Nielsen has unveiled a new research report that details the states that rely upon AM Radio the most.
The report comes after Nielsen revealed that nearly 83 million Americans listen to AM Radio on a monthly basis as the industry continues to fight for its inclusion in new vehicles. Several automakers have shared their intention to remove AM Radio from new electric vehicle models.
However, Ford, one of the previous manufacturers that planned to remove the band, has now reversed course and will keep AM Radio in their future models. Other companies, like BMW and Volvo, have completely removed the medium from their cars.
57% of the AM Radio audience claims to listen to news/talk stations, and 141 local markets see more than 20% of their audience listen to AM.
In the data provided by Nielsen, it revealed that one state sees more than 50% of its residents consume radio on the AM band. 13 states see more than 30% of their audience listening to AM Radio on a regular basis.
According to Nielsen, the top 10 states for AM Radio are:
State
Monthly AM/FM radio reach
Monthly AM reach
% of radio reach from AM radio stations licensed to the state
The Denver Nuggets secured the organization’s first championship in its 47-year history, with center and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokić being named MVP. The team found its stride in the fourth quarter after struggling at the free throw line and from behind the arc for much of the contest, but ultimately seized an opportunity to eliminate the Miami Heat and claim the Larry O’Brien Trophy as its own. Celebrations continue throughout the city of Denver and will culminate in a championship parade on Thursday.
Sports media personalities from around the city of Denver are joining the fans in celebrating the momentous achievement, an outcome many of which have waited for their entire lives. The Nuggets are the talk of the town, dominating the sports radio airwaves and television conversation – and social media was abuzz with plenty of reactions to the historic achievement:
— 92.5 FM – Denver's Altitude Sports Radio (@AltitudeSR) June 12, 2023
For the entire Nuggets season last year I referred to it as “the year before year.” The year came. And they didn’t just do it. They dominated their way to an NBA championship with a 16-4 record. Only one NBA team in the last 15 years had a better record on their way to a title.
Thanks to everyone who spent any part of our 5 hour championship postgame show with @RealMatSmith and I on 104.3 The Fan tonight. It's an honor and a privilege to share this night with you from Denver to Sombor. See you at the parade.
Federal Judge Jonathan Goodman has ruled that news cameras, or any electronic devices, are prohibited from the courtroom as former President Donald Trump is arraigned on charges Tuesday.
The judge rejected a request from a coalition of media outlets for limited camera access from inside the courthouse and courtroom. A request for audio recordings to be made available after the proceedings had concluded was also denied.
Goodman claimed that “allowing photographs would undermine the massive security arrangements put in place.”
Outlets like CNN, NPR, and Telemundo had argued that due to the “historic nature” of the proceedings “non-disruptive” camera use should be allowed.
The ruling is the opposite of what was decided the first time Trump was arraigned this year in New York, where that federal judge allowed camera use at the beginning of the case, and reporters were allowed to report from an overflow room for on-air updates.
However, in Miami, reporters will be required to exit the courthouse to broadcast any details of the hearings.
Hannah Giles, the mastermind behind the groundbreaking 2009 ACORN undercover camera investigation, has assumed the position of CEO at Project Veritas.
Formerly under the leadership of James O’Keefe, the renowned undercover journalism outlet made the announcement, signifying a new chapter in its history.
Giles, who spearheaded the concept at the young age of 19, collaborated with O’Keefe to execute the landmark investigation. The organization’s press release celebrated her pivotal role and underscored her continued dedication to their mission.
In the wake of that significant milestone, Giles established the American Phoenix Foundation and subsequently established a thriving community transformation consulting firm called C3Strategies, which experienced remarkable growth, employing over 450 individuals.
Currently, she embraces the roles of a devoted spouse and a nurturing mother to three children, as well as engaging in the endeavor of constructing a sustainable farm alongside her family. Notably, the press release highlighted James O’Keefe’s admiration for Giles, as he lauded her as a “national treasure” in his book Breakthrough.
“The recent void in leadership at Project Veritas has led us to today…As a news organization, Project Veritas must succeed,” Giles said in a statement.
“We need a free press, not corporate media, that regurgitates talking points from the powers that be. Courage and independence define Project Veritas,” she added, adding that she is “honored to lead the most creative team of journalists in the United States…[in] their fight for truth”
Almost four months after James O’Keefe’s departure from Project Veritas amidst a disagreement with the board, the announcement of Hannah Giles as the new CEO has been made.
