Two programs syndicated by Mark Walters’ CCW Broadcast Media LLC are adding new affiliate stations.
The weekend program – hosted by Mark Walters – “Armed American Radio” is added to the program lineup at four stations including WZGM-AM, Asheville, North Carolina and WXZQ-FM, Columbus, Ohio. The “AAR Daily Defense Hour” adds three new affiliates including WNWS-FM, Jackson, Tennessee.
Hubbard Radio’s all-news WTOP-FM, Washington, DC took home five first place Chesapeake Associated Press Broadcasters Association Awards, including Outstanding Website for WTOP.com and the Best in
Show Award for “Key Bridge Collapse” in the Outstanding Spot News Reporting category. Director of news and programming Julia Ziegler says, “Our goal every day is to serve those who live in this region by delivering to them the stories that impact their lives. The newsroom pushes hard to produce content for our audio, web and social platforms that informs and engages our audience. It is an honor to be recognized for this work.”
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
This coming Sunday, June 15, is Father’s Day. For that day – and the Friday before (hint-hint) – you might have already readied Harry Chapin’s “Cat’s In The Cradle” and The Winstons’ “Color Him Father” and Dan Fogelberg’s wistful “Leader of the Band.”
Regardless of your format – yes, news/talk stations – hear-me-now-and-believe-me-later: “The Men in My Little Girl’s Life” by Mike Douglas. Guaranteed Kleenex material. Don’t even intro it. Just hit it cold and play the whole thing. You’ll hear about it.
GREAT call-in topic: “The best advice he ever gave you?” You will save the aircheck. Callers – some chuckling, others choking-back-tears – tell stories.
And if you still have your Dad, give the lug a hug. If he’s not still around, I suspect that you will find, as my brothers and sisters and I have, that he never really leaves you.
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke
Talk host Tom Shattuck’s contract was not renewed at Audacy’s news/talk WTIC-AM, Hartford and his last
show was on Friday (6/6). Shattuck – whose career includes time spent as producer of Boston Herald Radio, producer and host at WRKO and WTKK-FM in Boston, as well as editor at the Boston Herald – hosted the midday show at WTIC for the past four years. He also produces and hosts the podcast, “Burn Barrel,” and will continue with that effort. Audacy is going syndicated in the daypart featuring FOX News Radio’s “The Brian Kilmeade Show” followed by “The Erick Erickson Show.”
Pictured above is nationally syndicated talk host Todd Starnes delivering a keynote address at the National Association of Christian Lawmakers’ national policy conference at Liberty University. Starnes was recently named to the board of the NACL.
Talk Media Network nationally syndicated host Joe Thomas is broadcasting his “First Thing Today” program
all this week from Palm Springs, California at “Freedomfest.” Thomas tells TALKERS that at the event – billed as “The Largest Gathering of Free Minds”—he will cover everything from farming to energy and, of course, free markets. Thomas also operates Thomas Media LLC which owns news/talk WTON, Staunton/Waynesboro/Harrisonburg.
At the end of the business day today (6/6), the Federal Communications Commission is without a quorum of three commissioners. Democrat Commissioner Geoffrey Starks previously announced his exit from the
Commission and Republican Commissioner Nathan Simington abruptly announced his departure from his commissioner role earlier this week. President Trump nominated Olivia Trusty for the open seat that existed prior to Starks’ and Simington’s departures but that has been stalled in the Senate. Interestingly, FOX News reports that Simington’s chief of staff Gavin Wax is being floated as a potential nominee, according to “a source close to the FCC.” Regardless, the Senate needs to get at least one nominee confirmed soon as the Commission’s ability to do business is disrupted.
WSB, Atlanta-based, nationally syndicated talk host Erick Erickson is launching a new podcast that gives
fans their “essential end-of-day rundown of the four most important stories breaking while you were busy.” The Erickson show says “4 Things to Know This Afternoon” delivers “smart analysis of the four biggest headlines shaping the nation and the world in less than ten minutes. From national security to culture, economics to politics, Erick distills the noise into clarity – cutting through the spin with conviction, context, and a clear-eyed view of where things stand.”
