Tag: Steve Wexler

Industry News

Wexler to Serve as Interim CEO at Neuhoff Media

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

With the exit of president and CEO Mike Hulvery to take the leadership role at the RAB, Neuhoff Media announces that former Journal and Scripps broadcast executive and current leadership coach at Goodim Karma Brands, Steve Wexler, will serve as interim CEO and will begin working with the Neuhoff team in January. Julian Hickman and Makena Neuhoff, the Trustees for the Neuhoff family, say, “We thank Mike for his many contributions during his more than 30 years as part of Neuhoff Media. Under his leadership, Mike has advanced the family mission of great local radio. We wish Mike all the best in his new role at the RAB and are thrilled to welcome Steve Wexler as interim CEO.” Wexler comments, “I am thrilled for Mike and am honored to serve as interim CEO for this legendary company and look forward to working with the talented, committed team at Neuhoff during this transition.”

Front Page News Industry News

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

By Editor | by Editor

Steve Wexler Steps Down from Daily Management Duties at Good Karma Brands Milwaukee. Radio management pro Steve Wexler – vice president and market manager for Good Karma Brands Milwaukee – will wrap up his 35-year career and transition into a coaching and development role at the company. The announcement was made today (11/15) by GKB founder and CEO Craig Karmazin, who says, “We are appreciative and grateful Steve “Wex” joined Good Karma to lead the Milwaukee team through a time of significant growth and transition. His passion for local news and his community-focused approach to broadcasting and media led the team through a pandemic, the launch of a new station, and award-winning coverage of so many significant moments of the past several years. We’re looking forward to continuing to learn from his knowledge and leadership expertise as he moves into a coaching role within the GKB home office.” The company says that EVP Emily Dillinger will assume the role of interim market manager for GKB’s three Milwaukee stations talk WGKB-AM/W269DL “101.7 The Truth,” sports talk WKTI-FM, “ESPN Milwaukee,” and news/talk WTMJ “Newsradio 620.” Wexler comments, “I’m looking forward to tapping into my experiences and many lessons learned to help our content, sales and management teammates continue to grow their skills and knowledge. I’m very grateful to Craig for the opportunity to do what I do best and what I enjoy most which is spending time coaching and developing our team.” Wexler led the sale of the 36-station, 8-market Scripps Radio Group in late 2018 to several broadcast companies, including GKB in Milwaukee, where he assumed the role of market manager in 2019. He began his broadcast career at WTMJ in Milwaukee as an intern and has been an on-air personality, program manager, and radio and television general manager before running the radio division for Journal Communications, which merged with Scripps in 2018.

Cox Media Group Names Market Leaders for Houston and Orlando. The company announces the appointment of new VP/market managers for its Houston and Orlando clusters. In Orlando, where Cox Media Group operates news/talk WDBO-AM/FM and five music brands, JC Campese assumes the leadership role. CMG operates three music brands in Houston where Stephanie Callihan is named to the top position. She has served with several radio groups, including Audacy where she was most recently an SVP and market manager. Campese launched his career with CMG in 2000 and rose to director of sales for the Orlando cluster prior to this promotion. CMG executive vice president Rob Babin says, “We are excited to tap into our amazing internal CMG leadership talent and announce the promotions of JC and Stephanie. JC and Stephanie have a fantastic range of experiences and talents that will make a positive impact on CMG and our talented teams in Orlando and Houston. I look forward to the difference they’ll make as CMG continues to evolve to meet the needs of our listeners, clients, and our communities.”

AWM Presents Gracies Leadership Awards. The Alliance for Women in Media hosted the Gracies Leadership Awards luncheon yesterday (11/14) at the Tribeca 360° in New York City.  Soledad O’Brien served as keynote speaker stating that the group of honorees represent “stories not just of grit, vision, and opportunity, but of women helping women and celebrating women and the story of how those women didn’t forget that they got into media to elevate people and issues and struggles that were not in the spotlight.” The seven female leaders honored (and pictured above) were: Valerie Blackburn; Nancy Daniels, chief of content, NTets, Discovery, Animal Planet &Science Channel; Marie Donoghue, vice president, global sports video, Amazon; Kim Godwin, president, ABC News; Wendy Goldberg, chief communications officer, iHeartMedia, Inc; Chelsey Maddox-Dorsey, CEO, A wonder Media Company; Debra O’Connell, president, networks, Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution; and Dawn Porter, founder, Trilogy Films. AWM Foundation chair Heather Cohen states, “This is a pivotal event for us because it covers all three of our pillars- it’s recognition, it’s education, and it’s connection. We shine a light on exceptional women in media- those who have shattered glass ceilings and proven their leadership and notable today, what an honor to have Soledad O’Brien, one of the greatest storytellers of our time as our keynote.”

