The Saturday session of this year’s Talkers New Media Seminar delivered both substantive information and celebrity heat.  Some notes:

– Consultant Holland Cooke did an excellent job of reminding talk radio pros that their next gig may not be at a radio station.  Cooke urged attendees to think of themselves as content creators — writers, public speakers, Internet experts – who can help businesses and others deliver their messages in multiple media.  He recommend several books for those facing career transitions (i.e., everyone in radio), including  The Long Tail by former Wired editor Chris Anderson.  I echo that advice.  The Long Tail will change how you think about modern commerce — and your future opportunities.  Anderson summarizes the book’s lessons in this video.   Check out this  funny-because-it’s-true take on The Long Tail.  See the rest of Cooke’s recommendations here.

– A panel on podcasting raised some eyebrows as audience members learned that there are radio and non-radio people making some serious money with Internet and podcast programming.  More on that in an upcoming edition of Talk Frontier.

– The Big Buzz came with Rush Limbaugh’s appearance to accept Talkers’ Freedom of Speech Award.  Aong the other notable hosts in attendance at the event:  ABC/Premiere’s Sean Hannity, ABC’s Mark Levin, TRN’s Laura Ingraham, Air America’s Lionel, Dial Global’s Ed Schultz, and The Wall Street Journal’s Gordon Deal.

– Among the positive things discussed in the hallways: The news/talk format may see dramatic growth as a result of radio’s current struggles.  Syndicators are actively hunting down struggling music FMs and working hand-in-glove with the owners to flip them to talk.  True, the resulting stations tend to be heavily syndicated, but more talk outlets means more local opportunity as times get better.

– Talkers honcho Michael Harrison claims registeration of 400-plus, and the seminar’s key events were indeed packed.  Following the trend at all talk events in recent years, the vast majority of attendees represented syndicators or other suppliers.  There were no more than a dozen local-level PD ’s at the seminar. 

But one must give a huge tip of the headphones to Michael Harrison.  In a year that has seen the demise of R&R and its talk seminar, a hiatus for Al Peterson’s fledgling talk event, and massive revenue and job loss in the radio industry, Harrison went ahead with the New Media Seminar.  In a time of uncertainty and fear, he provided a safe, comfortable place for the news/talk format to huddle together and strategize for the future.  Kudos to you, Michael Harrison.