Posts belonging to Category Uncategorized

Carr Teaches WRKO a Timeless Lesson

I’ve never understood why radio stations insist on holding disenchanted employees to their contracts. Entercom’s WRKO/Boston has reportedly suspended talker Howie Carr for his relentless on-air criticism of the station.  Carr’s behavior can’t possibly be a shock to WRKO management.  After all, Carr sued the station during his 2007 attempt to move to cross-town talker [...]

Glenn Beck: Stoking the Star Maker Machinery?

According to Forbes, Glenn Beck is looking to help others replicate his multi-media success.  The magazine reports that some  20 established media personalities have approached Beck’s company about learning how to blow-up huge by effectively employing the tools that helped make Beck a household name.
I’ll be interested to see who Beck’s company decides to support. [...]

Facebook Fan Pages: Anything Worth Doing…

The attached article offers some very good insight on creating a Facebook Fan Page that your listeners will actually want to join.  Too many radio station/show fan pages consist of nothing more than  plugs for upcoming show segments, news headlines or half-hearted attempts to generate listener comments on a news story or issue.  Some appear [...]

Kimmer’s Podcast: A Second Act Worth Following

Former WGST/Atlanta talker Kim Peterson is launching a podcast this month, three-plus years after I fired him. In its heyday, Kimmer’s show was fantastic; a one-of-a-kind roller coaster ride through the day’s news and topics driven by Kimmer’s manic energy, macho conservatism and rollicking sense of humor. No surprise that his fans and [...]

For Our Clear Channel Friends

Just a reminder that Fisher House Foundation is on the Q2 list of Community Engagement national causes. It’s a great organization to support in the Spring, as May is Military Appreciation Month.  Note to Progressive talkers: Fisher House received the largest chunk of President Obama’s Nobel prize money.
If you are interested in supporting the cause [...]

Is Radio News Due for an Overhaul?

This Michael Kinsley critique of newspaper writing will be fascinating to anyone with a passion for news.  Kinsley’s argument that the prints desperately need  to update their presentation of the news has me wondering: When was the last time we seriously thought about whether radio news is truly serving the wants/needs of today’s listeners?
A couple [...]

A Setback for Talk Radio’s Anger Management Program

Former George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum points out that conservative talk was a big winner with passage of Obamacare — even though the vote went against everything the hosts and their listeners believe.
Says Frum on his blog:
“I’ve been on a soapbox for months now about the harm that our overheated talk is doing to [...]

Talkers Confab: Fear and Hoping in NYC

What do you call a room packed full of talk radio pros looking for something to believe in? Church? Ha! Funny.  No, it was the 2010 Talkers New Media Seminar.
Give tremendous credit to Talkers publisher Michael Harrison. Despite the weak economy and radio’s on-going woes, this weekend’s event drew a sell-out crowd of syndicators, programmers, [...]

Randy’s Reminder is Right-On

Chicago media critic Robert Feder reports that Tribune Company CEO Randy Michaels has issued a list of 119 words and phrases that WGN-AM newspeople are no longer allowed to use on-air.  Feder looks askance at this effort,  calling it insulting and suggesting that Michaels has better things to do with his time.  Feder couldn’t be [...]

If You can’t Say Something Nice, Better Stay off Irish Talk Radio

American broadcasters justifiably complain and fret about the FCC’s content regulation. But here’s a reminder that it could be worse.  A lot worse. Dublin-based  Newstalk 106-108 was recently censured by Ireland’s version of the FCC because morning co-host Claire Byrne called spinster singing sensation Susan Boyle “a freak” and “not right in the head.”   [...]