In case you were unaware, there’s an election around the corner. I know you had no idea. But here we are with just days to go. The storylines continue to pour in down the stretch of this election. And while it’s easy to get sucked into so much of the minutiae of this election, and treat it as a team sport, let’s remember what we use the news and politics for: To inform and entertain an audience.
Very rarely are we in a position where we are changing minds and convincing people to feel differently than they do about the world or the country. Heck, you have two campaigns spending hundreds of millions of dollars to try and sway a few thousand votes in a few key states. Do you really think you’re convincing anyone who was going to vote for Kamala Harris to vote for Donald Trump? Hint: You won’t.
The job’s core is to inform your listeners about what is going on in the days leading up to a presidential election, find local angles when possible, and, of course, give your listeners everything they need to know about your local elections.
But do yourself and your audience a favor, have fun when appropriate, and do it with a smile. The doom-and-gloom becomes tiresome. Don’t get me wrong. I believe that this country is picking between two very different trajectories, and my KCMO Talk Radio audience is well aware of which direction I prefer. But that doesn’t mean I won’t try to make our morning content fun, lively, funny, and entertaining. At least, that’s what we’re looking to achieve.
We cover serious topics, but not everything has to be so serious. I’ll never believe that. And if you don’t want to take my word for it as you shake your fist in the air, look at Donald Trump. Would you take his word for it?
Donald Trump is crisscrossing the country on a daily basis, doing rallies everywhere he can down the home stretch of this election cycle. And while he’s the guy running for President, he’s having seemingly more fun than anyone. He’s dressing up in a safety vest and doing press conferences from garbage trucks, laughing with Joe Rogan on his podcast, and dancing to the YMCA on stage.
Yes, he’s talking about incredibly serious topics that will impact the lives of hundreds of millions, if not billions, around the world. But he’s having more fun right now than he certainly had in 2020. I see someone having more fun than he even had when he ran in 2016.
And if there’s anyone who knows about entertaining and holding an audience in today’s climate, it’s Donald Trump. He’s been doing it for decades, and he’s still near the top of his game in a media climate that is more fragmented than it’s ever been. His ability to blend the serious with the fun, lively, funny, and even, at times, self-deprecating approach (look at his commentary from Wednesday night in Wisconsin when he said he wore his safety vest on stage at his rally because it made him look thinner) is brilliant, whether you like him or loathe him.
Technically, his job is to get votes first and entertain second. As a host, your job is to entertain first, second, and third. You really don’t need to care about the voting part. You’re not paid to win anyone an election.
And that’s important to remember. Re-framing every show, hour, and segment through the lens of how you are informing and entertaining your listener rather than just trying to give the latest hot take on why Kamala Harris would be a bad President and why Trump would be a good one should alter your topic selection and topic development.
And when you take that approach, you’ll be smiling during your delivery, laughing at yourself, and the audience will reciprocate every step of the way. And maybe you can even end each show doing your own dance to the YMCA. Or you can just leave that part to Donald Trump. Your call.
Pete Mundo is a weekly columnist for Barrett Media, and the morning show host and program director for KCMO in Kansas City. Previously, he was a fill-in host nationally on FOX News Radio and CBS Sports Radio, while anchoring for WFAN, WCBS News Radio 880, and Bloomberg Radio. Pete was also the sports and news director for Omni Media Group at K-1O1/Z-92 in Woodward, Oklahoma. He’s also the owner of the Big 12-focused digital media outlet Heartland College Sports. To interact, find him on Twitter @PeteMundo.
