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60 Minutes Anchor Scott Pelley Criticizes CBS News, Paramount Executives to Close Show Sunday

BNM Staff
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60 Minutes Anchor Scott Pelley Criticizes CBS News, Paramount Executives to Close Show Sunday

Last week, 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens departed the show after suggesting his editorial independence had been removed by CBS News and Paramount executives. On Sunday evening’s episode, Scott Pelley addressed the situation.

In the final segment of the program, Pelley addressed the departure of Owens, giving his longtime colleague props for the way he operated the program for nearly three decades.

“A note on Bill Owens, who — until this past week — was executive producer of 60 Minutes,” began Pelley. “He was our boss. Bill was with CBS News nearly 40 years, 26 years at 60 Minutes. He covered the world, covered combat, the White House. His was a quest to open minds, not close them. If you’ve ever worked hard for a boss because you admired him, then you understand what we’ve enjoyed here.

“Bill resigned Tuesday. It was hard on him and hard on us, but he did it for us. And you,” Pelley continued. “Stories we pursued for 57 years are often controversial. Lately, the Israel/Gaza War and the Trump administration. Bill made sure they were accurate and fair. He was tough that way.”

Pelley then addressed the elephant in the room, noting that the parent company of CBS News — Paramount Global — is in the midst of a merger with Skydance that requires approval from the Trump administration. He alleged that the company began to interfere in the show’s content.

“Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways,” Pelley continued. “None of our stories have been blocked, but Bill felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires. No one here is happy about it. But in resigning, Bill proved one thing: he was the right person to lead 60 Minutes all along.”

In a memo to staffers last Tuesday, Owens revealed he would be departing the news magazine program due to what he called an inability to make independent decisions about the program.

“Over the past months, it has also become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it,” he wrote. “To make independent decisions based on what was right for 60 Minutes, right for the audience. So, having defended this show- and what we stand for – from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside so the show can move forward. 

“The show is too important to the country, it has to continue, just not with me as the Executive Producer,” he concluded.

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NFL Draft Viewership Driven to Near Record Levels for Night One, Two From Green Bay

BSM Staff
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NFL Draft Viewership Driven to Near Record Levels for Night One, Two From Green Bay

The NFL Draft, fueled by the continuing saga of Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders falling into the later rounds of Saturday, led to significant viewership figures for the first two nights of the event in Green Bay, WI. The NFL announced that the first-round coverage on night one last Thursday was the second-most-watched day one of an NFL Draft since the COVID 2020 Draft, which was held in the home of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

According to a release, round one coverage was seen by an average audience of 13.6 million viewers across ESPN, NFL Network, ABC, ESPN Deportes, and digital channels, which is an 11% increase over viewership of round one of last year’s NFL Draft.

Meanwhile, night two of the NFL also capitalized on the drama surrounding Sanders, leading all storylines as Friday’s second and third rounds of the NFL Draft were seen by an average of 7.3 million viewers, which is up 40% year over year.

According to Nielsen, the night two viewership figures was the most-watched second day of the draft on record, only trailing the 2020 NFL Draft held during COVID.

Furthermore, figures for day three on Saturday of the NFL Draft have yet to be released by the NFL.

In addition, attendance figures were also released for the annual event, and Green Bay, WI welcomed over 600,000 fans to the NFL Draft for a city with a population just over 105,000 people. The first night welcomed in 205,000, while the third day, which completed rounds four through seven, welcomed over 220,000 people.

Moreover, Green Bay, WI is the NFL’s smallest market that houses an NFL team and is the only publicly owned franchise in the league.

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Why Broadcasting From the White House is Always A Bad Idea For News/Talk Radio

Perry Michael Simon
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Why Broadcasting From the White House is Always A Bad Idea For News/Talk Radio

By now, the problems with the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner — which took place, hostless, on Saturday — are pretty well known to the point of cliché.

The uncomfortable nature of journalists palling around with the politicians they cover, the B-list celebrities at every table (Tim Daly, Dean Norris, Kevin O’Leary), the reporters playing at being rich celebs while claiming not to be elitist… you get the idea (and the “Nerd Prom” sobriquet). You’ve heard it ad nauseam for years, they’re not going to stop doing it, and there’s nothing left to say other than that the WHCD has been supremely ineffective at the one thing they’re supposed to be good at, namely covering the White House and protecting their own members’ First Amendment rights.

