You Cut for Time. They Cut You a Lawsuit.
By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Media Law, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer
Let’s discuss how CBS’s $16 million settlement became a warning shot for every talk host, editor, and content creator with a mic.
When CBS settled a lawsuit with Donald Trump for $16 million over a selectively edited “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris, it wasn’t about guilt. It was about leverage. The lawsuit happened to coincide with Paramount’s FCC merger review – coincidentally, right when regulatory pressure was needed the most.
For broadcasters and digital creators alike, the message is clear: even lawful edits can become political weapons. If you shape content, you’re a target. And the courts aren’t the only battleground. Public outrage, regulatory scrutiny, and advertiser anxiety all shape the cost of controversy.
For Broadcasters: Every Cut Counts
Editing always alters reality. That doesn’t make it wrong – but it makes it risky. Even good-faith trims for time or tone can be reframed as distortion. What matters isn’t just what you cut, but whether you can defend it.
Case in Point: “60 Minutes” vs. DeSantis
CBS was accused of misleading edits in a 2021 vaccine rollout story. They published full transcripts and stood their ground. No apology, no payout.
Takeaways:
— Archive raw footage.
— Log your editorial decisions.
— Be ready to explain your process with clarity and conviction.
For Digital Creators: You’re Not as Untouchable as You Think
Section 230 might protect platforms, but it doesn’t shield you from smear campaigns, takedowns, or frivolous lawsuits. Editing with commentary or critique is often fair use – but that doesn’t stop bad-faith actors from flipping the narrative.
Case in Point: “Decoding Fox News”
Jules Terpak’s critique series survived coordinated attacks thanks to clear sourcing, transparency, and credibility built ahead of time.
Takeaways:
— Know your rights, but also your vulnerabilities.
— Keep receipts.
— Build audience trust before someone tries to burn it down.
The Real Risk Isn’t the Edit – It’s the Optics
Trump didn’t need to win the lawsuit. He just needed the headlines – and CBS needed their merger. Settlements aren’t always about truth. They’re about timing.
So protect yourself:
— Document your work.
— Develop internal standards.
— Don’t panic under pressure – prepare for it.
Because in an era where outrage spreads faster than facts, defending the integrity of your edit isn’t optional. It’s essential.
Matthew B. Harrison is a media and intellectual property attorney who advises radio hosts, content creators, and creative entrepreneurs. He has written extensively on fair use, AI law, and the future of digital rights. Reach him at Matthew@HarrisonMediaLaw.com or read more at TALKERS.com.
Music on the weekend provides multiple positive strategic weapons for talk stations. From launch, “New Jersey 101.5” (1,000,000+ cumer); WTKS-FM “Real Radio,” Orlando; WABC, New York; WPHT, Philadelphia; and other major market winners air music all weekend or on dayparted shows.
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.” Now, Soros and Del Nin filed both a Motion to Dismiss saying the “Court lacks personal jurisdiction over Mr. Del Nin under Connecticut’s long-arm statute”; and a Motion to Revise that asks Warshaw to revise his complaint with specific details about his contracts – written or verbal – that he claims were breached, and more. In the Motion to Revise, Soros and Del Nin imply that Warshaw doesn’t have the contractual proof necessary to support his claim. 
“Godzilla Wins,” that airs Saturday mornings from 9:00 am to 11:00 am ET. John Fredericks says, “Coach Vince is a tremendous asset to our weekend sports broadcast. He has built an enormous fan base in a short period of time. His insight and knowledge of professional and college sports is enlightening and uncanny. Most importantly, Vince is a dedicated mentor and teacher whose keen analysis engages and informs our listeners as well as our younger contributors, whose careers in broadcasting we are dedicated to growing.” JFMN programming is heard on 23 radio stations, plus via multiple streaming platforms including YouTube Live, Rumble Live, X-Live, GETTR Live, and JFMN.TV.
