This Week’s Hottest News/Talk Media Topics
According to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine, the most-talked-about story in news/talk media for the week of January 2 – 6, 2023 was the turmoil surrounding U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s bid to become House Speaker. At #2 this week was former President Donald Trump’s influence over the GOP tied with his ongoing legal issues, followed by the case of incoming U.S. Rep George Santos (R-NY) on the heels of his fabricated curriculum vitae at #3. The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed in news/talk media during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. See this week’s complete chart of the top 10 stories here.
News/talk, sports talk, all-news, and general talk will be amply covered. There will be over 50 top industry speakers, and registration is limited to insure intimacy. Attendance at the conference is only open to members of the working media and directly associated industries as well as 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, 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 $260. However, attendees can take advantage of the early bird fee of $150 available until 5:00 pm ET on Friday, April 3. All registrations are non-refundable. This power-packed, one-day event is being presented in association with Hofstra’s multi-award-winning station, WRHU Radio and the school’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication.
signals as WSCR-AM/FM “The Score” and news/talk WCCO-AM. Audacy president and CEO Kelli Turner comments, “Debbie Kenyon has been a pillar of our business for over a quarter century, and her elevation to regional president for our Central region is a testament to her ability to drive innovation and deliver consistent performance. Her appointment supports our commitment to empower our teams and build on our unmatched presence in local markets and communities while fully leveraging our scale and reach.” Kenyon joins Jeff Federman, Mark Hannon, Claudia Menegus and chief business officer Chris Oliviero in regional president roles overseeing key Audacy markets.
latest addition to Gamut’s growing 312 Sports network, a Chicago-focused lineup anchored by “Dan Bernstein Unfiltered” and featuring shows such as “Forward Progress: A Chicago Bears Podcast” and “Organizations Win Championships,” a Chicago Bulls podcast. Gamut Podcast Network head John Goforth comments, “This isn’t just another recap show. Chicago fans don’t think about their teams in a vacuum, and we’re not going to talk about them that way either. ‘Off the Ivy’ is about what it all means – what a win says, what a loss exposes, and where this team is actually headed. If you care about the Cubs, this is the conversation you want to be part of.”
The recent shutdown of CBS News Radio isn’t just another media headline – it’s a wake-up call. A clear example of what happens when decisions about our information, our communities, and our voices are made in corporate boardrooms disconnected from real life.
media enthusiasts, including the invasion of AI into the talent job market. Neer first established himself as a heavyweight author in 2001 when he penned the landmark FM: The Rise and Fall of Rock Radio. In The Perfect Beast, Neer poses the question to his fellow broadcasters, “Ever wonder if your job will someday be taken by an AI facsimile of your act?” 
The story also deals with how a commentator’s words can be twisted and misused, resulting in something evil. TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison (who makes an appearance as himself in The Perfect Beast) describes Neer as a media “Renaissance man.” Neer can be contacted for interviews via email at 
most in need of support. Today, the weekly talk show continues to focus on the best of New York City, interviewing leaders in travel and tourism, hospitality, Broadway and live entertainment, food & beverage, major sports events, as well as elected officials, heads of NYC’s business improvement districts, celebrities, members of the media and beyond. Kevin McCullough says, “A five-year journey that began buried in COVID has sprouted into the single most compelling argument for the greatest of all cities every single Friday.” Times Square Alliance president Tom Harris comments, “With most talk shows focusing on the worst, it’s refreshing to tune in each week and hear about the best of New York City. I am always honored to be a guest of Cristyne and Kevin and wish them continued success.” 
host Brian Joyce have been dismissed. Last August, Joyce was arrested following accusations of harassing a woman with whom he’d previously been in a relationship. As district attorney spokesperson said the alleged victim said she did not want to proceed with the case and that the court also found issues with the credibility of testimony prosecutors wished to use in the case. Joyce exited WGOW in February of 2025. 
recognized alongside this esteemed community of storytellers. This honor is not mine alone, but a testament to the journalists I’ve worked with throughout my career – especially my RFE/RL colleagues who are committed to showing the world what is happening inside places like Ukraine and Iran. Their passion for excellence and dedication to the truth inspires me each day. My deepest gratitude to my family, whose support has made all of this possible.”
Small businesses often underestimate their greatest competitive edge. It’s not price. It’s not selection.
