Industry News

KXNT, Las Vega to Host Live Mayoral Debate

Audacy news/talk KXNT-AM, Las Vegas “News Talk Radio 840 AM” is hosting a live mayoral debate featuring the top polling candidates ahead of the Las Vegas general election at the Plaza Hotel & Casinoim showroom on Thursday (5/9) from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Talk show host Alan Stock and afternoon host Sam Mirejovsky will moderate the event that will be free to the public. KXNT brand manager Mark Bonilla states, “As the premier talk radio station in Las Vegas, ‘News Talk Radio 840 AM’ is dedicated to providing a platform for informed discussion and debate by offering voters the opportunity to hear directly from the leading candidates about their visions for the future of the city.”

Industry News

WBT-AM/FM to Present Congressional GOP Primary Debate

Urban One’s news/talk WBT-AM/FM, Charlotte is hosting a debate between candidates in the Republican primary race for North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District seat on Wednesday, January 31,im at Wingate University’s Batte Fine Arts Center. The event will be moderated by personalities Bo Thompson and Beth Troutman and will feature questions for the candidates presented by the station’s late morning host Vince Coakley, afternoon host Brett Winterble, evening host Brett Jensen, and news director Mark Garrison.  It will also include a 30-minute lead-in show hosted by Thompson and Troutman. All six registered candidates for the seat have accepted invitations to take part in the commercial-free broadcast.

Industry News

RTDNA: News Consumers Want Journalists to Ask Tough Questions of Candidates

According to a study by Magid and commissioned by the Radio Television Digital News Association, most U.S. local news consumers want journalists to ask tough, but respectful, questions of candidates and regularly fact check those running for office. RTDNA released the data at its RTDNA23 in Minneapolis. The study finds 62% of local news viewers and listeners say it is “very important” that local sources andim journalists “ask tough, but respectful questions to get answers,” and 61% say it is very important they fact-check those candidates. RTDNA president and CEO Dan Shelley comments, “In our highly polarized society, Americans need to rely on their trusted local sources of news to get the facts about candidates, campaigns and other political issues. These findings offer a clear roadmap to ensure local reporters and news managers are providing voters with the information they crave to make critical decisions in the voting booth.” Other data from the study reflects news consumers’ attitudes about news organizations, finding that 47% of those surveyed said they were in strong agreement that the information they get from local news sources is accurate and correct. That number drops to 41% when local news outlets cover political issues. It also found that just 39% of people were in strong agreement that local news sources were balanced and represented all sides of an issue. See more from the RTDNA here.

Industry News

WPHT Hosts On-Air Philadelphia Democratic Party Mayoral Debate

WPHT noon to 3:00 pm midday host Dom Giordano continues to live up to his well-deserved reputation as the “Dean of Philadelphia Talk Radio” moderating an exclusive on-air debate between the candidates running for mayor in the City of Brotherly Love (5/8). He also furthered his emerging reputation as a diplomatic bridge-builder considering the history of Philadelphia Democrats traditionally avoiding appearing as guests or speakers on conservative news/talk radio. Pictured (l-r) are State Rep. Amen Brown; former City Councilperson Cherelle Parker; and former City Councilperson Allan Domb. Giordano tells TALKERS, “I designed the debate to match the natural flow of talk radio versus buzzing the candidates in and out in restrictive 60-second blocks.”  Giordano will be displaying his skills as a facilitator at the forthcoming TALKERS 2023 conference set for Hofstra University on June 2 as moderator of the panel, “Navigating a Radio Talk Show Hosting Career.”