Industry News

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.

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Salem Radio Networks star Mike Gallagher gives the TALKERS camera a big thumbs up from the halls of Hofstra University’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication. In addition to broadcasting his show that day from the state-of-the-art studios of the university’s acclaimed WRHU, Gallagher participated in the TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond “Great Debate” representing the conservative viewpoint in a refreshingly civil exchange with progressive host Thom Hartmann.

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WABC, New York/Red Apple Audio Network star Frank Morano (standing); WDUN, Gainesville, GA midday force Martha Zoller (seated r); and WBT, Charlotte afternoon drive personality Brett Winterble (seated l) are pictured during an informal moment at TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond.

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Noelle Huizenga, VP public policy/communications, National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) was among the attendees at TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond.

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Nationally syndicated Talk Media Network (TMN) radio personality Kate Delaney (l) captured a cozy selfie with (l-r) Ryan McCormickMichael Harrison, and Mark Goldman at TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond. Goldman and McCormick are the managing partners of Goldman McCormick Public Relations.

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John Sardelis (l) is pictured at TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond with Westwood One affiliate sales manager, Laura Martinez.  

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Broadcasters General Store (BGS) marketing executive Buck Waters attended TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond dispensing sage advice about the latest equipment and technology available to conference registrants. Waters, along with BGS tech wizard David Antoine, provided oversight to the process of video recording the sessions at the event which will soon be posted here and on YouTube.

Industry News

TALKERS 2023: Video of “Navigating a Radio Talk Show Hosting Career” Panel Discussion Posted

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 Showim 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 AgencyMartha 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.

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Industry News

Today’s Radio Talk Show Hosts Face Unique Challenges

A special panel addressing the career management issues facing today’s talk radio talent has been set for TALKERS 2023 which will take place on Friday, June 2 at Hofstra University on Long Island. It’s always been difficult to forge a successful on-air career in radio – but today, it is particularly intense. Talk show hosts in 2023 must deal with integrating their on-air responsibilities with the multi-platform nature of modern media, fragmented pop culture, stifling budget restrictions, and highly distracted or corporately paralyzed management. This all plays out against the backdrop of controversy, political correctness, a dizzyingly non-stop news cycle and incessant technological change. The session titled, “Navigating a Radio Talk Show Hosting Career,” will be introduced by Ryan McCormick, managing partner, Goldman McCormick, PR and a syndicated talk show host in his own right; moderated by Heavy Hundred mainstay and the “Dean of Philadelphia Talk Radio,” Dom Giordano, WPHT, Philadelphia; and include panelists (in alphabetical order): super-agent, Heather Cohen, SVP, The Weiss Agency; Heavy Hundred member Mandy Connell,  KOA, Denver; Heavy Hundred member Jeff Katz, WRVA, Richmond; Heavy Hundred member Frank Morano, WABC, New York/Red Apple Audio Network, and Heavy Hundred member Martha Zoller, WDUN, Gainesville, Georgia.   More than 60 luminaries from the talk media industry are set to speak at a power-packed day of fireside chats, solo addresses, panel discussions, workshops, award presentations, new equipment showcases and endless networking opportunities. TALKERS 2023 is nearing an advance sellout. See more about the agenda, registration, sponsorship and hotel information here.