Cumulus Media’s Westwood One is launching a new two-minute feature titled, “Today in Women’s
Sports,” on Monday (3/18). The program will cover the athletes, coaches, teams, and sports that have contributed to the explosive worldwide growth of women’s athletics in recent years. The rotating cast of female sports broadcasters includes Laura Okmin, Maggie Gray, Olivia Harlan Dekker, Amber Theoharis, and Amy Lawrence.
BIA Advisory Services updates its 2024 U.S. Local Advertising Forecast, estimating revenue across all media in the U.S. will reach $172 billion in 2024, an increase of 9.3 percent over 2023. This revision is a reduction of 2% from the forecast published last October. BIA Advisory says the rise will be driven by
local political and other key local vertical ad spend, and significant ad growth for connected TV/over-the-top (CTV/OTT), TV OTA, and TV Digital. BIA VP of forecasting & analysis Nicole Ovadia states, “As expected, local political advertising will be substantial this year, and it’s fueling spend across the media landscape. Our slight adjustment down for this year is mainly due to mixed economic signals, a slowdown in certain consumer purchases, and lower than expected spending in Digital and Direct Mail advertising at the end of 2023 that may flow into this year. However, we still anticipate 2024 to be better for local advertising than 2023 and certain media like TV OTA, TV Digital, and CTV/OTT are growing substantially.”
Pictured above is conservative media figure Todd Starnes (right) with U.S. Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN) and U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) at a book launch event hosted by the Conservative Partnership Institute to honor Starnes and recognize the publishing of his eighth book, Twilight’s Last Gleaming (Simon & Schuster/Post Hill Press, 2024). The event was emceed by former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows. Starnes’ talk radio show is syndicated nationally, and he is the owner of news/talk KWAM, Memphis. Starnes is also on the board of directors of the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters.
The Broadcasters Foundation of America announces the recipients of the 2024 Leadership Awards and the Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award. The Awards will be presented at the BFOA Annual Breakfast on April 17 at the Encore Resort during the NAB Show in Las Vegas. Leadership Awards are given annually in recognition of career contributions to the broadcast industry and the
community at-large. The 2024 Leadership Awards honorees are: Don Bouloukos, CBS and ABC Radio executive; Frank Comerford, chief revenue office, president, commercial operations, NBCU Local; Traug Keller, president, ABC Radio Network/SVP, ESPN Radio; Kathleen Kirby, partner, Wiley; Mike McVay, president, McVay Media Consulting; and John Rouse, EVP, ABC Affiliate Relations, Disney Platform Distribution. The Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award is bestowed annually on an individual in broadcasting whose work exemplifies innovation, community service, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. The 2024 Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award recipient is Erica Farber, president & CEO, RAB. The Broadcasters Foundation Breakfast is complimentary to all in broadcasting. You can register here.
This week’s blog post from Cumulus Media’s Westwood One Audio Active Group looks at data from the Edison Research Q4 2023 Share of Ear study focusing on data regarding ad-supported audio, as the post says, “what advertisers care about.” Seven key takeaways analyzed include: 1) Advertisers need to “take the me out of media” as they wildly overestimate Spotify and Pandora audiences and
dramatically understate AM/FM radio’s shares; 2) AM/FM radio represents the dominant ad-supported audio platform with a 68% overall share and a massive 86% in-car share; 3) In a typical day in America, 95% of Americans never listen to ad-supported Spotify. 94% never listen to ad-supported Pandora; 4) Podcasts’ audience soars. At a 20% share of ad-supported audio, podcasts now represent one out of every five minutes of U.S. ad-supported audio; 5) Among registered voters, AM/FM radio leads in ad-supported audience share (68%) followed by podcasts (21%); 6) After a pandemic lull, the proportion of AM/FM radio listening occurring in-car roars back; and 7) Powered by podcasts, spoken word is on a tear: 40% of all time with ad-supported audio goes to spoken word, up from 27% pre-pandemic. See the blog post here.