When they start boycotting press conferences, let me know. And there are better and more ethical ways to raise money for whatever it is the WHCD does. (Scholarships and awards, it would appear.)

Meanwhile, a similarly uncomfortable journalism thing played out last week, namely, another round of talk radio shows broadcasting from a radio row at the White House. Stations and shows that participate in these things, like the sports stations populating the Super Bowl radio row, get very excited about it on the air and in social media. ‘Look at us,’ they’re saying. ‘We’re important! You’re getting the news straight from the horses’ mouths! Exciting!’

Exciting? For the hosts, maybe. For listeners, what you’re really saying is that you’re willing to hand your mic over to politicians to spout their propaganda. It doesn’t matter which party’s in power; all you’re gonna get from a radio row is what the interviewees want you to get, and nothing more. You’re being used, and I think a growing number of listeners know that.

Besides, you’re not going to get too many really important members of the administration; you might get a Nancy Mace or Howie Lutnick to overenthusiastically endorse everything that’s happening, but who, really, wants to hear from them? (Fun Fact: My college’s alumni Facebook group spends much of its time trashing Howie and demanding that his name be taken off the campus library, to which he donated a large sum. He doesn’t have too many defenders among his classmates.)

Sports radio rows are the same thing, only with sponsors. You might get some big names to stop by your card table booth and chat, but you’ll have to let them talk about their sponsor, first. “Baker Mayfield, welcome to the show; tell us about Advance Auto Parts!” At least those guys will go on to talk football between plugs. You ain’t getting nothin’ from politicians that hasn’t been vetted and planned out in advance.

It’s the same issue as the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. You’re getting chummy with people you’re supposed to be covering honestly, if not entirely impartially.

Are you willing and able to ask really, really tough questions when your subject isn’t just on the phone but is sitting right there next to you? Will you risk a subject storming away, upset by your probing, or do you want to become friends with them? Are you ready to be thrown out of the venue for doing your job, or are you “respectful” in a don’t-make-waves manner when you’re in a room full of interview subjects?

tl;dr version: Don’t do political radio rows, ever. Don’t do interviews to make friends and don’t socialize with the people you cover. Also, don’t go to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner even if your lifelong dream is to be in a room with the guy from “Wings.” No, not that guy, the other guy. Either guy. Just don’t.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Golf Lessons That Translate To Classic Rock

Mike Stern
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Golf Lessons That Translate To Classic Rock

I’m not a huge golf fan, but if you happened to tune in for the last day of the Masters, it did not disappoint. If you didn’t watch, Rory McIlroy won the prestigious tournament in dramatic fashion, missing an opportunity to win outright and having to compete in a sudden-death playoff.

The victory finally completed a rare career Grand Slam, meaning he has won all four major Golf Championships. A feat only five other players have accomplished.

Despite the exciting final round and playoff ending with the feel-good story, there has been some criticism of both McIlroy and the tournament. What makes that interesting for our world is that golf faces some of the same challenges as Classic Rock and Classic Hits stations.

According to an article on Front Office Sports, Golf has the oldest TV audience of any major sport at around 64 years old on average. As the PGA faces the challenge of trying to attract younger viewers, it also has new competition from LIV Golf, and the man who’s been the biggest draw for the last 30 years, Tiger Woods, is closing in on retiring.

Classic Rock and Hits stations have some of the oldest audiences of the major formats. We face new competition from streaming services and other digital outlets, and many of our top-drawing acts are close to, if not already, retired.

So, let’s take a couple of golf lessons.

Lesson One: Make Your Station Easy to Use

A post by Drew Lerner on Awful Announcing goes into incredible detail about how difficult it was for true golf fans to watch early round coverage of the sport’s most prestigious event. He points out that on the first day, viewers had to wait over seven hours after the first golfers teed off to get any cohesive coverage.

Lerner details how difficult it is to use the fragmented options available on various platforms, “for golf’s most prestigious tournament of the year, when the most eyeballs are on the sport, fans are left struggling to figure out how to actually follow the action.”

