Pictured above is media personality Grace Curley (right), who hosts a syndicated talk show on the Howie Carr Radio Network, during an appearance on “Fox & Friends” this morning (12/21) with Lawrence Jones (left). Curley first met Jones at the TALKERS 2021 conference at Hofstra University where Jones was a featured speaker.
By Andy Gladding
Chief Engineer
WRHU-FM (Hofstra University), Hempstead, NY
College radio is a special place on the FM dial. Listeners know it as the channel at the low end of the band where student and volunteer DJs have free reign to play music not usually heard from commercial operators. College students recognize it as a place where they can hone their broadcasting skills and put their passion and talents to work to prepare for a career in the industry. Hiring managers recognize it as a proving ground that provides quality pre-professional development and a destination to seek out qualified candidates to fill entry level media industry roles.
Despite the widespread recognition of the benefits and value of college radio stations, the format and institution has come under attack. Financial issues affecting the commercial sector of terrestrial broadcasting have led to a reduced perception of the effectiveness and reach of terrestrial FM, causing many universities across the country to part ways with their beloved heritage stations. Religious and community operators, recognizing the vulnerability of college operators, have actively approached educational institutions with cash offers to acquire the licenses and effectively end the independent radio voice of the college into the community. Many universities, facing their own financial issues due to declining enrollment and national attacks on the value and benefits of a four-year liberal arts education, are welcoming the opportunity for a quick infusion of cash for the acquisition their broadcast assets. This troubling trend paints a grim outlook for the future and sustainability of this widely popular medium.
However, in some markets, college radio is thriving and enjoying a renaissance. The New York radio market enjoys a wide variety of college programming across its heavily populated FM band and college stations in this market are considered a clearinghouse for students looking enter the country’s largest media sector. The tri-state area has over 20 university-owned stations operating on the FM band, with their parent organizations often touting them as some of the brightest jewels in the crown of their college media and communications program.
I have spent 20 years working as a student volunteer and administrator at WRHU, Radio Hofstra University and have seen first-hand how college radio contributes to the growth and success of students looking to pursue a career in radio, television and digital media. Students and community volunteers who participate at college radio stations find themselves engaged in a diverse community of voices, opinions and music. While their approach and interests may be different, their practice at the college radio station unites them with one unified goal: to serve the listening audience by creating imaginative and alternative audio programming using the university’s FM transmission facility as their channel to the world. For anyone who has been part of this experience as either a contributor or listener, the results can be absolutely magical. In the New York / New Jersey market, these stations and students have found a unique way to make their voices even louder, using some of the finest tools available in their radio and audio toolbox.
The Big 88
Wednesday, November 8, eight university and high school owned and operated stations broadcasting in the 88.1-88.9 segment of the FM band in the number one media market in the country will be joining together to celebrate their love of college radio. Starting at 12:00 noon, “The Big 88” will become New York and New Jersey’s largest college radio station, covering an FM broadcast footprint of over 120 miles. Participating stations will include WRSU, Rutgers University; WPSC, William Patterson University, WRHU, Hofstra University; WCWP, LIU Post; WARY, Westchester Community College; WFNP, SUNY-New Paltz; WPOB, Plainview-Old Bethpage High School; and WKWZ ,Syosset High School.
Programming will feature voices and shows from all participating stations, a consolidated newscast from members of each station’s news department and appearances by station alumni working in radio. WRHU will also be hosting a meet and greet at their studios in Hempstead, NY, where participants are invited to gather to exchange station swag, music from local bands and stories. High school participants have also been invited to the WRHU studios to meet with the participating station members where they will get a first-hand look at what their college radio experience can look like. All of the participating stations hope that the broadcast will focus attention on the issues affecting college radio and encourage listeners and universities to continue to support the mission of student and community broadcasting.
For more information on the program schedule and participation, you can contact me at Andrew.j.gladding@hofstra.edu. All of the stations involved hope that listeners will tune in to enjoy this unique celebration of NCE radio.