O’Keefe’s exit came after the board placed him on paid leave during an investigation into his managerial approach, triggered by a leaked memo outlining concerns from staff members who expressed being “troubled and frustrated” by his leadership style, even going as far as accusing him of being “cruel.”
O’Keefe responded by releasing a video as his parting message to Project Veritas employees, asserting that he was forcibly deprived of his position as CEO and ousted from the Board of Directors. In his statement, he refuted certain allegations made by the board.
“The Astros stole signs electronically in 2017 – part of a much broader issue for Major League Baseball.” That headline ended up having an enduring impact on the game of Major League Baseball, encapsulating a detailed account of the infamous scandal penned by Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic. The team utilized a complex system to discern what pitches the opponent was preparing to throw and communicated them to hitters using a trash can. After the story was published, Major League Baseball conducted an investigation and punished the Astros through forfeiture of draft picks, banning executives from the league and, in turn, leaving an indelible asterisk next to the World Series championship.
The story was worthy of more than simply being the first to tweet the information. The Athletic was new at the time and committed to storytelling in a variety of different ways. This story took time to discover the intricacies and nuance imbued in the reporting. The entire process illustrates Rosenthal’s mission at this stage in his career as a senior baseball writer and reporter: disseminating original, comprehensive content.
“My concern with that story was not that it was going to be perceived as inaccurate,” Rosenthal said. “I knew it was accurate, and we had people on the record; it could not have been better in that regard. If we had gone simply on the sources, it’s easier to challenge.”
Throughout his journalism career, Rosenthal’s internal ambitions have outweighed staunch critics, and it ultimately led him to break new ground in reporting on “America’s Pastime.” During his formative years, Rosenthal was interning at Newsday, not yet donning his signature bowtie, where he covered a variety of different sports on Long Island. He was accompanied by another intern with palpable talent and charisma evident from the very beginning, Tom Verducci, who went on to write for Sports Illustrated.
Rosenthal was aware that he was not as strong of a writer as Verducci, but actively sought out advice to try to improve at the craft. One day during the winter break in his senior year of college, he visited the Newsday offices and met with sports editor Dick Sandler. Rosenthal requested guidance on how to pursue a journalism career since he was nearing graduation, and was met with somewhat of a disheartening reality check.
“He did advise me to go to law school,” Rosenthal recalled. “It did light a fire under me, and my dad was an attorney. I remember he was pretty pissed off when I told him that. I just don’t think you should tell a young person something like that.”
The deadpan statement was a seminal moment in Rosenthal’s development. It encouraged him to apply to over 75 newspapers, most of which decided not to hire or even interview him. Recognizing the importance of networking and having industry connections, Rosenthal asked fellow University of Pennsylvania alumni John Dellapina for assistance in his job search. The request paid off when Rosenthal landed at the York Daily Record, a smaller outlet where Dellapina was working. He began reporting on high school sports, becoming familiar with the nature of the profession. From there, he spent two years with the Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, NJ where he covered horse racing and the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers.
“I love the newsroom,” Rosenthal said. “I love the action and really everything about it. I don’t know how to describe it, but it’s always been kind of home to me. A lot of baseball writers, and I guess sports writers joke that really we’re not equipped or trained to do anything else, which is true. But to say this is my calling is a little strong.”
Rosenthal relocated to Baltimore and was hired to a full-time role with The Baltimore Evening Sun covering the Orioles, which were led by superstar shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. at the time. The team steadily improved during the time Rosenthal covered them. Rosenthal and Ripken Jr. had their differences over the years, as Rosenthal was a particularly aggressive reporter. His tenacity earned him a promotion to sports columnist in 1991.
The Orioles were facing the California Angels on Sep. 6, 1995. Ripken was suiting up for the 2,131st consecutive game, breaking Lou Gehrig’s record for the most consecutive games played in Major League Baseball history. The stadium was sold out, even meriting a visit from then-President of the United States, Bill Clinton. National columnists were situated in the press box to cover the singular occasion.