He says this impacts hardcore golf nuts but might be worse for casual fans, “How do we expect them to know how to navigate such a fragmented broadcast experience? It’s certainly no way to ‘grow the game.’”

Radio stations are often no better. When it comes to our biggest personalities, major contests, or important concerts, it’s important to reach potential listeners everywhere with a coherent, easy-to-follow message.

Too often, a station’s email newsletter, website and social media accounts offer conflicting or unclear messages. Never assume that everyone knows how your contest mechanics work or when a popular feature runs.

Being able to clearly, consistently, and concisely reiterate the compelling parts of your brand across all the available platforms – on-air, digital, and social – is the only way to be sure you are engaging as many hardcore fans and casual listeners as possible.

Lesson Two: Make Your People Accessible

In the Front Office Sports column mentioned above, writer Michael McCarthy talks about how golfers are the latest group of athletes to avoid questions from the press. After a horrible round on Thursday at the Masters, McIlroy blew off the media, going straight to the practice area without doing any interviews.

He’s not the first golfer to do this. The PGA does not require media appearances, so several golfers have taken the attitude that they don’t owe anyone, including the media, anything.

In the article, McCarthy quotes Eamon Lynch from the Golf Channel, who says that whether they had a good or a difficult day on the course, golfers who skip doing interviews are hurting themselves and the sport. “They ought to be their own marketers. They should look on that as customer service in a way.”

The idea of being a marketer for the radio station by interacting with listeners is powerful. I host a lot of focus groups where respondents proudly tell stories about meeting the station’s hosts and what it meant to them. It humanizes the radio station and builds loyalty in a way that top-of-the-hour keywords in a $1000 giveaway never will.

It’s important not to take this idea for granted. It’s possible they don’t understand the value of individual connections and how meeting just a few people every time the station is out can result in a meaningful impact on ratings.

Coach your personalities, as well as any part-time staff or interns, on how to approach listeners and why it matters. If they are uncomfortable, help by creating games or other activities they can do on site to help break the ice.

I realize that it’s a tough time with staffing cut to the bone at so many stations. That’s exactly why these two lessons are important. Building an internal system to create consistent, easy-to-follow messaging that appears across all your platforms to help people engage with the station will help offset the lack of staff.

With fewer people to send out on the street and, therefore, fewer chances to shake hands, maximizing every opportunity to meet the public is crucial.

Now let’s hope your ratings don’t end up under par.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Andie Summer’s Listener Connection Is Based In Trust

Jeff Lynn
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Andie Summer’s Listener Connection Is Based In Trust

For 25 years, Andie Summers has hosted mornings on Country 92.5 XTU in Philadelphia. Her show is also heard on Country 102.5 in Boston and 107.9 Coyote Country in Las Vegas.

Summers has won awards including CMA Major Market Personality of the Year, ACM for Major Market Station of the Year, and a Gracie Award.

Talking to Summers, you quickly get her love and gratitude for her listeners and how she credits them with her longevity.

“I’m probably the most unradio person in radio. I don’t know if that contributes to my longevity. I honestly don’t have a good answer for that. I’m one of those people who was taught to just keep my head down and get the work done. Work to be the hardest-working person in the building.”

“I have the utmost respect for my listeners. I started when I was in my mid-twenties at XTU. They raised me. I moved away from home. I would talk about things on the air. They were quick to point out mistakes I would make and quick also to pat me on the back and let me know that I was doing an okay job. I learned so much from their feedback that they shaped me into the person they wanted me to be.”

Summers works hard at maintaining that relationship of trust with her listeners.

“There’s never been anything more important to me than the people listening to what I’m saying. Because like I said, they’ve proven to me that they know the difference between right and wrong. They know how to keep me on the right track, and I trust them. It just goes both ways, then they trust that I won’t let them down. I work really hard on that too.”

Doing a morning show in three unique markets, I asked Summers where she finds commonality in connecting with listeners.

“The beauty of Country music is that the listenership is so similar. So, regardless of where you are from, how you were raised, what you do for a living, your social status, or any of that, it doesn’t matter.”

“If you’re tuning into Country radio, you want to hear the stories the artists tell you. There are people you admire, and they’re living up to your expectations. I feel like it’s less of a demographic and more of a psychographic.”