Andy Gladding is the chief engineer and air personality at WRHU-FM, Hofstra University as well as chief engineer at Salem Media’s WNYM/WMCA, New York. He also is a communications lecturer at Hofstra.
The co-hosts of “1World Radio,” Andy Gladding and Jamie-Lee Fredericks, are this week’s guests on the award-winning PodcastOne series, “The Michael Harrison Interview.” Their weekly international radio show is a co-production of Gladding’s WRHU 88.7 FM, Hempstead, NY, USA and Fredericks’ Bush Radio 89.5 FM, Cape Town, South Africa. WRHU is a highly respected campus radio station broadcasting from Hofstra University on Long Island, just outside of New York City. The American co-host is also the chief engineer at WRHU as well as a college instructor. He simultaneously serves as chief engineer at Salem Media’s WNYM and WMCA in New York. The South African co-host is an air personality on Bush Radio – a dynamic young woman who grew up with an intense love of radio. The conversation explores the differences and similarities between their stations and how they reflect the cultures of their home nations. Not to be missed. Listen to the podcast in its entirety here.
Sherry Goldman, founder/CEO of the Goldman Communications Group – a leading New York-based public relations firm – hosts a weekly radio show and podcast titled “Let’s Talk PR & More!” interviewing
industry leaders about public relations and related topics. The conversations span public relations, PR best practices, the media, 
marketing, strategy, career development, profiles of PR pros, and more. The show airs Mondays at 5:00 pm on Hofstra University’s award-winning WRHU-FM and WRHU.org on Long Island and is available on most podcast sites. TALKERS founder Michael Harrison is Goldman’s guest this week talking about the general state of radio, news and public relations as we move further into the digital era. Both Hofstra graduates, Goldman and Harrison sit on the university’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication Dean’s Advisory Board. Listen to the podcast here.
The RTDNA Foundation announces its scholarships for 2023 and Hofstra University rising senior Yaw Bonsu is a recipient of a $2,500 Presidents Scholarship given in memory of past RTDNA presidents in recognition of broadcast journalism students’ excellence. Bonsu is a journalism major focusing on sports journalism. He serves
as the sports director at WRHU-FM, Hempstead, New York on campus and holds positions as a weekend news anchor for WABC-AM, New York and is a sports department intern for WABC-TV, New York. RTDNA Foundation says, “Yaw’s impressive journey includes internships at prominent companies like NBC 4 New York, FOX News Channel, Turner Sports, NBA on TNT, and SiriusXM. He looks up to journalist Jeremy Schaap for his impactful storytelling beyond the field of play and aims to make a similar difference in communities. As someone who largely relies on loans to cover school costs, receiving this scholarship means the world to him.” See the RTDNA Foundation’s complete list of scholarship recipients here.
SmileyAudioMedia, Inc announces that its three-hour daily talk show, “Tavis Smiley,” is launching in national syndication. The program is heard daily on the company’s talk outlet KBLA “Talk 1580 AM” from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon and stars company founder Tavis Smiley speaking with newsmakers, influencers, authors, artists, activists
and entrepreneurs. The company says Smiley will continue to serve as managing editor of his signature show with SmileyAudioMedia, Inc producing and syndicating the program. The program’s first affiliate station is Equity Media LLC’s talk WBOK, New Orleans. Smiley says, “We’re excited to bring our radio program to listeners across America. Our innovative programming with groundbreaking, exclusive interviews has filled a void for African American and progressive listeners in Southern California and soon in markets throughout the United States.” Smiley was honored with the “Gene Burns Memorial Award for Freedom of Speech” – a.k.a., the Freedom of Speech Award – from TALKERS magazine at this year’s TALKERS 2023 conference held on June 2 at Hofstra University.