FOX News Radio nationally syndicated personality Jimmy Failla (right) is being added to the program schedule at iHeartMedia’s WOR, New York, effective June 9 airing in the 9:00 pm to 12:00 midnight daypart. WOR program director Tom Cuddy (left) says, “Known for his sharp wit, fearless takes and refreshing lightness in the political world, we are delighted to welcome Jimmy to the WOR family and to be heard in his hometown. Jimmy’s show informs and entertains, which is a perfect combination for our tri-state area audience.”
Republican FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington – who joined the Commission during President Trump’s first term – surprised the industry on Wednesday (6/4) by issuing a statement announcing his exit from the Commission. He said, “I will be concluding my tenure at the Federal Communications Commission at the
end of this week. It has been the greatest honor of my professional life to serve the American people as a Commissioner. I am deeply honored to have been entrusted with this responsibility by President Donald J. Trump during his first term. The Commission is in excellent hands under the leadership of my distinguished colleague, Chairman Brendan T. Carr, and is supported by an extraordinary staff whose dedication to public service is second to none. Throughout my tenure, I worked to defend free expression, safeguard national security, and promote infrastructure investment to benefit all Americans… I look forward to continuing to serve the public interest in the years ahead and to contributing to the vital conversations surrounding our communications infrastructure, national security, and technological leadership. I remain committed to advancing the cause of limited government, free speech, and American innovation. These principles guided my time at the Commission and will continue to shape my future endeavors. As I move forward, I remain committed to shaping the future of communications policy and will continue to advocate for the values and priorities that have guided my public service.”
Premiere Launches “Comedy Saved Me”. Premiere Networks and Buzz Knight announce the launch of a new podcast, “Comedy Saved Me,” hosted by TV and radio pro Lynn Hoffman. In each episode, Hoffman sits down with comedians, entertainers, and cultural voices to share personal, powerful stories about how comedy changed their lives, and sometimes even saved them.
Jones Joins WNYC/Gothamist. Journalist Gabrielle Jones joins the local news team at WNYC/Gothamist as the director of digital news and audience. The public media organization says Jones will work with the newsroom, live radio shows, and across New York Public Radio to grow audiences on WNYC’s local news website Gothamist, the WNYC app, their newsletters and social media.
Radio CEOs Speak with Chachi. Benztown president Dave “Chachi” Denes interviews two group heads on his podcast, “Chachi Loves Everybody.” The most recent edition of his podcast series features Saga Communications president and CEO Chris Forgy and Meruelo Media president and CEO Otto Padron.
Audacy promotes Michael Biemolt to president of digital sales. In this role, Biemolt will spearhead all national and local digital sales strategies, focusing on Audacy’s “dedication to delivering innovative solutions
and outcomes that matter for its partners.” Audacy chief business officer Chris Oliviero says, “Our growing digital portfolio will benefit from this new organizational structure, setting Audacy up perfectly for further success. With Michael at the helm, we will lean into his expertise, experience and creativity to further energize our digital sales, unlocking new opportunities and creating better workflows and results for our local and national teams. We’re excited about what this means for our client partners and colleagues.” Biemolt most recently served as executive vice president at Audacy where he was responsible for leading digital transformation efforts and helping grow national sales capabilities.
Florida’s Voice Radio Adds Affiliates. Conservative talk host Drew Steele’s “Florida’s Voice Radio” program adds new affiliates as WDBO, Orlando; WOKV, Jacksonville; and WROD, Daytona Beach add the program to their lineups. Steele says, “I’m thrilled to join the lineups of WDBO, WOKV, and WROD. Florida has some of the most passionate and engaged listeners anywhere, and I can’t wait to connect with them and be part of what matters to these communities.”
