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Why Chris Plante is Leaving Newsmax to Focus on His Westwood One Radio Show

Krystina Alarcon Carroll
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Why Chris Plante is Leaving Newsmax to Focus on His Westwood One Radio Show

With 20-plus years in the industry and a long family history in media, it was only a shock to Chris Plante that he made it behind the mic and in front of the camera.

“I had never set out to be on the radio. I had never set out to be on television. And now I’m both on television and radio,” Newsmax host Chris Plante said to Barrett.

But his TV days are coming to a close. “Now that I’ve been doing [both TV and radio] for a little more than two and a half years at Newsmax, I ask myself frequently, why radio and television? I’m working from 5 AM to 7 PM five days a week. That’s a lot,” Plante reasoned.

“It’s at a bare minimum of a 14-hour workday, five days a week, and I’m asking myself, ‘Why radio and television?’”

He rhetorically answered, “The truth is, I’m kind of looking forward to getting back to radio only. And it’s not because I don’t like Newsmax. It’s because I don’t like my schedule anymore. It’s just too much of a workday and too much of a workweek.”

He is going back to his radio roots, and Plante believes the beauty of radio “is that it’s all you.” No hair and makeup, or “people to turn you into something you’re not. Radio is all you. It’s 100 percent you. Nothing but you.”

He went on to say, “Television, it’s you and 30 other people creating a product that goes out over the airwaves.”

While Plante is leaving the TV world, you will still be able to find him on social media, and of course, radio. “In the 21st century, digital media is so ubiquitous and a part of absolutely everything, not just in media, but in everyone’s daily lives and everybody’s personal life.”

Plante added, “[Social media’s] outreach to your audience is a much more direct outreach than you can have, certainly on television, because people interact personally with social media in ways that they could never interact with television or television shows or television personalities.”

While social media might be considered an accessory to TV, Plante sees it as “almost an expansion of what you’re already doing, because radio is very personal and it’s very interpersonal. And the interaction you have with the audience is very human and very three-dimensional.”

Jokingly, he opined, “Nobody calls in to the Wolf Blitzer show saying, ‘Hey, you just got that wrong’ … Nobody calls into CNN and gets on the air and says, ‘Here’s what you got wrong.’ And it might help CNN if they started doing that, actually.”

A third-generation news hawk, it is ubiquitously known that Plante grew up in a CBS household, as the step-son of longtime CBS News correspondent Bill Plante. He says this upbringing made him “raised with certain beliefs as to what journalism is supposed to be.” Plante added that the “ideal of journalism” he was raised with is “hard to find these days.”

“I believe in good journalism,” Plante affirmed. “Real journalism is important to the proper function not only of our constitutional republic, but also the proper function of our culture and our society.”

“I think that a good deal of what is wrong in our culture and our society and our politics today has gone south because of a corrupted news media, which does not play the role that the fourth estate is supposed to play in order to guarantee the proper function of our republic: holding feet to the fire of our elected officials and doing so in an even-handed and fair way,” Plante surmised. “I think every American recognizes that the American media has fallen down on the job.”

Pressing him on why he believes journalism died, Plante said, “I could do a semester on this.” One major example he often points to is “Watergate.”

“Woodward and Bernstein became the stuff of Hollywood movies,” the Newsmax host said. “In journalism schools, they’re teaching not that you should be providing straight journalism for the betterment of mankind, but that you should be advancing a political agenda.”

Plante claims that instead of viewing Watergate as two journalists doing their job, the famed incident is viewed as “the two guys at the Post brought down Richard Nixon. And that’s not their job to bring down Richard Nixon, it’s their job to report the news.”

He later added, “Out of the Watergate era, a school of thought emerged in journalism schools and in newsrooms across the country that you’re supposed to be an activist, and not a straight journalist. Activism is not journalism, and journalism is not activism. And ne’er the twain shall meet.”