Goldman Communications Group president Sherry Goldman is launching a weekly radio show called, “Let’s Talk PR & More.” The 30-minute program will feature Goldman in an in-depth conversation with an industry leader about a PR-centric topic. The show covers the broad bandwidth of public relations, as well as the disciplines it
touches, including PR best practices, recent industry trends, case studies, the media, marketing, strategy, career development, and profiles of PR pros. Goldman says, “I’m excited to launch this show and have the opportunity to talk with so many smart, inspiring, and insightful people. I’m learning so much during the conversations I’m having with them on my show, and I know everyone who listens to the show, whether on the radio or as a podcast, will find value in these conversations.” The program airs Mondays at 5:00 pm on Hofstra University’s WRHU-FM, Hempstead, NY and is available nationally on the station’s livestream online and on most streaming devices. Check it out on Goldman Communications Group’s website (www.goldmanpr.net/podcast).
During the coming days, videos of all of TALKERS 2023’s numerous sessions conducted June 2 at Hofstra University will be posted, continuing today (6/28) with the panel presentation, “The State of Sports Talk Radio.”
The presentation, sponsored by Backbone Networks, was introduced by John Fredericks, host/owner of the John Fredericks Radio Network (pictured above) and facilitated by WRHU-FM/WRHU.org, Hofstra University, GM, John T. Mullen (pictured at right). The panelists (pictured below left to right) included Mark Chernoff, sports reporter, “107.1 The Boss,” Long Branch, NJ/sports talent coach; Grace Blazer, VP, national NTS brand coordinator, director of news and AM programming Florida region, iHeart Radio; and Spike Eskin, VP programming, WFAN, New York and CBS Sports Radio. See the video here.
During the coming days, videos of all of TALKERS 2023’s numerous sessions conducted June 2 at Hofstra University will be posted, continuing today (6/27) with the closing reception presentation, “AM Radio and the Automobile Industry.” The presentation, sponsored by The Ramsey Show and C. Crane, was delivered by WABC, New York/Red Apple Media owner John Catsimatidis. The extremely popular broadcasting, supermarket and energy mogul discussed the current AM radio/car issue rallying broadcasters to stand up to the auto industry and fight its current move to eliminate AM radios from cars. He also discussed the importance of adhering to the tenets of “Freedom, Justice and the American Way” in talk radio broadcasting. He began his speech extolling the merits of “having fun” with your work. Check it out here! Pictured above is Catsimatidis joined at the podium by his wife and WABC co-owner Margo Catsimatidis at the conclusion of his address at TALKERS 2023.
During the coming days, videos of all of TALKERS 2023’s numerous sessions conducted June 2 at Hofstra University will be posted, continuing today (6/26) with the morning greetings presentation, “Setting the Stage:
Triple Perspective.” The presentation, sponsored by the Doctor Asa Show, was delivered by multi-platform talk media star Todd Starnes. Starnes brings a lot to the table. He is the owner/operator of a heritage news/talk radio station – KWAM, Memphis. He hosts a local show on the station. He is also a national radio syndicator delivering his own midday radio show to a rapidly growing number of affiliates. Starnes effectively shares his experiences and view of the industry from all three perspectives. Check it out here!
During the coming days, videos of all of TALKERS 2023’s numerous sessions conducted June 2 at Hofstra
University will be posted, continuing today (6/23) with the comedy presentation, “Morning Wakeup.” The standup routine, sponsored by the Doctor Asa Show, was delivered for the third consecutive year by FOX News Radio midday star Jimmy Failla. Sporting his trademark flashy jacket and ultra-cool boots, Failla – one of the rapidly rising stars on the TALKERS Heavy Hundred – satirically poked fun at political correctness as well as himself. Check it out here!
During the coming days, videos of all of TALKERS 2023’s numerous sessions conducted June 2 at Hofstra University will be posted, continuing today (6/22) with the panel discussion, “Making the Connections Between Local and National Radio and Television.” The three-way conversation, sponsored by the Michael Berry Show, was facilitated by WPG, Atlantic City (and regular FOX News Radio guest star), Harry Hurley (pictured above and below at center). Participants included president/CEO JVC Broadcasting, John Caracciolo (pictured above and below at left) and FOX News Radio/FOX News Channel superstar Brian Kilmeade (pictured above and below at right). See video of the session here.