Stefanik Makes News on Sid & Friends. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) said on the “Sid & Friends” morning show on WABC, New York that she is considering a gubernatorial run. Politico reports that Stefanik said to Sid Rosenberg, “We need to save New York, and I’m taking a very strong look. I’m going to make a decision in the coming months.”
“The Breakfast Club” Hits Download Milestone. iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network celebrate “The Breakfast Club” podcast surpassing one billion downloads. The show was launched in 2010 on iHeartMedia New York’s “Power 105.1” and the company says it “quickly became a must-stop destination for musicians, entertainers, politicians and the most talked about cultural figures of the moment. Since then, it has amassed a dedicated following captivated by the honest opinions and cultural breakdowns from current hosts DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious and Charlamagne Tha God.”
By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Media Law, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer
When Georgia-based nationally syndicated radio personality, and Second Amendment advocate Mark Walters (longtime host of “Armed American Radio”) learned that ChatGPT had falsely claimed he was involved in a criminal embezzlement scheme, he did what few in the media world have dared to do. Walters stood up when others were silent, and took on an incredibly powerful tech company, one of the biggest in the world, in a court of law.
Taking the Fight to Big Tech
Walters, by filing suit against OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, become the first person in the United States to test the boundaries of defamation law in the age of generative artificial intelligence.
His case was not simply about clearing his name. It was about drawing a line. Can artificial intelligence generate and distribute false and damaging information about a real person without any legal accountability?
While the court ultimately ruled in OpenAI’s favor on specific legal procedure concerns, the impact of this case is far from finished. Walters’ lawsuit broke new ground in several important ways:
— It was the first known defamation lawsuit filed against an AI developer based on content generated by an AI system.
— It brought into the open critical questions about responsibility, accuracy, and liability when AI systems are used to produce statements that sound human but carry no editorial oversight.
— It continued to add fuel to the conversation of the effectiveness of “use at your own risk” disclaimers when there is real world reputational damage hanging in the balance.
Implications for the Radio and Podcasting Community
For those spoken-word creators, regardless of platform on terrestrial, satellite, or the open internet, this case is a wake-up call, your canary in a coal mine. Many shows rely on AI tools for research, summaries, voice generation, or even show scripts. But what happens when those tools get it wrong? (Other than being embarrassed, and in some cases fined or terminated) And worse, what happens when those errors affect real people?
The legal system, as has been often written about, is still playing catch-up. Although the court ruled that the fabricated ChatGPT statement lacked the necessary elements of defamation under Georgia law, including provable harm and demonstrable fault, the decision highlighted how unprepared current frameworks are for this fast-moving, voice-driven digital landscape.
Where the Industry Goes from Here
Walters’ experience points to the urgent need for new protection and clearer guidelines:
— Creators deserve assurance that the tools they use are built with accountability in mind. This would extend to copyright infringement and to defamation.
— Developers must be more transparent about how their systems operate and the risks they create. This would identify bias and attempt to counteract it.
— Policymakers need to bring clarity to who bears responsibility when software, not a person, becomes the speaker.
A Case That Signals a Larger Reckoning
Mark Walters may not have won this round in court, but his decision to take on a tech giant helped illuminate how quickly generative AI can create legal, ethical, and reputational risks for anyone with a public presence. For those of us working in media, especially in formats built on trust, voice, and credibility, his case should not be ignored.
“This wasn’t about money. This was about the truth,” Walters tells TALKERS. “If we don’t draw a line now, there may not be one left to draw.”
Media attorney, Matthew B. Harrison is VP/Associate Publisher at TALKERS; Senior Partner at Harrison Media Law; and Executive Producer at Goodphone Communications. He is available for private consultation and media industry contract representation. He can be reached by phone at 724-484-3529 or email at matthew@harrisonmedialaw.com. He teaches “Legal Issues in Digital Media” and serves as a regular contributor to industry discussions on fair use, AI, and free expression.
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
“Fewer than half of Americans plan to travel this Summer,” according to a Bankrate survey, and “cost is a major concern.”
— Just 46% plan to travel, 38% domestically and 15% internationally (with some overlap between the two).
