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Radio Leaders Must Protect Their Mental Battery Before Burnout Wins

Kevin Callahan
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Radio Leaders Must Protect Their Mental Battery Before Burnout Wins

Burnout is a factor. Let’s be honest with each other for a second: most media professionals I know are really bad at unplugging. And yes, I am looking square in the mirror when I say that.

We are a breed of people conditioned to treat every text notification like an active air-studio fire. We call it “staying on top of things,” but it’s actually just an addiction to the noise.

But if you are redlining your personal engine 24/7/365, your team is not getting a sharp, strategic leader. They are getting a jittery, short-fused version of you running on pure caffeine and adrenaline. And let’s be totally honest — if your team is not the one getting hit with that short fuse, the people you care about most at home probably are. You cannot pour from an empty cup.

Your Most Critical Asset

Today, we are putting the spreadsheets aside to talk about the most critical asset in your entire operation: your mental battery. And the only way to keep it charged is by finding, and fiercely protecting, your Happy Place.

For me, that reset button is at the lake.

There is something transformative about trading glowing screens for wide-open blue skies, the smell of the outdoors, and a night sky packed with a million stars. It is the absolute antithesis of the media cycle. Just water and trees.

And before you write this off as a touchy-feely speech, it’s actually hard science. Psychologists and neurologists study this under what is known as Attention Restoration Theory (ART). The corporate media grind requires constant “directed attention” — an unnatural, exhausting type of mental focus that literally wears out the prefrontal cortex. Nature, on the other hand, triggers what they call “soft fascination.” Doctors have proven that stepping outside drops cortisol levels almost instantly and resets your capacity for creative problem-solving. You literally think better when you stop thinking for a minute.

You Need Training Wheels

But actually disconnecting is hard for us. We need training wheels. So here is a fun, encouraging challenge for the next time you try to slip away.

Start small: let your phone die. Seriously. Don’t panic-scramble for a charger cord the second the battery bar turns red. Let it slip down to 2%, watch the screen go entirely black, and just let it stay dead. Now, resist the temptation to hurl that $1,000 piece of glass into the water. You need to stop just short of skipping it like a flat stone across the lake — even though we’ve all wanted to. Just lay it down on a table and walk away.

I saw an Instagram meme the other day that perfectly nails the boundary we need to set. It showed a picture of a breathtaking, quiet landscape with the caption:

“This is my happy place. Don’t f it up.”* (There’s a country lyric in there somewhere)

It made me laugh, but it’s a profound rule for survival. The only person who can ruin your happy place is you by inviting the office back into it. If you sit by the water but keep your Apple Watch buzzed with email alerts, you haven’t left the station. You just changed your coordinate location.

If you want to protect your happy place and actually return to your team — and your family — at 100%, here is your playbook for a true disconnect:

  • The Digital Air-Gap: When your phone dies, leave it dead for a few hours. Set a definitive out-of-office message that empowers your team to handle things without you. If everything collapses because you took 24 hours offline, you don’t have a vacation problem — you have a delegation and alignment problem. Trust your people to keep the ship afloat.
  • Lean Into the Soft Fascination: Find an activity that forces your brain to stay present. Whether it’s sitting on a dock with a cold drink, fishing, or just looking at the stars, pick something that demands you look up, not down.
  • Treat Rest Like Prep: We spend hours prepping for morning shows, programming clocks, and client pitches. Start treating your downtime with that same level of respect. Schedule it. Protect it. Make it non-negotiable.

Our industry will happily take every single ounce of energy you are willing to give it until there’s nothing left. Don’t let it.

Find your lake. Let your phone die. Lock down your boundaries and protect your happy place like your career depends on it — because it does. (Though honestly, I am a little curious how many smartphones are currently lying at the bottom of the lake, right next to all those lost pairs of sunglasses).

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.ght in your inbox.

Morning Radio Story Arcs — The Strategy Most Shows Are Missing

Jim Ryan
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Morning Radio Story Arcs — The Strategy Most Shows Are Missing

I believe today, more than ever, strong personality driven morning radio is key to radio’s future. Live/local shows, community involvement, humor, storytelling, and trusted companionship are what drive it. Listeners form habits around the people, not just the music. When you’re looking for analytics on those shows, Nielsen is the place to go. What’s the percentage of P-1 listeners, length of each listening occasion, time spent listening each week and, maybe my favorite, number of days listened?