The National Association of Broadcasters will honor Hubbard Broadcasting engineer David Kolesar with the 2024 NAB Engineering Achievement Award. Established in 1959, the Radio and Television Engineering Achievement Awards are given to individuals who are nominated by their peers for significant contributions to advancing broadcast engineering. WTOP, Washington general manager Joel Oxley comments, “Time and again Dave proves that he is on the cutting edge for innovation in the radio industry. In the nearly two decades I’ve worked with him he consistently comes up with new and creative ideas on how we can be better. I can think of no one else more deserving of this award. Kudos to Dave!” Kolesar says, “It’s quite an unexpected honor to receive this award. I’m lucky to be in a place that allows me to explore my passions and curiosity, and contribute to the state of the art of the industry. I’d like to thank the management of WTOP Radio and Hubbard Broadcasting for their support, and for creating an environment that allows innovation to happen.”
Baltimore talk radio host Larry Young returns to Urban One’s WOLB-AM, Baltimore as host of the 4:00
pm to 6:00 pm show. Young served for years as the station’s morning drive host and retired from that position at the end of 2022. Young has been producing a weekly podcast that drops Wednesday mornings, a project he will continue.
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
Think about the concept for just a minute. Manhattan Island for $24? Peter Minuit knew value.
Two of my favorite sales training exercises are the Timex vs. the Rolex and the Bic vs. the Monte Blanc. In each role play we pit price against value with intangibles like prestige, self-esteem, peer recognition and good old Sam Walton-style common sense surfacing in the role play.
Sales managers reading this column should try those exercises to help develop and sharpen the skill sets necessary for success in radio-audio sales.
Price theory is now faced with two variables that may redefine value: inflation and meta-data, two distinctly different forces that can test our tolerance of price in the value equation. Stay with me, this gets simple, fast.
Assume almost everything costs more, you can pick your favorite reason. Mine is the price of men’s haircuts. I always wonder why the less hair I have, the price still goes up. Less hair, less time to cut, lower price? I have tried, but the price goes up every year. Why? The answer is the most important variable in current price theory, mastered by the airline-tourism business and it is about to be tested at a quick-serve restaurant near you. It is called demand, or in the Uber-driven currency, “surge pricing.” Eventually, you will be hit, even shocked, with the demand curve surge-pricing model.
The theory is simple: when just a few seats remain on the airplane or the hotel is heavily booked, the price goes up. When you desperately need Uber for a ride from the airport during rush hour, the price for that ride is different from the ride during non-rush hours. How about tickets to your favorite event? Sports and concerts have been in the demand-pricing business as long as someone was willing to pay. Surge pricing is a newer twist but has historic roots in tipping the maître d or the valet.
Now comes the latest price model. Just how hungry are you? Imagine your favorite dining spot changing menu prices by variables such as time of day, day of the week, number of orders waiting, even the number of cars in the drive-thru lane. Imagine watching the prices on the digital menu board change before your eyes based on the number of people waiting in line. This is not speculative price theory; it can start tomorrow or not.
Pricing has one variable we all take for granted. The customer, or in our case the advertiser. What is tolerated and what is rejected? We are privileged to operate in a market-driven economy. What variables will go into your pricing model today?
Steve Lapa is the president of Lapcom Communications Corp. based in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Lapcom is a media sales, marketing, and development consultancy. Contact Steve Lapa via email at: Steve@Lapcomventures.com.
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
Sell a local advertiser a promotion – a contest which awards a major prize from the advertiser’s inventory – to the winner who creates the best commercial for the advertiser.
Simplify the entry process by simply making “Send us your YouTube link” the means-of-entry. Then, you can embed finalists’ YouTube players on a-page-of-entries, (sponsored by the advertiser). And you can use the YouTube hit count to determine the winner. Sure, contestants will hype-the-clicks. The bigger the numbers, the better.
The Free Prize Inside: You don’t just expose advertiser and contest to YOUR cume. You’re showing it to YouTube’s cume! So, pack those keywords.
And/or: Invite listeners to do a commercial for the station!
