As reported by TALKERS magazine yesterday (11/20) legendary comic and talk show host Jimmie Walker is filling in at Audacy’s news/talk KXNT-AM, Las Vegas this week and next, hosting the 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm show. Pictured at the station with Walker (right) is longtime KXNT personality and market staple Alan Stock (left). Walker is available for fill-in work and can be reached at: dynomitecomic1@hotmail.com.
FOX News Channel correspondent Benjamin Hall traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine this past weekend for the first time since the attack that left him catastrophically injured in March of 2022. The trip, organized by Fox Corporation executive chairman and CEO Lachlan Murdoch, included a sit-down interview with Volodymyr Zelenskyy that will air on “Special Report with Bret Baier” November 21. Amid enduring more than 30 surgeries over the last 20 months, Hall chronicled his journey in Saved: A War Reporter’s Mission to Make it Home which was published in March 2023 and became a New York Times bestseller.
Cox Media Group Atlanta’s radio stations partnered with the Atlanta Community Food Bank to collect 14,478 pounds of food between November 11-18. The effort by news/talk WSB-AM/WSBB-FM and its three music-formatted sister stations, generated 16,965 meals for food-insecure individuals in Georgia. CMG Atlanta VP and market manager Jaleigh Long says, “This year was a record-breaking year for pounds of food collected that will make a positive impact on our community. We’re thankful for the partnership with Atlanta Community Food Bank and grateful to be able to help struggling families during this time of ‘thanks’ and ‘giving.’”
Benztown president Dave “Chachi” Denes has dropped new episodes of his “Chachi Loves Everybody” podcast and one is an interview with newly elevated president of The Weiss Agency, Heather Cohen.
The negotiations with Hamas over release of the hostages; Elon Musk sues Media Matters over its report on X content that’s caused advertisers to leave the social media platform; OpenAI staff threatens mass exit in wake of Sam Altman ouster; President Joe Biden turns 81; a federal appeals court rules only the U.S. AG can enforce section 2 of the Voting Rights Act; the Thanksgiving holiday and the forecast that could affect travel; former President Donald Trump’s legal battles; the 2024 presidential race; and the Supreme Court rejects Derek Chauvin’s appeal of his conviction in the death of George Floyd were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
What’s old is new again.
From Jonathan Swift and Mark Twain to Winston Churchill, Peter Allen and Carole Bayer Sager, historic influencers have been credited with owning that phrase as long as I can remember.
That single concept is one of the foundational principles of media sales, even today. If you have been selling or managing long enough to remember pay phones on street corners, in hotel lobbies and airports, you should have a special appreciation for what follows. Let’s start with:
1. The “Golden Choice: Ratings or Results.” Which would you rather be selling? Top-rated content, or content that generates top performance results? No, they do not necessarily go hand in hand. Just because you sell major-scale delivery, doesn’t necessarily mean your audience will meet the advertiser’s expectation of performance. Like many of you reading this column, I’ve had the privilege of representing both sides of the dilemma; top-ranked content in radio, TV, digital and social media that did not meet the Key Performance Indicator requirements and smaller scale content that delivered annual renewals, year after year. I work with content that generates millions of impressions weekly and content that does not participate in Nielsen surveys, or delivers moderate scale, yet the old dilemma of ratings or results seems new to the newer digital/social media sales teams making calls today.
2. Does the creative match the audience? This is one of my favorite questions, especially when it comes to host-reads. The greatest talents I’ve worked with are never afraid to ask for the creative freedom to tweak copy points to match their audience. Every great host knows the audience. Sometimes it pays dividends to allow for creative freedom and sometimes it becomes a fast track to a cancellation. The difference is the confidence the advertiser has in you and the talent you represent.
3. Just say no, or go with the flow? When business is soft, most sellers and managers will take the short-term test dollars. Thirteen-week minimums become two-week tests and thus a product or service is given a short-term ride on what should be a longer-term campaign. But let’s face it, we’ve all compromised somewhere to help make the cash register ring a little louder. With a respectful nod to every seller and manager, that timeless call is totally up to you.
From local radio sales and podcasts to digital and social media sales, what’s old is new again and again.
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
In a recent column, I outlined win-win radio/TV station alliance tactics. This week, as stations are finalizing 2024 budgets, a tip for advertising your station on TV.