If you are on the radio, especially in the morning, you need to see the number in Nielsen’s PD Advantage that shows average days listened per week. They show you the number for the entire audience, as well as the P-1 audience. If you’ve never seen it and expect that your audience is listening every day, you’ll be in for a shocker. Chances are, if you’re the biggest show in the market, you’re getting as much as 1.8 days a week and hitting a home run. If you’re further down the ranker, you could be at 0.7 days a week. How’s that for trashing your ego?

I find that not enough shows take advantage of the multiple-day story arc. Have you watched the HBO show “The Pitt”? Each episode is an hour of the day, and you can’t stop watching because you need to know what happens next. If you’ve done a good job making the audience care about you and others on your show, they will certainly come back tomorrow. They want to hear what develops when you’re in some sort of dilemma. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s best when it’s something everyone can relate to.

Start Close to Home

Let’s start with your spouse/partner. Their college roommate is coming over for the weekend. Or they want to sleep in separate rooms due to snoring, talking in your sleep, stealing covers, or temperature disputes — there are hundreds of possibilities. They/you are too messy, never close a half-eaten snack food bag, won’t share a remote, or won’t hang out with your relatives — etc. These are all so easy. You talk about it on the air and listeners weigh in. The next day you talk to your partner on air. Maybe an expert the following day, followed by resolution. Home repairs, furniture shopping, and even painting the kitchen can turn into a multiple-show storyline.

Neighbors are great for this as well. A neighbor can leave you a note about parking in their space, not taking in your garbage can on a timely basis, a messy yard, being too noisy, or having too many or not enough holiday decorations. Again, there are hundreds. Same formula. Ask the listeners, talk to other neighbors, and finally confront the person who left you the note.

Everyone loves a great story. One with drama and conflict that can be part of your show at the same time every day for several days is a home run. Of course, exaggerate it and make it memorable. You must involve your listeners so they feel invested and will come back each day to hear what develops.

Journal Your Life Off the Air

Steve Reynolds has always encouraged his shows to journal their lives — to keep a diary of things that happen while you’re away from work. Sometimes the simplest event on a Saturday can turn into three days of must-tune-in radio. You might even be able to use a station feature to create multiple days of drama.

Here’s one from when I programmed WNEW. I gave the morning show the news that we were going to have to cancel our popular “Can’t Beat Karen” game because the company cut expenses, and one of the casualties was the mug that contestants received for playing. The audience freaked out. After two days of complaints, show bad boy Johnny Mingione gave my office number out on the air so the listeners could complain directly to me. That got Johnny suspended from the show. Fortunately, the sales manager was a fan of Karen Carson and managed to find a sponsor to buy the mugs. Yes, the client saved the day, the feature (and Johnny) returned, and everyone lived happily ever after. Everyone except me — I wasn’t able to answer my office phone for months without a listener yelling at me. We turned a budget cut into a ten-day story arc that caused listeners to love the feature even more, and to bond with Karen, Johnny, and Intern Anthony as they battled the evil boss. Great storylines always have a villain. Batman wouldn’t be Batman without the Joker.

One reminder on the continuing story arc. Always reset and recap the issue each day so those who missed the first parts will be up to speed. Also, these MUST be prepared in advance. It’s usually best to have an ending before you begin. Remember, every great story has twists and turns, something unexpected, and a satisfying ending. And it hopefully doesn’t involve your actual office phone.


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.

How New WTOP Morning Anchor Kristin Diaz Brings Texas Energy to Washington D.C. Radio

Krystina Alarcon Carroll
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How New WTOP Morning Anchor Kristin Diaz Brings Texas Energy to Washington D.C. Radio

You can take the girl out of Texas, but you’ll never be able to take Texas out of Kristin Diaz. WTOP’s newest morning anchor joins John Aaron at 5 AM, bright and early, bringing a lot of joy, excitement, and passion to the DC market.

Diaz believes, “God really blessed me with bringing me [to DC] during the springtime. It hasn’t been extremely cold and I’m very grateful for that.” When Diaz left Dallas in March, D-Town was already hitting 90 degrees. “I remember the first week I was here, the first full week I was [in DC], there was a cold front. It brought us back down to the 30s and 40s and I had to reach for my jacket.”