TALKERS News Notes. Audio research and analytics firm Veritonic announces the second annual Audio Intelligence Summit is scheduled for February 15 at Second Floor in New York City. Veritonic says, “The summit will once again gather industry-leading brands, agencies, and publishers to dive deep into the data and analytics that are driving today’s successful audio and podcasting strategies. We look forward to coming together with fellow publishers, platforms, brands and agencies to collectively improve upon and consider the data and analytics that are making audio’s ever-expanding influence increasingly efficient and impactful.” Find details about the summit by visiting https://audiointelligencesummit.com…..Benztown + McVay Media Podcast Networks announce the launch today of the quirky new comedic podcast, “The Neurotic Vaccine,” created and hosted by Andy Cowan, award-winning writer for “Seinfeld,” “Cheers,” and “3rd Rock from the Sun.” In “The Neurotic Vaccine,” Cowan invites fellow neurotics to share his mini-therapy sessions with co-host, clinical and forensic psychologist, Dr. Scott Kopoian. Together with their guests – including inaugural guests Jay Leno and Cathy creator, Cathy Guisewite – Cowan and Kopoian work toward the daunting goal of immunity to neurosis. “The Neurotic Vaccine” podcast includes celebrity guests, post-session postscripts, comedy featurettes and more. Future sessions of “The Neurotic Vaccine” will feature stars including Leave It To Beaver’s Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow (in his final interview), “Curb Your Enthusiasm” guest star comedian Elon Gold, Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary, CNN host Michael Smerconish, and actress Marilu Henner…..Quu Inc., announces radio veteran Laura Gonzo joins the company as senior director of affiliate services. In this role, Gonzo will work with stations and sales teams to ensure the successful implementation of Quu’s advertising products. Gonzo served as affiliate director for “The Bob & Tom Show” from 1997 through 2008. She says, “Quu’s powerful technology is truly a game-changer for radio. Beyond elevating the station’s visual appeal, Quu offers a huge opportunity to increase sales and drive stronger returns for clients. I’m thrilled to join the team of passionate experts at Quu and to help stations make the most of these transformative products.”…..SiriusXM announces that Andy Cohen has signed a three-year contract extension and that his exclusive SiriusXM channel Radio Andy “will now serve as the audio subscription service’s definitive home for pop culture with “Andy Cohen Live” and “Smith Sisters Live” expanding to daily shows.” Cohen says, “SiriusXM allows me to dig deeply into two of my passions – pop culture on Radio Andy and music on the Kiki Lounge. I’m so proud of what we’ve developed over the last seven years on Radio Andy. I’ve loved programming the channel, and my longform interviews with celebrities and authors feed my soul. Programming the Kiki Lounge brought me incredible joy during the pandemic and listening to it is a romp through my expansive music vocabulary.”

Midterms Aftermath, Trump in ’24, Biden-Xi Meeting, The Economy, Crypto-Crash, G-20/Russia-Ukraine War, and UVA Killings Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (11/14). The results of last week’s midterm elections that leave the Democrats in control of the U.S. Senate and the Republicans likely to assume control of the U.S. House; former President Donald Trump’s expected announcement he’ll run for president in 2024; Monday’s meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping; inflation and fears of a recession; the fall of cryptocurrency exchange FTX and the 75% decline of crypto value over the last 12 months; the G-20 meeting in Bali, Indonesia and the pressure on attending nations to officially condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; and the fatal shooting of three University of Virginia football players were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Front Page News Industry News

