News

(By Jeff McHugh) Stay aware of the people you encounter and your biggest lessons in life and career may come from peers, perfect strangers, and momentary encounters. Here are some valuable things I learned along the way...

One hundred people showed up to UW-Madison’s Memorial Union for the final airing of the show Whad’Ya Know? The show first aired in 1985, hosted by Michael Feldman. The Wisconsin State Journal reports Wisconsin Public Radio executives told Feldman his live comedy quiz show would be cancelled due financial reasons. A hundred stations across the country were paying WPR to run it. Fifteen years ago, 330 radio stations carried the show.

(by John Garziglia) In a notice of proposed rule making that impacts existing US radio broadcasters in only a most ancillary way, the FCC is proposing to streamline and make more transparent its review and coordination of foreign ownership applications, including those for broadcast stations, with the Executive Branch.

The VP of Content & Programming has extended his contract with the Chicago station through 2019. GM Jimmy de Castro said, “Todd makes it fun to come to work every day. He’s a content musician that drives our incredible spoken-word content across a multitude of platforms.” Manley has held his VP position at WGN since 2013. He's also worked at WXRT in Chicago and KTRS in St. Louis.

iHeartMedia Nashville is bringing on Morgan Huelsman as Digital Program Director. Huelsman will work with the iHeart Nashville programming and sales teams regarding the cluster's mobile content strategy. Previously, Huelsman served as the Digital Content Director for iHeart's four stations in Wichita.

This goes back to the December 2015 charges against the former Opie & Anthony host. He pleads to two misdemeanor charges of assaulting his girlfriend, third-degree assault, and blocking someone’s breathing. Newsday reports Cumia will have to do six months of outpatient alcohol abuse treatment and a six-month batterer’s intervention program. Cumia is 55. His girlfriend at the time was 26.

Newsy’s daily news reporting is now available through TuneIn. Newsy is the over-the-top news network, aimed at millenials, that focuses on analysis and perspective on the day’s top stories, including world and national news, policy, culture, science and technology. Newsy is owned by The E.W. Scripps Company.

(by Lora Lewis) Charlie Sislen led off the NJAB Conference Super Session Thursday called "The Power of Radio," paraphrasing Mark Twain: rumors of radio’s death are somewhat premature. In fact, he argues that 2016 is radio’s golden age. Nielson VP Rich Tunkle offered proof in the form of research that radio is still the most used media and the most effective, thanks to less fragmentation.

Addressing the NJAB Thursday morning, Gordon Borrell made a case for redirecting your local sales focus to be more consultant than seller, noting that advertising budgets are shrinking as marketing dollars increase.