The heat has followed Diaz since the move — and we are not just talking about weather. Her infectious positive attitude and spice for life can brighten any rainy day, and it all started in a Houston radio station.

A Lifelong Lineage

Growing up, Diaz often found herself alongside her mom, who worked in media. “My mother was the general manager of a radio station when I was a little girl in Houston, and it’s funny, some of my earliest memories are of being in a radio station. Before that, she actually worked for Telemundo.”

“I have memories of being in the television station, but I grew up around her always being in the business and going to work with mom and I was always close to it, but it was never really my dream,” Diaz recalled.

It wasn’t until high school that Diaz really started considering becoming a member of the media. “I actually found the idea of researching current events and researching both sides of a story through debate [enjoyable],” she added. “That is what kind of got me interested in current affairs, current events, and local news.”

“And I remember a teacher of mine said, ‘Kristin, have you ever thought about being a news anchor?’ And that teacher kind of steered me into that path.” It’s a conversation Diaz never had with her mom growing up. This allowed the native Texan to forge her own path in the industry.

From TV to Radio

She got her first big break in TV as a production assistant before becoming a weather anchor, reporter, and then news anchor. “All of those positions, you know, were stepping stones to — coincidentally — my radio career,” she affirmed.

Calling the move “serendipitous,” Diaz believes going from TV to radio was “God’s timing and planned for me.” The award-winning journalist also believes being a weather anchor really helped prepare her for radio. “Not having a script and knowing how to ad lib and think on my feet. All those things played a part in helping me with my radio career.”

Her hard work and passion were recognized when she was named one of Barrett Media’s Top 20 Major Market News/Talk Radio Afternoon personalities, along with David Rancken, for their work at NewsRadio 1080 KRLD in Dallas.

“It was truly an honor to be able to work with [news] giants [at KRLD]. And I feel like that respect, that honor, the things that I observed from working there — the team, the incredible newsroom atmosphere — that is the energy that I’m hoping to bring here in DC,” she said. “I’m already walking into an incredible newsroom that I’m blessed to have the opportunity to join. WTOP is such a huge station in its own right, just like KRLD. Another legacy station that’s been here 100 years and has such strong roots in the community.”

Building a Community

When the announcement about Diaz’s arrival was made, she found the WTOP community as warm and welcoming as a Texas pecan pie. “I was so overwhelmed by [people welcoming me to the DC area] on social media, on Instagram, on Facebook over the past couple of weeks. Even before I hit the airwaves. And especially afterwards, so many people have reached out to me.”

Many long-time listeners of WTOP have been reaching out as well. She often tells her new colleagues, “You guys have incredible listeners. The way that people have welcomed me and specifically taken the time to be so kind — to reach out, to want to connect me with other people that they know in the area or want to help guide me as I navigate my way around here and learn the ins and outs — that has been seriously so impressive.”

She’s not just connecting with people on air. She’s also stepping away from the mic and getting involved in the community. “I’ve already gone to church a couple of weekends here nearby in my neighborhood. My neighborhood has a little park in the center of it, where I’ve met a couple of other dog walkers and kind of introduced myself there. And every time I go to the grocery store now, I think all the people know — oh, there she is. That’s a Texas girl.”

Diaz believes “it’s kind of hard to stay quiet when you’re a loud Texas Latina.” But she also recognizes her vivacious and effervescent personality is truly a gift from God.

Working With a Purpose

Outside of her morning show, Diaz finds time to give back and mentor students who are looking to follow in her footsteps. “I talk to students often, and I always try to remind them a couple of things. Number one, do not get into this industry if you think that it’s going to bring you validation as a person. Or if it’s going to bring you likes from social media, going to give you fame, or give you glamour.”

In order to be successful in media, Diaz has a reminder for young aspiring journalists. “It’s not about you, it’s about serving the public. You are a public servant. It’s about sharing other people’s stories. It’s about educating, informing, and building connection, and sharing the spotlight.”

Students have also asked Diaz if she ever gets nervous when interviewing people. In true journalist form, she answered honestly. “I used to get nervous when I would interview people or have a position of being able to share the room with someone, if I thought of them as just their title, if I saw them as just the accolades that they’ve made.”