The longtime radio host is hoping for a future where the journalistic values he grew up with flourish. “There are pockets of journalism that still exist, but they’re getting hard to find.” He added, “Thank God for Al Gore and his amazing internet, because it has democratized the dissemination of information, analysis, and reporting.”

He pointed to Nick Sortor as an example of great journalism. “[He] went to Minneapolis and found the Somali daycare centers where there are no kids and no daycare going on. And yet they’re taking in millions and millions of taxpayer dollars. In fact, billions of taxpayer dollars every year.”

Plante went on to say, “Nick Sortor broke news that George Stephanopoulos didn’t break, that the New York Times didn’t break. So if you’re looking for journalism, it’s out there, but it’s going to be that man there and that woman there and this website there. But it’s not likely to be The New York Times or ABC News.”

Plante’s advice for those looking to follow in his footsteps is blunt. “I tell them to get a degree in business and go into business, and don’t go into journalism. That’s what I tell college-age people.”

Despite all the doom and gloom in the industry, Plante believes, “There are still some of us around [who want to tell the truth], but you have to find an outlet. It may be online, it may be on television. Wherever it may be, there are outlets where the people there still want to tell the truth.”

He lastly noted, “Journalism is supposed to be about the truth, revealing the truth, and holding people accountable. And I’ve always found that to be very easy. The trick is to find the place where they’ll pay you to tell the truth, and you can build a career telling the truth.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

2 Lessons the Dr. Pepper Jingle Can Teach News/Talk Radio Pros

Garrett Searight
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2 Lessons the Dr. Pepper Jingle Can Teach News/Talk Radio Pros

If you’re not chronically online, you might not know about the Dr. Pepper jingle, its origins, or why a billion-dollar company used a song created by a TikToker in its latest ad campaign.

Dr. Pepper is a beloved brand. Cult-like following. So much so that one content creator — named Romeo — created her own jingle for the brand.

It was simple, and the entire video — including the introduction — lasted 11 seconds.

“Dr. Pepper, baby. It’s good and nice. Doo doo doo.”

That’s it. That’s the entire jingle.

@romeosshow

@Dr Pepper please get back to me with a proposition we can make thousands together. #drpepper #soda #beverage

♬ original sound – Romeo

Despite its simplicity, the “theme song”, as Romeo called it, quickly went viral. It has more than 4 million likes on TikTok and has garnered more than 35 million views.

During the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Monday night, Dr. Pepper launched a new campaign featuring the song. It’s only 15 seconds, but went subsequently viral in its own right.

The moment got me thinking about what lessons this could serve news/talk radio professionals, or any media figure for that matter.

I think there are two important lessons to be gleaned from this.

Never Pass Up Goodwill

Dr. Pepper is a billion-dollar brand. That matters, because it destroys the convenient excuse that only smaller companies need to chase momentum. When a brand with that kind of scale sees a viral TikTok moment, recognizes the positivity surrounding it, and turns that goodwill into a full-fledged advertising campaign, it sends a clear message. No one is too big to benefit from being liked.

Goodwill is currency. In news and talk radio, it may be the most undervalued asset in the building. Any chance you get to be viewed favorably by your audience, you should take it. That doesn’t mean forcing yourself into every conversation or stapling your logo onto anything trending. It does mean understanding when the public is already smiling in your direction and leaning into it.

Dr. Pepper didn’t create the moment. They didn’t script it or manufacture it. They recognized it, respected it, and amplified it. That distinction matters. Listeners can tell when you’re hijacking a trend versus when you’re participating in one. The former feels desperate. The latter feels smart.

Radio professionals often overthink this part. They wait for perfect alignment or worry about whether a moment is “on brand.” Meanwhile, the window for positivity quietly closes. Any opportunity to tie your show, station, or personality to something people already enjoy is worth serious consideration. If you can be part of the conversation instead of reacting to it later, you should pounce. Never let a promotional opportunity go to waste when the audience is already doing half the work for you.