— 65% of non-travelers cite a lack of interest in traveling currently. “Not being able to take time off work and travel being too much of a hassle both came in at 16%.”
— “The expense of everyday life tops the reasons people can’t afford to travel.”
— “15% of respondents said they were worried about flight safety. That comes on the heels of several high-profile aviation incidents in the United States.”
This isn’t bad news. It’s an open door.
Programming/Promotion ideas:
— Local Day Trips vignettes (within 90-minute drive)
— Grilling tips (local chef? listener suggestions?)
— Weekend activities/events calendar
— Near the water? “Shorecast”
— Online Staycation Directory
— Listener photos (garden, patio, pool, grill-N-chill)
Any/all-of-the-above are sponsorable. Prospects:
— Outdoor furniture retailers
— Home improvement stores (paint, decking, lighting)
— Grill/smoker shops & barbecue supply
— Pest control services
— HVAC (air conditioner tune-ups)
— Pool and hot tub installers, maintenance
— Gazebo/screenhouse/awning installers
— Water parks/mini golf/drive-in movies
— Ice cream stands, craft breweries
PS: Tomorrow’s bumpers:
“Ode to Billie Joe” by Bobbie Gentry, and “Desiree” by Neil Diamond. Both begin “It was the third of June…”
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn
Winners in this year’s annual Edward R. Murrow Regional Awards presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association have been announced. The RTDNA competition has been presented since 1971 and now
encompasses four divisions: Local TV and Radio; Network, Syndication Service, Program Service TV and Radio; Digital News Organizations; and Student Awards. RTDNA says the Murrow Awards “recognize local and national news stories that uphold the RTDNA Code of Ethics, demonstrate technical expertise and exemplify the importance and impact of journalism as a service to the community. Murrow Award-winning work demonstrates the excellence that Edward R. Murrow made a standard for the broadcast news profession.” You can see the winners across the 14 regions here.
Connoisseur Media CEO Jeffrey Warshaw is suing Soros Fund Management for breach of contract, unfair trade practices and more in Connecticut Superior Court. In the complaint, Warshaw alleges that he had a deal with Soros Fund Management’s Michael Del Nin in 2022 and began working together “to try to acquire
Cox Radio, with Del Nin agreeing that Warshaw would manage the business as CEO upon successful acquisition.” While both parties were doing due diligence on the CMG deal, Warshaw learned that an Audacy majority stake holder was willing to sell its stake in the company. Warshaw says he steered SFM and Del Nin to the deal that made SFM a majority stake holder of the new Audacy in early 2024. Warshaw alleges he was promised he’d be the next CEO of Audacy or that he would get 5% of SFM’s profits from the Audacy acquisition. After that though, Warshaw says Del Nin balked and denied there was ever an agreement, calling any such claims “fabricated.” Warshaw is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and asking that the court award specific performance of their agreement.
iHeartMedia Launches “True Crime Tonight.” iHeartMedia announces the premiere of “True Crime Tonight” in collaboration with KT Studios. “True Crime Tonight” will initially launch on more than 20 broadcast radio stations across the country Sunday through Thursday evenings live at 10:00 pm local time beginning June 1. The two-hour show is being led by Stephanie Lydecker, founder and CEO of KT Studios; Courtney McKenna Armstrong, producer and voice of KT Studios’ podcasts; and Baudi Moovan, crime analyst and star of Netflix’s “Don’t F*** with Cats.”
Edison Unveils Infinite Dial UK. At The Podcast Show in London, Edison Research released its finding about UK digital media consumption via it’s the Infinite Dial UK 2025. The study looked at tech ownership, social media usage, online audio, and podcast listening in the UK.
Podcast One Acquires New Shows. PodcastOne announces it broadens its programming slate by adding several new and acquired podcasts to its network. Acquisitions include “Love Murder,” “The Broadside” and “Intrusive Thoughts” by Adam Rippon, with new podcasts “Yestergays” with Justin Sylvester and Blakely Thornton and “A Lot of You Have Been Asking” from comedian Hayden Cohen.