Sterling, who hosts a Saturday afternoon sports talk program on 77WABC, will provide play-by-play of the game, as well as the Little League pre-game. This event includes pre-game activities for families including meet-and-greet opportunities with 77WABC on-air personalities and sports legend Dwight Gooden, Fastest Pitch and Home Run Derby contests, Kids Zone, Sports Memorabilia Silent Auction and more! Red Apple Media owner John Catsimatidis says, “Shriners Children’s gives hope to children and their families across the country and around the world, regardless of their ability to pay. At WABC Radio, we are proud to partner with Shriners Children’s and, together, provide a fun-filled day for our community while supporting this great mission.”
and the “AAR Daily Defense Hour” join the programming at Omni Broacasting’s WTKE in the Ft. Walton Beach-Destin, Florida market. Additionally, the “Armed American Radio” show is being distributed by CRN Talk to cable systems operated by Cox Communications, Optimum TV, and Xfinity Stream.
moving the program to airing live. Buddy Shula’s new Buffalo news/talk station WUSW “1270 The Patriot” debuts this weekend and will be a new affiliate station for the show. Also, current affiliate WTIC-AM, Hartford moves the program to airing live in the 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm daypart.
made last year’s mingling of student and professional broadcasters such a resounding success. The dates are set for Friday, February 20 and Saturday, February 21. TALKERS founder Michael Harrison states, “There are exciting things happening at the radio stations and communication departments of high school, college, and university campuses across America. These institutions and creative outposts embody a spirit emanating from its practitioners as well as its audiences that bode well for the future of general radio, talk media and digital communications. This tremendous source of talent, ideas and energy has been burgeoning right under the noses of our professional industry for years. It’s time to harness that obvious synergy at this pivotal juncture.” More details including agenda, registration, hotel and sponsorship information will be posted in TALKERS in the coming weeks. Save the dates!
for our station. Your material is used throughout the day on several different broadcasts. This individual in this position is also an overall ambassador for our brand, and is expected to also work at special events, and alongside our sales staff promote the station to Northwest Newsradio clients. The perfect candidate has a minimum of two years’ experience in large market media, is proficient and aggressive in social media, is an excellent writer, and embraces using digital platforms (podcasting, streaming audio, streaming video) to promote the Northwest Newsradio brand. Candidates need to submit an audio demonstration of their on-air ability with their resume, along with a sample of radio news writing. Candidates should also be prepared to take a writing test if requested. 
storytelling and community engagement. Over the past five years, BIN: Black Information Network has achieved remarkable milestones, including: Surpassing 19 million monthly listeners, a reflection of BIN’s growing influence and strong connection to its target audience; expanding BIN News content to over 100 broadcast radio stations across the U.S., making BIN one of the most widely distributed, Black-focused news audio platforms in the country; and delivering news coverage tailored to 65 of America’s largest Black communities, with reporting that reflects the local realities, perspectives, challenges and triumphs.” BIN president Tony Coles adds, “BIN: Black Information Network has become a trusted and indispensable voice for Black communities in America. In just five years, we’ve transformed how local and national news reaches our audiences. We are giving a voice to the stories that have gone untold for too long. We are providing freedom to journalists to pursue meaningful reporting – and we’re just getting started.”
featured live each night from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm ET. Root says, “Tens of millions of die-hard Trump supporters go to theGatewayPundit.com 24/7 for the news and opinions that you won’t find in the mainstream media. It’s the perfect platform and synergy for my podcast. This is a marriage made in heaven. My daily podcast offers raw truth, the most exciting content for MAGA fans, and the most intense, passionate, combative, controversial, in-your-face, high-energy show anywhere in American media, combined with the biggest personality, and the loudest MAGA mouth on the planet. My show takes your breath away. It’s two hours of ‘pedal to the metal, balls to the walls,’ without taking a breath.”
