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New Media Seminar VI
Draws 600 to NYC

Sellout crowd breaks attendance record as cross-section of talk industry movers tackle the hottest issues in a fertile networking environment

Theater marquee listing such extravaganzas as the Matrix and the New Media Seminar.

The sixth annual installment of the TALKERS magazine New Media Seminar was a huge success as some 600 talk media professionals converged on New York City to network, discuss the pressing issues affecting the business and relax with friends, old and new. This year’s location for the seminar at the Embassy Suites in Battery Park City was important from several perspectives, not the least of which was its proximity to Ground Zero.

On Friday afternoon, John Mainelli, president of Mainelli Consulting (and New York Post media critic), led over 40 conference attendees on a walking tour of Battery Park City including Ground Zero. Many remarked how, 20 months after 9/11, it is still stirring to stand in the area that used to be cast with the shadows of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and to look at the place where so many Americans perished.

Consultant John Mainelli is shown posing with a group of New Media Seminar attendees as they gathered in the lobby of the Embassy Suites hotel for his walking tour of Ground Zero and Battery Park City. Some 40 people took the tour.

The Friday evening cocktail reception got off to a bang thanks to the remarks of official greeter Jim Bohannon of Westwood One. Bohannon’s speech was followed by the inspiring rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” sung by EMI recording artist and New York City police officer, Daniel Rodriguez. He sang powerfully as hundreds of talk radio professionals faced the flag and covered their hearts, many joining Rodriguez in song.

EMI recording artist and New York City police officer, Daniel Rodriguez, singing an inspiring rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner."

On Saturday, after a delicious breakfast in the hotel’s conference center, attendees filled one of the adjoining, state-of-the-art stadium-style theaters for the first presentation of the day, The Morning Meeting. It began with seminar Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Joy Browne of WOR Radio, addressing the standing room-only crowd.

New Media Seminar master of ceremonies, Dr. Joy Browne is shown holding a bouquet of roses presented to her at the conclusion of the fine job she did at the day’s events.

Next, Eric “Mancow” Muller of Emmis’ WKQX-FM, Chicago delivered a pointed talk detailing the complexities and difficulties in executing talk radio geared toward young men. He noted that the line over which one cannot cross without incurring fines from the FCC is gray and ever-changing.

Sabo Media president, Walter Sabo, utilized the superb technological capabilites of the theater to execute a PowerPoint presentation that had a jaw-dropping effect on the crowd. Sabo’s brief but powerful program highlighted the value of talk radio as an advertising vehicle and as a medium with the potential for unlimited creativity. He also drove home the message that talk radio can connect with people on an unequalled level of intimacy.

Click here to hear the Morning Meeting

TALKERS magazine publisher, Michael Harrison, moderated the first panel of the seminar entitled, “The State of the Talk Radio Business, 2003.” Panelists included, in alphabetical order, Jay Clark, vice president/entertainment/information programming and operations, Sirius Satellite Radio; Holland Cooke, talk radio specialist, McVay Media; Mike Gallagher, syndicated host, Salem Radio Networks; Steve Goldstein, executive vice president/group program director, Saga Communications; David Hall, vice president of programming, Premiere Radio Networks; Mike Horn, CEO/president, CRN Radio Network; John Mainelli, president, Mainelli Consulting; media critic, New York Post; Mark Masters, CEO, Talk Radio Network; John McConnell, vice president of programming, ABC Radio Networks; Doug Stephan, president, Stephan Productions.

Click here to hear the State of Talk Radio: 2003

Steven J.J. Weisman, Esq., executive director of iLawAmerica, explained, ”What You Need to Know About Libel Law and FCC Indecency Regulations” discussing accounts of the most recent fines levied by the FCC and decisions handed down by the courts.

Click here to hear about Libel law and FCC Indecency Regulations

Bobby Likis of Bobby Likis Car Clinic was one of the colorful personalities who broadcasted their shows live from the New Media Seminar.

WABC, New York program director, Phil Boyce, moderated “The Nuts and Bolts of Being a Radio Talk Show Host” panel. Panelists included: Glenn Beck, Premiere Radio Networks; Jim Bohannon, Westwood One; Howie Carr, Superadio Networks; Ken Hamblin, American View Networks; Mike Malloy, i.e. America Radio Network; Mary Mason, WHAT, Philadelphia; Michael Medved, Salem Radio Network; McGraw Milhaven, KMOX, St. Louis; Russ Rollins; WTKS-FM, Orlando.

Nine leading talk personalities participated in the panel, “The Nuts and Bolts of Being a Radio Talk Show Host” moderated by WABC, New York program director, Phil Boyce.

Click here to hear the Nuts and Bolts of Being A Radio Talk Show Host

Conference-goers returned to the Hudson Ballroom for the Freedom of Speech Luncheon at which Blanquita Cullum, president and founder of the Young American Broadcasters and Nicole Crowley, director of the YAB, presented the scholarship awards handed out annually outstanding college talk broadcasters. This year’s first place prize went to T.J. Taormina of Fairleigh-Dickenson College. The runner up awards went to Clay Stimeling of Marshall University and Katherine Seeling of Fordham University.