Dominate in January. Why:
— It’s a buyer’s market then, and your message won’t compete with other stations’ promotion. Slaves to conventional wisdom, they will be running DURING the Spring book, because they forgot that radio listening is habit, which will be set long before diaries and PPM will collect data. Smart stations derive a benefit message and set that habit BEFORE the book.
— If you can trade for over-the-air stations, the price is right. In January they’re lean too. Can you trade – or afford to pay cash for – cable? Two reasons cable might be a better deal:
1. You can target your signal pattern better than over-the-air channels, whose coverage footprint is bigger than yours; and
2. You can buy channels with programming similar to yours. FOX News Radio affiliate? Buy FOX News Channel (and Newsmax).
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
iHeartMedia’s Columbus news/talk WTVN-AM launches a new 5:00 am to 9:00 am show called “Columbus’ Morning News” hosted by station program director Mike Elliott. Contributors to the program include sports director Matt McCoy, news reporter Scott Jennings, traffic reporter Johnny
Hill, and producer Michael Campana. The station says, “Thirty-year market veteran, Elliott, who started at WTVN in 1999 as the producer for Columbus radio legend Bob Conners, will continue to serve as program director for 610 WTVN. ‘Columbus’ Morning News’ will also feature timely guests and newsmakers to wake up information-hungry listeners with the local and national news they need to start each day in Ohio’s Capital City. Elliott adds, “I’ve done everything on WTVN except host my own show, and now I get that chance. I’m grateful to be working with the most talented team in the business every morning to bring the news to the best audience out there!”
Fisher House Foundation is offering the Thanksgiving Week edition of “The Fisher House Story” to stations for free. The “The Fisher House Story” programs – available now for download – are available in varying lengths: three-hours, one-hour, 25- and 30-minutes for news/talk stations as well as a 30-minute public affairs show designed for all radio formats. The programs are hosted by longtime Washington, DC
radio personality Larry O’Connor and feature stories of our nation’s heroes, the families who serve by their side, and how Fisher House plays a role in their journey. The inspiring and patriotic radio show features an exclusive interview with Jessica Lynch, who recounts her harrowing experience as a prisoner of war during the early days of the 2003 invasion of Iraq during Operation Enduring Freedom. She reveals details of her treatment during her captivity, her rescue, the ensuing years of medical treatment and the special role Fisher House played (and continues to play) in her recovery. Fisher House Foundation provides a home away from home for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. Fisher Houses provide temporary free lodging so families can be close to their loved ones during medical care because “A Family’s LOVE is Good Medicine.” For more information on this radio special, available cash and barter free, contact Larry O’Connor at 562-665-9537 or loconnor@fisherhouse.org.
In a new filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission today (11/20), Audacy states that as it “continues to engage in discussions with its creditors with respect to a number of potential alternatives
regarding a restructuring of the Company’s outstanding indebtedness,” it reaches agreements with investors and creditors to again extend the deadline after which it would be in default. Audacy gets an extension on the due date for interest payments on its Credit Facility to November 30 and on its Receivables Purchase Agreement for the October Audacy Party Payment to November 30 and the November Audacy Party Payment Due Date to December 8.
Multimedia sports platform OutKick says that it saw strong growth from September to October with more than 5.9 million total multiplatform unique visitors, up 11%; 24 million total multiplatform views, up 13%
versus the prior month; and 23 million total multiplatform minutes, up 14% versus the prior month, according to Comscore. Outkick founder Clay Travis states, “OutKick’s expansion and growth continues to be the highlight each month. Our content serves those who seek not only common-sense reporting but unfiltered opinions with great perspective on a variety of topics.”
The Israel-Hamas war, the calls for humanitarian aid in Gaza, and the rise in anti-Semitism around the world; former First Lady Rosalynn Carter dies; polls indicating Americans are not thrilled with Bidenomics; the OpenAI board fires CEO Sam Altman; the 2024 presidential race; Elon Musk threatens lawsuits after X advertisers suspend campaigns; former President Donald Trump’s legal battles; U.S. -China relations; and populist Javier Milei wins Argentina’s presidential election were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.
