The Toast to 10 series presented by Premiere Networks, is a month-long series looking back on 10 years of Barrett Media. Throughout the month, you’ll hear from those who’ve shaped the company, managed and created the content, read the site, and partnered with the brand between 2015-2025 to share how they’ve seen it play a role in covering the media industry and educating, celebrating, and challenging the business.
As Barrett Media celebrates its tenth anniversary this month, we also take time to celebrate some of the former writers and contributors who have added their voices to the Barrett Media brand. For ten years, the efforts of many who sparked the creative mind to elevate, celebrate, and challenge have helped build Barrett Media into the place it holds in the industry today. Numerous voices have covered media in sports, news, and music. Whether it was a single guest column or a daily editorial voice, the industry has been represented by many who have come and gone on to serve the industry today.
Echoing the statements of Barrett Media columnist Demetri Ravanos, I always appreciated how the writers and columnists on Barrett Media, led by Jason Barrett, took a stance that protecting the business does not mean ignoring reality.
There are moments in the industry where the press release doesn’t tell the entire story. The depth of understanding, along with the fearless approach of not being afraid to challenge executives when it called for it, is what drew me in as a reader.
That spirit lives on today, now that I am a daily sports media columnist, feature writer, and the sports editor for the site. It’s a tremendous responsibility to maintain that same approach in a headline world. The battles we constantly face to draw eyeballs into content are because of the depth of information it provides—the detailed storytelling of constant struggles within traditional media and the triumphs of the digital landscape. Putting a story behind a name who recently received a pink slip is just as important as the same narrative around one landing a new opportunity.
To quote a Rage Against the Machine track called Voice of the Voiceless, I always saw Barrett Media as the publication that made “the powerful get nervous, because he refused to be their servant.” Success only happens through consistent effort. Without the effort of many, Barrett Media wouldn’t be standing tall ten years after it launched.
Brian Noe – FOX Sports Radio
Brian Noe is a talk show host on nationally syndicated FOX Sports Radio. He wrote for Barrett Media from 2017 to 2023. Noe became familiar with Barrett Media after overhearing his former co-worker Bruce Jacobs constantly raving about the quality content the website provided. After checking out the website and looking for additional work. Noe saw an ad for a writer to contribute and reached out to Jason Barrett.
“I thought the writing stuff would keep me busy. Plus I’d be able to meet a lot of new people that could possibly help me find more on-air work,” said Noe.
Over the time in which Noe contributed to the Barrett Media brand. He saw expanded growth—adding more content on a daily basis. He saw how the industry was beginning to understand the dynamic that made Barrett Media an online destination for many in the industry.
Noe was in attendance at the Barrett Bash last week in New York City. After hearing the story of how Barrett Media came to be, it led to a comparison to Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys.
“Stephanie [Eads] talked at the Barrett Bash about how JB had basically bet everything he had left on the company. In hopes of signing his first client by a certain date. It was kind of like what Dallas Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones explained at the beginning of the Netflix docuseries America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys. Jerry basically bet it all. Even went into debt, to drill for oil once again in hopes of cashing in,” explained Noe. “For JB to be in a similar, shaky position initially. To go all in in hopes of getting his company off the ground. To now see where the company has grown, it’s pretty wild.”
The FOX Sports Radio host believes Barrett Media serves a vitally important role in today’s industry landscape. Noe remains excited to stay up to date on the news of the day while Barrett Media continues to thread the needle between compliments and criticisms of the media landscape today.
“Barrett Media tells the truth in spite of stepping on toes. That’s so important when you’re seeking the truth as a reader. There is so much fluff these days,” said Noe. “Jason Barrett genuinely loves the industry and wants to see it be the best it can be. That partially includes celebrating the wins and triumphs. It also includes sounding like Bill Parcells when one of the coach’s players didn’t do his job and knew better. That’s at the heart of every piece of content Barrett Media puts out there. He wants to see the industry reach its full potential.”
Stephen Strom – Miami Marlins Radio
Stephen Strom is the radio voice for the pregame and postgame on the Miami Marlins Radio Network. He wrote for Barrett Media for just a year, from June 2022 to April 2023. But he is still an active reader of the website daily. Strom left his position with Barrett Media when he was named to the broadcasting team with the Marlins. He is wrapping up his third season at the helm.
“What Jason Barrett has done for the industry is incredible. It’s provided a way to connect with broadcasters and also learn about the craft,” said Strom. “It’s the broadcaster’s ESPN… you strive to put your work on Barrett Media’s site because you know if you’ve made it there, you’re doing a killer job.”
Strom continues to be one of the more innovative voices in all of Major League Baseball on the radio side. While the wins for the Marlins have not been plentiful in recent years. The organization’s radio product continues to shine and appeal to new audiences with live video streaming and podcasting opportunities. Ideas like that are ones that spark the mind of the reader and also the future of the industry. Strom has continued to be a guiding voice for the future of the industry. From the time he was involved with the Barrett Media brand and into his tenure with the Miami Marlins.
“Any time I talk with a young broadcaster or aspiring journalist. I tell them to head to the site and fish through it,” said Strom. “It’s the best source you can find.”
Ryan Hedrick – 93.1FM WIBC Indianapolis
Ryan Hedrick was one of the first writers on staff when Jason Barrett launched the Barrett News Media brand in 2020. At the time he came aboard, he served in a part-time role. He contributed articles while the brand was still finding its footing. Hedrick shares a passion for the news talk format and became immediately interested when Jason Barrett and he shared a call discussing how Barrett Media would be expanding into news coverage.
Hedrick discussed the initial days of what was called Barrett News Media, and how the platform has grown since it launched.
