Peter Thiele

160 POSTS
Peter Thiele is a weekly news/talk radio columnist for Barrett Media, and an experienced news/talk radio programmer. He currently serves as News/Talk Format Captain for Zimmer Communications. Prior to joining Zimmer, Peter held programming positions in New York City, San Francisco, Des Moines, Little Rock, Greenville, Hunstville, and Joplin. Peter has also worked as a host, account executive and producer in Minneapolis, and San Antonio. He can be found on Twitter at @PeterThiele.

Deconstructing the Myth That Social Media Followers Means News/Talk Radio Success

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If you are a hiring manager for a local host, unless that person is a known and successful commodity in your market, a social media footprint is meaningless.

The Interview Rules Every News/Talk Radio Talent Must Follow

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"If you are hosting the show, you are the expert. You are the bartender making the drink. Looking at benchmarked guests, some are amazing, but most just suck"

The One Thing News/Talk Radio Must Get Right in 2026

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There is no wiggle room. If your station or show is not delivering on its mission, there is no reason for listeners to stay.

How This News/Talk Radio PD Uses AI Every Day

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It's like having staff writers

How Text Lines Can Help Your News/Talk Radio Show — And How They Can Ruin It

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Don’t consider the text line to be an accurate representation of your station’s listeners. It isn’t.
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Breaking

Attention Spans Are 40 Seconds. What Does That Mean for Radio?

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"Listener Eye Contact is the most important skill an air personality — regardless of format — can develop."

Why Mike Golic Returning Is a Home Run Hire for ESPN Radio

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"If ESPN Radio wanted to make the strongest statement possible about its commitment to the platform, there may not have been a better option available at this moment than bringing Mike Golic home. Sometimes the smartest move isn't chasing what's next. It's recognizing the value of what already worked."

Has the C-Suite Generation of Hard Work and Ethics Lost Its Way

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"I'm saddened that it's often the largest media companies — those that rely on creative content and entertainment — that repeatedly eliminate the very people who helped build those organizations into the giants they have become."

How Matt Barrie Is Prepared To Tackle the Challenge of Hosting SEC Nation

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"If you're a college football junkie like I am, there are few jobs with ESPN that scratch that itch. SEC Nation is one of them."