You Don’t Have to Rush It, Though

The original TikTok that sparked Dr. Pepper’s campaign went viral nearly a month before the first commercial aired. Predictably, the criticism followed. People online wondered why the brand didn’t move faster or strike while the iron was hot. That critique misunderstands what actually happened next.

When the ad debuted during the National Championship Game, it went viral again. Millions of viewers already knew the jingle and the backstory. Familiarity turned into anticipation, and anticipation turned into another moment. That doesn’t happen when you rush something out just to say you were there.

Dr. Pepper didn’t half-ass the attempt or try to stretch 15 minutes of fame into 16. They took their time, invested properly, and executed with confidence. The result was not a trailing reaction, but a second wave of attention that felt earned.

This is a critical lesson for news and talk radio. Speed matters, but timing matters more. Chasing every trend at the tail end often makes you sound late and out of touch. Creating something thoughtful that extends the life of a moment is far more valuable.

Starting a new conversation, or restarting an existing one, beats rushing to be first and forgotten. When you do it right, you’re not riding the wave. You’re creating another one.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Gary Sharp Announces Departure From 1620 The Zone

BSM Staff
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Gary Sharp Announces Departure From 1620 The Zone

Gary Sharp announced that he is leaving 1620 The Zone and NRG Media, ending a 13-year run with the Omaha sports radio station. Sharp shared the news in a heartfelt tweet, thanking listeners, colleagues, coaches, and athletes for their support throughout his career.

“After 13+ years, my time with NRG Media has come to an end, being told my services were no longer needed last Friday,” Sharp wrote. “Thank you to listeners, colleagues, friends, coaches and athletes who have reached out with support. It has meant more to me than you know.”

Sharp joined 1620 The Zone after returning to Nebraska and quickly became a fixture on the station’s airwaves. Over his tenure, he hosted nearly 4,000 shows, blending humor, insight, and an engaging presence that earned him a loyal audience. “Hopefully we made you laugh, think differently, stay in your car longer, and I would do it again,” he added.

In January 2022, Sharp moved from middays to the coveted morning drive slot, reuniting with former co-host Damon Benning. The pair had previously hosted mornings together for seven years before Sharp’s move to middays. Connor Happer joined the station for middays after leaving BDP Communications sports “93.7 The Ticket” in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Sharp later partnered with Matt McMaster for the Gary and Matt morning show, which ran from December 2024 until January 2026. McMaster, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln broadcast journalism graduate, previously worked as a producer at ESPN Chicago and reported sports and news for NRG Media’s KLIN in Lincoln.

Despite the abrupt end to his tenure, Sharp expressed pride in his accomplishments and gratitude toward mentors.

“I learned and grew from two of the best in the business, Neil Nelkin and Dave Tepper,” he wrote. “I shared the airwaves with some extremely talented people who made me better. Proud of what we did on- and off-air, including going out on top at the end of a recent first-year show.”

Sharp did not provide specifics about future broadcasting plans but indicated he will remain active in Omaha’s athletic and local organizational community.

“I will continue to be involved with Omaha athletics and other local organizations that I enjoy furthering their cause,” he said.

NRG Media has not publicly commented on the news of Sharp’s departure. McMaster has moved to middays while Connor Happer and Mike Schaeffer have moved to take over morning drive.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

WFAN’s Craig Carton Questions Why New York Media Failed To Ask John Harbaugh About Baltimore Exit

BSM Staff
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WFAN’s Craig Carton Questions Why New York Media Failed To Ask John Harbaugh About Baltimore Exit

WFAN host Craig Carton expressed frustration Tuesday over the New York media’s approach to the press conference introducing John Harbaugh as the Giants’ new head coach.

On The Craig Carton Show, he criticized the lack of probing questions about Harbaugh’s departure from the Baltimore Ravens, particularly regarding his relationship with quarterback Lamar Jackson.