At that time, The Baltimore Evening Sun had published its newspaper for the final time amid declining circulation, and moved to combine with The Baltimore Sun, which was distributed in the mornings. Rosenthal continued to write columns, but felt an inordinate amount of pressure leading up to Ripken Jr.’s record-breaking ordeal. Most local newspapers were just that, meaning out-of-town writers were rarely consumed, but Rosenthal identified because of the event, many people would be reading his work for the first time. He wanted to make a name for himself while also doing justice to the history on the field.
“I said, ‘Hey man, what do you do? What do you think? What should I do here?,’” Rosenthal remembered asking Mike Littwin, who had become a trusted part of his support system. “And he said, ‘You write how important he is to the city [and] to the sport,’ and it sounds silly in a way, but at that point to the country… he was like a true hero. That was kind of the approach I took, and it went fine.”
National outlets began to take heed of what Ken Rosenthal was doing and explored hiring him as a reporter. While in Baltimore, Rosenthal also covered the Baltimore Ravens. He hosted a weekend talk show on WJFK radio and also appeared on WBAL. He had been named Maryland Sportswriter of the Year five times. The first job offer he received from a national outlet was from CBS Sportsline, but Rosenthal decided not to go because he did not want to work intensely as would be expected.
Nonetheless, Rosenthal ended up adopting an arduous work schedule in the end, but eased into the process by joining The Sporting News in 2000. His pitch to the outlet, which was in the midst of transitioning to the internet, was how he had a network of people he knew from the Orioles. The front office experienced consistent periods of turnover, meaning executives and personnel Rosenthal had conversed with were now dispersed across different areas of the league.
“At least I knew those people and I could go forward,” Rosenthal said. “It just took a while, of course, to build to the point where I could really be comfortable in that job. You’re never comfortable, but I felt I could do the job okay.”
The Sporting News had a partnership with FOX Sports where writers would appear on various regional sports networks to discuss teams around the league. As its senior baseball writer, Rosenthal would sit in a television studio for two hours and cycle through different cities, taking questions and interacting with show hosts. He was also permitted to participate on ESPN’s morning debate show Cold Pizza, which later became First Take, working with ESPN reporter Jim Bowden.
Rosenthal began to realize that expanding his career to that medium could make sense down the road. Those television appearances were accompanied by feature stories, breaking news articles and a weekly column, further diversifying his media portfolio. His wife was the impetus that ended up compelling Rosenthal to find a television job, her entreaty occurring while watching Tim Kurkjian report for ESPN on television.
“My wife said to me, ‘Why can’t you do that?,’” Rosenthal reminisced. “I thought, ‘Okay, maybe it’s time to look into it,’ and I actually did get offers from ESPN and FOX.”
Rosenthal chose to join the team at FOX Sports because the network told him there would be a chance he could report on Game of the Week with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. Before he made the decision to leave The Sporting News, Rosenthal had to consider the potential lifestyle change and be certain he wanted to take the chance. Reflecting on his time with the outlet though, Rosenthal was, perhaps somewhat unbeknownst to him, put in positions to build a demo reel for a television role by his boss, John Rawling.
“I give him endless credit for [encouraging] me to do the television,” Rosenthal said of Rawling. “He allowed me to go on Cold Pizza while I was still working for The Sporting News because he wanted me to have the greatest possible opportunity to leave if something went wrong at The Sporting News. There’s not many bosses that would do that, but he was basically setting me up to leave and I’m very grateful for that, always.”
After joining FOX Sports’ Game of the Week, his profile continued to grow. Rosenthal maintained a steadfastness to journalistic principles – hence the reason he was perturbed when FOX Sports chairman David Hill ordered him to wear a bowtie on the air during the 2010 postseason. Hill wanted to distinguish Rosenthal from other reporters.
“Even though I was on television, I always thought [that] what should distinguish me is my work,” Rosenthal said. “A look – I didn’t want any part of that. But he was the boss, and he was a very strong boss and a powerful boss.”
Following the first broadcast, Rosenthal approached FOX Sports executive and current CEO Eric Shanks to ask whether he would need to wear the bowtie again. Shanks said he should, so much to his chagrin, Rosenthal did so until the San Francisco Giants won the World Series. Entering the 2011 season, Rosenthal was prepared to shed the bowtie and let his work set him apart.
Instead, Rosenthal continues to wear bowties to this day thanks to a call from former football linebacker Dhani Jones. He founded the Bow Tie Cause to represent different nonprofit charities and asked Rosenthal if he would be willing to help support its mission.