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

By Editor | by Editor

KYW, Philadelphia Names Kristina Koppeser Brand Manager; Promotes Tom Rickert to Assistant Brand Manager. Rising to the role of brand manager and director of digital content at Audacy’s all-news KYW-AM/FM is Kristina “Luca” Koppeser. She was most recently serving as digital managing editor. At the same time, the company adds assistant brand manager duties to Tom Rickert, who will continue his role as as director of podcasting. Audacy Philadelphia SVP and market manager David Yadgaroff states, “We’re thrilled to usher in the next chapter of this heritage brand by elevating two exceptionally talented individuals in Luca and Tom. They both not only have a finger on the pulse of this city, but an immense understanding for the role this station plays for our listeners each and every day. I have full confidence that under their leadership KYW Newsradio will continue its growth and further extend its position as a trusted and respected voice in this community.” Koppeser comments, “The passion, tenacity, and dedication of the KYW newsroom is unrivaled. Having the privilege of working alongside and learning from these award-winning journalists inspires me every day. I am honored to help write the next chapter of KYW Newsradio and to continue to serve the greater Philadelphia region with the top-notch local news that matters most.” Rickert adds, “KYW Newsradio is a venerable newsroom, a cherished institution, and a group of the finest journalists in Philadelphia – but it’s much more than that too. It’s the pulse of this city, the soundtrack for generations, and in times of trouble and uncertainty, a critical lifeline for millions. It’s a great honor and a privilege to champion the peerless journalism of this incredible news team and to serve the diverse communities of Philadelphia with the dependable local news and information they not only trust but deserve.”

FOX Sports Radio Adds ‘Covino & Rich’ to Daily Lineup. A tweak to the afternoon programming from FOX Sports Radio puts the duo of Steve Covino and Rich Davis into the 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm ET slot, effective September 26. The duo first joined FSR in September 2021 as part of the network’s weekend football lineup. In addition to their move from weekends to weekdays, they will continue to host the “Covino & Rich” live podcast, which debuted in 2004 on SiriusXM. With the addition of “Covino & Rich” to its weekday lineup, “The Doug Gottlieb Show” transitions from a three-hour program to two hours, airing from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm ET. Gottlieb will also host a new, original daily podcast featuring interviews with the latest newsmakers in sports. “Covino & Rich” will be heard on more than 200 stations nationwide, in addition to FOX Sports Radio’s channel on iHeartRadio. iHeartMedia Sports EVP Don Martin and FOX Sports Radio VP of sports programming Scott Shapiro say, “‘Covino and Rich’ will add a dynamic punch to an already rich roster. They’re so talented we had to make room for them in what is the best sports talk lineup in the nation. We can’t wait to share this one-of-a-kind duo with even more listeners across the country.”

Ryan Williams Joins Good Karma Brands Milwaukee as Director of Marketing. Joining Good Karma Brands Milwaukee as director of marketing is Ryan Williams. He’ll lead all marketing operations for the company’s news/talk WTMJ “Newsradio 620,” sports talk WKTI-FM “94.5 ESPN,” and talk WGKB-AM/W269DL “101.7 The Truth.” He was most recently regional brand manager for Audacy Chicago. GKB Milwaukee market manager Steve Wexler comments, “We are thrilled to welcome Ryan to Good Karma Brands. His experience, as well as his natural alignment with GKB’s core values, make him the perfect choice to lead our marketing efforts and team forward.” Williams begins his new position on October 17. He says, “I’m thrilled and honored to be joining GKB Milwaukee working on three great brands in the market. I look forward to collaborating with my teammates on creative and innovative projects for GKB Milwaukee’s fans and partners that continue to build on the presence that 94.5 ESPN Milwaukee, Newsradio 620 WTMJ, and 101.7 The Truth have in the community.”

Kristy Beebe Named iHeartMedia’s Area President for Kentucky/Carolina. Management pro Kristy Beebe is promoted to the area president role for iHeartMedia’s newly formed Kentucky/Carolina Area that includes 47 broadcast and digital brands. Beebe will be responsible for all operations over seven markets including Louisville, Lexington and Somerset, Kentucky along with Columbia, Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Florence, South Carolina. Beebe was most recently market president for the company’s Indianapolis station group. iHeartMedia division president Nick Gnau says, “Kristy has shown success in every opportunity that has been presented, she knows how to build culture and high performing teams. Her passion for serving the community, our portfolio of assets and her team makes her the perfect choice to lead this newly developed Area. I look forward to working with Kristy and watching her continued successes over the seven markets in the Kentucky/Carolina Area.” Beebe states, “I am excited to be leading the alignment of the Kentucky/Carolina Area within the Gnau Division. Our combined talent and resources will create exciting new opportunities and growth within this newly formed group of markets!”