During the coming days, videos of all of TALKERS 2023’s numerous sessions conducted June 2 at Hofstra University will be posted, continuing today (6/21) with the panel discussion, “Navigating a Radio Talk Show
Hosting Career.” The session, sponsored by C. Crane, was introduced by managing partner, Goldman McCormick PR and syndicated host, Ryan McCormick (pictured at right) and moderated by WPHT, Philadelphia host, Dom Giordano (pictured above). Panelists (pictured below from left to right) include Heather Cohen, SVP, the Weiss Agency; Martha Zoller, host, WDUN-AM/FM, Gainesville, GA; Frank Morano, host WABC, New York; Rich Valdes, host, Westwood One; and Jeff Katz, host, WRVA, Richmond, VA. See video of the session here.
During the coming days, videos of all of TALKERS 2023’s numerous sessions conducted June 2 at Hofstra University will be posted, continuing today (6/20) with the panel discussion,
“Generating Talk Radio Revenue in a Digital World.” The session, sponsored by The Ramsey Show, was introduced by syndicated host and radio executive Doug Stephan of the Good Day Show/Stephan Multimedia (pictured at right) and moderated by Lapcom Communications Corp president, Steve Lapa (pictured above). Panelists (pictured below from left to right) include Vince Benedetto, CEO, Bold Gold Media Group; Paul Gleiser, host/owner, KTBB-FM-AM, Tyler, TX; Michael “MZ” Zwerling, host/owner, KSCO/KOMY, Santa Cruz; Todd Starnes, host/president, The Todd Starnes Show Syndication/owner, KWAM, Memphis; and Paul Vandenburgh, host/owner, WGDI, Albany, NY. See video of the session here.
The Hurley in the Morning Charity Foundation was the beneficiary of last Thursday’s 16th Annual “Hurley in the Morning” Charity Golf Open held at The Linwood Country Club. Over the past 16 years, WPG, Atlantic City morning host Harry Hurley‘s Hurley in the
Morning Charity Foundation has raised more than $1.4 million and has written hundreds of grants, including a $ 7,000 donation to the Broadcasters Foundation of America presented on June 2 TALKERS 2023 held at Hofstra University. The Hurley in the Morning Charity Foundation also presents an annual Charity Gala at Resorts Casino in Atlantic City. This year’s event takes place on September 29 and this year’s guest of honor and keynote speaker will be FOX News superstar Brian Kilmeade.
During the coming days, videos of all of TALKERS 2023’s numerous sessions conducted June 2 at Hofstra University will be posted, continuing today (6/15) with the panel discussion, “Talk Radio and
Podcasting.” The session, sponsored by Our American Stories, was introduced by syndicated talk show host Guy Benson of FOX News Radio (pictured at right) and moderated by talk show host Lisa Wexler of WICC, Bridgeport, CT (pictured above). Panelists (pictured below from left to right) include Steve Goldstein, CEO, Amplifi Media; Gary Krantz, CEO, Krantz Media Group; Greg Stocker, brand manager, WPHT, Philadelphia; Ron Hartenbaum, managing member, WYD Media; and Larry Young, host/producer, “In Conversation with LY” podcast. See the video of this session here.
The Broadcasters Foundation of America announces it has elected Chad Lopez, president of Red Apple Media and 77 WABC New York, and Heather Cohen, EVP of the Weiss Agency, to its board of directors.
BFoA chairman Scott Herman says, “Chad and Heather are exceptional broadcast industry leaders, and they are a terrific addition to our board of directors. I look forward 
to working with them to continue our mission of helping broadcasters in dire need.” Chad Lopez has more than 25 years of experience in broadcast and digital media. Prior to joining Red Apple Media, he served as vice president of Cumulus Media’s New York cluster. In addition to her work at the Weiss Agency, Heather Cohen serves on the Alliance for Women in Media and its foundation board of directors, has co-chaired the Gracie Awards since 2016, and most recently was appointed president of the executive board of Hofstra University’s Alumni Organization.