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. He is the author of “Close Like Crazy: Local Direct Leads, Pitches & Specs That Earned the Benjamins” and “Confidential: Negotiation Checklist for Weekend Talk Radio.” Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn.
Auddia Inc is ending its attempts to secure the financing to acquire the AM/FM radio streaming app Radio FM. Auddia executive chairman Jeff Thramann comments, “We have been pursuing an
aggressive AM/FM streaming app acquisition strategy by negotiating with three targets simultaneously. It is now clear that market conditions are unfavorable for securing the largest acquisition as our first target. As such, to optimize shareholder value we are withdrawing the current S-1 on file that contemplates the Radio FM acquisition.”
TALKERS 2024, the 27th annual edition of the talk media industry’s longest-running and most important national conference is set and going to be one of the storied event’s most important installments. The power-packed, one-day event will again be presented by TALKERS on Friday, June 7, 2024, on the campus of Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York in association with the prestigious university’s multi-award-winning station WRHU Radio. TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison says, “We are delighted to be able to join forces again with our colleagues at Hofstra – the site of our very successful 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2016 events – and enjoy the remarkable resources that its Lawrence Herbert School of Communication brings to the table.” TALKERS 2024 will boldly address key issues – some existential – facing the talk radio and talk media industries at this dramatically critical juncture of rapidly accelerating technological and societal change as well as identifying the remarkable opportunities inherent in these developments. The focus, as always, will be on talk radio and its changing relationship with the larger arena of “audio” and “video” including podcasting, satellite, and digital venues. News/talk, sports talk, all-news, and general talk will be amply covered. The conference will also provide participants with unique and powerful networking opportunities. There will be over 50 top industry speakers and registration will be limited to insure intimacy. 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. Take advantage of the early bird fee of $279 available until 5:00 pm ET on Friday, March 15. 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. Nearby hotel information will be posted here shortly.
By Walter Sabo
Consultant, Sabo Media Implementers
A.K.A. Walter Sterling
Radio Host, “Sterling On Sunday”
Talk Media Network
Original ideas are golden and rare. Here are five ideas worth stealing because of their novelty, success and oh-wow factor!
THE SECRET OF A GREAT TALK STATION – Tom Bigby founding program director of WIP Philadelphia. Tom turned up a large black knob to his left and it fed the phone screeners doing their work. He could monitor all calls coming in and how they were screened. He recorded all screener conversations and “I do air check sessions with the screeners.” declared Mr. Bigby.
ENTER AND YOU COULD WIN ALL THE CLOTHES – FOX FM Melbourne Australia. Every year FOX FM hosted the FOX FASHION SHOW at a mall. The event drove entries for a contest that awarded tickets to the show. Ok, normal.
Surprise: “And one listener will win all the clothes.” At the time, 2002, Brad March was the head of programming for owner, Austerio.
WE’LL BOOST SECURITY. When New Jersey 101.5 started, John and Ken hosted PM Drive – yes that John and Ken of KFI deserved fame. The hot topic was the station’s fantasy to eliminate tolls on the Jersey Turnpike. No one considered that eliminating tolls would mean firing unionized toll takers… in New Jersey.Somebody thought that was a bad idea and slashed the tires in the station’s parking lot. Lame owners would have shut down the topic. Bob McAllan, CEO of Press Broadcasting had no problems with the topic. His response: Heavy investing in hurricane fencing and super-bright lights for the building’s exterior. Bob kept the staff fearless and that is why the station is a success to this minute.
SOMEBODY’S GOT TO BE IN THE BUILDING ALL NIGHT. Thanks to the kindness of strangers, Sterling On Sunday and my guest host appearances for Westwood One have originated from great radio facilities throughout the northeast. Great empty facilities. After 10:00 pm clusters of stations housed in state of the art installations operate without one human body in the building. Not one, not a board op, or night editor, or anybody. It’s spooky and irresponsible. What if?? Dave LaBrozzi, Program Director of KDKA engaged a group of eager interns to work in the beautiful KDKA newsroom all night. Great training for the students and smart service to Pittsburgh.