Audacy names Jason Bjorson SVP and market manager for its Milwaukee market stations that include sports talk WSSP-AM “1250 AM The Fan” and four music brands. He most recently led a new business sales team for an HR tech company in the SaaS space and oversaw advertising sales teams for
Spectrum Cable. During his career he’s also served with Cox Radio in Jacksonville and the former Journal Broadcast Group at WTMJ, Milwaukee. Audacy regional president Rachel Williamson states, “I am excited to welcome Jason to lead our Milwaukee cluster. His experience across radio, video and digital combined with his deep knowledge and relationships throughout the Milwaukee market brings an increased expertise to our cluster and clients.” Bjorson comments, “I’m thrilled to join the Audacy Milwaukee team, with some of Milwaukee’s most iconic brands and an innovative broadcaster. I’ve competed with this team and tried to recruit them for years, so I know how much talent is here. I’m looking forward to working with them to win big here in Milwaukee!”
Morning show personality Greg Hill signs a multiyear contract extension with Audacy’s sports talk
WEEI-FM, Boston. He’ll continue to lead his program that includes cast members Jermaine Wiggins, Courtney Cox and Chris Curtis. Audacy Boston SVP and market manager Mike Thomas states, “We are thrilled to extend Greg’s contract and keep the momentum going for his award-winning morning show. We look forward to having Greg, alongside Jermaine and Courtney, continue to set the tone for our weekday programming and deliver entertaining content for our listeners for the foreseeable future.”
FOX News Digital announces that it finished the October ratings period #1 in multiplatform minutes
among digital news brands, according to data from Comscore. FOX News Digital reached 3.4 billion multiplatform minutes, compared to 2.3 billion for CNN.com and 1.5 billion for NYTimes.com. FOX News Digital racked up 1.8 billion multiplatform views, compared to NYTimes.com’s 1.5 billion and CNN.com’s 1.4 billion. CNN.com leads the pack in multiplatform unique visitors with 129 billion compared to FOX News Digital’s 92 billion and NYTimes.com’s 75 billion.
Motor Racing Network co-founder Ken Squier passed away on November 15 at age 88. Squier, who was Motor Racing Network’s first anchor, was also known for his time broadcasting NASCAR on the
CBS Television Network and later with TBS. MRN says that NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. encouraged Squier to build a nationwide network of radio stations to cover the growing sport. He began with his family-owned WDEV-AM/FM in Waterbury, Vermont and Daytona Beach’s WNDB-AM – both of which still air MRN programming today. He added hundreds more stations to air the very first MRN broadcast of the Daytona 500 in 1970.
Saga Communications declares a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share. The dividend will be paid on December 15, 2023, to shareholders of record on November 27, 2023. The aggregate amount of the payment to be made in connection with the quarterly dividend will be approximately $1.5 million.
Urban One’s news/talk WBT-AM/FM, Charlotte is presenting the 30th annual “Hancock’s Bikes for Kids” charity event on December 8 in which it asks the community to donate brand new bicycles to benefit kids in the area.
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Urban One reports that it has entered into a fifth waiver and amendment to its “Current ABL Facility, dated as of February 19, 2021 with the Company, the Company’s subsidiaries guarantors, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and the lenders party thereto.” This action waives certain events of default under the Current ABL Facility
related to Urban One’s failure to timely deliver quarterly reports for the first and second quarters of 2023 and sets a due date of November 30, 2023 for those and a December 31, 2023 due date for the third quarter financial report. Urban One also reports that it has received an Additional Staff Delisting Determination from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC due to the delinquent Q3 2023 report. Urban One has a hearing set for November 30 and anticipates filing the delinquent Q1 and Q2 reports prior to the hearing. It also expects to file the Q3 report on or about December 31, 2023 and will present its plan to evidence full compliance with the Nasdaq listing criteria at the hearing.
In a suit filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, KYW, Philadelphia morning drive anchor Carol MacKenzie is suing employer Audacy for discrimination, claiming she’s been systematically paid less than her male counterparts and less than younger staffers doing similar work.
MacKenzie’s complaint paints a picture of her being consistently paid less than male and younger staffers that goes back to when she first joined the station when it was owned by CBS Radio. It says that from the beginning she was paid “about $20,000-$30,000 per year less than” her co-workers in comparable positions. MacKenzie says that the SAG-AFRTRA investigation into KYW’s compensation practices in 2021 confirmed her belief the company was engaged in gender-based pay inequity. In 2022 MacKenzie did agree to a deal with the company that paid her $150,000 per year for 2022, $152,500 for this year and $155,000 per year for 2024. But she says she has suffered “significant harms and losses” over the years and is seeking back pay, liquidated damages, interest, costs, negative tax consequence damages, injunctive and declaratory relief, and attorneys’ fees.