FOX Nation to Produce Roseanne Barr Comedy Special. The special program is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2023 on FOX News Media’s direct-to-consumer streaming service FOX Nation. Speaking about the Roseanne Barr comedy special, FOX Nation president Jason Klarman says, “Roseanne is a comedy icon whose humor connects with the American audience like no other. Her ability to channel the challenges of everyday people and find the humor in it all has earned her the passionate following of millions of dedicated fans. We are thrilled to add her comedy special exclusively to the FOX Nation catalog.” FOX Nation says, “The one-hour special will feature Ms. Barr’s signature comedic take on a variety of topics, with no subject off limits. ‘A Roseanne Comedy Special’ adds to the growing portfolio of exclusive content on FOX Nation, which includes original series such as ‘Duck Family Treasure’, ‘Sharon Osbourne: To Hell & Back’ (dropping on September 26) and the upcoming ‘Yellowstone: One-Fifty with Kevin Costner.’”

Soledad O’Brien to Keynote Gracies Leadership Awards. The Alliance for Women in Media announces that Soledad O’Brien – award-winning journalist, CEO of Soledad O’Brien Productions, philanthropist, and author – will keynote the Gracies Leadership Awards on Monday, November 14, 2022, at Tribeca 360 in New York. At this event, AWM will present its Legacy Leadership Award to Valerie K. Blackburn, a longtime radio executive and industry leader as well as active and committed supporter of AWM. Google News Initiative is a presenting sponsor for this key education and recognition celebration. AWM says the annual event provides an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the significant impact women have made in the media industry, while also spurring to action and emboldening female leaders in attendance. The list of this year’s honorees will be announced soon. O’Brien says, “The Alliance for Women in Media’s commitment to shining a light on the impressive work of women in our industry and how they cover them in support and celebrate their talent makes me all the more honored and delighted to serve as keynote.” AWM president Becky Brooks comments, “The Alliance for Women in Media is proud to recognize women for their exceptional achievements. It is our honor to have Soledad O’Brien as keynote and Valerie Blackburn as the AWM Legacy Leadership recipient, both undoubtedly trailblazers in the world of media leaving a legacy for all women in media to follow.”

TALKERS News Notes. A new deal between Skyview Networks and the nationally syndicated radio show, “Bob & Sheri,” has the company handling advertising sales for the program, with access to digital and podcast opportunities. The independently syndicated program stars Bob Lacey and Sheri Lynch and is co-owned by Lynch and Tony Garcia. Lynch says, “The team at Skyview Networks truly shares our passion for creativity and innovation. They are absolutely all in. It’s an exciting partnership and I’m thrilled at this opportunity to learn and grow while serving our audience, affiliates, and advertisers in new, dynamic ways.”…..Tomorrow (9/22), WMVP-AM ESPN Chicago personality David Kaplan will lead the 3rd Annual Walk as One Chicago event to benefit Bernie’s Book Bank, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing book ownership among under-served Chicagoland children. As part of the event, Kaplan and Bernie’s Book Bank CEO Darrin Utynek will distribute free books to K-6th grade students at Jahn Elementary School. The walk was created by Kaplan, who co-hosts “Kap & J. Hood” on the Good Karma Brands station. Since 2009, Bernie’s Book Bank has distributed more than 22 million free, quality books to Chicagoland children ages birth through sixth grade…..This Saturday (9/24) is the only Midwest production of Stephanie Miller’s “Sexy Liberal Save Democracy Tour” with John Fugelsang, Hal Sparks, and Frangela taking place at Chicago’s Harris Theater and presented by affiliate station WCPT-AM, Chicago.

