look into.
For decades, the industry has survived by optimizing the familiar: tighter clocks, leaner staffs, syndicated shows, templated production, and “good enough” digital. AI tempts some operators to double down on that instinct – to automate more, localize less, and hope listeners won’t notice. This book argues the opposite: AI punishes sameness and rewards originality. When every business has access to the same tools, the differentiator becomes the people who use them with imagination, empathy, and purpose. That should sound familiar. It’s what radio used to brag about.
O’Neill also warns against the other extreme, the fear-driven paralysis that keeps talented people from experimenting. AI isn’t a job eater; it’s a task eater. It clears the underbrush so humans can do the work only humans can do: judgment, storytelling, connection, and community presence. In radio terms: the stuff listeners actually remember.
Imagine a morning show that uses AI not to replace prep, but to deepen it, surfacing hyperlocal stories, analyzing listener sentiment, or generating alternate angles on a topic the hosts want to explore. Or a sales team that uses AI to tailor proposals to each client’s issues instead of reshuffling the same deck. How about a newsroom (remember them?) that uses AI to sift data so stations can spend more time delivering what’s special to listeners (and sponsors): helpful local news they can’t get anywhere else. None of that eliminates jobs. It elevates them.
This book’s most important warning is this: AI widens the gap between organizations that learn and organizations that cling. Radio has lived through this before – streaming, podcasting, social media, smart speakers. The winners weren’t the ones who panicked or the ones who ignored the shift. They were the ones who adapted early, experimented often, and stayed close to their audience.
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn
The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation reveals the winners of the 51st Gracie Awards in both national and local categories. National award winners will be honored at the Gracie Awards Gala at the Beverly
Wilshire on May 19. Local television, radio, and student award recipients will be recognized at the Gracie Awards Luncheon at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York on June 16. Some of the notable radio winners include: Deborah Rodriguez news anchor for CBS News Radio; Kristen Farrah, producer of “Radio Health Journal” for American Urban Radio Networks; WABC Radio’s “Cats & Cosby” (John Catsimatidis & Rita Cosby) talk show; WGN, Chicago’s “The Lisa Dent Show”; and co-host Debra Green of WSB-AM, Atlanta’s “The Mark Arum Show.” See the full list of winners here.
In an effort to “Make America Smart Again,” TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison appears as a guest on this week’s installment of the groundbreaking education podcast, “Old School, New School, Next School,” hosted by WPHT, Philadelphia talk radio icon Dom Giordano. A former schoolteacher, Giordano is widely recognized as a leading expert on the American education system and is one of talk media’s most outspoken activists on bringing it up to speed.
Giordano and Harrison bemoan the state of America’s level of education and the fact that the nation is consistently falling behind other nations academically. They talk about a variety of topics including school choice and parental rights. To listen to the podcasts in its entirety, please click here.