By Walter Sabo
Consultant, Sabo Media Implementers
A.K.A. Walter Sterling
Radio Host, “Sterling On Sunday”
Talk Media Network
Earlier this week, Michael Harrison published his top 10 list of suggestions for being a successful talker. Item number three really caught my eye:
“Avoid worn out talking points. Be original. Always bring something new to the table. Otherwise you DESERVE to be replaced by AI.”
When consulting client stations, the PD and I will take the on-air team through a pragmatic brainstorm session to discover completely unused source material.
First the material should be intriguing to you and appealing to your listener (singular.) New sources mean surprises and the fastest and most economical method of generating word of mouth, phone calls and cume is to present surprises all day.
1. Close to home. Pay foreground attention to incidents at home. Your home. Events that you may view as mundane could bond you with your listener. Consider that water in the basement, check engine light, parent/teacher conference, bad bank behavior, in-law interference. If any of those experiences has happened to you, you honestly know that they are a bigger deal than speeches in Congress.
2. Search the names of locations that you never discuss. Those searches have revealed to me and my listener that the number one fear in Siberia is the vast forest fires and that as the permafrost melts, it could expose million-year-old deadly viruses. One “Siberia news” search. Try this, search “Keith Fons North Pole Alaska” You will discover a bizarre Christmas story.
3. Local morning TV shows have unique fun stories that you don’t see because you’re listening to the radio. Go to their websites and you will see all of their topics, with audio, dated.
Take a different approach to proven topics. A trait of successful hosts is that they discuss common topics but take a very different tact. Some examples: When TV legend Ann Bishop of WPLG Miami died, fellow broadcaster Neil Rogers mourned Bishop by saying, “She did nothing for me, sir.”
On crime in Cleveland, the late Mike Trivisonno on WTAM declared, “the best thing that could happen is for the Mafia to come back to Cleveland.”
Howard Stern surprises you every time he opens his mouth. It’s the fresh topics combined with surprising POV=Star.
Walter Sabo has an outstanding track record advising media companies wishing to increase their share of revenue. His weekly syndicated show Sterling On Sunday aims to provide three hours of completely unique topics. Contact him at walter@sabomedia.com or 646.678.1110
Triton Digital releases its ranker of the top U.S. podcasts based on weekly average downloads and nothing has changed at the top of the chart from last month, with NBCUniversal New Group’s “Dateline
NBC” at #1, audiochuck’s “Crime Junkie” at #2, Wondery’s “Morbid” at #3 and Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show” at #4. Radio-related podcasts of note in this ranker include Salem Podcast Network’s “The Charlie Kirk Show” rising four places to #12, Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Mark Levin Show” up two places to #13, and Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Shawn Ryan Show” rising five places to #24. See the complete ranker here.
Cumulus Media’s Westwood One announces it has signed a deal to extend its partnership with audio branding and sung jingles firm TM Studios to continue as its exclusive domestic barter representation agent. As part of the deal, TM Studios continues to supply Westwood One’s syndication partners,
including many Cumulus radio stations, with station jingles, commercial jingles, and production music. TM also acquires the additional assets of the Drake Chenault catalog and all intellectual property associated with TM’s former product lines HitDisc and GoldDisc. Westwood One originally purchased TM Studios in 2009 and subsequently sold the company to former TM executives Greg Clancy, Dave Bethell, and Chris “UK” Stevens in November 2020. WWO president Suzanne Grimes states, “Westwood One is committed to partnering with companies that provide unique products and outstanding service, and TM fits that description perfectly. By extending our relationship with TM, we are assured that radio stations around the country will be able to access the best-in-class offerings TM has been creating for more than 50 years.”
PodcastOne is planning a studio launch party on Monday in Beverly Hills with special guests including its longtime star podcaster Adam Carolla.
Benztown is releasing the holiday imaging and programming library “Christmas in a Box” that comes free to stations with Benztown library subscriptions. It includes more than 5,000 tracks of audio Christmas cheer.
President Joe Biden meets with Chinese dictator Xi Jinping; the U.S. Senate passes stopgap budget to prevent government shutdown; Israel’s ongoing battle with Hamas in Gaza and the pro-Palestinian protests at DNC headquarters in Washington, DC; former President Donald Trump’s legal battles; the 2024 presidential race; Bidenomics and the state of the U.S. economy; the federal weapons charges against Hunter Biden; and the FBI investigation in to New York City Mayor Eric Adams were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.