Immigration/Migrant Transportation, Trump Documents Case, Inflation/Financial Markets Activity, Russia-Ukraine War, Midterms/2024 Presidential Race, UN General Assembly, COVID-19, Hurricane Fiona Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (9/20). The state of immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border and the legal issues surrounding the transporting of migrants by red state governors to blue state cities; the legal procedures relative to the classified and top secret documents former President Donald Trump was keeping at Mar-a-Lago; the high price of food and consumer goods, the effect on the world’s financial markets, and the Fed’s expected interest rate hike; Vladimir Putin’s doubling down on his invasion of Ukraine and his threats of nuclear force; the November midterm elections and speculation about the nominees for president in 2024; the tenor of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York; the conflicting statements about the COVID pandemic from President Joe Biden and Dr. Tony Fauci; and the damage to Puerto Rico from Hurricane Fiona were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Front Page News Industry News

Thursday, April 28, 2022

By Editor | by Editor

SiriusXM Host Joe Madison is This Week’s Guest on Harrison Podcast. Civil rights activist, author, speaker and radio talk show host Joe Madison is this week’s guest on the award-winning PodcastOne series, “The Michael Harrison Interview.” Since 1980, “The Black Eagle” has hosted shows at such outstanding outlets as WXYZ, Detroit; WWDB-FM, Philadelphia; WWRC, Washington, DC; and WOL – also in the nation’s capital. He’s been nationally syndicated by Radio One and is now well into his second decade hosting the morning show on SiriusXM Satellite Radio’s Urban View channel. Madison was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2019. He is the leading civil rights activist broadcaster in America whose main platform is talk radio. He’s conducted high-profile hunger strikes to bring attention to causes he supports and has been arrested at demonstrations. He is a prolific public speaker and inspiration to people seeking racial equality and justice in America. The 72-year-old thought leader has received numerous honors over the years including the prestigious TALKERS Freedom of Speech Award in 2008. Joe Madison is currently the highest-ranked African American personality on the TALKERS Heavy Hundred list of the 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America (#5). Now, with David Canton, he has written a long-awaited book about his life and career titled, Radio Active: A Memoir of Advocacy in Action, on the Air and in the Streets. Harrison and Madison take a deep dive into the ongoing turbulence of race relations in America. To listen to the podcast in its entirety, click here.

 

FCC’s Carr Says Agency Has No Authority in Twitter Acquisition. Responding to the Open Markets Institute’s appeal to the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Trade Commission to block the acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk, FCC commissioner Brendan Carr issued a terse statement: “The FCC has no authority to block Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter, and to suggest otherwise is absurd. I would welcome the full FCC making it clear that we will not entertain these types of frivolous arguments.” The Open Markets Institute says in its statement, “The most obvious problem is that the deal would give to a single man – one who already wields immense political and economic power – direct control over one of world’s most important platforms for public communications and debate. As has been true from the Founding, the American people have an absolute right to ensure the full openness and neutrality of all essential public infrastructure. Specific to communications, we see this in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, in the Telegraph acts of 1860 and 1866, the Mann-Elkins Act of 1910, the Communications Act of 1934, and many other federal and state laws. Americans have also repeatedly used our antitrust laws to prevent concentrations of power over communications, speech, debate, and news.” Read the organization’s release here.

 

Hall of Famer Brett Favre to Join ESPN Milwaukee for Weekly Segment. Green Bay Packers great and NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre is joining Good Karma Brands’ Milwaukee stations for a weekly segment during this fall’s 2022 NFL season. Beginning August 29, the 30-minute interview will air every Monday morning at 7:30 am on WKTI-FM “94.5 ESPN” Milwaukee’s “Jen, Gabe & Chewy” program featuring Packers Hall of Fame inductee Mark Chmura. The interview will be replayed on other ESPN Wisconsin shows, “Newsradio 620” WTMJ, WGKB-AM/W269DL “101.7 The Truth” and Good Karma Brands’ digital platforms. Good Karma VP and market manager Steve Wexler says, “We are excited about our coverage of the team this season, which will include pre-game and post-game shows, expanded hospitality at our Tundra Trio hospitality homes in Green Bay, and the exclusive appearance of Brett Favre on our stations. Brett will bring his unique perspective and experience to our programming and we can’t to hear his takes.”

 

WMVP-AM, Chicago Adds Courtney Cronin as Bears Reporter and Fill-In Host. As reported by Chicago media writer Robert Feder, Good Karma Brands’ sports talk WMVP-AM “ESPN 1000” adds Courtney Cronin to the staff to serve as a Chicago Bears reporter and on-air fill-in host during the football season. Feder notes that she had been serving with ESPN covering the Minnesota Vikings prior to returning to her native Chicago to cover the Bears. WMVP director of content Danny Zederman is quoted saying, “We are thrilled to welcome Courtney to our ESPN Chicago family. She is well connected in NFL circles and will bring our fans the Bears information they desire. In addition to her reporting, our fans are going to enjoy what Courtney has to offer as a radio host, where she’ll talk all things Chicago sports.”