the next three decades, Tyler held numerous leadership positions, including market manager roles in both Madison and Milwaukee. In 2010, Tyler was promoted to region president and later moved to Minneapolis in 2015 to serve as regional president for iHeartMedia. He rose to division president in July 2018 before returning to Wisconsin in 2022 to lead as metro president and most recently area president. Tyler says, “Broadcast radio has been my life. I’ve worked in every aspect of this business and have been fortunate to work for tremendous leaders who helped shape my career, including the creative and innovative team at iHeartMedia. I’m grateful to have worked with so many talented, dedicated professionals in vibrant broadcast markets, serving advertisers and creating meaningful partnerships. I’m excited to begin a more flexible chapter of life with my family, while continuing to support our sports partnerships in the short term.”
designed for women working in small to medium radio markets across any department. One deserving candidate will be selected to receive personalized coaching and mentorship from MIW’s network of experienced female executives as well as certified coaches from Media Staffing Network. MIW Board president Sheila Kirby says, “MIW is proud to continue honoring Laurie Kahn’s legacy through the Speak Up! Program. Each year, we have the opportunity to support emerging female leaders and help them find their voice and path to growth in our industry. This program represents the very heart of our mission.”
2025. The inductees will be honored at the in-person 2025 Radio Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on October 30 at the Swissotel Hotel in Chicago. Among this year’s inductees are: Colin Cowherd, host of “The Herd with Colin Cowherd”; Mike McVay of McVay Media; and Julie Talbott, president of Premiere Networks. 
owned radio station, a distinction underscored by its long-standing dedication to providing authentic, community-focused content hosted by Tallahassee media staples like legendary sports talk host Jeff Cameron, award-winning morning show host Greg Tish, and investigative reporter Steve Stewart.” Jopling says, “As someone who has lived and worked in Tallahassee for over 23 years, I understand how important it is for our city to have trusted local voices on the airwaves. This transition isn’t just about ownership — it’s about strengthening our commitment to the people of Florida’s capital city. We’ll continue to focus on real news, real conversations, and real connections that matter to the people that live here — delivered by people who live here, too.” Jopling adds, “We’ve had a lot of success at 93.3, and we are thankful for the continued support of all our incredible listeners, fans, and advertisers. Or as we like to call them, our extended family. I’ve been privileged to be in charge of the station, but now, as the owner, I know our family will only get better.”
market manager Lance Hawkins says, “Joe Pags represents everything we value at KTSA. He’s dynamic, authentic, and rooted in Texas values. Our mission is to build radio brands that are Live and Local, deeply involved in the communities they serve, and always evolving. Pags’ addition to KTSA proves that mission in action.” Pags says that his welcome to KTSA is both professional and personal. “I am thrilled to call KTSA the new flagship for the Joe Pags Show. I’ve been based in San Antonio for 20 years and have always been a fan of the amazing hosts on KTSA. It’s truly an honor to get back on the air in SA and talk with these amazing people on their ride home once again. I can’t thank Jeff Warshaw, Lance Hawkins
-24 and, perhaps not surprisingly, their most preferred categories of podcasts are Comedy, Music, Entertainment, and True Crime. News/Information is far down the list with just 17% saying they watched or listened to a news/information podcast in the last month. Also noteworthy is the breakdown of delivery systems for audio for this demographic. Streaming music is the top audio source (42%), followed by YouTube (20%), and AM/FM (16%) in third place. 
solutions executive Michael Katz writes that, according to Scarborough consumer purchase data, consumers were asked to “select auto dealerships where you or other household members might shop if you were planning to buy or lease a new or used vehicle (including in-store and online shopping)” and 36% were unable to name an auto dealer. Katz adds that one out five auto intenders (21%), those who will lease or buy a new or used vehicle in the next year, cannot name one auto dealer. He says, “Auto dealers need ads that teach people who they are and build their brands.” 