WEBSITES ARE DIFFERENT. Radio 538 is the hot top 40 in the Netherlands. Dan Mason and I consulted them and learned that they recognized that a website is not a radio station. They built web content that had nothing to do with the radio station, except in spirit, but was very appealing to online consumers. Note that all of the stars on online video are native to the medium. Hollywood stars who tried to cross to digital, failed. Different medium. Build web-only content for traffic success.
Walter Sabo hosts “Sterling On Sunday” – a 10-year network success heard on stations such as KMOX, St Louis; WPHT, Philadelphia; KFBK, Sacramento; and KDKA, Pittsburgh. His company, Sabo Media has delivered audience growth for SiriusXM, Hearst, FOX Television and other media titans. He can be reached at walter@sabomedia.com www.waltersterlingshow.com
The New York Times’ “The Daily” remains in the #1 spot on Podtrac’s U.S. Podcast ranker for February (based on unique U.S. monthly audience for participating podcasts) NPR’s “NPR News Now” and “Up
First” are #2 and #3, respectively, with NBC News’ “Dateline NBC” at #4. Other talk radio-related podcasts of note include The Daily Wire’s “The Ben Shapiro Show” rising two spots to #7, iHeartPodcasts’ “Stuff You Should Know” up two places to #9, and Dan Bongino’s “The Dan Bongino Show” up one spot to #11. You can see the complete ranker here.
The Broadcasters Foundation of America honored Hearst EVP and COO Jordan Wertlieb with its Golden Mic Award at a gala event at the Plaza Hotel in New York City last night (3/5). The organization
also bestowed its 2024 Edward F. McLaughlin Lifetime Achievement Award upon Emmy-winning news anchor Deborah Norville. The annual gala is a major fundraiser for the BFoA, which provides financial assistance to broadcasters in acute need. One of last night’s most poignant moments was a video of Foundation grant recipient Terrie Commare bravely sharing of the death of her TV general sales manager husband Luke Commare losing his life to brain cancer and how the BFoA stepped in with a monthly grant to help the family make ends meet.
Nashville sports talk host Buck Reising renews his contract with Cumulus Media to continue as host of the midday program, “The Buck Reising Show,” on WGFX-FM “104.5 The Zone.” Reising also hosts an NFL podcast called “The Install Live,” with executive producer and co-host Greg Cosell, in addition to
other content he creates with the station’s partnership with A to Z Sports. Cumulus Nashville VP and market manager Allison Warren says, “In the heart of Middle Tennessee, where sports pulse through our veins, we proudly announce the contract extension for our dynamic midday host, Buck Reising. Our airwaves resonate with the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, and the unwavering passion of fans. As the must-listen sports station, we’re more than a frequency; we’re the heartbeat of every game, every play, and every championship.” Reising comments, “I’m so grateful to ‘The Zone’ and Cumulus for believing in and investing in Lucas, Jackson, and me. We could not be happier to continue to do the show for such an incredibly supportive audience and the city that we love. We’re just getting started.”
The 85th annual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) conference took place this past Friday and Saturday (3/1-2) at the Sheraton Times Square hotel in New York City drawing some 800+ student broadcasters, faculty, and administrators from campus stations across the nation. TALKERS founder and multi-radio format pioneer Michael Harrison was among the event’s featured speakers. Harrison’s one-hour address titled, “The Next 10 Years of Media and Popular Culture is…?” brought up as many
questions as it did answers about what young broadcasters entering professional media today should be prepared for in navigating the unpredictably turbulent waters of the next decade and beyond. Among the sweeping panorama of topics covered in his address, Harrison told the students, “When looking to the future, don’t be too sure that current events will follow a predictable script. There are always ‘black swan events’ that change the storyline and our expectations in an instant. Plus, there are multiple outcomes, possibilities, and forks in the road for almost every situation.” Regarding the current focus on artificial intelligence, Harrison advised, “All technology is a double-edged sword and AI will prove to be a particularly consequential one with both positive and negative implications. However, don’t fall into the age-old trap of thinking that productions and performances created or enhanced by new technology are necessarily ‘artificial’ or ‘fake.’ New tools not only create new art, they have an irrepressible influence on giving rise to new culture. The immediate years ahead are likely going to provide us with the challenging question of ‘what does it mean to be truly human?’” Harrison concluded, “As young broadcasting students in 2024 looking to make a difference in the world, be prepared to face the challenge of following your dreams, ideals and inspiration while confronting the harsh realities of making a living in a stressed environment of relentless change. We live our lives in this business at the dangerous intersection between art and commerce.”