Tonight’s bow tie for Red Sox at Yankees on FOX at 7:35e: Ronald McDonald House Charities (creating, finding and supporting programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families). More: https://t.co/RyeQLbjdhc@RMHCpic.twitter.com/vptHC1eHVj
“I never imagined that it would become, I guess, kind of part of my identity, but it is,” Rosenthal said. “When I don’t wear it now – and even if I’m at the ballpark on a Friday preparing for a Saturday broadcast in my regular clothes – some fan or somebody will say, ‘Hey, where’s the bowtie?,’ and so it is definitely part of it.”
While Rosenthal was with FOX Sports, he inked a contract to join MLB Network in 2009 after being persuaded to do so by senior vice president of production John Entz. Entz had worked at FOX Sports in the past, and he was confident that MLB Network was an ideal landing spot for Rosenthal. After he received assurance from both Tom Verducci and Bob Costas that he could continue being an objective reporter, Rosenthal decided to take them at their word and join the network.
There were no issues initially with Rosenthal appearing as a contributor and reporter across programs such as Hot Stove, MLB Tonight and MLB Now, but he says the environment ostensibly changed under Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred. Rosenthal was critical of Manfred in columns he had written for The Athletic regarding the forthcoming MLB lockout, and MLB Network was concurrently in the midst of reevaluating its programming lineup. Rosenthal was one of many personalities let go by the network as it added a variety of new names, including Cameron Maybin, Hunter Pence and A.J. Andrews, and launched a new show geared towards younger fans titled Off Base.
“I was upset that, honestly, a resolution was not reached sooner because there were a few years there that just were very uncomfortable for me,” Rosenthal said. “I don’t know that I want to go into great detail, but a lot of things I did were challenged and questioned. It just wasn’t a pleasant environment, [and] it was almost a relief when it came to an end.”
“As MLB Network continues to look at fresh ways to bring baseball to our viewers, there is a natural turnover in our talent roster that takes place each year,” a league spokesperson said in a statement issued to the New York Post at the time. “Ken played a significant part at MLB Network… We thank him for his work across MLB Network’s studio, game and event programming, and wish him the very best going forward.”
When FOX Sports converted a preponderance of its digital content to video, Rosenthal was released from the portion of his contract stating he would write for the outlet’s website. Paul Fichtenbaum, the editor of The Athletic, recruited Rosenthal to join the fledgling outlet with no guarantee of success. It was a precarious decision with potentially calamitous aftershocks, and one he made after being persuaded by his son and convincing his broadcast agent that it was the right move. If it did end up falling through, Rosenthal had two television jobs to fall back on and would be able to continue to support his family.
“Being at The Athletic has been the most gratifying thing because it proved – and I was thinking along these lines – that print wasn’t dead,” Rosenthal said. “It proved there was a real value, and I think it also proved that great sports journalism could still be done – not that it’s not done in other places; of course it is – but on a level like we’re pursuing it right now.”
In his roles with The Athletic and FOX Sports, Rosenthal has only enhanced his reputation as one of the industry’s predominant newsbreakers. He frequently reports transactions before they are officially announced by teams, and many baseball fans turn on his Twitter notifications during the hours leading up to the trade deadline. Rosenthal, however, has put less of an emphasis on utilizing social media.
“On Twitter, it just seems to me to be a hamster wheel,” Rosenthal said. “I’m active on it – I’m still trying – but the real win, especially for our company, is when you can break a story that can’t be confirmed in 10 seconds and have everybody just forget who even broke it in the first place.”
There have been various stories in which Rosenthal knows there is the threat of sacrificing a relationship and/or facing immeasurable criticism. While he acknowledges that people have the right to have opinions, he tries to avoid becoming invested in comments or partaking in debates with readers. All he asks, as has been consistent throughout his career, is that people read things before making assertions – which led to a recent Twitter exchange with Amazon Prime Video and ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit.
“Social media has only amplified people’s opinions, and I just have to kind of grin and bear it at times, and that’s fine,” Rosenthal said. “I think most people see you for what you are, but there are always going to be people that will feel otherwise, and that’s just all part of it.”