Then one day, that feeling stopped. Not because she became exceptionally talented at conducting interviews. But because “I realized, I have to look at people as just people, and it’s not just their title. They’re normal people, too. They just have a passion. They have found their passion for what it is that they do. And I always encourage students, find your passion.”

As for Diaz, her passion is telling stories and following God’s plan for her. “I’m just really trying to listen to where he’s calling me and be a good person wherever I show up. And I always come across the nicest people and the most interesting people — people who want to open up and share. I don’t take that for granted.”

She views her role at WTOP as a “privilege” and hopes to “never lose that essence. 17 years in this business now, to do this and to be in a new city and to meet new people — it just really reinvigorates me. But I am truly humbled by what I get to do every day.”

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.

How Riply Is Using AI to Help Radio Stations Stay Hyper-Local

Garrett Searight
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How Riply Is Using AI to Help Radio Stations Stay Hyper-Local

The radio industry’s been shrinking for decades, and Jen Austin knows it better than most. Austin, a radio veteran since the 1990s, has watched newsrooms contract, dayparts go unstaffed, and local content slowly fade from the dial. So instead of lamenting the shift, she built something to fight it — a hyper-local AI-powered news platform called Riply.

“It’s a radio problem with a technology solution,” Austin said. “That’s what we wanted to apply here.”

Riply functions as an always-on content intelligence system, continuously harvesting local, state, and national news for stations across America — and beyond. Stations log in and find a curated feed of stories, complete with cited sources, ready to be turned into newscasts. Every piece of content goes through human review for accuracy before being voiced, either by an AI agent or by the station’s own talent. It’s designed to do what a part-timer or intern used to scramble to do manually — only faster, cheaper, and around the clock.

Austin didn’t arrive at the idea by accident. Years of watching a once-vibrant industry get stretched thin drove her toward a solution that technology could actually deliver. “When I started in the 90s, there was 24/7 staff and live people on every daypart,” said Austin. “It’s gotten smaller since then. And the people who are there need help gathering information, staying local, staying relevant, and delivering to listeners.”

Staying Local Is the Mission

For Austin, the core value proposition isn’t just speed — it’s specificity. Anyone can pull generic headlines from a national wire, but Riply drills down to the community level. “Really, it’s staying local,” the Riply executive shared. “It’s harvesting information 24/7 constantly. For any city in America and anywhere in the world. You don’t have to sit at a computer or have an intern or part-timer bring back stories one by one. This does it continuously.”

That local emphasis also positions Riply as a complement to national news providers, not a competitor. With CBS News Radio‘s exit, Austin sees an opportunity for stations to pair with Riply’s hyper-local content. “We could be the local complement to that,” she said. “It’s whatever the station needs, and that’s key for Riply. We are highly customized and continue to work with the station, respond to their voice, and let them tell us what markets or areas they want to cover.”

The platform verifies information across three to four web sources before surfacing a story, mimicking the process a careful journalist would follow — just at machine speed. Austin was direct about the stakes of accuracy.

“Just like a human would look around the web for news, this is doing the same thing and stamping the source so we know exactly where it came from.” She added that the platform spent 10 to 11 months in testing before launch. They worked to refine its outputs to meet broadcast standards. It’s not, as she emphasized, AI running unchecked.

“It follows a dedicated path and comes back curated to save time and money for radio stations,” said Austin.

Overcoming the Fear Factor

Adoption hasn’t come without hesitation. Austin acknowledged that perception remains one of Riply’s biggest hurdles — not performance, but fear. The radio industry, like many legacy media sectors, carries anxiety about AI replacing the humans who give it character. Austin pushed back on that concern directly. “AI is nothing to be afraid of. It’s a great tool, especially on the local level and in local newsrooms.”

Still, she recognized that skepticism requires a demonstration, not just reassurance. “Hesitation is probably the right word, but once they hear the voices and see the content and writing, they believe it,” the longtime radio leader stated. She added that stations that’ve tried it have come back with confirmation that the stories Riply surfaced matched exactly what their teams were already discussing. That kind of real-world validation has accelerated momentum. “I feel like there’s been rapid adoption in the past month or two,” Austin said. “More stations are getting on board, trying AI themselves, and realizing it’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Flexibility has driven much of that buy-in. Riply offers human voices, AI voices, or the option for local talent to read scripts outright. Austin put it simply: “It’s whatever they want it to be.” What’s right for a major market like Detroit doesn’t fit a smaller market like Poughkeepsie, and Riply’s design accounts for that variance.

