Yesterday’s (10/30) Top News/Talk Media Stories
The presidential race remained dominant on top of the stories list yesterday (10/30) as Election Day rapidly approaches. Conversation included a continuing rehashing of last Sunday’s controversial MAGA rally at MSG with a huge focus on the comments/fallout from the Puerto Rican community and President Joe Biden‘s controversial remark about former President Donald Trump‘s supporters being “garbage.” VP Kamala Harris‘s speech in DC, continued to be among the most-talked-about election stories in news/talk media yesterday (10/30). Other top issues of discussion included the economy, media bias, rising tensions in the Middle East and Central Europe, the migrant crisis, and the World Series according to ongoing TALKERS research.
Media analyst, broadcaster, and trade journal publisher Michael Harrison appeared on the popular Jeff Katz afternoon drive show on WRVA, Richmond yesterday (10/29) to discuss comments he made earlier in TALKERS about the historic significance of former President Donald Trump‘s recent three-hour guest spot on the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast. To listen to the fascinating discussion, please 
Proving There’s More to Life in America this Week than Just Presidential Politics. Pictured above is Salem Radio Networks (SRN) East Coast affiliate relations manager Jim Bligh – a frequent “player” in NYC-based skits on “Saturday Night Live“ in addition to appearing in theatrical feature films – joined NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” on Tuesday 10/29). Fallon and Grammy-winning guest Olivia Rodrigo played “What’s Behind Me?”…a charade style game with Fallon describing action happening as her back was turned. Blight – far right – acted out a scene of Three Mobsters doing Yoga at a Barnes & Noble. See Bligh’s skit by 
This fifth installment in 
“When iHeartMedia New York partnered with the New York Road Runners (NYRR) to produce this inaugural radio broadcast of the marathon, it was a no-brainer to put Len at the helm of the broadcast,” said Tom Cuddy, program director for 710 WOR. “His association with New York sports, during his more than 50-year television career, and his ‘second life’ as co-host of the WOR morning show since 2015, ensure that Len will make this a can’t-miss broadcast.” “I’m honored to be hosting WOR’s maiden voyage with the TCS New York City Marathon,” said Berman. “I’ve hosted TV coverage of the event many times and it’s consistently one of the best days of the year in the city. We look forward to conveying that same message to our listeners.”
“I have been blessed to call WGN Radio home for the past three decades,” Manfredini tells TALKERS. “But in the end, it’s all about our listeners. I’m excited to continue to help them better understand how their homes work, show them they can have fun, and, of course, remind them to never hold a nail for someone else.” The Chicagoland native will be celebrating his 30th anniversary on WGN Radio in 2025. Mr. Manfredini first appeared on the station as a guest on the Bob Collins Show in 1995 following a letter writing campaign to pitch a call-in home improvement show on WGN.
“We are delighted that Lou will be with us for his 30th year and beyond,” said WGN Radio VP/GM Mary Sandberg Boyle. “In the nearly 30 years since first appearing on WGN Radio, Lou’s presence across the media world has evolved considerably. Yet, what truly sets him apart is his natural gift of connecting to and interacting with our listeners in the special way that only radio does. Making those listener ‘connections’ has historically been – and will continue to be – the very fabric of WGN 720.” Manfredini can also be heard on weekday segments with John Williams (Mondays), Lisa Dent (Thursdays) and Bob Sirott (Fridays). 
It will be carried by LibertyNewsRadio.com or video stream at TheBigMigShow on Rumble. For additional information or press inquiries, please contact Sam Bushman at 801-756-9133 or LibertyRoundTable@gmail.com.
One day last winter, Alison Stewart, the host of “All of It” on public station WNYC, New York was alarmed to find herself speaking gibberish. 
Music Group Gunhill Road Putting Final Touches on Talk Radio Anthem. Gunhill Road, the perennial pop music ensemble that has attracted hundreds of thousands of worldwide followers with its growing repertoire of issue-oriented songs and music videos, is currently in post-production with an anthem celebrating talk radio. Titled “Don’t Stop Talkin’” – the song is an uplifting and infectiously catchy tune about the vital role talk radio plays in serving the cause of American freedom of speech. With lines that include “As long as you’ve got a voice, don’t ever stop!” and “As long as you’ve got the truth, don’t ever stop!” the original composition co-written by band members Steve Goldrich, Paul Reisch, Brian Koonin, and Michael Harrison encourages talk radio practitioners to keep up the good work and great service they provide the nation.TALKERS Heavy Hundred syndicated host Dr. Daliah Wachs pictured above bopping to the music in a scene from the forthcoming video “Don’t Stop Talkin'” by Gunhill Road.