“At some point down the stretch, he lost the star player of the team. How could that not be a question that is asked of the guy?” Carton said, emphasizing that the inquiry was critical to understanding Harbaugh’s coaching trajectory.

Carton suggested the Giants’ media corps missed an opportunity to provide fans with insight into Harbaugh’s history and coaching philosophy. He cited a potential rift with Jackson that went largely unaddressed during the press availability.

“He and Lamar Jackson had a riff. I don’t know what caused it, but I’d like to know. Nobody asked the question? I’m sitting there going, nobody wants to know why you got fired? Nobody wants to know how you lost the locker room?” Carton said.

According to Carton, the omission left fans without the full context they deserved. While he acknowledged he is not a Giants fan himself, he insisted that objectivity demands tougher questions from the media.

“I don’t hate the Giants. I never have, and I respect the New York Giants, not the last decade. No one does. But I’m going to be objective, I’m going to be honest, and I have responsibility to the Giant fans who listen to the show, and nobody asked the question?” he added.

Harbaugh, a veteran NFL coach with a Super Bowl title on his resume, has faced some scrutiny over his final seasons with the Ravens, with reports of internal discord surfacing in recent years.

Carton’s critique highlights a broader blurring of lines between fan-focused sports media and the traditional deference often shown to high-profile hires. By skipping difficult questions, he argued, journalists fail to fully serve the audience, leaving fans to speculate about the circumstances behind coaching changes.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Megyn Kelly: Don Lemon Crossed the Line By Taking Protest into Minnesota Church

BNM Staff
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Megyn Kelly: Don Lemon Crossed the Line By Taking Protest into Minnesota Church

Megyn Kelly didn’t mince words while discussing the controversy surrounding Don Lemon’s involvement in a recent protest that disrupted a church service, arguing that the situation crosses from questionable journalism into potential criminal conduct.

Speaking during a recent segment, Kelly said entering a church during worship as part of a protest effort should be considered a “red line,” adding that “the full force of federal law needs to be brought down on everyone who did it.” She questioned Lemon’s repeated claims that he was merely documenting events as a journalist, asserting that the facts on the ground suggest otherwise.

Kelly argued Don Lemon knew exactly where he was going and what was happening, citing video taken before the protest that allegedly contradicts his claim that he was unaware the group would be entering a church. According to Kelly, Lemon was told explicitly by a pastor and congregants that he was not welcome and was asked to leave, yet continued pushing a microphone toward people who did not want to engage.

“He wasn’t innocently documenting,” Kelly said, contending Lemon became part of the harassment and intimidation inside the church. She also suggested Lemon’s evolving explanation signals fear of legal consequences, noting that trespassing alone is not a federal crime, but that other statutes — potentially including civil rights-era laws governing intimidation at places of worship — could come into play depending on the facts.

Actor James Woods joined the discussion and dismissed the broader media response as a “dog and pony show,” accusing Lemon of being a central figure in the protest’s planning. Woods characterized the controversy as a distraction and claimed Lemon was fully aware of the strategies involved.

“Don Lemon is the dingleberry hanging off the ass of American journalism,” said Woods. “And let me tell you, when CNN got rid of them, they didn’t wipe hard enough … This is a trick. It’s a diversion.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Stephen A. Smith To Receive Inaugural BFOA Broadcast Personality of the Year Award

BSM Staff
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Stephen A. Smith To Receive Inaugural BFOA Broadcast Personality of the Year Award

ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith is inaugural recipient of the Broadcasters Foundation of America’s (BFOA) “Broadcast Personality of the Year Award.” The honor takes place at the BFOA Gala, a high-profile fundraising event, on Monday, March 9, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

With a career spanning television, radio, journalism, and political commentary, Smith has emerged as one of broadcasting’s most recognizable and influential voices.