Edison Research says that according to a new custom survey it is conducting, the radio industry now knows exactly what time Americans 13+ wake up on weekdays. According to the survey, just over 30% of
Americans 13+ are awake by 6:00 am during the weekday. The two most popular half hour increments Americans set their alarms for are between 6:00 am-6:30 am and 7:00 am-7:30 am. For radio station programmers wondering how important the 5:00 am hour is, just over 14% are awake by 5:00 am with another 17% rising sometime during the 5:00 am hour. Edison says other data indicates most Americans are waking up slightly later than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic shifted routines and schedules to spend more time in the home.
iHeartMedia’s BIN: Black Information Network announces its collaboration with The Obama Foundation to advance community engagement with youth. “This multi-year collaboration — the first of its kind for BIN — brings together its mission to inform, educate and elevate Black voices with The Obama Foundation’s commitment to empowering individuals and communities to create lasting
change. Both organizations share a vision of advancing equity, social justice and civic engagement for future generations.” BIN president Tony Coles adds, “This powerful collaboration will deliver important, unbiased information to our audiences, promote civic engagement, and foster inclusive dialogue. In today’s news environment, our responsibility is to ensure the stories, commitment and goals of civic and community leaders are heard by our listeners and carried forward by future generations.” BIN will advance the mission of the Obama Presidential Center in the runup to opening in 2026 by sharing and distributing stories focused on President Obama’s legacy, community-driven initiatives on the South Side of Chicago and engaging in national conversations around equity, democracy and change.
New Affiliates for “America Tonight.” The nationally syndicated show “America Tonight” starring Kate Delaney adds two new affiliate stations as WORD, Daytona Beach and KLIS, St. Louis both add the program to their lineups. Delaney tells TALKERS magazine that she is celebrating 16 years of hosting “America Tonight.”
Townsquare Officers to Present at Investor Conferences. Townsquare Media’s CEO Bill Wilson, CFO Stuart Rosenstein, and EVP investor relations Claire Yenicay are participating in two upcoming investor conferences – the Barrington Research Virtual Spring Investment Conference on May 29 and the Noble Capital Markets’ Virtual Investor Conference on June 4.
Saga Declares Dividend. Saga Communications’ board of directors is declaring a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share to be paid on June 27, 2025, to shareholders of record on June 6, 2025. The aggregate amount of the payment to be made in connection with the quarterly dividend will be approximately $1.6 million. The quarterly dividend will be funded by cash on the company’s balance sheet. Including this dividend, the company will have paid over $138 million in dividends to shareholders since the first special dividend was paid in 2012.
Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio announces the opening of the application window for the “MIW Elevating Women in Programming Mentorship.” MIW says the program offers “a transformative year-long experience, connecting the mentee with some of the most accomplished programming
minds in the business. Through personalized conversations, strategic connections, and unique opportunities, the program aims to empower and elevate the mentee’s career within the radio industry.” This mentorship is open to one female brand manager, content/program director, assistant program director, or music director from any U.S.-based format. “The ‘MIW Elevating Women in Programming Mentorship’ program is a cornerstone of our mission to empower women in radio,” says MIW board president Sheila Kirby. “This initiative not only fosters personal and professional growth but also builds a stronger and more inclusive future for the industry. We’re excited to welcome another talented mentee into this life-changing program.” Learn more and apply here.
By Walter Sabo
a.k.a. Walter M Sterling
Host, Sterling Every Damn Night
WPHT, Philadelphia
Sterling On Sunday, Syndicated, TMN
Dozens of brand-new audio hardware and software companies have been launched during the past 20 years. These start-ups are usually funded by venture capital money. VC money is not invested to return a profit, it’s poured in to – pour it in. Their money is “different” than the cashflow that fuels your business. Start-up money buys time to profit.
Amazon lost money its first 10 years. Spotify launched in 2008 and turned a full year profit for the first time – last year.