If a shark doesn’t swim, it dies. Radio is just fine, thank you, but it’s not swimming. Water, check. Tank, check, Sharks, check. Swimming to the next meal, nope. For the past 10 years at least, the radio show in every city is stuck in place and that sound in the distance that wakes you up at night is a death rattle.
Ideology and, as Michael Harrison calls it, “the daily dance of affirmation” aside – perhaps there’s something to be said about booking “opposition” political luminaries as guests on our industry’s highly “targeted” venues. FOX News Channel’s (FNC) “Special Report with Bret Baier” delivered 7.8 million viewers and 1,126,000 in the 25-54 demo during anchor Bret Baier’s exclusive interview with VP Kamala Harris from 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm ET this past Wednesday (10/6), according to Nielsen Media Research. The interview marked the highest rating of the Harris-Trump political season, outrating Harris’s individual appearances on “60 Minutes,” “The View,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” CNN and MSNBC. For the full 6:00 pm ET hour, “Special Report” drew 6.7 million viewers and 901,000 in the 25-54 demo. Combined with the show’s midnight airing 12:00 midnight -12:30 am ET, the interview with VP Harris nabbed 9.2 million viewers and 1.4 million in the 25-54 demo, beating ABC’s interview with President Joe Biden before he dropped out of the race (8.5 million viewers). 
95.5 WSB, Atlanta (and nationally syndicated) TALKERS Heavy Hundred star, Erick Erickson is giving both sides an airing today (10/18) in his midday show that he’s broadcasting from the parlor in the Texas Governor’s Mansion (see pic at left) before UGA battles University of Texas tomorrow. He tells TALKERS, he’ll have on both Governors Gregg Abbott (R-TX) and Brian Kemp (R-GA) to talk about the border, the election, and football.
Andrea Mitchell to Receive Prestigious Award. Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) has announced that Andrea Mitchell, NBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent and chief Washington correspondent, will be honored with the prestigious Gracies Icon Award at the 2024 
Radio One Charlotte, in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, is presenting an all-day radiothon today (10/17) to support those affected by Hurricane Helene. This event is taking place from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm across Radio One Charlotte stations: WOSF, WFNZ, WLNK, WPZS, WOSF-HD2 and heritage news/talk WBT. Marsha Landess, Radio One Charlotte regional VP, tells TALKERS, “We are focusing the power of our six radio stations to help raise funds for the relief efforts for our neighbors in the western part of our state. We know their lives have been turned upside down, and we want to do our part to assist them in rebuilding and recovering. Our goal is to raise a substantial amount to help them begin to put their lives back together. Every dollar counts, whether large or small.” Kay Carter, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, adds, “Everyone at Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina is so grateful to Radio One for all their efforts to assist us as we work to help the many victims of Hurricane Helene. The needs are great, and we want to thank all the radio stations and their listeners for considering a donation to the Radiothon. We promise to use the donations wisely to provide food and other supplies throughout the affected areas.”
Even as its stations were airing hundreds of hours of continuous live news and storm coverage during hurricanes Helene and Milton, Cox Media Group (CMG) was raising nearly $1 million and providing food, water and necessities for impacted people and communities. That includes taking mobile charging stations into communities for people to charge their phones and other devices. Hurricane relief efforts took place across CMG’s southeast TV and Radio stations. “These efforts by our CMG family highlight the indispensable role of our stations – and our entire broadcasting industry – as we work together to make a powerful and positive impact on the communities we live in and serve,” said Dan York, CMG’s president/CEO. “As importantly, none of this would have been possible without the incredible support from our local partners and audiences. The response of our viewers and listeners has been nothing short of remarkable.” CMG radio stations include news/talker WDBO 107.3 / AM 580 in Orlando.