Summers believes that being vulnerable and sharing with her audience is essential.

“I think that’s probably one of the reasons that I’ve lasted as long as I have in Philadelphia and this business. I am never the smartest person in the room, and you are quick to realize that I am never the one with all the answers. I am nothing but vulnerable. I am the worst mom. I am the worst decision maker. I could use a lot of help to be a better wife, daughter, and friend. I think being vulnerable is essential.”

“They don’t want to tune in to hear someone’s perfect life. They see enough of that on social media because people are only posting all the wonderful things. They tune in to be able to relate, and what makes you relatable is your failures and learning from them, and helping each other up to move forward.”

So, how did Summers react when she was asked to expand the show to two other markets?

“It terrified me. I’m not one of those people who always aspired to be syndicated or where’s my next step? I remember in contract negotiations saying listen, don’t give me more money. Just make sure that I’m going to keep my job for the next three years until the next contract. So, I don’t have to worry about it again. I love what I do.”

What advice can Summers offer for maintaining a work-life balance?

“There is no balance. You can’t think of it as a balance because that’s never, ever going to happen; you’ll never be 50/50. It always has to be 100. It’s just like any relationship that you’re in.”

“My husband and I have been married for 20-something years. We always go 100%, and each person puts in 100%. That’s how it is with anything that you’re going to do. If you’re going to try to do it successfully, there is no balance between home and work. It’s just what works for you.”

Charitable causes are an important component of Summers’ life.

“I truly firmly believe that with great privilege comes great responsibility. I have the privilege of having a very loud microphone that speaks to millions. It would be a disservice if we didn’t use that for good. It is really important to our show that we are doing good for the community.”

“I have always said Mr. Rogers is the Patron Saint of the Andie Summers Show. I try to do everything that Mr. Rogers would do. If it’s helping in the community or helping out on nationwide causes, it is a little bit easier now because we have such a far reach. It’s absolutely vital.”

Summers makes sure to shout out her team as part of the show’s success.

“I want to give props to my team again. When I met Jeff Kurkjian a few years ago, I felt we were kindred spirits before he started working with me. He reminded me so much of myself. He was engaged at the time, and I’m super excited about getting married. He has an amazing work ethic and is a good human being. Just always trying to do the right thing.”

“Donnie (Black) is, I mean, you talk about being vulnerable on the air. He lost his mom last year. He was very open about sharing that. I think it becomes pretty cathartic for us.

“It’s almost therapeutic for us to talk about those things on the air, because we know that our listeners are going to be there for us, just like we are for them when they’re going through a hard time. He’s talked about some of his mental health issues. He suffers from anxiety. That takes a big person to be able to do that.”

“Shannon, our assistant producer, who we don’t hear as often on the air, but we could not make this show happen without all that she’s doing in the background. She is a tremendous person and an amazing talent in everything she does. She refuses to fail.”

“I’m incredibly lucky to work with all of them. And I couldn’t do it without them.”

So, who does Summers like right now in Country music?

“That’s a tough question because they come so fast, but I’ll say Jason Aldean never puts out a bad song. He is an absolute hitmaker. I’m always kind of in awe of him.” 

“I think probably I can give you artists more than I can give you specific songs. I love the crossover. I love what Post Malone is doing for Country.”

“I love that he has joined our family, and I truly believe that he has. I think that people who are on the outside might look and say, this guy is just trying to sell records. They’re just trying to become more famous, but that doesn’t work with Country music.”

“If you are not truly in it with the same mindset that all the other artists and the fans have, then you don’t make it. He has immersed himself in our world, and he fits.

“I love Shaboozey and the vibe that he brings. And then Zach Top, for as modern as he is, he is 100% ’90s Country. You can still hear so much of that.” 

“I love that there’s a place for all of it in our world.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

How Paul Allen Became the Radio Voice of the Minnesota Vikings

Derek Futterman
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How Paul Allen Became the Radio Voice of the Minnesota Vikings

During Paul Allen’s third year at KFAN, the Minnesota Vikings sought to take their product worldwide through the team website. Their flagship station (WCCO) though refused to place the feed through this forum. Because of the rejection, the team approached iHeartMedia and KFAN, a direct competitor to the outlet, and secured an arrangement for Vikings broadcasts to be disseminated through the web. Once radio executive Gregg Swedberg revealed the decision, he asked if anyone wanted to call play-by-play of the team’s games, an opportunity Allen received and seamlessly assimilated into his busy schedule.