For Austin, success ultimately comes back to something personal. She grew up in rural Nebraska, where local news wasn’t just convenient — it was currency. “My grandma would know by 3:30 in the afternoon who fell off a tractor that day,” she said. “AI is even faster than my grandma.” That connection to community is what she wants Riply to restore. “Responding to that local need for information and giving it to communities is exciting to me,” Austin said, “and that’s success.”

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.

Sharyn Alfonsi Exits 60 Minutes: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Garrett Searight
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Sharyn Alfonsi Exits 60 Minutes: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Sharyn Alfonsi didn’t walk away from 60 Minutes — she was shown the door. After nearly two decades at CBS News and more than a decade as a correspondent on one of television’s most storied newsmagazines, her contract expired over Memorial Day weekend. And it was apparently not renewed.

This situation didn’t happen in a vacuum. It grew from an editorial dispute last December, when CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss pulled Alfonsi’s reported segment on Venezuelan men deported to El Salvador’s CECOT prison — a piece that had already been publicly promoted. Alfonsi believed the decision was political. Weiss said the story wasn’t ready. The segment eventually aired in January, but the damage between the two was done.

This wasn’t just a workplace disagreement. It became a flashpoint for larger questions about where CBS News is heading, who’s steering the ship, and whether editorial independence still means anything inside that building. Those questions don’t have comfortable answers right now.

The Good

It’s good that Alfonsi is leaving — even if she clearly didn’t want to go. That distinction matters. Nobody should confuse this departure with a journalist deciding she’s done and heading for the exit on her own terms. Her contract lapsed, her representatives were met with silence, and CBS News made its choice without saying a word. Still, even if the circumstances are painful, getting out of an environment she disagreed with is ultimately the right outcome for her.

Furthermore, she’s not alone in her skepticism. Alfonsi now joins a growing chorus of people raising their eyebrows at the direction of CBS News and 60 Minutes. Bill Owens, the longtime executive producer of 60 Minutes, stepped down earlier this year citing concerns over editorial independence. Wendy McMahon, the former CBS News president, also departed under a cloud of internal tension. Anderson Cooper reportedly had his own reservations about the show’s trajectory before his exit as well. That’s not a few disgruntled voices — that’s the leadership structure of one of the most respected programs in broadcast history walking out the door, one by one. When it keeps happening, it stops being a coincidence.

The best thing Alfonsi can do from here is land somewhere that values what she does. She’s a talented journalist with a track record that speaks for itself. If CBS News didn’t want that, somebody else will.

The Bad

That said, it’s generally not a good practice to trash folks on the way out the door — even when you’ve earned the right to.

Does Alfonsi have reason to be angry? Absolutely. Does she have reason to be critical of CBS News and Bari Weiss on the way out? Also yes. She poured years into that newsroom, stood behind a story she believed in, and got the cold shoulder in return. That stings, and no reasonable person would blame her for feeling it.

But does sharing those thoughts publicly help anyone? That’s where it gets murkier. Her statement was pointed, detailed, and damning. It accused network leadership of tearing down the wall between corporate interests and editorial independence, and it called her exit a deliberate choice to penalize a journalist for doing her job. Again — she’s not wrong. However, torching the building on the way out doesn’t rebuild it. It also doesn’t make her next chapter easier to write. Prospective employers watch how people leave just as closely as they watch what people accomplish. Burning bridges loudly can cost more than it gains, even when the frustration behind it is entirely justified.

She had every right to say what she said. Whether it was wise is a separate question.

The Ugly

Here’s the part that CBS News can’t spin its way out of: when virtually everyone who departs the network or 60 Minutes raises the same concerns on their way out, it’s no longer a personnel problem. It’s a credibility problem.

A few unhappy former employees? That’s easy to wave away. Disgruntled ex-staffers exist everywhere. But when it’s the executive producer, the network president, multiple correspondents, and now a decade-long contributor all saying the same thing — that editorial independence is under threat, that corporate interests are bleeding into journalism — the “disgruntled employee” defense collapses under its own weight.