Aside from writing and appearing on television, Rosenthal interacts with baseball fans through his Fair Territory podcast. The media venture debuted in early April, and Rosenthal has been hosting weekly episodes since then and contributing to FT Live featuring Scott Braun, AJ Pierzynski, Todd Frazier and various former major league players. Rosenthal had previous experience hosting radio programs and also answered listener questions on a podcast with The Athletic, but this project is different in that he sets the agenda. It is available to listen on most audio platforms and can also be watched on YouTube.
“I just kind of go for whatever how long it is – 30 minutes or whatever,” Rosenthal said. “And that part of it is different [in] that I have to carry it like that, but I’ve done television for so long. It’s not uncomfortable or anything like that – it’s natural.”
As the media industry continues to gradually consolidate operations amid an extensive demand for niche content, Rosenthal values the versatility he cultivated from the start of his career. The specifics of his job description change on a yearly basis, and he advises aspiring professionals to keep an open mindset about their own futures. He aims to continue showcasing his adept skill set while staying true to the bedrock principles of journalism and reporting.
“I don’t ever see myself as the most talented person,” Rosenthal expressed. “I can name five people off the top of my head – 10, 15 – that write better than me, but I do work hard. I think that is what has carried me. So what I’m trying to say is I think hard work can overcome deficiencies in talent – not totally, of course – but that to me is the core of everything.”
After nearly eighteen months in Arizona, Sean Thompson is ready to head home. The program director of Arizona Sports is moving back to the east coast to be closer to family.
Thompson made the move to Phoenix in January 2022, leaving 92.9 The Game in Atlanta. He had been a part of the Atlanta sports station since its inception. Though the opportunity to lead and grow with Bonneville was exciting and rewarding, the distance away from loved ones proved to be too difficult. In the end, Thompson decided being near family was the wiser move for all involved.
“Ryan Hatch and Bonneville have been great to me, and this opportunity was everything I hoped it’d be and more,” Thompson told BSM on Monday night. “I’ve learned a lot and grown as a programmer here, but it’s been a challenge being so far away from my family. That made it harder to adjust than I expected. I’m thankful that I had a chance to work with a great team and I am proud of what we did together. They deserve someone who is all-in, and I’m excited to see where they go next because the sky is the limit.”
Sean’s final day with Arizona Sports will be Friday June 16th. He’s planning to return to New Jersey where his mother resides. He says that once he gets settled, he’s hoping to work again in the industry. Where and when that happens will depend on timing and opportunity.
“If you know Sean, you know he’s all character with a heart of gold,” added Bonneville Phoenix Market Manager Ryan Hatch. “While we will miss him, we respect and support his decision to be closer to family.”
The Arizona Sports program director job immediately becomes one of the more attractive openings in sports radio. Bonneville has enjoyed a long run of success in the desert, thanks to strong leadership, a talented air staff, and owning the play-by-play rights to the majority of Phoenix’s local teams. Ryan Hatch plans to start searching immediately for a strong and capable leader.
“We have a great brand, an all star team, and now an exciting opportunity for someone to lead the next wave of evolution and innovation at Arizona Sports. I’m looking forward to seeing where this process takes us.”
Connecting with an audience in today’s ever-changing media landscape can be tough. But Mary Walter has a talent for doing just that. She’s shown time and again that she knows how to build strong relationships with her listeners, a key factor in her success in her decades-long career.
Walter’s career journey took her from New Jersey 101.5 to WCTC (1450 AM) in New Brunswick and ultimately to WMAL in Washington D.C. She made history as the first female anchor of a morning show in New Jersey and gained even more recognition when both the Howard Stern Channel on Sirius XM and Fox News expressed interest in her achievements.
Walter is immersed in obligations that have made her busier than ever. Her podcast brings her joy as she enjoys the freedom to select the topics she discusses. Despite being an opinionated host, she places great importance on the factual aspects of significant news stories. Thanks to her expertise, she is in high demand, with broadcasters across the country eager for her to step in for them.
Through her work with Newsmax and Fox News, she has gained invaluable insights into a pivotal era in cable news, which could potentially rival the emergence of Fox News as the leading channel in America.
In a sit-down with Barrett News Media, Walter shared her thoughts on her career journey, Chris Licht’s departure from CNN, Newsmax’s significance in the media landscape, and much more.
Ryan Hedrick: What led you to join the team at Newsmax TV?