When the team officially moved its game broadcasts to KFAN in 2001, Paul Allen contends that he was going to land the job, but the organization opted to hire Lee “Hacksaw” Hamilton instead. When Hamilton was fired during the preseason after remarks on his radio show, Allen thought he was going to secure the role again. This time though, Vikings owner Red McCombs stepped in and hired Terry Stembridge, the son of a friend. In the meantime, Allen stayed poised in his role. He maintained his professionalism despite being bypassed for the opening.

“I’m not a big talk behind the back of people-person,” Allen said. “There are a lot of people in this profession, including my office-place, who are like that. I’m not. I don’t like it – I don’t like the small talk or the misgivings that come with it – so therefore, looking back at ‘02, I did my radio show and Vikings Fan Line listening to a person I think that I can be better then, but never saying a negative word about it.”

The Vikings parted with Stembridge following the season, hiring Allen, rendering an implicit vote of confidence in his broadcasting abilities despite having never called professional football on the radio. On the contrary, he came in with a background of announcing horse races in the United States and presented a distinctive style on the airwaves.

“They both are crescendo-building jobs, and God made me for crescendo-building jobs,” Allen said. “So I took some of my racetrack calls, like when a horse would open up five lengths at the top of the stretch at Canterbury Park, I would say, ‘And he’s loose,’ and then I’m like, ‘Alright, what if I bring that to the NFL?’”

Finding His Voice Serving Skol to Vikings Fans

Within the first regular-season game Allen called as an NFL broadcaster, he witnessed the Vikings force a fumble against the rival Chicago Bears. As a result of jumping out of his seat as this unfolded, he caused some of the cords to be removed from the sockets and subsequently lost the audio feed for his microphone.

Doug Westerman, the program director of KFAN at the time, yelled over to the booth to speak, resulting in analyst Joe Senser briefly taking the reins. Allen became more comfortable in the booth broadcasting Vikings games and slowly became even more synonymous with the organization, one of which was the final play of the 2003 season.

“It was a game at Sun Devil Stadium against the Arizona Cardinals where Vikings current quarterbacks coach Josh McCown found Nathan Poole front-right of the end zone, and I described the play and then I screamed, ‘No, no! The Cardinals have knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs,'” said Allen. “That kind of blew up nationally a little bit, so then I was on more radars than I had been previously.”

Allen continued to gain confidence through more repetitions and honed his craft, and he has been the soundtrack for countless memorable moments with stars such as Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson and Randy Moss. In fact, he has become well known for his ability to meet the moment, articulating seminal occurrences resonating with listeners throughout the process. Allen contends that he has never scripted his calls and is grateful to have had the right crescendo and favorability from the audience over the years.

“I’m not really a nervous-going kind of individual,” Allen said. “I’m faith over fear 10 out of 10 times, so I think having that natural piece in my heart, I’m not scared of big moments. In fact, I prefer them, and I enjoy thriving in them, but we’ve had so many in the 20 some-odd years that I’ve done this that it’s just an honor to be right next to it and have some calls that people like forever.”

Balancing Being the Voice and the Host

In addition to calling Vikings games, Allen is also the host of the late-morning program on KFAN and has balanced both ventures for more than two decades. Part of the success therein comes from establishing mutually beneficial relationships with various stakeholders built off pillars of trust and authenticity. Allen knows how to properly approach difficult conversations surrounding the team, such as the Wild Card round playoff loss to the Minnesota Vikings where quarterback Sam Darnold was sacked nine times.

“I could scream into the microphone and say, ‘This sucks! This guy sucks! I can’t believe he has a contract. Who in the hell re-signed this guy?,’” Allen outlined. “That’s not me, okay? Now I eloquently have a different way of doing it that people seem to continue to come back to.”