Since its inception in 1940, IBS has been led by outstanding volunteers who are passionate about student media. Congratulations to Norm Prusslin, chairperson, IBS board and Chris Thomas, president, IBS as well as conference chairperson Shawn Novatt and the entire board upon the success of this year’s gathering.
Pictured above is Michael Harrison (c) with two key executives from Backbone Networks at the innovative company’s display among the exhibits at the annual IBS conference. Representing two generations of the legendary Capalbo family of radio groundbreakers are George N. Capalbo, CTO, Backbone Networks (l) and his son George L. Capalbo, marketing communications director, Backbone Networks (r). They are the son and grandson of the late WRKO, Boston radio satellite innovator George J. Capalbo.
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
Is that host read you are pitching “baked-in?”
No, I am not talking baked in the content, as in before the break with all the produced commercials. I am talking about “baked-in” the audio that will live on as long as that show is available.
Still confused? You should ask someone who has handled an actual audio podcast avail. Some advertisers and their ad agencies are shaping the future and “baked-in” is a fundamental element of the new-think that is pushing the needle on podcast CPM, while your team struggles to compete for low CPM based on old school models that are dropping like flies.
The good news is that host read is still the gold standard that moves the listener to action. The bad news is radio station sellers are hanging onto older strategies that have little room in a future filled with millions of audio podcasts that contain no music and feature comedy, news, talk, opinion, lifestyle, sports, politics, entertainment, financial, medical, legal, self-help, religion, even foreign language – as in nothing but the human voice and a little production.
Sound familiar? I call it the great sales equalizer: the host read.
So how can this magical host read have such a dramatic impact in this super-crowded environment, yet be so underappreciated on radio stations coast to coast? Let us look at the three legs of the sales stool that have never changed.
1. The seller. Most radio sellers are presenting the host read the same way they did since their first order. What is new, different, and exciting in the way you present your talent today?
2. The audience. Size matters, intimacy matters, performance matters. Can you demonstrate how your host-audience relationship fulfills those criteria and generates a response for your advertisers?
3. The inventory. Why do we still have the same number of host reads in every hour of a show? Anyone have the courage to vary the inventory or pricing throughout a show?
The podcast world is leading the way to a future filled with:
1. Baked-In host reads.
2. Pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll price differences.
3. Commercial inventory limits.
4. Impression delivery options that demonstrate clear accountability.
There is a bright future in audio sales that will look and feel different from what we take for granted today. Make sure you are on the right side of the wave and not stuck in the mud.
Steve Lapa is the president of Lapcom Communications Corp. based in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Lapcom is a media sales, marketing, and development consultancy. Contact Steve Lapa via email at: Steve@Lapcomventures.com.
TALKERS founder/multi-format radio pioneer Michael Harrison will serve as a featured speaker at the national IBS (Intercollegiate Broadcasting System) conference taking place today and tomorrow (3/1
-2) at the Sheraton Times Square hotel in New York City. Harrison’s address titled, “The Next 10 Years of Media and Popular Culture is…?,” is scheduled to take place between 11:00 am and 12:00 noon on Saturday (3/2). Harrison states, “I have always believed that the future of broadcasting, for better or worse, brews on the campuses of America and this observation is truer now than ever before. I am very excited to bring an array of provocative and pertinent observations, predictions and possibilities, born of my perspective as a future-minded immigrant from the 20th century to such a vital and dynamic group of young communicators.” See registration, agenda and hotel information here.