WDUN-AM/FM, Gainesville, Georgia mid-morning talk show host Martha Zoller was the 2023 recipient of the TALKERS Woman of the Year award. The award, that has continuously been presented since 2001, is officially titled The Judy Jarvis Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement by a Woman in Talk Radio. Zoller was presented the honor at TALKERS 2023 on June 2 at Hofstra University on Long Island. In making the presentation, TALKERS broadcast operations director David Bernstein stated, “Martha’s developed a national reputation in the talk media industry as a reliable go-to observer of the dynamics of Georgia politics from an even-handed, conservative perspective.
Over the years, she’s pivoted at different times between being a local and regional radio talk show host, a student, a political operative, a congressional candidate and a businesswoman… as well as a wife, mother, and grandmother. After graduating in 1979 from the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, she worked in the corporate world in addition to raising a family. She says, ‘I know there is no glass ceiling and women can have it all, just not at the same time.’ A lifelong learner, she completed her M.A. in Political Science in 2021 at the University of Georgia’s School of Politics and International Affairs. Among her political experiences, she served as the state director of field offices for Governor Brian Kemp. From 2014 until 2018, she worked for U.S. Senator David Perdue in senior staff positions. She began her talk radio career in 1994 after having been a regular caller to WDUN. In addition to being a perennial member of the TALKERS “Heavy Hundred,” she has been named to James magazine’s list of Most Influential Georgians and Georgia Trend magazine named her as one of Georgia’s most influential members of the media. She also currently serves as the 9th District Representative on the Georgia State Board of Education. See a portion of Martha Zoller’ acceptance speech at TALKERS 2023 here. (EDITOR’S NOTE: TALKERS regrets that the opening portion of Martha Zoller’s speech was lost due to a technical mishap.)
Renowned radio industry executive Kraig T. Kitchin was the 2023 recipient of the newly renamed Jim Bohannon Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement. Kitchin was presented the honor at TALKERS 2023 on June 2 at Hofstra University on Long Island. In making the presentation, TALKERS broadcast operations director David Bernstein stated, “Although still a relatively young man, Kraig Kitchin’s illustrious career goes back decades and his positive contributions to the radio business – including the spoken word formats and some of its greatest talents including the late Rush Limbaugh – have been
indelible and immeasurable.” Since 2008, Kitchin has been president of the talent management firm, Sound Mind LLC, with a focused effort toward managing the businesses of high-profile radio and podcast personalities as well as production companies. He also serves as a strategic advisor to Oxford Road, a media placement agency specializing in audio advertising, with a focus on podcasts and audio integrations. The nine-year-old agency is a leader in the audio space on behalf of more than 50 clients. Kitchin also serves as chairman of the National Radio Hall of Fame to which he was appointed in 2014. Since assuming the role, he has reinstituted national public voting for two of the six categories of induction and has doubled the voting participant panel. Under his leadership, more than 75 radio icons have been inducted. Prior to launching his own firm, Kitchin was one of the founders of Premiere Radio Networks, Inc., in 1987. The company grew to be the number one radio network in the country syndicating 90 radio programs and services to more than 4,600 radio affiliates, reaching 190 million listeners weekly. He started as executive vice president of sales and by 1998 at the age of 37, he assumed the role of president/COO, one of the youngest in the country to run a $300 multi-million-plus radio company. During his 10-year tenure at Premiere, Kitchin directed and oversaw all talk and music programming and services featuring a wide array of the nation’s most popular personalities. In addition, he supervised Premiere Radio’s other properties: Mediabase 24/7, the industry’s leading music monitoring service, MJI Programming, and FOX Sports Radio. Kitchin started his career in station management at WFMK-FM in Lansing, MI, and KTYD-FM in Santa Barbara, CA before serving as sales manager of the Katz Radio Group Network in Los Angeles. See Kraig T. Kitchin’s acceptance speech at TALKERS 2023 here.