“Introducing the Broadcast Personality of the Year Award is a milestone for the Foundation. There is no one better to be our first honoree than Stephen,” said Tim McCarthy, BFOA president. “Few personalities in broadcasting combine authenticity with the level of work ethic Stephen brings to every platform. His candid delivery commands attention. I know firsthand that his commitment is unmatched.”

Smith, a native of Hollis, Queens, began his media career as a high school reporter for the New York Daily News. He later transitioned to radio, hosting shows on 1050 ESPN in New York City. He also hosted national programs on ESPN Radio and the Fox Radio Network. His career eventually expanded into television, including his role as the featured commentator and executive producer on ESPN’s First Take.

In recent years, Smith has broadened his reach beyond sports. He hosts Straight Shooter, a live political and current events show on Sirius XM, highlighting his ability to navigate discussions on social issues with the same intensity that defines his sports commentary.

“I am honored to receive this recognition from Tim and the Broadcasters Foundation,” Smith said. “The Foundation provides unique and essential support to colleagues in our industry facing the most challenging circumstances. I am thrilled to be part of this gala, which benefits so many in need.”

Smith’s accomplishments also extend into publishing and acting. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes and has appeared on ABC’s long-running soap opera General Hospital. Before broadcasting, he served as a general sports columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The BFOA Gala will also honor media executive Mark Lazarus with the Golden Mic Award. Lazarus is CEO of VERSANT and former chair of NBCUniversal Media Group. Judge Judy Sheindlin will receive the Edward F. McLaughlin Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her decades-long impact on television and broadcasting.

The BFOA provides critical financial assistance to broadcasters facing illness, disaster, or other life-altering hardships, and its annual gala has become a key source of support for the industry.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Michael Kay: ESPN Knew Abella Danger Was in the Stands at the College Football Playoff National Championship Game

BSM Staff
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Michael Kay: ESPN Knew Abella Danger Was in the Stands at the College Football Playoff National Championship Game

ESPN host Michael Kay weighed in Tuesday on whether the network intentionally focused on adult film star Abella Danger during Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship broadcast, suggesting the decision may have been deliberate.

During his Michael Kay Show on ESPN New York, Kay discussed the moment when cameras panned to Danger in the stands at Hard Rock Stadium as Miami faced Indiana. With less than seven minutes remaining, the broadcast captured the full-time Miami student cheering for her Hurricanes, who ultimately fell 27-21.

“Do you wonder of all the gorgeous women that are in the stands that went to Miami, and all the gorgeous women that are in the stands that went to Indiana. Usually when they show a woman during a game, they’re just unbelievable, breathtakingly beautiful,” explained Kay. “Nothing against Abella Danger. She’s a pretty girl, but she’s not a girl that the director is just gonna find her without knowing who she is,” Kay said.

Danger has become a notable figure among Miami fans this season. She gained attention after appearing on ESPN broadcasts during the Hurricanes’ 10-3 victory over Texas A&M in December. A full-time student, Danger has described her passion for Miami athletics as “unconditional,” often sharing her support on Instagram.

Kay added that ESPN likely knew exactly who they were highlighting when the moment called for the shot on national television.

“My guess, and I could be wrong. They knew exactly what they were doing. They knew exactly who they were showing,” said Kay, “I do wonder if people watching the game, a, if they knew who that was, and B, if people in the world actually truly believe that the director didn’t know who that was. If the director of the game didn’t know who that was, I’d be stunned that they would put the camera on her.”

While Danger’s appearances have become part of the narrative surrounding the Hurricanes’ playoff season, Kay’s commentary suggests that viewers may have underestimated the intentionality behind camera direction.

ESPN has not commented on the matter.

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2026 NBA Finals Scheduled Release With No Games On Sundays

BSM Staff
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2026 NBA Finals Scheduled Release With No Games On Sundays

The NBA has unveiled the full schedule for the 2026 NBA Finals, introducing a handful of notable adjustments that break from long-standing league traditions and recent postseason patterns.