TuneIn is launching its new “Election Channel” ahead of Super Tuesday to “give listeners easy access to news coverage around the presidential primary election day.” TuneIn says, “The channel features a
comprehensive collection of the top national and regional news stations to help listeners stay up to date on the latest in the race to the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election in November. The ‘Election Channel’ brings together all voices and viewpoints to empower listeners to stay informed on all party news.” TuneIn adds that its coverage includes national and global news networks and stations, including NBC News NOW, CNN, MSNBC, FOX News Radio, Newsmax and Progressive Voices, plus local stations across the country.
iHeartMedia chairman and CEO Bob Pittman begins production of the sixth season of his podcast,
“Math & Magic: Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing with Bob Pittman,” in which he speaks with leaders, entrepreneurs and visionaries across music, film, live entertainment, marketing and more. The first episode of this season features Kellyn Kenny, AT&T’s chief marketing and growth officer, who has also served with such companies as Microsoft, Hilton, Capital One and Uber.
The state of former President Donald Trump’s various legal battles was the most-talked-about story in news/talk media this week, landing atop the Talkers TenTM. At #2 this week was the presidential race, 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 on ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. See this week’s complete chart here.
According to data from Edison Research’s Share of Ear study, the listening habits of Americans change depending on whether they live in an urban, suburban or rural setting. Edison says, “Those who live in rural areas spend a much higher portion of their audio listening time with AM/FM radio, as compared with
those living in suburban or urban areas. Rural listeners spend 43% of their daily audio listening time with AM/FM radio and radio streams, compared with urban listeners who spend 34% of their time with AM/FM radio and radio streams. Meanwhile, Urban listeners spend over twice as much of their daily audio time with podcasts as rural listeners. Urban listeners spend 13% of their daily audio time with podcasts compared with rural listeners who spend 6% of their daily time with podcasts.” Interestingly, if you combine the AM/FM listening and podcast listening numbers for Urban, Suburban and Rural listeners, these numbers are essentially the same – between 47% and 49%. Edison notes, “It appears that the ‘time budget’ for radio and podcasting combined is consistent across locations; it is just the apportionment of that time that varies.”
Talk media personality Mike Church – longtime host of the morning drive program on SixiusXM’s The Patriot Channel – is bringing his Internet-based talk program to terrestrial radio. Church’s company, The Crusade Radio Network,” says, “We are delighted to announce that after seven years of singular
devotion to Internet radio broadcasting, we are launching ‘The Mike Church Show’ into terrestrial radio syndication! The launch date of ‘The Mike Church Show’ will be March 1 and the show will begin its repatriation of AM/FM radio in Atlanta, Georgia’s #7 U.S. radio market on WXKG “The King”! Church adds, “We’ve always known that terrestrial radio was going to play a part in our industry leading development of Internet radio, we just didn’t know in what way. Over the last two years, that role began to materialize with the dearth of quality talk shows and the opportunities to fill that gap left by the wrecking ball that was consolidation’s march through local radio properties.” The program airs live from 7:00 am to 10:00 am ET.
Pictured above are members of the staff of Cumulus Media’s radio stations in Bloomington, Illinois – including news/talk WJBC-AM, CHR WBNQ-FM, and country WBWN-FM – as they helped raise $103,739 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital via its annual two-day Cumulus Cares for St. Jude Kids Radiothon that took place February 8 and 9.
Pittsburgh media personality Shelby Cassesse is leaving her role with Audacy’s news/talk KDKA-AM and sports talk KDKA-FM “93.7 The Fan,” according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Cassesse had been
serving as a full-time KDKA Radio reporter since February 2021 and hosted her own Sunday morning talk show on “93.7 The Fan.” She posted to social media, “While news has offered so many opportunities for growth, my heart has always been in sports journalism and it’s time to fully focus on that path.” Audacy Pittsburgh SVP and market manager Michael Spacciapolli says, “We are so grateful for all of Shelby’s work in the KDKA newsroom. Her time as a host at ‘The Fan’ will forever be a part of the history of that great radio station. We know the future will bring her great things. We are fortunate to be a part of her journey.” Read the Post-Gazette story here.