MOST venture-backed start-ups do not make it to profit, they close.
With virtually unlimited funds and no deadlines, what are the strategic markers for success of most fresh, new audio businesses? Having performed due diligence for many start-ups, this is an informed summary of their goals:
— Significant distribution of the product.
— Robust, broad-appeal content offerings
— Proven metrics for securing advertising dollars
— Positive cultural impact
— Embraced by late-stage adopters
— Advertiser credibility
Hold radio to the above checklist. 92% of the population has a radio – more households than own a TV. Radio’s distribution is elegant, wireless, and free. Streaming? Yes, radio has streamed to the car since 1938. How’s UCONNECT or APPLE PLAY working in your KIA? Buffering now? Bluetooth pairing? At-home streams cost about $1,000 for a computer, $100 a month for WiFi, $150 for software upgrades and repairs. Radio distribution: turn it “ON.” No startup audio service will match radio’s distribution system.
Mature means predictable. Content offerings on radio are understood, accepted, and quickly adjusted if not appealing. Audio start-ups are rarely run by execs with audio entertainment experience. Their execs tend to be recruited from two groups: techs and discoverers. Techs because somebody has to make it work. Discoverers because you would be shocked at how many audio newcomers were funded on the wacky premise that AM/FM fails to see how badly Americans want to hear brand new music! Lurking among workers within the streaming and satellite communities is the harsh prejudice that pros with actual radio experience are satanic dinosaurs.
Most start-ups flirt with doing good for the country, ie; positive messaging, lots of jazz or world music. AM/FM has hardcore positive impact witnessed by the fact that most public radio stations enjoy ratings dominance. No other medium – none – raises more money for community charities than AM/FM.
Driving a new product past the innovators, early adopters, early majority to late majority is the path to success in any industry. AM/FM reached late majority when Bing Crosby had his own show. How’s mom doing with Spotify?
Advertiser credibility: Procter & Gamble returned to radio in the early 2000s. Last year P&G landed near the top of radio advertisers. Procter has no sense of humor or time for nonsense. If P&G buys a lot of radio, end of story. Again.
Not legacy media. Proven media.
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.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr testified before the subcommittee on financial services and general government yesterday and updated the committee on a number of issues, including his efforts to deregulate, saying, “Right now, the FCC is doing a top to bottom review of every rule, regulation, and guidance document for the purpose of eliminating unnecessary
regulatory burdens. We received great feedback from a range of stakeholders already and plan on eliminating onerous, antiquated, and unlawful requirements across the board.” Carr added, “And we have been delivering these results with a focus on efficiency. At the beginning of Fiscal Year 2025, the FCC employed 1,461 full-time employees. As of April 28, 2025, the FCC employed 1,383 full-time employees. The difference over the last six months can be attributed to many factors, including FCC employees who took advantage of the early retirement window opened by my predecessor, the deferred resignation program offered by President Trump, and natural turnover. The agency is well positioned to continue carrying out its statutory mission for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2025 and beyond.”
Premiere Networks syndicated personalities and podcasters Angela Yee and Amy Brown were honored at the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation’s 50th Annual Gracie Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles Tuesday night (5/20). Additional iHeartMedia honorees included Hannah Storm and Ester Dillard from BIN: Black Information Network. Pictured above are (from l-r): iHeartMedia executive vice president of programming Thea Mitchem, Yee, Premiere Networks president Julie Talbott, Brown, Brown’s daughter Stachira Brown, Premiere Networks vice president of international business development Tanya Juhasz, and Dillard.