FM talker John O’Brien of Rock 102, Springfield, Massachusetts is shown sitting on the edge of his seat during Mancow’s presentation on young male oriented talk radio

Back in the theater, the Freedom of Speech Awards Ceremony was soon underway. After a few words about the courage and fortitude of his late mother, Judy Jarvis, by Jason Jarvis, Focus Communications CEO, Carole Marks delivered an inspiring speech on the nature of the talk radio business today, especially as it relates to women, before presenting Ellen Ratner, Talk Radio News Service Bureau Chief, with the Judy Jarvis Memorial Award for oustanding woman broadcaster of the year.
Westwood One’s G. Gordon Liddy, a past Freedom of Speech recipient, then spoke about the importance of the First Amendment and his struggles in the courts to maintain the ability to speak his mind.
Blanquita Cullum, president of the National Association of Talk Show Hosts presented this year’s Freedom of Speech Award to Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes of Fox News Channel’s “Hannity & Colmes.” Sean Hannity, who arrived at the New Media Seminar earlier in the day, became ill and was forced to leave before the award presentation. Alan Colmes accepted the award with a speech that underscored the importance of airing multiple points of view, allowing debate and discourse on points of public policy and the struggles that he, as a liberal, faces in a medium that tilts toward the conservative point of view.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH CEREMONY SPEAKERS. Pictured (l-r); Alan Colmes, Fox News; G. Gordon Liddy, Westwood One; Michael Harrison, TALKERS magazine; and Sean Hannity Fox News/ABC Radio Networks. Hannity & Colmes were this year’s recipients of the prestigious award. G. Gordon Liddy, a former award-recipient, delivered an address at the ceremony.

Click here to hear the Freedom of Speech Award Speech

Ken and Daria Dolan sponsored a special presentation called, “Dessert with the Dolans.” The popular WOR Network duo delivered a sobering financial perspective on the status of the broadcaster in today’s talk radio workplace.

Click here to hear Dessert with the Dolans

The Keynote Address was given by Clear Channel Radio vice president of news/talk. sports, Gabe Hobbs. Hobbs’ speech, entitled “Talk Radio Today and Tomorrow,” stressed the need to adapt to the changing world of corporate radio as necessary for success. He stated that those broadcasters who are stuck in the past or fail to utilize the new technology to become better talk radio hosts, programmers and managers will be left behind.

Gabe Hobbs, vice president of programming, news/talk/sports, Clear Channel Radio, delivering the New Media Seminar keynote address.

Click here to hear Gabe Hobbs

Three of New York City’s most popular urban talk hosts gave a lively presentation on their approach to talk geared to the African-American community on WRKS-FM. Bob Slade, James Mtume and Bob Pickett host two weekend programs on New York’s “KISS- FM,” the leading urban music station. They chronicled how their program is number one in it’s time slot yet the corporate radio world is still largely blind to the potential urban talk radio has to offer the industry and the public.

Click here to hear the Urban Talk Radio panel

Talk radio consultant Greg Moceri, president of Moceri Media, moderated the “View from the Bridge: Program Directors and Operations Managers Discuss Talk Radio” panel. The panel included: David Bernstein, OM/PD WPRO, Providence; Tom Bigby, OM/PD, WIP, Philadelphia; Greg Foster, PD, WGY, Albany; Bill Hess, OM/PD, WHJJ, Providence; Jeff Hillery, PD, KLIF, Dallas; Jim Horn, PD, WSBA, York; John McDermott, PD, WLIE, Long Island; Joe O’ Brien, PD, KSTP, Minneapolis/St. Paul; Lincoln Ware, OM, WDBZ, Cincinnati; Carl Wiglesworth, OM/PD, KTSA, San Antonio. Moceri deftly took the panelists through the issues that affect modern talk programmers including developing new talent, creating innovative programming and dealing with the contemporary corporate structure of radio.

Click here to hear the View from the Bridge

Finally, a group of some of the industry’s best talk radio hosts took the stage to go head-to-head in “The Talk Rumble.” Moderator (and referee!) Blanquita Cullum threw some of the most controversial and juicy current events items at the panel which included: Jeff Katz, WPHT, Philadelphia; Les Kinsolving, WCBM, Baltimore; Lionel, WOR Radio Network; Alan Nathan, Radio America; Rob Redding, WAOK, Atlanta; Jack Riccardi, KTSA, San Antonio; Nancy Skinner, Stephan Productions; Alan Stock, KXNT, Las Vegas; Ed Tyll, WLIE, Long Island; and Dan Yorke, WPRO, Providence. The hosts jawed, quipped and postured their way through the litany of topics, all the while risking being tossed in the “penalty box” for not answering quickly enough! It was great fun.

Click here to hear the Talk Rumble

The seminar attendees then gathered for the Farewell Bash in the conference center for appetizers and cocktails recounting their favorite moments of the weekend, meeting new industry friends and spending time with old ones before saying goodbye and making plans to meet at the next New Media Seminar.

See the forthcoming June issue of TALKERS magazine for more detailed coverage of the New Media Seminar.

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