One of the talk media industry’s most impactful movers and shakers, Christopher Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax Media spoke at TALKERS 2023 on June 2 at Hofstra University on Long Island. Ruddy engaged in one of the conference’s two “fireside chats” hosted by TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison. According to Harrison, “There isn’t a day that Chris Ruddy isn’t in or behind
the media news. The growth of Newsmax on the television, radio, print and digital fronts has been nothing short of phenomenal. He is extraordinarily connected and his influence on this business as well as the national conversation is on a non-stop upward trajectory. I was
delighted to have him as a guest in this setting and at this time.” In a fast-paced session sponsored by Collette guided travel tour specialists, Ruddy and Harrison engaged in a candid conversation about positioning, programming and navigating the infrastructure of modern media including print, digital and radio as well as cable news/talk television. See the exclusive video of the session here.
Prolific author and veteran talk media purveyor of current events with a focus on African American perspectives, Tavis Smiley, was honored by the TALKERS editorial board at the TALKERS 2023 conference as the 2023 recipient of the highly prestigious Gene Burns Memorial Award for Freedom of Speech. (The presentation was sponsored by The Todd Starnes Show) The award is presented each year to a talk media practitioner whose work sets an example for the exercise and preservation of the First Amendment. Smiley, who has hosted shows on a diverse array of platforms such as BET, CNN, ABC, PBS, KABC
Radio, and KGFJ Radio among others, joins such former recipients of the award as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O’ Reilly, Mark Levin, Michael Savage, Glenn Beck, Bob Grant, Thom Hartmann, Alan Colmes, Joe Madison, Karen Hunter, Al Franken, Brian Lamb, Norm Pattiz, Ian Freeman and others dating back to the origins of TALKERS in the late 1980s. Some two years ago, Smiley’s media company acquired an AM radio station in Los Angeles, the former hip hop legend KDAY, and transformed it into a new station and format – KBLA Talk 1580 – where he’s assembled an outstanding on-air staff, including himself, with the 
passionate mission of, as he puts it, “unapologetically serving people of color and who are politically progressive.” In making the announcement of this year’s recipient, TALKERS founder Michael Harrison states, “This is our longest-running and most-important award. Mr. Smiley has risen to the enormous talk radio challenge of providing underserved African Americans and progressives with a major commercial platform in the nation’s second largest market with a worldwide reach. In today’s political environment and struggling AM radio industry, it doesn’t get any more ‘First Amendment’ than that.” Tavis Smiley was presented the award by Harrison at TALKERS 2023 on Friday, June 2 at Hofstra University on Long Island. See the presentation and Smiley’s acceptance speech here.
iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman and TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison engaged in an exclusive nine-minute video conversation that debuted during the opening segment (sponsored by Doctor Asa) of TALKERS 2023, the 26th annual edition of the talk media industry’s longest-running and most important conference held June 2 at Hofstra University. In it, Pittman candidly and directly addresses key existential issues pertaining to the talk radio industry as it faces daunting forks in the road. Harrison, who has known Pittman since he was a 20-year-old music director at WMAQ, Chicago in the mid-1970s, asks the chief of radio’s largest firm such questions as, “Do you still have the same passion for radio as I remember you having when we were kids in the business?” “What are iHeart’s intentions for news/talk and sports talk radio
within the realm of the company going forward?” “How can radio remain true to its roots and mission as an audio medium and theater-of-the-mind without missing the opportunities provided in a multiplatform environment?” plus more. Pittman says that this is a “golden moment” for both radio and the larger field of audio in which it is and will remain a major player. He pointed out that “25% of iHeart’s stations do not play music” and that more and more shows on the company’s music stations are “actually talk shows that play little or no music at all.” He reaffirmed the company’s awareness that personality plays an important role in the presentation of music and it is its intention to pivot back in that direction. He candidly addressed the divide between the coastal elites who influence the direction of national media but are largely out of touch with the heartland and the rest of real America. The video is now posted and can be viewed here.