The best-of-seven championship series will tip off Wednesday, June 3, instead of Thursday, as in the 2025 Finals. While the midweek start may seem minor, the broader schedule shows a significant departure. This change underscores how outside forces are increasingly influencing the league’s calendar.

Most notably, the 2026 NBA Finals will feature no games on a Sunday. That distinction has not occurred since 1970, even in years when the league navigated unusual circumstances. The 2020 Finals, delayed until late September and staged inside the NBA’s Orlando bubble due to the COVID-19 pandemic, still managed to overlap with NFL Sundays.

Traditionally, the league has leaned on Sundays for high-profile moments, with Game 2 often landing on that day and a potential Game 7 frequently scheduled for Father’s Day.

In 2026, that pattern disappears entirely. If the series extends the full seven games, the deciding contest would be played Friday, June 19, rather than on a Sunday afternoon or evening. The last time a Sunday Game 7 was avoided came in 1999.

All NBA Finals games will air on ABC with an 8:30 p.m. ET tip-off, continuing the league’s commitment to a consistent prime-time television window. Several of the scheduling decisions appear to be influenced by the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held across North America from June 11 through July 19.

The league also adjusted its rest days compared to last year’s Finals. Rather than allowing two days off between Games 1 and 2, teams will have just one day of rest. Game 2 is scheduled for Friday, June 5. However, the NBA maintained two-day breaks for travel. These breaks will occur after Game 2 and, if necessary, following Games 4, 5, and 6.

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Red Apple Audio Networks Launches Joe Concha Into National Syndication

BNM Staff
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Red Apple Audio Networks Launches Joe Concha Into National Syndication

Weeks after joining the daily lineup at 77 WABC, Joe Concha is going national with parent company Red Apple Audio Networks.

Beginning on Monday, January 26th, Concha At Night — which airs from 9-10 PM ET — will be made available to stations throughout the country.

Joe Concha hosts the nightly program in addition to his Sunday show that airs from 11 AM to Noon ET on 77 WABC. Concha also hosts a daily two-minute vignette called Joe Concha Sounds Off that is also syndicated.

“WABC has been instrumental in building the Sunday program and this opportunity,” said Concha. “Red Apple Audio Networks understands how to grow talent and deliver content that connects with audiences. I’m excited to bring this program to stations and listeners nationwide.”

The program from Joe Concha began earlier this month, as it replaced Bill O’Reilly’s nightly program in the lineup at 77 WABC.

“Red Apple Audio Networks is focused on delivering proven, high-impact programming to stations across the country,” said Red Apple Media CEO John Catsimatidis. “Joe’s success on WABC Radio demonstrates how effective our model is—developing shows locally at the flagship level and scaling them nationally. This new weekday program is a natural addition to our growing lineup.”

“WABC has always been a powerful incubator for talent and content that resonates far beyond New York,” added Red Apple Media and WABC Radio President Chad Lopez. “By producing this show at our flagship station and distributing it through Red Apple Audio Networks, we’re reinforcing our commitment to building premium programming that works for listeners, affiliates, and advertisers.”

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Fox News Adds Reince Priebus as Political Analyst

BNM Staff
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Fox News Adds Reince Priebus as Political Analyst

Fox News has announced it is adding former White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus as a Political Analyst.

Priebus served as the White House Chief of Staff during the first Trump administration in 2017. He also previously worked as the Chairman of both the Republican National Committee from 2011 to 2017 and the Wisconsin Republican Party from 2007 to 2011.

It will not be the first foray into the television news world for Reince Priebus. He previously worked as a political analyst at ABC News.

Currently, Priebus serves as a member of the Intelligence Advisory and Oversight boards in the Trump administration, as well as an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He is also on the LA28 Olympic Board of Directors.

Reince Priebus will make his first appearance with Fox News this evening, appearing on Hannity with Sean Hannity at 9 PM ET.

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