Mary Walter: I had done some work for Newsmax in New York City in 2013-2014, and they were starting out there. It was a skeleton operation, and I was doing some shows with them back then, and it just petered out, and I said to myself, ‘These people aren’t going anywhere.’ (Laughs).
RH: With Chris Licht leaving CNN and turmoil going on at Fox News, how do perceive Newsmax’s role in the media landscape?
MW: Newsmax, right now, is sitting in the catbird seat. Chris Ruddy has been deliberate in his choices. You see him scooping up people for — whatever reason — left Fox News, or were pushed out of Fox News. He’s got Greta Van Susteren and Eric Bolling. He also has Jen Pellegrino, who was an intern at Fox News. Quite a few bookers at Newsmax used to be at Fox News. I think it was smart for Chris (Ruddy) to bring many people over from Fox News because many of them already know each other.
RH: Did you see something special in Newsmax when you started?
MW: I thought the network was a good idea, but they were taking on Fox News, and Fox was at its heyday. I was very blessed to be at Fox when it was at its zenith, so you didn’t foresee coming down the road what happened to Fox News. In a way, Chris Ruddy (Newsmax CEO) is a visionary in that sense. He said I can be the giant killer, and good for him, he’s stuck with it, and he’s done a great job.
RH: The news media industry has been undergoing rapid changes in recent years. How do you think these changes have impacted how news is consumed and delivered, particularly in conservative news?
MW: I think it has become easier to consume what you want to consume, to hear what you want to hear, and I don’t think that’s a good thing. I also think we have blurred the line between opinion and news. When I think of a journalist, I think of someone like James Rosen at Newsmax or Bret Baier at Fox News. Those guys don’t give their opinion. We used to have Bret on at WMAL, and we used to play a game to get him to give his opinion, and he could wiggle out of those six ways from Sunday. I just had James Rosen on my podcast, and we talked about everything but politics.
Somebody like me is an opinion host. People only hear what they want to hear. Somebody like Chris Licht comes in at CNN and says there’s another opinion out there, and we’re going to carry it, and employees went in on a full revolt.
I think not being forced to consume something you don’t want to hear is detrimental in many ways. That is one thing that I think conservative media does a little better than liberal media is that both Fox News and Newsmax TV will have someone that has a different opinion. I think it’s a very dangerous road you go down when you don’t hear anything other than what everyone around you says.
RH: When did your journey at WMAL in Washington DC begin?
MW: I was at WMAL before Newsmax in 2011 and did some fill-in shows. Fred Grandy had the morning show, and he left, and I co-hosted with Brian Nehman, who I think had been on Fred Grandy. I co-hosted with Brian for a couple of weeks.
RH: What was your first break in the industry?
MW: My first job in this industry, I had zero radio experience. New Jersey 101.5 FM was a huge station at the time, it was only a year old but had taken the state by storm, and also in the Philadelphia area. You could even hear it in New York. It wasn’t like your typical political talker; they did a lot of New Jersey stuff and a lot of lifestyle stuff.
The station had a show at night that was a relationship show, and the woman who hosted was leaving, and they had an on-air contest to replace her. My husband was in Philly, and I was driving down there, and you had to call in, and they had some women on who had called in from the night before, and they were going to take your questions. So, long story short, I called, and they called me back the next day. I had nothing else to do at the time. I was a computer consultant, and they offered me the job within a week.
RH: What did you do after you left New Jersey 101.5?
MW: I got fired after five years of being at New Jersey 101.5 because everybody gets fired in radio (laughs). After that, I went to WCTC in New Brunswick, NJ. It’s a small local talker in Somerset County, but I was the first woman in the state to be the anchor of a morning talk show. First-morning host in New Jersey.
I did that for four years, and then the 9/11 attacks happened, and I wound up back at New Jersey 101.5 because the company got sold, and my old boss wound up being my new boss, so he hired me back. I did that for five years and got to work with Craig Carton, and after five years, and out the door again, and I got contacted by Howard Stern and Fox News.
RH: Why did Howard and Fox News reach out to you simultaneously?
MW: Back in the day, there used to be a radio column in the New York Daily News, and it ran every Thursday. You used to be able to hear New Jersey 101.5 in New York City before they made them pull their signal back. That’s how Sean Hannity knew me, that’s how Geraldo Rivera knew me, so people knew that station.