Longtime sports talk outlet KFNS, St. Louis is in the process of changing hands as Big Toe Media announced its intent to acquire the station from Zobrist Media back on April 10. Now, Big Toe Media is revealing that its plans for the station include call letter changes – to KLIS – and a re-brand to “The
Lou Information Station.” The station’s new lineup includes: “IN YOUR CITY Show” with Kelley Lamm and Gordon Montgomery; “Hot Take Central” with Jim Hayes& Cam Janssen; “Sounds of STL” with Tony Patrico; the nationally syndicated program “The Ramsey Show” and more. Big Toe Media says the station will be “a dynamic new content platform designed to deliver fresh, relevant, and engaging daily programming focused on the news, sports, culture, and conversations that matter to most of the St. Louis community. The press release adds that “The Lou Information Station” is a “modern media platform built for how St. Louis consumes content in 2025 with live and on-demand shows via YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.”
By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Media Law, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer
In a ruling that should catch the attention of every talk host and media creator dabbling in AI, a Georgia court has dismissed “Armed American Radio” syndicated host Mark Walters’ defamation lawsuit against OpenAI. The case revolved around a disturbing but increasingly common glitch: a chatbot “hallucinating” canonically false but believable information.
The Happenings: A journalist asked ChatGPT to summarize a real court case. Instead, the AI invented a fictional lawsuit accusing Walters of embezzling from the Second Amendment Foundation — a group with which he’s never been employed. The journalist spotted the error and never published inaccurate information. But the damage, at least emotionally and reputationally, was done. That untruth was out there, and Walters sued for defamation.
Last week, the court kicked the case. The court determined Walters was a public figure, and as such, Walters had to prove “actual malice” — that OpenAI knowingly or recklessly published falsehoods. He couldn’t but now it may be impossible.
The judge emphasized the basis that there was an assumption false information was never shared publicly. It stayed within a private conversation between the journalist and ChatGPT. No dissemination, no defamation.
But while OpenAI may have escaped liability, the ruling raises serious questions for the rest in the content creation space.
What This Means for Talk Hosts
Let’s be honest: AI tools like ChatGPT are already part of the media ecosystem. Hosts use them to summarize articles, brainstorm show topics, generate ad copy, and even suggest guest questions. They’re efficient — and also dangerous.
This case shows just how easily AI can generate falsehoods with confidence and detail. If a host were to read something like that hallucinated lawsuit on air, without verifying it, the legal risk would shift. It wouldn’t be the AI company on the hook — it would be the broadcaster who repeated it.
Key Lessons
Bottom line: the lawsuit may be over, but the conversation is just beginning. The more we rely on machines to shape our words, the more we need to sharpen our filters. Because when AI gets it wrong, the real fallout hits the human behind the mic.
And for talk hosts, that means the stakes are personal. Your credibility, your syndication, your audience trust — none of it can be outsourced to an algorithm. AI might be a tool in the kit, but editorial judgment is still the sharpest weapon in your arsenal. Use it. Or risk learning the hard way what Mark Walters just did. Walters has yet to comment on what steps – if any – he and his lawyers will take next.
TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison issued the following comment regarding the Georgia ruling: “In the age of internet ‘influencers’ and media personalities with various degrees of clout operating within the same space, the definition of ‘public figure’ is far less clear than in earlier times. The media and courts must revisit this striking change. Also, in an era of self-serving political weaponization, this ruling opens the door to ‘big tech’ having enormous, unbridled power in influencing the circumstances of news events and reputations to meet its own goals and agendas.”
Matthew B. Harrison is a media attorney and executive producer specializing in broadcast law, intellectual property, and First Amendment issues. He serves as VP/Associate Publisher of TALKERS magazine and is a senior partner at Harrison Media Law. He also leads creative development at Goodphone Communications.
The filing with the FCC for Connoisseur Media to acquire the radio stations and other assets of Alpha Media is now public and Jeffrey Warshaw’s Connoiusseur is not paying cash for Alpha Media; it is instead assuming the company’s debt. The complicated deal announced back on May 5 will result in
current Alpha Media shareholders retaining their interest in the company but ceding control to Connoisseur. Under the terms of the deal, Alpha shareholders will reorganize into a new company which will become part of Connoisseur in exchange for a 3.75% equity stake in Connoisseur, plus two warrants to allow them to acquire more equity – one for 5% at $30 million valuation and the other for up to 5% at $70 million valuation. Connoisseur is acquiring new credit facilities to finance the retirement of Alpha debt plus a new, revolving credit line. Connoisseur is operating the Alpha under an LMA and when the deal closes, the new Connoisseur will own and operate 218 stations in 47 markets.
