Ongoing Coverage of TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond
The 27th annual installment of the talk media industry’s longest running, and most important national event took place on Friday, June 7 at Hofstra University on Long Island. TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond was an advance sellout. The power-packed, one-day agenda featured a roster of more than 60 speakers from all ends of the talk radio and related talk media industries including talent, station owners, CEOs, programmers, technical experts, journalists, syndicators, and a wide variety of visionaries. The annual talk media industry tradition was presented by TALKERS in association with the prestigious university’s multi-award-winning station WRHU Radio and Hofstra’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication. Key discussions included “Gaining Traction in a Noisy World,” “The Case for AM Radio,” “Generating News/Talk Revenue in the Digital Era,” “The State of Sports Talk Radio,” “The Brave New World of Technological and Generational Change,” “Programming News/Talk Radio,” “Perspectives on Hosting Television Talk,” “Philanthropy and Community Service,” “The Art of Story Telling,” “Talk Radio Programming Opportunities Beyond Politics,” “Meeting the Challenges of Being a Talk Talent,” “The Big Picture of Radio’s Role in a Rapidly Changing World,” and “The State of the First Amendment” among others. As the volumes of data generated by this gathering are sorted out, TALKERS will provide in-depth, detailed coverage of the conference in the days and weeks ahead including posting videos of its key segments. See a selection of photos from TALKERS 2024 Radio and Beyond below.
Like father, like son… Heavy Hundred member John Curley, afternoon star of KIRO 97.3 FM Newsradio, Seattle (r) and his son Ry Curley, sports reporter for KOZI, Chelan, WA (l) were among the attendees at TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond. John Curley was this year’s recipient of the TALKERS Sharon L. Harrison Memorial Award for Community Service (“Humanitarian of the Year”).
Compass Radio Networks syndicated talk radio Heavy Hundred goliath Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo (l) was a major presence at TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond delivering the kick off breakfast address “Gaining Traction in a Noisy World” and moderating the “Behind the Mic” panel. He is pictured here accompanied by his daughters Jia “Pags” Pagliarulo (c) and Sam ”Pags” Pagliarulo (r). Sam serves as executive producer of “The Joe Pags Show.”
Two of talk media’s long-running mainstays were photographed in the hallways of Hofstra University’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication at TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond: Chris Krok, evening star of WBAP, Dallas (l) and recent Radio Hall of Fame inductee Lee Harris, director, integrated operations, NewsNation / WGN, Chicago. Lee Harris served as moderator of the conference’s “Great Debate.”
Heavy Hundred member Paul Vandenburgh, owner/host, WGDJ (Talk 1300) Albany (l), who spoke on the “Programming News/Talk Radio” panel is pictured with Kevin Casey, VP/executive editor, TALKERS (r) who served as master of ceremonies for TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond.
Up from the Sunshine State with very long titles… Grace Blazer, VP, national NTS brand coordinator, director of news and AM programming, Florida region, iHeartMedia Miami (l) and Alex Fife, VP/operations, Southeast, iHeartMedia, Total Traffic & Weather Network (r) played significant roles at TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond. Grace appeared on the “Programming News/Talk Radio” panel and Alex introduced the “Case for AM Radio” address.
Deck the halls with major broadcasters: WAQY (Rock 102), Springfield, MA morning co-host Mike “Bax” Baxendale (l) and Deborah Parenti, publisher Radio Ink / RBR+TVBR (r) were captured in one frame entering Hofstra University’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication to participate in TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond. Bax spoke on the “Beyond Politics” panel and Deborah was a participant in “The Big Picture” discussion.
More pictures from TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond — as well as videos of panels and presentations — still to come!
mornings and late nights at the heritage station. Prior to that he served for 15 years as the local host of the evening magazine program on Seattle’s KING5 NBC. During his career on KIRO, Curley has spearheaded a number of extremely creative and high-profile charitable promotions in addition to operating an independent business as a fund-raising auctioneer for charitable causes and organizations across the nation. He raises an average of $80 million per year with this endeavor. In making the announcement, TALKERS founder Michael Harrison stated, “John Curley is a true on- and off-air original… iconoclastic, candid, and smart. His charity work as a radio personality over the years has been creative, entertaining, and effective. However, it is his remarkable skill and productivity as an auctioneer for non-profits around America that is absolutely stunning. When John gets on that stage, he raises auctioneering to a heart pounding art form and drags every ounce of generosity out of his spellbound audiences. His patter is song and his moves are dance.” 
as well as conservative talk KTTH-AM morning drive host Bryan Suits. The report indicates that evening host Jake Skorheim moves to PM drive to co-host the 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm “John & Jake” show with John Curley. The evening daypart will be filled by CBS Audio’s “John Batchelor Show.” Taking over the KTTH-AM morning drive daypart from Suits is the syndicated “Armstrong & Getty” show. 