At the time, Howard Stern had just gotten three stations from Sirius, and they were paying him like $100 million to program these stations. So, I got contacted by Tim Sabean, who was his guy at the time, and Mike Elder from Fox News because Fox had just started Fox News Radio about six months before.
It was a crazy time. I also got contacted by a station in Philadelphia and a bunch of other people. At the time, talk radio was huge, and radio itself was huge at the time. This was before Comrex and ISDNs. You had to drive to the job, and I said I wasn’t driving to Philadelphia, but I considered the possibility of taking the train into New York.
I never got offered anything by any of Howard’s people, but they wanted me to recreate the relationship show; that’s what the conversations were about. A week later, I went into Fox, and I thought that they had a great operation plus there were more opportunities there for TV and for my career to grow. I thought it was a more high-profile job. The Howard Stern thing died, and the Fox News thing prospered.
RH: As someone who has worked in both television and radio, what are some key differences you’ve noticed in terms of storytelling and engaging with the audience?
WM: I love radio. I’m a radio creature. I love the longer form. I love being able to take calls from the audience because sometimes I learn things, sometimes they challenge me, and sometimes you can change my thinking.
That, to me, is what radio should be about. Radio should be an exchange of ideas. It should be that soapbox in the town square instead of me just monologuing for two hours. That’s my style, I like to engage the audience. You can’t do that so much on TV. At Fox News, it’s an hour and a half for hair and makeup for three minutes on camera.
They are such different mediums. It’s so much easier to go from radio to TV. If you host on radio and you know what it’s like to fill a 15-20 minute on one topic versus TV where you are reading the teleprompter, and you’ve got two other people on set with you, and everybody gets to say one thing, and you move on, it’s a totally different animal. So, it’s easier to go from radio to TV than it is to go from TV to radio. I think that a lot of TV people think it’s going to be so easy, and they flame out spectacularly because there’s a lot of prep that goes into the radio.
RH: What have been some of the most memorable moments or interviews during your time at Newsmax and WMAL? Is there a particular story or event that stands out to you?
WM: Probably the most memorable was sitting in the White House with Donald Trump. That was one of the gifts that WMAL gave me, and I will forever be grateful. I did not like living in Washington D.C. because if you’re not a D.C. person, I think you find it difficult to live there. Being in D.C. when Trump was president and being a conservative at that time was an incredible experience. By the way, I am not a registered Republican. With Trump, we received an invitation at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, but we didn’t know who we were meeting with or who it was for.
Trump wanted to talk to the people that put him in office. We were in the press briefing room, and then they brought us into the Oval Office, and when the doors opened, Trump told us to come on in. I don’t care who the president is, it’s an incredible experience. Trump was everything you expected him to be. He said to us that he wanted to know what the listeners thought about him because he knew those were the people that put him into office.
RH: With the rise of social media and digital platforms, news consumption habits have changed significantly. How have these changes affected your evolution as a talent?
MW: I’m on Twitter, I’m on MeWe, I’m on Gettr, I’m on those things. I spend a lot of time posting because my schedule is so crazy from day to day. I send links to all of my podcasts where you can listen and watch afterward. And I do find that social media can be good and bad.
It’s just like what’s happening in the cable news area and the consumption of news. You can build that information bubble. On Twitter, you have the people you follow, and then you have “for you,” which is not necessarily the people you follow. I’m always on the “for you” because I want to hear other people’s opinions.
I want to hear other things. I know what I think and how I view stuff, I want to be challenged, and I think it’s part of my job to be challenged. I’m on Twitter a lot, and I’m on social media a lot to see how other people are taking the same story that I just saw and interpreting totally differently.
RH: In an era where “fake news” and misinformation are frequently discussed, how do you approach fact-checking and ensuring the accuracy of the information you present?
MW: The advent of all of this is facts versus feelings. So, if I don’t like your facts or you’re hurting my feelings, then suddenly, it’s fake news. With the way Trump popularized that saying “fake news”, he was calling these people out for publishing stories.
At the time, we didn’t know what he knew. He knew that The New York Times was given this stuff. He knew that the Times had published the story about the dossier, which was fake. The initial use of mis and disinformation, and fake news was dead on. It has now been co-opted to describe anything I disagree with. I am always tweeting out links to stories with verifiable facts.
RH: Are there any projects or initiatives you find particularly exciting and would like our readers to know about?