Allen safeguards against fatigue by going to bed early, but he compensates by rising well before he takes the air and writing the remainder of the radio show. At the start of the week, he also begins compiling his depth charts for the next Vikings game where he will meticulously document new developments and roster changes for both teams. During the next day, he hosts his show live from the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center and also welcomes head coach Kevin O’Connell for an exclusive 30-minute interview. Furthermore, Allen speaks with him off the microphone to gain a feel for how the team is thinking about the upcoming contest.

“Then I’ll get out there two of the days – Wednesday, Thursday or Friday – and because they know they can trust me, I’ll get a chance to watch some practice, so therefore, if there are wild cards coming, I kind of know they’re coming because the media’s not permitted to watch practice, but I don’t call myself ‘media,’” Allen explained. I’m the announcer, so that helps a lot. Conversations with players and coaches that they know won’t go anywhere outside of me – that helps a lot.”

The information Allen receives off the airwaves can be equipped to help shape his opinion on the radio show, showing synergy between both of his responsibilities. There are times, however, when he feels the need to shut down potential rumors that have gained national steam or attention.

For example, there were some people who felt that quarterback Aaron Rodgers was going to become a member of the team, and Allen grew frustrated in what was being communicated. Because of this, he decided to probe for information himself, and he subsequently revealed that it was “highly unlikely” Rodgers would be the Vikings quarterback, instead pointing to J.J. McCarthy as the likely starter.

“Now when I do that, I’m facing the slings and arrows of the outrageous negatives, whether it’s those following me on the radio or Twitter or fellow media members who don’t think I have it right, but I don’t care because I know where I got it from,” Allen said. “I know when I dive into this game, which is infrequent, that it’s going to be unimpeachable, and it turns out it was.”

Embracing the Spotlight Solo on KFAN

Whereas Allen used to be paired with Jeff Dubay, he has been hosting the show solo for several years but does not feel comfortable simply writing bullet points and relying on his personality to carry the program. Shortly after Dubay left the station in 2008, Allen was informed that the program would be his, but he originally had no interest in this endeavor and did not want to put his name in the title. After his bosses calmed him down and increased his pay, Allen agreed to take part and felt that things improved when Vikings training camp began in August 2009 featuring quarterback Brett Favre on the roster.

“I don’t talk like a lot of Minnesotans,” Allen said. “I’m from Washington, D.C., and so therefore, there’s an approach to it that sounds different than a lot of what they’re used to, but it’s a sound and an approach that’s born of preparation, authenticity and somebody who recognizes, ‘You made the conscious choice to listen to me,’ and that’s not lost on me, okay? I’m not God’s gift to radio for you. You had to make the choice to listen to me, and that’s very, very important to me, and it always has been.”

Allen acknowledges that Minnesota is a “habit state” and possesses a simplicity that enables the audience to see through fake personalities. While there have been alterations to the sports media landscape over the years, KFAN has stayed relatively consistent with a local lineup of programs that has fostered trust and continues to appeal with the audience.

Over the course of the year, Allen maintains his productivity by managing his schedule and allocating time off as needed. The trust built with his bosses has allowed him to request vacation when needed, but he does not take time away unless he is tired or feels burned out. As Allen grows older, he recognizes that he needs more rest but enjoys all of his different roles and stays motivated to thrive. Allen does not view the calendar as a “vicious cycle,” but rather thinks about the honor in having an audience value his opinions and perspectives on the world of sports.

“Everybody knows I’m going to outwork most and I’m always going to be prepared,” Allen said. “All of my bosses, and I believe the audience, know that when I crack the microphone, that I’m giving everything I have – even if I’m tired, even if I’m discombobulated, even if I’m confused – that I’m going to do my very best to put on the best show that I can put on, and with that authenticity over a long period of time, people know it’s real, and they know I care about what they care about, their teams, and it’s genuine.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

The Interview: The Mike Broomhead Show, KTAR News 92.3

Garrett Searight
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The Interview: The Mike Broomhead Show, KTAR News 92.3

I’m always looking for interesting situations to cover in this space, and the midday show on KTAR News 92.3 — The Mike Broomhead Show — certainly delivered that.

Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon was scheduled to be in Phoenix on Friday, which is obviously a newsmaking event.

But Mike Broomhead was short on time. So was McMahon. So, there were only a few minutes to squeeze the Department Secretary onto the show to talk about her visit and what else is going on in one of the most-discussed departments since Donald Trump took office.