 

NAB2022: Employee Wellness and Mental Health. “Because COVID-19 was unlike anything we’ve experienced, they called it ‘a novel coronavirus.’” So, consultant Holland Cooke, recalls “we went into a better-safe-than-sorry mode with lasting consequences,” including in the radio workplace. One NAB Show panelist offers advice. Read it here.

 

Retired AURN Executive Jerry Lopes Dies. Former American Urban Radio Networks executive Gerald A. “Jerry” Lopes died on April 23. Lopes served with AURN for almost four decades, retiring in 2018 as president of programming and affiliations. AURN issued a statement saying, “We cherished his dedication to news, entertainment, and sports. As a valued member of the AURN team and a strong advocate for Black radio in general, Jerry Lopes served on the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters board for over 10 years. A few of his most notable accomplishments were securing and broadcasting an interview between then presidents Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela in 1994, live on-site accounts of the Challenger explosion, and a live broadcast of the ‘Million Man March.’ In addition, Jerry shepherded the production of the radio versions of ‘Lou Rawls Parade of Stars’ for the United Negro College Fund and writing and producing various health and voting rights information pieces in conjunction with NABOB. Jerry’s passion for Historically Black Colleges and Black College Football led him to spearhead a 40-plus-year program of scholarships for student-athletes, The Black College All American, which celebrated students’ contributions on and off the field.”

 

TALKERS News Notes. “FOX Weather,” FOX News Media’s free ad-supported streaming television weather service is expanding its reach to FOX News Audio, launching a new daily podcast as well as offering hourly weather updates on FOX News Headlines 24/7 starting at 6:00 am ET on Monday, May 2. Featuring a rotation of FOX Weather meteorologists, the “FOX Weather Update Podcast” will provide multiple weather updates throughout the day. As the first podcast from the weather service which launched last October, the program will also include breaking news coverage on major systems impacting the country…..Telecommunications law professional Gregg Skall is moderating a live webinar for Independent Broadcasters Association members on Thursday, May 5 at 4:00 pm ET. The webinar, “Best Practices for Political Broadcast Advertising” will “identify and clarify the FCC rules and regulations that will keep your stations compliant, while generating revenue from political.” Skall says, “I’m excited to speak to the members of the IBA and detail the critical FCC rules and regulations for political broadcast advertising. We’re heading into an active political season and knowledge of the rules and regulations will help keep IBA-member stations out of trouble.” Learn more about IBA here…..Glass Podcasts and iHeartMedia announce the launch of the eight-part, true-crime podcast series, “Betrayal.” The series is “the story of TV producer Jenifer Faison whose picture-perfect marriage completely shatters in the blink of an eye when she suddenly discovers that her college sweetheart-turned-doting husband is not the person she thought he was. After seven years of marriage, Faison came home from work one afternoon to find her house searched and her husband arrested for the continued sexual assault of a student. In ‘Betrayal,’ Faison investigates the hidden story behind the story, revealing a dark, double-life fueled by dozens often sordid and simultaneous affairs with friends, neighbors and strangers, dating back to the week they were married.”.….ABC Audio announces its new literary podcast, “The Book Case,” hosted by longtime ABC News journalist Charlie Gibson and his daughter Kate Gibson. The first episode, posting on 5/2, features a conversation with television icon Oprah Winfrey, who discusses the impact of her book club on American readership, her own reading habits, and how she makes her picks. Each week, the father-daughter duo will provide hand-selected recommendations and sit down with a prominent or up-and-coming author, book industry insider or literary influencer.

 

Russia-Ukraine War/Trevor Reed Released, the Economy/Recession Fears, Musk & Twitter, Midterms/Trump & the GOP, Urban Crime, Western Drought-Wildfires Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (4/27). Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the global repercussions, and the prisoner swap that brought U.S. Marine Trevor Reed home from Russia; the financial markets activity, the high price of food and gas, and predictions of a deep recession; Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter; the battle for control of Congress in November’s midterm elections and Donald Trump’s influence over the GOP; the growing rate of urban violent crime; and the drought affecting the U.S. West and the spring wildfires were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.