The drive to stream video of radio shows has always been risky. Remember your shock when you first saw one of your radio heroes? Video streaming can present a constant disconnect between the show in the listener’s head and the show on the stream. Many stations make the disconnect worse by streaming terrible video images. Combine the trauma of how a host really looks with a dreary TV show and the package cannot benefit the relationship between station and listener/viewer.
right, two shows… one on the radio, one on the stream. Seamless and fun.
and Mandarin, with plans to expand to even more shows and languages in the future. Host Jay Shetty says, “We have been fortunate to build a huge global audience that continues to reach more people around the world every day. One of the questions I get asked most is, ‘When will the podcast be in Spanish? When will it be in Hindi?’ And now, not only those, but several more languages as well. Expanding into more languages gives us the special opportunity to serve our audience better and bring these conversations to even more people. I truly believe this will deepen our impact, extend our reach and push forward our mission to make the world happier, healthier and more healed.” iHeart Digital Audio Group CEO Conal Byrne says, “Global podcast listenership continues to rise, with podcast consumption significantly growing in regions such as Latin America, Europe, India and other parts of Asia. Podcast translation is an exciting step forward as content continues to globalize, allowing us to bring our catalog of hit shows and talent to these regions, helping us reach new audiences and bring fresh, insightful content worldwide.”
Buffalo market, acquired WHDL from Cumulus Media earlier this year. He says, “I’m thrilled to be debuting a local talk station that deals with real issues. I feel the conservative talk lane is open, and that will give listeners a choice of the type of talk that they really want to hear.” The station will feature syndicated shows including Premiere Networks’ “The Sean Hannity Show,” “Glenn Beck,” “Clay Travis & Buck Sexton,” and “Jesse Kelly,” plus Erik Erickson, Lars Larson, Vince Coglianese, and more. New York State Assemblyman David DiPietro will also host a local program.
Olivia will be a great addition to the Commission. Olivia brings years of valuable experience to the agency, including her public service on Capitol Hill and time in the private sector. I am confident that her deep expertise and knowledge will enable her to hit the ground running, and she will be an exceptionally effective FCC Commissioner. I look forward to welcoming Olivia to the Commission as a colleague and advancing an agenda that will deliver great results for the American people.” Fellow Commissioner, Democrat Anna Gomez also welcomes Trusty, saying, “I want to congratulate Olivia Trusty on her confirmation and welcome her to the FCC. I have known Olivia for years and have been very impressed with her strong background in communications policy and deep understanding of the technical aspects of this job, which will be a great asset to this agency. I look forward to working with her to return the FCC to its core priorities of protecting consumers, promoting innovation and competition, and securing our communication networks.”
manager Liz Mayer says, “There is no denying that YouTube is playing an important role in the podcast ecosystem, especially when it comes to discovering new podcasts. However, over half of weekly podcast consumers indicate they consume via audio primarily. So, while the new video capabilities are exciting and need to be focused on, the industry can’t forget that it’s what consumers are hearing that is most important.” Highlights from the report include: 1) Audio remains the primary mode of podcast consumption (58%) despite growing video options; 2) YouTube is the leading podcast platform, yet it is not a walled garden as consumers listen to podcasts across multiple platforms; 3) Podcast discovery: YouTube is the place to be found; 44% of new podcast audiences started listening on YouTube; 4) Downloads and listens underestimate the actual audience: The current download impression model fails to account for co-listening; and 5) Why podcast advertising works so well: Podcasts hosts are three times more influential than social media influencers. 
group’s CEO. As part of the new deal, Hyphenate and Longoria will executive produce a slate of new original podcasts with iHeartMedia’s My Cultura. She says, “Storytelling shapes how we see ourselves and how the world sees us, and podcasting is one of the most intimate, accessible and powerful ways to connect with audiences and share meaningful, authentic conversations. There’s never been a more urgent time to elevate Latino voices and talent. Through this partnership between Hyphenate and iHeart’s My Cultura, we’re building a bigger platform for stories that reflect the richness and complexity of our community.”
With so many of us taking vacation time soon, guest hosts are often local somebodies who are not career broadcasters and don’t share our second-nature performance routines. For their benefit, these tips, based on my experience on both sides of the mic:
At first, I thought it was a joke. When I realized there were serious people having serious meetings about the joke, it became both horrific and symptomatic
expected to anchor special news or breaking news coverage when it happens. This position becomes an overall ambassador for our brand, and is expected to also work at special events, and alongside our sales staff to promote the station to Northwest Newsradio clients and endorse their businesses if requested.”