This week’s blog from Cumulus Media | Westwood One’s Audio Active Group analyzes data from Edison Research’s ongoing Share of Ear study to determine what advertisers should consider for an
ad-supported media campaign. Among the findings is that in order to ensure that digital audio buys are effective, marketers should commit news/talk and sports stations because they represent 28% of all 25-54 AM/FM radio streaming audiences. Among 25-54s, spoken-word formats have a massive 28% streaming share, 2.4 times larger than the overall spoken word share of 12%. The news/talk format has a 6.7% share of total AM/FM radio listening. The streaming share for news/talk is 15.4% — more than double its total share. The sports format has a 12.5 share of the streaming audience, 2.5 times bigger than its overall 5 share. Further, the data indicates that for the 18-34 demographic, sports and news/talk streaming is a combined 19.6% share. See the full blog post here.
The Broadcasters Foundation of America announces that due to popular demand, it is presenting its next Media Mixer at the New York City studios of iHeartMedia on June 18 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. BFoA says the popular event brings together up-and-coming broadcast professionals with their peers
and executives and increases awareness of the Broadcasters Foundation charitable mission. This event will be co-hosted by Angela Yee, BFOA Ambassador and nationally syndicated host of “Way Up with Angela Yee.” Also hosting will be Pedro Rivera, reporter and anchor for ABC7’s Eyewitness News. Closing out the night will be Long Island singer-songwriter Camryn Quinlan. BFoA president Tim McCarthy says, “We are thrilled that there has been such an overwhelmingly positive response to our Media Mixers. During today’s dramatic changes in the media landscape, more broadcast professionals – entry, junior, and senior levels – want to get together to exchange experiences and brainstorm for the future.”
More than 20 conservative groups, led by Heritage Action for America, sent a letter Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr voicing their support for the agency’s efforts to modernize what they call outdated ownership regulations that they say negatively impact local TV and radio stations. The letter puts forth the argument that digital media is at an advantage over analogue media due to these regulations. “The FCC’s television and radio ownership rules date back to the
1940s, when broadcast dominated mass communications in the U.S. Since then, the media marketplace has changed drastically – from widespread deployment of cable and satellite television networks to the rise of social media, podcasts, and streaming. Local broadcasters compete directly with Big Tech, streaming services, and social media platforms in the marketplace of consumer content. Yet, unlike their competitors such as YouTube and Facebook, broadcasters are limited by the ownership rules in how many households and consumers they can reach. This is an inherent disadvantage.” The letter adds, “By eliminating the national television cap, local TV duopoly restrictions, and local radio ownership caps, broadcasters can better achieve the scale and efficiencies necessary to compete – and to attract vital investment – in a fragmented and rapidly evolving information market.” See the complete letter here as posted by NAB.
In a speech at the 2025 Media Institute Communications Forum on May 15, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez criticized what she called the Trump administration’s “campaign to censor and control” stating “[S]ince day one the FCC has been implementing the will of this Administration and undermining the First Amendment at every turn.” Gomez said the administration has “initiated investigations and
floated debilitating rate regulation schemes that target national network broadcasters for their newsrooms’ editorial decisions, harassed private companies for their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, and threatened tech companies that respond to consumer demands for content moderation and fact-checking. Separately, they have attempted to shutter Voice of America and sought retribution against lawful residents that protest Administration policies.” She cited two occasions where presidents – FDR in 1939, and John F. Kennedy in the early 1960s – asked their FCC Chairs to shut down media outlets critical of their policies and those FCC Chairmen boldly refused. She added, “This is what courage looks like—FCC Chairs refusing to wield the agency’s licensing authority as a weapon in contravention of the First Amendment and the Communications Act, even in the face of political pressure.”