“When we first launched the news side, it was tough. Program directors in major markets didn’t always respond to us. Barrett News Media was still new and not really on their radar yet,” said Hedrick. “I’ve seen Jason put in the work—constantly. He’s built this thing piece by piece. Whether it’s through hosting seminars for both the sports and news sides, hiring new staff, or juggling multiple projects at once. I’ve seen him redesign the site more than once to match the way the brand was evolving. He’s leaned into video content and sales partnerships to really strengthen the brand and boost its credibility.”
Hedrick, who now anchors news on Indianapolis’ 93.1 WIBC, has always appreciated how the Barrett Media brand has continued to stay neutral with its news stories and featured columns despite living in a very tribal society. Everyone has a voice and is represented on Barrett Media.
“What’s also been great to see is how the brand has grown its network without boxing itself into one political corner. It’s not just about left or right,” explained Hedrick. “It’s about covering the whole space. Creating something valuable for everyone in the industry. No matter what side of the dial they’re on.”
One aspect Hedrick noted in our conversation was how impressed he’s been with the growth of the Barrett Media brand into the music formats. He feels this has led to more opportunities for Barrett Media to connect with more audiences. While delivering the same quality coverage it has when it previously covered just sports and news.
“Combining sports, news, music, podcasting, and the sales side of both radio and TV has really made Barrett Media more well-rounded and diverse,” said Hedrick. “I think music programming often gets overlooked. People don’t always see the talent behind the scenes. The folks running FM and satellite stations who are putting together incredible content every day. There are some real programming geniuses in that space who haven’t always gotten the same recognition as those in sports or news. That’s starting to change. They’re finally getting the credit they deserve, and it’s great to see the brand helping shine a light on that.”
Brian Shactman – WTIC News Talk 1080 – Hartford
Brian Shactman grew to know Jason Barrett during their time working for ESPN Radio. After some time working together, both would separate going on their own paths. Barrett remained in sports radio, while Shactman took the television route working for NBCUniversal from 2007 till 2019. In 2023, Shactman joined the Barrett Media team as a weekly columnist for Barrett News Media.
“We had kept an eye on each other’s careers,” said Shactman. “When I went into local radio fulltime, he felt there was a need content-wise and asked if I’d be interested in writing a column.”
Shactman wrote for Barrett Media for just a year from 2023 to 2024 discussing how news talk radio hosts can find elements to always improve their on-air delivery, and further connection with the audience. While writing a weekly column for Barrett Media, Shactman hosted weekday mornings in Hartford, CT on 1080 WTIC on the popular morning program Brian & Company. A position he still holds to this day.
Even away from the brand, Shactman says he still remains in step with the happenings at Barrett Media on a regular basis. He noted how he’s seen the brand continued to grow since his departure last year.
“It has expanded into almost every aspect of media, so the most pronounced change is the growth. They’ve also become more responsive to news. If a consumer is on the distribution list, they’re getting news/analysis quite fast,” said Shactman. “With growth comes more content. With more content, comes more variety. New content is vital to any website, and Jason not only knows this but also delivers it.”
While he continues to work in the industry, Shactman believes the standing that Barrett Media has built over the past decade shows how relevant it is to the health of it.
“We need SO MUCH more of it, although stronger checks/balances are needed. If something egregious happens, people need to have the courage to discuss it,” said Shactman. “I have been impressed by Jason’s aggressiveness, and there’s no reason to think he will slow down in the effort to cover this industry better than anyone else.”
Jordan Bondurant – ESPN Richmond
Jordan Bondurant was one of my personal favorite writers to check out on the Barrett Media site when I was an avid reader working in programming for iHeartMedia. Bondurant’s work was a daily encyclopedia of the biggest names in sports media and what they were talking about. So much so, I had reminders set in my personal calendar to check the latest of what Jordan published. It provided so many segments’ worth of content and audio to enhance the products we were producing in Tampa Bay.
Serving the Barrett Media brand from 2020 to 2024. Bondurant reached out to Jason Barrett during the pandemic about a post for writers for the site. Despite no sports being played, sports media headlines continued to be created daily. While the content Bondurant put out served my staff well, he noted he’s seen the site grow more into one producing unique content than any other.
“The site has grown from being more a follower and aggregator of sports media and industry news to being one of the go-to publications for leaders and executives in the radio industry as a whole,” said Bondurant.
He continues to be a daily reader of the Barrett Media brand. He subscribes to the morning and evening newsletters. Bondurant continues to believe the site’s role in the media industry today is to spotlight the meaningful news and work that people put out daily.
While recalling a favorite moment or two from his days working for the Barrett Media brand. Bondurant remembered one of the earliest memories of Barrett News Media as the first that comes to mind.
“Rush Limbaugh passing away was one of the first big stories for Barrett News Media,” Bondurant recalled. “I also thought my piece on the broadcast teams for the 2023 NHL Stadium Series game turned out quite well. Following Pat McAfee from when his internet show started taking off to making the transition to ESPN. Also, following the media rights discussions for college sports conferences was big for me during my time.”
One aspect Bondurant sees continuing to grow outside of the content on Barrett Media’s website are the annual summits put on for both sports media and news media. Looking ahead to the next decade for the brand, he continues to see a bright future.
“I see Barrett Media continuing to dig into the short-form content and video space,” said Bondurant. “The news and sports summits continue to draw bigger crowds and feature more impressive and accomplished speakers. I see Barrett Media continuing to fine-tune its roots as well.”
When Jason Barrett planted the roots of what became Barrett Media, he began with a vision. An understanding there was a hole in the trades for another voice to enter the arena. Ten years is a lifetime for most small businesses but should also be considered a mark of achievement. While the industry faces many challenges of yesterday and today, Barrett Media’s rise to success has been because of the power to think differently, be recognized, and create community for a better tomorrow. All fueled by the many voices who contributed to this platform, and many more for years to come.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