So, how did the KTAR News 92.3 host handle the situation? Let’s dive in to find out.

Being short on time, The Mike Broomhead Show didn’t waste any time. He introduced the guest, said thanks for coming on, before asking a short, simple, open-ended question: “What’s the purpose for the visit?”

That took all of 10 seconds. So, already off to a good start knowing that you’re short on time.

School-choice has been a hot topic, especially for conservatives, in recent years. Broomhead noted that Texas recently passed a school-choice bill for its public education system. He then asked McMahon why school choice is important and why it’s becoming more popular around the country.

Those are both good questions. But that’s double-barreling your questions, which is completely understandable when you know you’re pressed for time. When you ask two questions at once, though, your guest is always going to answer the question they’re most interested in answering, and maybe not even the question you asked. By asking two questions at once, you’re giving your guest — in this case a high-profile guest — an out-clause to talk about whatever interests them.

After McMahon’s answer, The Mike Broomhead Show host dug deeper by asking another well-worded question: “What is the vision that you have — and the President has — for education in America?”

It’s an important question to ask for your listeners. That’s a great way to get information — and important information — to your audience. Plus, a question like that isn’t likely to get a longwinded answer from your guest, which is important when you know you’re in a time crunch.

The next question, however, wasn’t as great, in my opinion. Broomhead shared that Mississippi has seen an uptick in its reading scores from it’s students by focusing on phonics and a back-to-basics approach. He then asked “Is that a part of what public schools should be doing: back-to-basics with basic learning in math and reading?”

First, it’s a close-ended question. At the end of the day, it is a yes or no question. Secondly, it’s a bit of a “No (expletive), Sherlock” question. No one is trying to make learning more difficult. That’s just not what is happening in public schools, and there’s a misconception that just because things aren’t taught the same way today that they were 40 years ago means it’s a dumb way to operate.

So, what is the Secretary of Education going to say in that moment? “Actually, we want this to be as difficult of an environment for kids to learn, because only the strong survive”? It’s a leading question, it’s a closed query, and it’s a bit hyperbolic, truthfully. Hyperbole is great when you’re giving a monologue. But when you ask a hyperbolic question in an interview, it generally doesn’t lead anywhere. I don’t think the topic got advanced or the audience learned much from a question like that.

That ended up being the final question to the Department of Education Secretary. The conversation lasted just under four minutes due to the tight timeline.

Ultimately, Broomhead was efficient. Getting that many questions in in such a short amount of time deserves a commendation. Because it’s not an easy thing to do. I think he set himself up well to get short answers from Secretary McMahon to maximize the information given to the audience.

I’m not going to get hung up on the last question, but I do think it’s a good learning tool for other interviewers. Everything has to be done with a purpose. Maybe the question had a purpose and the execution was just wrong, but being purposeful with your questions goes a long way in determining what is a good interview and what isn’t.

But, it’s clear Mike Broomhead went into the conversation with plan. It led to good answers for KTAR News 92.3 listeners, and when it’s all said and done, that’s what matters most, right?

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Tyrone Johnson Out At 97.5 The Fanatic

BSM Staff
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Tyrone Johnson Out At 97.5 The Fanatic

Tyrone Johnson is out at 97.5 The Fanatic, according to a post on his social media account. The co-host of The Best Show Ever? announced his departure after serving just under three years in afternoon drive on the radio station, following the departure of The Mike Missanelli Show in 2022.

Meanwhile, while Johnson’s tweet was short and to the point, the show’s webpage on The Fanatic has been removed, leading to speculation about what the next steps for the day part will be.

“It was a good run. I regret nothing,” tweeted Johnson.

The program launched in 2022 as a foursome between Johnson, Ricky Bottalico, Hunter Brody, and Jennifer Scordo. However, cuts at Beasley later led to Brody’s departure in 2023, and in 2024, Scordo left when she was also cut from the program. Notably, Brody has since landed at rival station 94WIP.

Johnson initially joined 97.5 The Fanatic in October of 2016 as a producer and eventually worked his way up to hosting afternoon drive on the radio station. He served as Missanelli’s producer until the end of his program on The Fanatic in May of 2022, after not coming to terms on a new contract.