Premiere Networks personality Clay Travis co-hosted “The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show” live from affiliate News Radio 570 WWNC in Asheville, NC (10/11). Travis toured the area via helicopter to witness the extensive damage from Hurricane Helene in an effort to continue raising awareness, funds and volunteers for hurricane relief that will be needed for months to come. During the visit, WWNC morning host/news director Mark Starling joined the broadcast for a powerful conversation about the devastation the community has experienced. He detailed how the station covered Hurricane Helene, providing vital information to the Asheville community including coordinating rescue efforts and reuniting families. Starling, who stayed at the station for 14 days straight during the hurricane, said: “…when TV couldn’t do it, the newspaper couldn’t do it, there was nothing online, the only thing left was AM/FM radio. All seven stations stayed on the air simulcasted… we were wall-to-wall…what we wanted to do here at the radio station, at iHeart Asheville, was we wanted to show the community that we can get through this. And we’ve been kind of repeating this line: ‘community is the answer to this crisis.’ …what we have seen is the absolute best in humanity in an absolute horrific, horrific time.” Listen to their full conversation 
“The CloakRoom with Former Senator Doug Jones” will air live tomorrow from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm ET on channel 127. According to company sources, with just a few weeks remaining before the November 5 elections, Senator Jones will engage with Progress listeners, taking calls to discuss the pressing news stories of the day. He’ll also leverage his personal political experience to analyze the key senatorial races, as well as the presidential election. In addition, the former senator will be joined by Julie Chavez Rodriguez, VP Kamala Harris’s campaign manager, as well as a surprise guest. “The stakes in this election could not be any higher,” Jones tells TALKERS. “I can’t think of a better way to talk directly with voters nationwide and have real conversations about the issues at the top of their minds as we head into Election Day. As a regular guest on SiriusXM’s Progress channel, I know they have a passionate audience with a lot of important, fresh subjects to discuss, so this should be a lot of fun.” The show will have its first run live during the usual time slot of “The Dean Obeidallah Show.” 
The special will also replay multiple times throughout the week and will be available anytime on demand on the SiriusXM app. Progress is SiriusXM’s channel dedicated to amplifying progressive viewpoints. The channel features a wide range of voices including Zerlina Maxwell, Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann, Michelangelo Signorile, Dean Obeidallah, John Fugelsang, and more. Photo by Joy Asico-Smith / AP for SiriusXM.
The 22nd annual Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon benefitting McLeod Children’s Hospital was recently held in Florence, SC. During the Radiothon, Community Broadcasters’ stations WWKT 99.3 The Cat, (news/talker) WFRK Live 95.3, WPDT Almighty 105.1 and WSIM 93.7 Frank FM hosted live broadcasts from McLeod Children’s Hospital. Pictured above: former SC Lt. Gov. Ken Ard and station VP operations Dave Baker (r) during broadcast on news/talk Live 95. “As always, at Community Broadcasters, we are always doing our best to live up to our name, and stand for the communities that we broadcast in,” company VP Wayne Mulling tells TALKERS. “And we are proud of what we have been able to do in hosting the Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon each year to raise funds for McLeod Children’s Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network. We are humbled by the amount of people that have been helped directly through the years by these organizations, and glad to play a small part in keeping this active and ongoing to continue to help others every year. We invite you to be a part as well.” DJs and talk show hosts asked listeners for donations in support of the programs and technology that McLeod offers to families in the Pee Dee. Listeners also had the opportunity to hear real stories from those who have benefited directly from the McLeod Children’s Hospital, in addition to interviews with doctors, nurses and employees who all share the same passion. “What an exciting Radiothon we had this year raising more than $127,000 for the McLeod Children’s Hospital!” says Davis Sawyer, Children’s Hospital fund manager. “The hard work and dedication from all involved truly make a difference in the lives of the children treated in McLeod Children’s Hospital. I value the partnership and friendship we have with Community Broadcasters and look forward to growing this partnership as we continue to impact the children we serve.” There was also a live auction throughout the week, with some bids surpassing $500. Auction items were donated from collegiate and professional sports teams, nationally known musicians and local businesses. At the conclusion of the Radiothon, this year’s donations equaled $127,098. All donations will remain here in the Florence area to help fund life-saving McLeod programs, and purchase new technology to better serve the Pee Dee families. To learn more about the annual Radiothon, check out this year’s sponsors, or make a donation, visit 