During the coming days, videos of all of TALKERS 2023’s numerous sessions conducted June 2 at Hofstra University will be posted, continuing today with the panel discussion “Programming
News/Talk Radio in the Digital Era – Part 2.” The session, sponsored by “Our American Stories,” is introduced by Alex Fife, VP operations, Southeast, iHeartMedia – Total Traffic & Weather Network (pictured at right) and moderated by Walter Sabo, CEO, Sabo Media and host (Walter Sterling) of Sterling on Sunday (pictured above). Panelists (pictured below from left to right) include Dan Mandis, program director and host, WTN-FM, Nashville; Ross Kaminsky, host KOA, Denver; Phil Boyce, SVP, spoken word format, Salem Media Group/ops VP, New York region/WMCA/AM 970; Josh Leng, CEO, Talk Media Network; and Matt Meany, program director, WABC, New York/Red Apple Media. See the video of this session here.
During the coming days, videos of all of TALKERS 2023’s numerous sessions conducted June 2
at Hofstra University will be posted, beginning today with the panel discussion “Programming News/Talk Radio in the Digital Era – Part 1.” The session, sponsored by Premiere Networks, is introduced by Larry O’ Connor, morning host at WMAL, Washington, DC and moderated by Mike McVay (pictured at right), CEO of McVay Media Consulting. Panelists (pictured below from left to right) include Joe Thomas, program director/host, WCHV, Charlottesville, VA; Eric Stanger, SVP operations, Sean Hannity Show/Premiere Networks; Brett Winterble, host, WBT, Charlotte; Kevin DeLany, VP news & talk programming, Westwood One; and Tom Cuddy, program director, WOR, New York. (Note: Matt Meany, program director, WABC, New York who was originally scheduled to appear on this panel switched to the “Programming News/Talk Radio in the Digital Era – Part 2” session which will be posted tomorrow.) See the video of this session here.
For 10 exciting hours on Friday, June 2, Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York became the center of the talk media universe as some 250 professional broadcasters and dedicated students of communications gathered to hear more than 60 speakers in addition to networking with each other at TALKERS 2023. It was the 26th annual installment of the talk show field’s longest running and most important national conference. Speakers included such luminaries as WABC, New York/Red Apple Media CEO, John Catsimatidis; Newsmax Media CEO,
Christopher Ruddy; Connoisseur Media CEO, Jeff Warshaw; KBLA Talk 1580, Los Angeles CEO (and Freedom of Speech Award recipient) Tavis Smiley; Sound Mind, LLC CEO (and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient) Kraig T. Kitchin; and WDUN, Gainesville, GA talk show host (and Woman of the Year recipient) Martha Zoller. There was a special, exclusive video appearance by iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman. The iconic conference included panel discussions addressing such topics as programming news/talk and sports talk radio, podcasting, generating revenue, artificial intelligence in broadcasting, navigating a talk show hosting career, AM radio and automobiles, the challenges facing the ratings process, and the future of technology and media. Speakers included major talk show hosts, program directors, brand managers, agents, syndicators and radio station owners. Look for extensive stories and photos from the conference in TALKERS over the next days and weeks including full video coverage of every speech, panel and presentation. All of us at TALKERS are grateful to the talk media industry for making TALKERS 2023 a tremendous success!
When executed properly, the marriage of a popular talk show host and a good tour booking company can prove lucrative for both parties and provide listeners with unforgettable travel experiences. The travel industry’s longest running tour planner is doing just that. Collette, the oldest tour operator in North America (established in 1918), is bullish on talk radio and is proactively seeking partnerships in organizing host-led guided listener
tours that provide a significant revenue stream for stations (or syndicators) as well as world-wide free travel for their top personalities. Collette is planning a major presence at TALKERS 2023 tomorrow (6/2) at the 26th annual sold-out installment of the talk media industry conference at Hofstra University on Long Island. Jim Edwards, VP, US affinity development (jedwards@collette.com) and Paul Holly, marketing manager (pholly@collette.com) for Collette will be in attendance at the conference to discuss potential partnerships with broadcasters interested in exploring this opportunity as well as the world. Check out their website at www.collette.com.