This isn’t a “he said, she said” situation. It’s closer to “everyone said” — and the network’s rebuttal essentially amounts to “Nuh uh.” That’s not a counter-argument. It’s a deflection. CBS News has a real problem on its hands, and the longer leadership responds with corporate euphemisms instead of genuine accountability, the uglier it gets. Whether the people running the place recognize that yet is a different discussion entirely. But the rest of the industry is watching — and so are viewers.

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.

Jimmy Knight Exits Federated Media Fort Wayne After 15-Year Run

David Hill
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Jimmy Knight Exits Federated Media Fort Wayne After 15-Year Run

Two long-tenured talents have left Federated Media Fort Wayne. Jimmy Knight and midday host Dan have both departed.

What we know: Knight served as OM/PD of Hot AC 97.3 WMEE and Country “K105” WQHK for over fifteen years. He joined Federated in 2011 after leading operations at Artistic Media Partners in Lafayette. Before that, he held roles at stations in Melbourne FL, Wausau WI, and Cedar Rapids IA. Meanwhile, midday host Dan departs WMEE after holding that slot since 2017, following earlier weekend work at the station.

What they said: Knight took to LinkedIn to address his next move publicly. He stated he is actively seeking roles as an Operations Manager, Program Director, on-air talent, or Media Buyer — and noted he is “open to other opportunities.” Fort Wayne remains his preferred market, though he added, “for the right opportunity I am willing to relocate.” No public statement from Dan has emerged so far.

What remains unclear: No official reason has surfaced for either departure. Additionally, Federated Media has not yet announced replacements for either role. It also remains unknown whether Dan plans to seek on-air work elsewhere in the market.

What it means: Together, Knight and Dan represent decades of institutional knowledge at two of Fort Wayne’s most prominent stations. Their exits leave Federated with notable gaps — both operationally and on-air. For the Fort Wayne market, these changes signal a significant programming transition ahead.

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.

Broadcasters Foundation to Host Media Mixer at iHeartMedia New York on June 25th

Garrett Searight
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Broadcasters Foundation to Host Media Mixer at iHeartMedia New York on June 25th

The Broadcasters Foundation of America is bringing its popular Media Mixer back to New York City on June 25. The event will be held at iHeartMedia’s studios and aims to connect rising talent with broadcasting’s biggest names.

What We Know: The event takes place on June 25. It runs from 5:30–7:30 PM ET at iHeartMedia’s studios at 125 West 55th Street. Legendary radio executive Dan Mason will attend and share career insights. KTU afternoon drive host Maxwell will emcee, and The Voice alum Carolina Rial will perform live.

What They Said: “The Broadcasters Foundation’s Media Mixers have become one of the most important gatherings for the future of our industry, bringing together rising broadcast professionals, influential executives, and legendary broadcasters in one room. Broadcasting is built on relationships, mentorship, and community, and this event captures the very best of what makes our business so special while also supporting broadcasters facing critical need.” — Broadcasters Foundation of America President Tim McCarthy

What Remains Unclear: Capacity limits haven’t been announced publicly yet.

What It Means: The BFOA continues to build one of broadcasting’s most valued networking sessions. This year’s New York event is another step in that direction. Admission to the event is free. However, you must preregister for a ticket by clicking here.

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.

CNN Developing Streaming Series for Abby Phillip

Garrett Searight
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CNN Developing Streaming Series for Abby Phillip

Abby Phillip has seen her profile grow with CNN in recent years. That expansion is set to continue with a streaming series, according to a report from Oliver Darcy.

What We Know: CNN is in the process of developing a series for Abby Phillip. According to Status’ Oliver Darcy, the working title of the show is Confessions and Obsessions. Guests on the show will reportedly discuss what they’re obsessed with and also declare confessions about topics and past actions. The report says that the program, unlike CNN NewsNight, will not be centered around politics.

What Remains Unclear: What the official title of the show will be. Furthermore, it is unclear when the series will debut. We also do not know when new episodes of the show will be released or which guests might appear on the program.

What It Means: Cable news hosts have continually branched out with digital projects. Abby Phillip is the latest example of that. It seems likely that the items she’d like to discuss on this program wouldn’t fit perfectly into her primetime show. It is also one of the first examples of a potential project on the CNN streaming service featuring Phillip.