Following Johnson’s tweet, several members of The Fanatic staff shared their thanks for their time with Johnson. Additionally, some shared their disappointment in the news of his departure.

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Jonathan Von Tobel Named New Co-Host on VSiN ‘Money Moves’

BSM Staff
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Jonathan Von Tobel Named New Co-Host on VSiN ‘Money Moves’

Money Moves is doubling down on hosts, as VSiN announced Jonathan Von Tobel will be the new full-time co-host of the program with Stormy Buonantony beginning on Monday. The announcement was made via social media by Buonantony, as the two-hour program on the network expands as a duo.

Furthermore, Buonantony said via social media that she’s excited about having a full-time host to join her on the show.

“It’s been amazing to work with so many creative/smart rotating hosts,” tweeted Buonantony. “I’ve really wanted a full-time teammate & am pumped to start this new iteration of the show w/ JVT!”

Buonantony joined VSiN in September of 2021 and, prior to her current role, worked on My Guys In The Desert and The Lombardi Line before being named host of Money Moves in September of 2024. She also works as a sideline reporter on ESPN, covering college football and the XFL.

Meanwhile, Von Tobel has been a co-host of VSiN PrimeTime along with Matt Youmans and Tim Murray, while also contributing to Live Bet Saturday on the network. He shared his excitement in joining Buonantony beginning Monday via X.

“Last PrimeTime for me today. I’ll be joining Stormy in the morning full-time starting on Monday,” Von Tobel said via X. “Looking forward to it! I think we are going to put together a very good show which our audience will enjoy.”

Notably, Von Tobel was the first on-air producer for VSiN and has been with the company since its inception in 2017, when he served as Brent Musburger’s producer on My Guys In The Desert. In addition, he is the creator and host of Hardwood Handicappers as well as weekend programs Live Bet Saturday, Live Bet Sunday, and College Lines Revealed.

Money Moves airs live from 12 p.m.–2 p.m. Eastern Time from Las Vegas on VSiN.

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Prime Video Announces Release Date for ‘Earnhardt’ Documentary Series

BSM Staff
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Prime Video Announces Release Date for ‘Earnhardt’ Documentary Series

Prime Video announced Wednesday that the first two episodes of Earnhardt, a thrilling four-part documentary series chronicling the legacy of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, will premiere May 22. The release comes just three days before Prime Video’s first-ever presentation of a NASCAR Cup Series race—the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The final two episodes of the highly anticipated docuseries will follow a week later on May 29. In addition, Prime Video unveiled the official trailer and key art, offering a glimpse into a multi-generational story of sacrifice, hardship, and competitive drive within one of NASCAR’s most storied families.

Produced by the award-winning team at Imagine Documentaries and acclaimed filmmakers Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin, Earnhardt is directed by Joshua Altman and will stream exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. The series is the latest addition to the growing suite of benefits included with a Prime membership, which offers customers savings, convenience, and entertainment in one package.

Dale Earnhardt, often hailed as a charismatic, working-class hero, remains one of the most influential figures in the history of stock car racing. Known as “The Intimidator,” Earnhardt spent nearly two decades dominating the NASCAR circuit, transforming the sport from a regional pastime into a national phenomenon. Behind the wheel of the iconic black No. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolet, he amassed 76 race wins and tied a record with seven NASCAR Cup Series championships over a trailblazing 26-year career.

The docuseries surrounds racing more than a profession for Earnhardt—it was a family legacy. He idolized his father Ralph, a respected competitor on the early NASCAR circuit. In turn, his children, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., embraced the family’s calling, with Junior himself rising to become one of the sport’s most beloved and recognizable stars. The series delves deeply into how racing both united and tested the Earnhardt family through soaring triumphs and heartbreaking losses.

Featuring rare archival footage, pulse-pounding race highlights, and intimate interviews with family members, rivals, and friends, Earnhardt offers a definitive and emotionally resonant portrait of a true American icon—both on and off the track.

The docuseries is produced by Imagine Documentaries, Everyone Else, and NASCAR Studios in association with Dirty Mo Media. Executive producers include Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Sara Bernstein, Christopher St. John, and Justin Wilkes of Imagine Documentaries; Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin of Everyone Else; and Tim Clark and John Dahl of NASCAR Studios.

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