According to the study, 22.07% (2366 stations) had women holding the general manager position in 2025. This is a slight increase from last year where the number was 21.67% and compared to 2004 continues to show solid growth when the percentage of female general managers was only 14.9%. MIW says, “Overall, the best management opportunities for women in radio continues to be in sales management. 35.31% (3561 stations) had a woman sales manager in 2025 which is basically flat from 35.67% in 2024. The greatest challenge for women in radio management continues to be in the area of program directors/brand managers. Women currently program 13.02% (289 stations) which is a slight gain from 12.38% in 2024. MIW board president Sheila Kirby comments, “Twenty-five years of data give us clarity. We are encouraged to see movement in general manager and programming roles, particularly within the Top 100 markets. At the same time, flat growth in sales leadership and the continued underrepresentation of women in programming nationally remind us that progress is not automatic. Sustainable advancement requires intention. MIW remains committed to mentoring, advocating, and creating pathways for women to lead at every level of the industry.”
patriotic, pro-America content that celebrates the American journey and inspires its citizens by highlighting the historic accomplishments of this great nation from our founding through the Trump Administration today.” Carr adds, “On July 4, 2026, America will celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That revolutionary document set forth our founding principles – including Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness – and put America on a collision course with destiny. Over the following centuries, the American story has defined modern history and spread freedom, opportunity, and prosperity across the globe. As America’s 250th anniversary approaches, it is important to reflect on the ideals and events that have defined our past while keeping an eye towards our country’s bright future. The White House is leading our national celebration of this historic event with the Salute to America 250 Task Force, which calls on the federal government, among others, to mark this momentous occasion. As part of this effort, I am calling on broadcasters to pledge to provide programming that promotes civic education, national pride, and our shared history.” Carr shares some examples stations could use, including:
purchasing power – backed by a population of nearly 70 million that is a leading ethnicity in growth – has now reached $4.1 trillion and continues to grow more than twice as fast as that of non‑Latinos. iHeartMedia says, “The impact of this can only be measured in global scale: If isolated, the GDP of current U.S. Latinos would rank fifth in the world, having surged from $2.2 trillion in 2015 to $4 trillion.” iHeartLatino president and chief creative officer Enrique Santos says, “Bicultural Latinos are not just an audience — they are a cultural vanguard, driving tastes, trends and conversations across every platform while powering one of the fastest‑growing segments of the U.S. economy and redefining what it means to be American. For brands, the takeaway is clear: culture is the strategy — language is the tactic. Those who lead with cultural intelligence, not just translation, earn more than attention, they earn long-term loyalty and trust.” The study also finds that audio is important to this demographic. The study finds: “Broadcast reaches 9 in 10 Latinos monthly, according to Nielsen, and this new research shows that Bicultural Latino radio listening is diverse – 92 percent listen in English, 78 percent listen in Spanish – and 65 percent of Bicultural Latinos prefer listening to radio/music/podcasts equally in Spanish and English. Additionally, the research shows that 98 percent are listening to music weekly, 63 percent tune into podcasts weekly and 69 percent engage with live sports through audio.”
Carter Sherman and Kai Wright. Guardian U.S. editor Betsy Reed says, “This project is a major step toward bringing audio and video journalism to American audiences, showcasing the breadth of our global content and reporting muscle. It’s also 
the latest step in our ongoing US expansion, which we’ve seen in recent months across politics, media, sports, culture, breaking news, and more.” Carter has been serving the Guardian as reproductive health and justice reporter since 2023 and recently published the book, The Second Coming: Sex and the Next Generation’s Fight Over Its Future (2025, Gallery). Wright was most recently host and managing editor of Notes From America with Kai Wright and has served with WNYC, New York. 
Every radio conference agenda and much of what’s-up in the trade press and chat groups is about exploiting Artificial Intelligence. Often these conversations land in one of two places: fear (“Will this replace us?”) or fascination (“Look what it can do!”). Both miss the point.
be celebrated on-air and transform their classrooms with a $5,000 DonorsChoose gift card. iHeartMedia president of programming operations and digital music says, “iHeartRadio’s ‘Thank a Teacher’ aims to shine a light on the quiet and positive work happening in classrooms across the country and to offer a very public thank you to the teachers who are doing so much.” Over the course of the contest 60,000 teachers were nominated for $50,000 in gift cards shared by the 10 final winners. 
Church and founder of Turning Point Ministries. Salem CEO David Santrella says, “The Salem Summit Breakfast has become a cornerstone moment at NRB for connection on our shared mission. To see this gathering grow from 100 people to more than 500 is a testament to the hunger leaders have for fellowship and practical wisdom as they navigate a rapidly changing media landscape.”