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.

Yahoo Sports’ Layoffs Underway as Company Begins Aligning To Meet New Goals

John Mamola
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Yahoo Sports’ Layoffs Underway as Company Begins Aligning To Meet New Goals

Yahoo Sports has reportedly parted ways with several contributors, reportedly including several writers who contributed to their NFL coverage. According to Front Office Sports, NFL reporter Charles Robinson and Charles McDonald have departed the company. Yahoo Sports has not confirmed any names to Barrett Media mentioned in the reporting.

What We Know: As Yahoo Sports continues to align its roster to meet new strategic goals, the company is making some changes. While the company has invested in recent signings such as Taylor Twellman and extended Ross Dellenger and Nate Tice, those signings point to shifting priorities. Sources indicate to Barrett Media the cuts are not part of a cost-cutting measure by Yahoo, but instead a restructure for a best path forward toward their goals. Charles Robinson has been a senior writer for Yahoo Sports since 2004, specializing in NFL and investigative reporting. Charles McDonald is an NFL writer for Yahoo Sports. He previously reported for the New York Daily News among other outlets.

What They Said: A Yahoo Sports spokesperson offered this statement to Barrett Media: “As evidenced by the last few years, we are investing heavily in our original content and we will continue to do so as we approach the football season. We carefully consider all personnel decisions and sometimes need to make tough decisions to achieve our strategic goals.”

What Remains Unclear: The total number of affected employees was not confirmed by Yahoo. However, sources indicate the layoffs are limited in scope affecting fewer than 10 employees. Plans are the company will continue reshaping its content strategy around specific verticals. With football season approaching, sources say Yahoo Sports expects to continue adding talent ahead of the upcoming season.

What It Means: Yahoo Sports is going through a restructure when it comes to internal goals. Like many companies, shifting priorities unfortunately means tough decisions. Yahoo is clearly doubling down on targeted content hubs. Examples of that include the partnership with Ariel Helwani in building Uncrowned, and launching Yahoo Sports Daily just under a year ago. Barrett Media is a licensed content provider for Yahoo. Last month, Barrett Media joined several other content sites in contributing content to Yahoo Sports’ sports business hub. More names will surface over the coming days, but the scope of the layoffs does seem to be minimal.

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.

Sharyn Alfonsi Exits 60 Minutes, Blasts CBS News Leadership

Garrett Searight
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Sharyn Alfonsi Exits 60 Minutes, Blasts CBS News Leadership

Sharyn Alfonsi has released a statement that her tenure at 60 Minutes is over after her contract wasn’t renewed. She didn’t hold back in her criticism of CBS News, either.

What We Know: Alfonsi shared that her contract with the network expired over the weekend and that she would not return. In her exit, Sharyn Alfonsi lambasted CBS News leadership for what she labeled as “abandoning” the mission of 60 Minutes. She also accused the network of “methodically” tearing down the wall between “corporate interest” and “editorial independence.”

What They Said: “Over the weekend, my contract with CBS News expired, drawing to a close nearly twenty years with the network, including more than a decade at 60 Minutes. Following an intense editorial dispute over our CECOT story, repeated attempts by my representation to establish a path forward were met with absolute silence from network executives. The message could not be clearer: my time at 60 Minutes is apparently over. In the coming days, network leadership may attempt to hide behind corporate euphemisms like ‘modernization’ and ‘restructuring’ to explain away my departure. Don’t be misled. This was not a routine corporate transition. It was a deliberate choice to penalize a journalist for refusing to sanitize factually accurate reporting, and it sends a chilling message to the entire newsroom.” -Sharyn Alfonsi

What Remains Unclear: What Sharyn Alfonsi will do next in her media career. She has previously insinuated that she expected not to return to the show next season. However, she has not hinted at what lies ahead for her.

What It Means: Alfonsi’s tenure with the show ends with a bang. Her comments about the state of CBS News — without naming Bari Weiss — will create many headlines. Her exit follows the departure of Anderson Cooper. He also, reportedly, had concerns about the direction of the network and the news magazine. Former 60 Minutes Executive Producer Bill Owens also famously departed the show after concerns about editorial independence.

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