This week’s Westwood One Audio Active Group blog shares information about the effectiveness of audio ads from a collaborative UK study by audio distribution service Audiotrack and analytics firm Colourtext that compared ad effectiveness with word density in audio ads. Some of the takeaways from this study lend credence to the notion that when it comes to ad copy, less is indeed more. For example,
the study found that eliminating 10 words of audio copy increases the Creative Standout score by 1%. Creative Standout is achieved when consumers say, “this ad stands out” and rate an ad with an 8, 9, or 10 on a one-to-ten-standout scale. Further it found that eliminating 10 words of audio copy increases web traffic by 0.25%. Creative Standout in audio advertising is strongly linked to ad response via website visits. For each 1% rise in Creative Standout achieved by an audio ad, website response rate increases by 0.25%. Also, the more messages that are included in the ad, the poorer the recall. An ad with four messages will have message recall of only 24%, compared to 43% for ads with just one message. The more messages an ad attempts to communicate, the lower the likelihood of a single message being communicated. See the blog post here.
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Audacy states that it has reached an agreement with investors and creditors that buys it some time as it works with them to come to a long
-term solution to its debt problem. Audacy gets an extension on the due date for interest payments on its Credit Facility to November 27 and on its Receivables Purchase Agreement for the October Audacy Party Payment to November 20 and the November Audacy Party Payment Due Date to November 24. Also, on October 30, the New York Stock Exchange filed to delist Audacy’s Class A common stock from the exchange and the delisting became effective on November. The stock continues to trade over the counter under the symbol “AUDA.”
The publication InsiderNJ is out with its annual “Insider 100: Power” list of the most powerful political
figures in the state of New Jersey and WPG, Atlantic City morning drive personality Harry Hurley is ranked #55 on the list. The caption alongside Hurley’s photo in the feature states: “No other radio host show in New Jersey covers politics as hyperactively as Hurley, who has earned the trust of key players in both parties while amplifying the concerns and troubles of regular voters. An asset to the state.”
77WABC – along with partners AARP New York City, Gristedes, and D’Agostinos Supermarkets – are helping the St. Francis Food Pantry and Shelters with its turkey giveaway program. A total of 10,000
turkeys and meals will be distributed by St. Francis over the holiday season, including from the 77WABC “Turkey” Trolley today (11/15) St. John’s Church in Manhattan. Red Apple Media owner John Catsimatidis says, “No one should be without a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving. This is an American holiday and Americans should not go hungry, ever! We are delighted that AARP New York City has joined us in this charitable endeavor.”
UK radio and outdoor firm Global inks an exclusive platform distribution and ad sales deal with iHeartMedia in which Global and iHeartMedia will license, distribute and represent each other’s podcast portfolios.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Audacy announce a multi-year extension to their 30-year partnership through the 2028 NFL season. As part of the new agreement, “SportsRadio 94WIP” will continue to serve as the team’s official flagship radio partner. The broadcast team is led by Eagles Hall of Famers Merrill Reese and Mike Quick in the radio booth and longtime 94WIP personality Howard Eskin on the sideline.
iHeartMedia chairman and CEO Bob Pittman & president COO/CFO Rich Bressler will participate in a question and answer session during the Wells Fargo TMT Summit on November 29 at 3:45 pm ET. A live webcast of the session will be available to the general public at the start of the session through a link on the Investors homepage of iHeartMedia’s website.
PodcastOne acquires the exclusive sales and distribution rights, as well as certain ownership and IP/derivative rights, to true crime podcast, “Lost In Panama.” PodcastOne president and co-founder Kit Gray comments, “We continue our stated strategy of rolling up the fragmented podcast industry to deliver the best podcast library with the lowest cost per acquisition. We are excited and look forward to more announcements in the near future.”
By Michael Harrison
Publisher
TALKERS
10. Have a flight plan before taking off on a monologue. Know where and when you intend to land the plane. This is true of any point you’re trying to spontaneously make in the course of a conversation. There’s nothing worse than a talker bloviating in search of a point.
9. Know what you’re talking about. Don’t just go with half-baked information for fear of being late to the party or are desperate to fill time. You can’t be an effective talker if you are not an equally effective listener. Also be careful about assuming you are the first to notice or know something when you might actually be the last. Respect the fact that some of the people you are addressing might be more knowledgeable than you.
