Steve Cohen, Chris Kinard and Angelo Cataldi were previously announced as recipients of three of our awards this year, which means, there’s one award left – the Champions Award. This award is given annually to an industry professional who uses their platform to make a difference. Past winners include Jay Glazer, Adam Schefter, and Keith Murphy & Andy Fales.
What I love about this award is that it reminds everyone in the room about what’s important. Competing for ratings, dollars, downloads, and contracts may be part of the every day grind, but that’s just business. What’s remembered more are the moments when individuals take action to help others.
I created this award because I saw a lot of good being done across the media industry. That isn’t always captured in the press. Many times disgruntled ex-employees and those looking to benefit from radio and television’s demise paint a picture of a crumbling industry. But what they miss completely is how much good is done by people and brands operating in it.
Many of us get to play in the toy box of life each day. Others aren’t blessed to have the same opportunity. Yet some of us take it for granted. I’m a believer that professionals who use their platforms to help listeners or fellow media members, should be recognized. These are the qualities and acts that people remember more than opinions on sports topics. As part of this award, I personally donate to a charitable organization on behalf of our winners. I do so because I think it’s important to give back. We don’t leave this earth with our bank accounts, so if we’re in a position to help, it just makes sense to do so.
Having said that, let me tell you about this year’s Champions Award winner – Colin Dunlap of 93.7 The Fan.
Colin understands how important it is to help. He’s been on both sides of it. As a host, he uses his platform to serve his audience. He’s got passionate opinions on the Steelers, Pirates and other topics just like everyone else but for Dunlap, there’s another layer that matters more.
For example, last week he took a call from an injured senior citizen who was unable to remove snow from her driveway. Without wasting time, he called on the community to drive to her house and help. That alone was worth highlighting, but it’s what he did last year that really blew me away.
A gentleman named Matt in Florida called in to Dunlap’s show and talked about his struggles with alcoholism. He explained how it’s affected his marriage, and Dunlap’s response made this year’s decision an easy choice. Many hosts in this situation would wish Matt well and move on to the next call or topic. Not everyone would leap into action to find a treatment center for an audience member. Especially if it involved having to find one in another state.
But that’s how Dunlap is built. His first instinct is to find a solution. Then he makes the audience a part of the process. That’s why he’s this year’s Champions Award recipient.
I mentioned before that Colin has been on the other side of it too. He knows how much it matters to have help when facing a challenge. Colin was open about his daughter Darran’s battle with cancer at the young age of 5. When put in that situation, help is needed to produce a positive outcome. Many of you reading this are parents yourselves. If you were in that same spot you’d look everywhere too to ease your child’s pain.
Colin’s daughter continues to be treated for cancer care but received great news in 2019. During that process, he saw the best of the city of Pittsburgh. Local teams, media outlets, and everyday people went out of there way to help. SportsCenter even told the story nationally. Having seen the good that comes from involving a community has rubbed off on Colin. The beneficiaries are the listeners of 93.7 The Fan who get to hear it on display on a nightly basis.
I’m thrilled to have Colin joining us on Wednesday March 13th to receive the Champions Award. BSM will make a $1,000 donation to The Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation at the Summit to show our support for the outstanding work he’s doing to help people. If you’d like to offer support too, click here.
“We certainly don’t do things to get recognized,” said Colin Dunlap. “But it is a good offshoot of what we do because the way I look at it it might compel other hosts, and really other people, to do things for others who could use their help. So while awards aren’t a goal, they can push people because of their visibility to help someone else.”
Tickets for the 2024 BSM Summit are on-sale through BSMSummit.com and the BSM Store. Full details of this year’s final agenda will be posted online at the end of February.
Jason Barrett is the Founder and CEO of Barrett Media. The company launched in September 2015 and has provided consulting services to America’s top audio and video brands, while simultaneously covering the media industry at BarrettMedia.com, becoming a daily destination for media professionals. Prior to Barrett Media, Jason built and programmed 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He was also the first sports programmer for SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, which later became 97.5 The Fanatic. Barrett also led 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY, and worked on-air and behind the scenes at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years at ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT producing ‘The Dan Patrick Show’ and ‘GameNight’. JB can be reached on Twitter @SportsRadioPD or by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