MW: I love my podcast. It’s Mary Walter Radio, live on YouTube and Gettr, 7:15 EST on Tuesdays. It’s also on Apple iTunes and Spotify. We have an election coming up in New Jersey, so I am watching that.
Other than that, I am keeping busy by being on the fill-in for Todd Starnes, Rob Carson, Mandy Connell, and then, of course on Newsmax. I also fill in for Brian Kilmeade and Guy Benson on Fox News Radio.
The Denver Nuggets finished off the Miami Heat on Monday night to claim their first NBA championship, and with it veteran broadcaster Mike Breen reached the century mark for NBA Finals games called.
Breen, who has been the voice of the NBA Finals on ABC and ESPN since 2006, was recognized by NBA commissioner Adam Silver ahead of the milestone broadcast. A commemorative plaque presented featured photos of Breen with then broadcast partner Hubie Brown for his first Finals call and Breen with Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson this year.
In the closing minutes of Game 5 in Denver Monday, Jackson and Van Gundy offered their quick congratulations to Breen on the air.
Additionally, many of Breen’s ESPN colleagues paid tribute to him ahead of the game.
“I’m so proud of Mike. I’ve known him since 1980, when we would have lunch together at the Fordham Campus Center and talk about our dreams,” said Michael Kay, who hosts The Michael Kay Show on ESPN 98.7 FM in New York. “His was to be the voice of the [New York] Knicks, and he did that while going on to be the voice of the NBA. No one deserves their exalted position more than my best friend. He treats everyone with respect and receives it back, as he should.”
“A toast to excellence at the highest level,” Brown added. “Mike Breen brings leadership, knowledge, and total preparation to every NBA television assignment. I cherish my time by his side every season.”
Reporter Lisa Salters, who was also on the broadcast in Dallas in 2006 when Breen’s run began, also echoed that Breen not only is a top-notch broadcaster but a top-notch friend.
“Mike is an icon — the voice of an entire generation when it comes to NBA broadcasting,” she said. “That’s just a fact. But, he’s also a great leader and friend — it’s a privilege to be on his team.”
Analyst Doris Burke, who has had the opportunity to call games alongside Breen at ESPN, said no one does it better than Mike.
“Mike Breen is the consummate pro and an incredible caretaker of the NBA Finals,” she said. “From the iconic calls, the historic ‘Bang!’ to the closing NBA Finals soliloquy, which puts the series in context, Mike does it all humbly and with incredible passion.”
A new program launched by Good Karma Brands will give two recent college grads their first big boy or big girl radio jobs and allow them to learn as much as possible about the industry.
The Start in BD Program will give whoever is selected 24 months to plant their radio roots in a popular starting spot for many Good Karma Brands hosts – Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, which also happens to be where the company was founded.
The program will afford the selected candidates the opportunity to work full-time and create content on the air. Additionally, those selected will soak up all they can in other areas like marketing, sales and community events.
After two years, the persons selected will be up for a chance to be permanently placed at one of Good Karma Brands’ markets across the nation.
The company has a website for the program up called startinbd.com. Those interested can head over there to learn more and apply.
After much speculation and debate, Netflix is breaking into live sports broadcasting later this year.
The Wall Street Journalreported Monday that a celebrity golf tournament is in the works and would become the streaming giant’s first live sports event. The tournament would be in Las Vegas and feature athletes who are also in two of Netflix’s most popular sports documentary series: Formula One Drive to Survive and Full Swing.
With F1 set to hold a grand prix on the streets of Sin City in November, it makes sense that Netflix would want to incorporate some of the drivers into the event. With a fall target date, October/November seems likely for the event given that the series will be racing in Austin, Texas; Mexico City and Sao Paulo, Brazil during that time.
Drive to Survive has proven to be a big hit for Netflix since it debuted in 2019 and is credited with driving newfound popularity in the sport in the United States. Without the show, F1 likely doesn’t add races in Vegas and Miami.
Netflix had considered acquiring sports broadcasting rights previously but decided against it. The company did bid for rights to F1 in this last negotiating window but ultimately lost out to ESPN.
The streaming platform put on its first live event ever earlier this year, broadcasting a Chris Rock stand-up special. It attempted to follow that up in recent weeks with a live reunion show for its series Love is Blind but ran into technical issues that prevented subscribers from watching as it happened.