8. Take an extra fraction of a second to edit yourself. Loose lips sink careers. Especially today! The art of being an effective talker is like being a quarterback. Get rid of the ball quickly… but not too quickly.
7. Don’t try to be funny if you’re not. This relates to the point above. However, humor is an effective communications tool when used properly. The key is to use it properly with an honest assessment of your own “talent.” Everyone needs a director.
6. Don’t pander to your target audience (too much). The daily dance of affirmation – telling people exactly what you think they want to hear and never deviating – eventually leads to a happier but ever-shrinking audience that will eventually turn on you. Super-serving the wrong-headed beliefs (or bad taste) of the target audience can lead to slow-but-sure audience erosion. Don’t be afraid to occasionally piss-off the core. Its good for the soul as well as the cume. Always have an exit strategy. Don’t endeavor to deceive.
5. Don’t deviate too far from the course and point of the conversation. Tangents disrupt the flow of a meaningful conversation and make people forget what they are talking about. (This is equally important in off air conversations.) If mid-conversation someone asks “do you have time for a quick story,” your first impulse should be to say no.
4. Don’t interrupt. And don’t allow anyone to interrupt you. If you must interrupt, do so with surgical finesse. Avoid conversations with wind bags.
3. Avoid worn out talking points. Be original. Always bring something new to the table. Otherwise you deserve to be replaced by AI.
2. Don’t waste people’s precious time. In today’s world, time is as precious as money. There’s no such thing as “free” media. It costs people time to listen to you.
1. Know when to keep your mouth shut. This is one of life’s most valuable lessons, on and off the air.
Michael Harrison is the publisher of TALKERS. He can be emailed at michael@talkers.com.
Former congressman and talk media personality JD Hayworth is returning to the radio business in
Phoenix as host of the 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm talk show “All Right Now!” on CRC Broadcasting Company’s KFNN-AM. CRC founder Ron Cohen says, “JD coming home to KFNN is a watershed moment for our station and all Arizona radio listeners. With so much interest in the 2024 election and Arizona’s growing notoriety as a key battleground state, the timing could not be better to bring JD back to host a daily show. No Valley radio host possesses JD’s credentials in both broadcasting and politics.”
The Alliance for Women in Media hosted the Gracies Leadership Awards luncheon yesterday (11/13) at Tribeca 360° in New York City, recognizing the outstanding contributions of eight female leaders. This year’s program included the inaugural Gracies Icon Award presented to Premiere Networks personality Delilah. She took part in a fireside chat with RAB president and CEO Erica Farber. The other recipients are pictured above (l-r): Becky Brooks, president, AWM/F, Delilah, Rebekah Dopp, Suzanne Grimes, Susan Larkin, Lori Locke, Rosalyn Durant, Kay Olin, Heather Cohen, Katina Arnold, and Christine Travaglini. Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Alliance for Women in Media
Tomorrow evening (11/15) at 7:00 pm, Townsquare Media’s WKXW-FM, Trenton “New Jersey 101.5” is presenting a town hall titled, “Safe and Sound: Confronting Terrorism in New Jesey.” The station says it will explore the domestic and foreign terrorist threats facing New Jersey. New Jersey 101.5’s Eric Scott
will lead a discussion aimed at helping residents understand the best way to protect themselves and their loved ones. He says, “The war between Israel and Hamas has created heightened tensions in New Jersey. But even before the war began, New Jersey was dealing with multiple threats from foreign actors and extremist groups operating in the Garden State.” The program’s on-air panel will feature Daniel Engelhardt, deputy director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness; Nelson Delgado, assistant special agent-in-charge of counterterrorism for the Newark FBI office; Stafford Township Police Chief Thomas Dellane; and security representatives from various New Jersey state agencies and authorities.
Israel’s ongoing invasion of Gaza, allegations of a Hamas command center under Al-Shifa hospital, and U.S. campus protests; the Trump Organization trial; House Speaker Mike Johnson’s efforts to avoid a government shutdown; Senator Tim Scott suspends his presidential campaign; the Supreme Court adopts a code of ethics; Xi Jinping in San Francisco and President Joe Biden’s planned for Wednesday with China’s dictator; and fire closes the I-10 freeway in California were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.