It was just over a year ago when Seattle sports radio station 93.3 KJR announced a new host for its vacant midday timeslot. After nearly ten months of fill-in work by Tacoma News Tribune Seahawks beat reporter Gregg Bell, the station went in another direction. The iHeartMedia brand decided to welcome Marc James into the timeslot while Bell stayed with the station for his morning radio hits.
Fast forward 14 months, and another round of layoffs hit iHeartMedia. The radio station parted ways with James in the timeslot, raising questions about how to fill the role this time.
“Rich Moore [KJR Program Director] always told me that you never know and things could change,” said Bell about the months following the station’s decision to hire James in the daypart. “I was willing to do that, because I have a first job. It takes up a good bit of my time. It’s not like I was twiddling my thumbs waiting on KJR to call me back about a full time job.”
Bell said when the decision came down that James would be the selection for the daypart, he didn’t take it personally. Instead, he focused on continuing to provide quality coverage of the Seahawks for both the newspaper and the morning show on KJR.
As news broke about James’ departure last month, that dedication paid off with an offer to become the new voice of middays on KJR.
“When iHeartMedia made a decision that KJR had to trim a position, Rich Moore asked me if I wanted to host a 10am-12pm show. I wasn’t coming in from far away, because I was talking to him all the time,” said Bell.
The timing was quick and direct. Less than a week after James’ final show, KJR announced Bell as the new host for the midday daypart. Despite not signing a contract to fill the role, Bell moved forward with the opportunity, understanding the ever-changing nature of the business.
“I’ve been in business long enough to know it changes in a hurry. So, I made the decision to keep my head down and continue my work for KJR. Always doing what they asked me to do. To be a good team player, and that opportunities might come down the road,” explained Bell. “They did… I’ve been in the media business already, and I’m a little bit past having hurt feelings or a pouting stage.”
Bell said he understood why he was passed over in 2025 for James and noted that the two got along well during their time in Seattle.
Finding His Voice
Now, the interim has become permanent for Bell and producer Christopher Kidd as they hold down the daypart. While much of Bell’s background is rooted in sports journalism, his radio résumé lacks the experience many major-market talents possess. He said radio was never an aspiration in his youth. His only experience in the industry came from working play-by-play for lacrosse and basketball while a student at West Point.
“All my muses are in writing. I don’t have that realm of looking at other sports radio hosts and trying to emulate them,” said Bell. “I don’t habitually listen to sports talk radio when I travel covering the Seahawks, and don’t much listen at all.”
With his limited background in radio, Bell is leaning on his journalism experience to set himself apart.
“The value that you can bring as a first-person journalist who does his own reporting. Few outlets have that. So, I’m trying to capitalize on that as my niche for the listeners on KJR,” explained Bell. “Anyone can pontificate about anything they see on television, but how many of them have the experience I have with the teams and players? There’s fewer of that in sports radio than ever before.”
Bell is not a Seattle native, having grown up in the Midwest and Ohio Valley. He moved to Seattle in 1994 and developed a respect for those who came before him on the city’s legacy sports radio brand. For the past 12 years, Bell has been the lead voice covering the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune.
Storytelling on the Radio
His approach to this second opportunity in middays centers on blending that journalistic foundation with a human touch. He aims to share the stories of players beyond the box score, highlighting the people behind Seattle sports and connecting with fans on a deeper level.
“Everybody I cover has a why and a path how they got there. I’m trying to bring some of that to sports radio. Sometimes I feel like ‘The Lone Ranger’ doing that,” notes Bell. “I’m trying to raise that bar for the listener. To challenge them to learn more about the people they follow and pay to see the games. They’re more than just athletes.”
While the midday program adds to his workload, Bell said the newspaper remains his top priority. When breaking news occurs, there is an understanding with his publisher and editors that the paper will report it first before he brings it to the radio audience.
“My job primarily is first to the News Tribune. To his credit, Rich Moore understands that. In fact, he wants to promote anything involving me and the News Tribune. I appreciate that,” said Bell. “If something breaks on the air, I’m not prohibited from talking about it or reporting it on KJR. But I try to do it simultaneously with the paper either on social media. I do make a conscious effort to not talk about my stories until its published with the News Tribune.”
Because of the access Bell has built over time, balancing responsibilities between two outlets requires care. He said the plan for the upcoming season is to handle both roles full-time. Bell also credited efforts to broadcast his show from the Seahawks facility during game weeks, as well as from iHeartMedia locations after road games.
Growing the Next Generation
While Bell is excited about the opportunity, he is equally eager to provide a platform for his executive producer, Christopher Kidd. The two developed strong chemistry during Bell’s interim run prior to James’ hire and now have the chance to build on it.
“My goal, I want to give Christopher Kidd a large voice on the show. I want the show to be The Gregg Bell Show with Christopher Kidd,” says Bell. “He’s got a lot to provide to the program. I try to give him a lot of opportunity to do that. He’s been great for the transition so far, and understands what I’m trying to do.”
Bell said listener feedback during his second stint in the daypart has been overwhelmingly positive, especially with Kidd’s increased presence in the show’s content.
Still, Bell remains grounded in the realities of the business. Change is constant. Stability is never guaranteed. But this time, he isn’t waiting for the next opportunity.
He’s building one.
With a journalist’s perspective, a storyteller’s instinct, and a renewed shot in middays, Bell is working to carve out a distinct voice at KJR—one rooted not just in what happens on the field, but in the people behind it.
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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.
