With hindsight being 20/20, conservative networks are looking to right the wrongs of the last presidential election. Barrett Media caught up with Salem Media Group’s Senior Vice President of Spoken Word Format, Phil Boyce, to break down the keys to conservative media’s success in 2024. From Big Tech interference to the future of media and Artificial Intelligence, Boyce gives his take on making sure conservative voices won’t be silenced.
Krystina Carroll: Tell me about you. How did you get into the industry and into the position you are in now?
Phil Boyce: I am the proverbial radio rat. I started at the age of 14 in Pueblo, Colorado. It was a 1,000 Watt AM Daytimer, in the gospel format. I just started climbing the proverbial ladder, and made it all the way to New York City, where I programmed the legendary WABC, the most listened to News Talk station in the nation. I got good at developing talk show hosts like Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Paul W. Smith, Mike Gallagher, Mitch Albom, Sebastian Gorka, Dinesh D’Souza, Larry Elder, Eric Metaxas, Trish Regan, Joe Piscopo, Kevin McCullough, Mark Davis, and Charlie Kirk.
KC: How are you helping advance Salem in the digital world?
PB: This is our future. Salem joined the podcasting world a few years ago and have developed some of the top podcasters in America. We began investing in video, and placed cameras in front of all of our talk show hosts. That investment is now paying off with Salem News Channel now getting on major distribution platforms like Pluto-TV, and soon we will be seen on Samsung Plus.
KC: What is the role conservative talk radio is playing in the 2024 election?
PB: We like to call ourselves “the antidote to the mainstream media.” I have a hard time watching the big 3 evening news programs because they are so biased. Salem Radio Network is conservative, but it sometimes feels like “us against the world.” We know half the country thinks like we do, and we play a crucial role in getting the word out to that side. Thank the lord for the First Amendment.
KC: What is Salem’s coverage plan for this year’s election?
PB: This is our Super Bowl. All my hosts are all over this, all the time. We now have the new Salem News Channel which will be wall to wall. SRN will provide separate coverage for all of our radio affiliates. On November 5th we’ll be on the air both radio and TV all night long from all over the country.
KC: Do you have concerns about Big Tech’s involvement in the 2024 Presidential election?
PB: I am extremely concerned about Big Tech getting involved because they like to put their thumb on the scale. Half the country leans conservative, and Big Tech hates that, so they feel a need to shut down the right side. The left likes to cry about misinformation, but the truth is, anything they disagree with they consider misinformation. It’s really a difference of opinion, and those opinions have a right to be heard too.
KC: What is Salem doing to help avert the misinformation which is being disseminated from Big Tech and allow the conservative voices to be heard?
PB: It is impossible to track misinformation, because in many cases it is a difference of opinion. The right is not attempting to shut down the other sides right to say what they want, and hope they stop doing that to us.
KC: What are your concerns when it comes to Artificial Intelligence possibly silencing conservative voices?
PB: It is a serious concern, that news articles could be written by AI, and a left-wing slant could be imposed on those news stories. At SRN we make it our business to play it straight down the middle.
KC: You’ve developed a lot of notable talent, what are some of the things you look for in talent and help talent accomplish when it comes to getting their voice out there?
PB: I look for somebody who wakes up every day with a show screaming to get off their chest. But those shows must be based on fact, and help us Save the Country, before it’s too late.
KC: What is the advice you have for young people who want to follow in your footsteps?
PB: There will be plenty of opportunities for young people who have a fascination for this business. I got bitten by the radio bug at 14. Now there are a multitude of avenues to walk down if you want to create spoken word content. Podcasting is exploding. Video is taking what we did for years on radio and making it look right. America is a great place to develop these skills and turn it into a career.
KC: Is there anything you think I missed or anything else you’d like to add?
PB: I do sometimes worry that we don’t appreciate the things this country offers. Talk radio does not exist in most other countries like it does here. Having the freedom to say what is on your mind, and take a strong position on the issues, should never be taken for granted. I fear that if the wrong side wins enough elections, they will chip away at freedom of the press, and religion. Don’t let them take that from us. It is what made America strong and will for years to come “if we can keep it.”
Krystina Alarcon Carroll is a news media columnist and features writer for Barrett Media. She has experience in almost every facet of the industry including: digital and print news; live, streamed, and syndicated TV; documentary and film productions. Her prior employers have included NY1 and Fox News Digital and the Law & Crime Network. You can find Krystina on X (formerly twitter) @KrystinaAlaCarr.
