Tag: "Van Harden"

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Family Sues Cox Media Group for Illegal Use of Son’s Photo.  Nashville-area couple Bernard and Pamela Holland are suing Cox Media Group for WHPT, Tampa’s use of a photo of their son Adam – who has Down Syndrome – as part of the artwork for a feature called “Retarded News.”  Here’s the back story:  The photo of Adam Holland was taken in 2004 and posted by an art teacher – apparently legitimately – showing Adam holding up a drawing he’d made.  The photo was used by WHPT and altered so the paper Adam is holding reads “Retarded News.”  The Holland family learned about the image in 2012 and contacted the station.  At that time, program director Michael Sharkey explained the bit was not about making fun of handicapped people but about stupid things people do.  He apologized to the family and the photo’s use was discontinued.  Now, the family is suing Cox, Oswego, New York-based Sign Generator (which also used the image) and a Minnesota man who’s also posted the image on his Flickr account and made derogatory comments about Adam.  According to Courthouse News Service, the family “is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for invasion of privacy, misappropriation of likeness, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violations of the Tennessee Personal Rights Protection Act, and wants to stop the publication and distribution of the photos.”  TALKERS magazine’s legal department says this is a case where it’s expected that those being sued will wish to settle.  The issue of copyright is only relative to the person who took and posted the photo (the teacher or school).  The issue that should concern the company is either intentional or reckless infliction of emotional distress.  Harrison Strategies senior partner, attorney Matthew B. Harrison, states, “It’s going to be difficult for the station or company to claim they didn’t know what they were doing was wrong.  They can’t claim it was an accident so unless they want to go to court to try to show there was no emotional distress suffered by the family, they’re going to want to settle this.  It’s an example of an all-too-common practice of businesses using the multitude of images out there on the internet, a) without permission and, b) without looking ahead to some very possible consequences that could lead to legal troubles.”

CBS Radio Names Bob Socci New England Patriots Play-By-Play- Announcer.  Replacing the legendary Gil Santos was going to be a tough chore for CBS Radio’s WBZ-FM, Boston “98.5 The Sports Hub” – flagship for the Patriots Radio Network.  Santos retired after the 2012 season after 36 years calling Patriots football games.  Now, the station announces that play-by-play pro Bob Socci will join color man Scott Zolak in the booth beginning this season.  CBS Radio Boston vice president of programming Mike Thomas states, “Bob has more than 16 years of play-by-play experience.  We were impressed with his extensive work and expertise calling various football and baseball games and he’s a local guy with great knowledge of the Patriots.  No doubt, Bob has big shoes to fill, but we are excited about this new era of play-by-play with Bob and Scott.”  Socci’s play-by-play experience includes coverage of the U.S. Naval Academy football team.  He is also the lead announcer for CBS Sports Network‘s coverage of Patriot League college basketball.

Dave Ramsey Continues Spring Tour.  Nationally syndicated money talk superstar and best-selling author Dave Ramsey continues rolling across the country producing live events.  He’s pictured here with Clear Channel’s WHO, Des Moines “NewsRadio” staff that includes general sales manager Mary Grieg (2^nd row on the right) and morning show host Bonnie Lucas (3^rd row on the right) along with the rest of the WHO sales staff.  Ramsey was in Des Moines to present his intimate “Building Your Legacy Live Event” to a sold-out crowd.  The program discusses how to win with money, strengthen marriages and lead your children with confidence.  His daughter, Rachel Cruze, joined Ramsey on stage.  Ramsey worked with local affiliate WHO to promote the event.  WHO program director Van Harden says, “At WHO Radio, we are incredibly excited about Dave Ramsey coming to Des Moines for his Living a Legacy live event.  We’ve always known that Iowa is ‘Ramsey Country,’ but we found out again when we offered these tickets for sale and Dave had one of his fastest sell-outs ever.  This is the kind of radio that really hits home and we’re glad to have it on WHO.”  Ramsey was also in Austin this week on Tuesday where he hosted his “EntreLeadership 1 Day Event” before a record crowd at Riverbend Centre.  Ramsey, along with speaker Chris Hogan, spoke to more 1,300 attendees about how to run a business using the same common sense principles that Ramsey practices in his own company of more than 300 team members.  Local affiliate KJCE vice president and market manager Alan Kirshborn states, “We always look forward to welcoming Dave Ramsey and his team for an event in Austin.  In Chapter 13 of EntreLeadership, Dave describes three things successful people never skip.  In my opinion this event should be added to the list!”

Lee Cruse to Take Over Midday Show on WVLK-AM, Lexington.  WLEX-TV, Lexington, Kentucky morning and noon newscaster Lee Cruse will become the 10:00 am to 12:00 noon talk show host on Cumulus Media’s WVLK-AM beginning May 1, replacing the retiring Sue Wylie.  Cruse previously hosted a talk show at Clear Channel’s crosstown WLAP but that program ended as a result of budget cuts.  Cruse tells the Lexington Herald-Leader his show will be a bit lighter than Wylie’s.  “I’m looking for more light and fun.  It won’t mean we won’t talk about things like Boston and other things happening here in our community, but I’m always looking for the laugh.  Always.”

WJZ-FM, Baltimore Morning Host Ed Norris Hospitalized After Motorcycle Accident.  Morning drive co-host Ed Norris – one half of the Norris & Davis program on CBS Radio’s sports talk “105.7 The Fan” – is still hospitalized after an accident in northern Harford County, Maryland.  According to the Baltimore Sun, Norris was riding his motorcycle and swerved to avoid a truck and had to lay down his bike.  The paper reports his injuries are not life threatening and one report indicates he may have a broken arm.

NFL’s 2013 Draft Draws Sports Talk Radio to NYC.  The biggest off-season activity in the NFL’s yearly schedule takes place beginning tonight at Radio City Music Hall in New York and the sports radio networks are covering it in full force.  Fox Sports Radio will air its first-ever, two-night draft event, sponsored by Bridgestone.  Fox NFL Insider Jay Glazer will lead the first-round coverage on Thursday joined by former USC Trojan and Fox Sports Radio host Petros Papadakis and current NFL linebacker and Fox Sports Radio host Kirk Morrison.  The second and third rounds of the draft will be covered by Jason Smith and Morrison.  NBC Sports Radio’s Jon Stashower will broadcast his weeknight talk show from the venue tonight for the first round of the draft.  The program airs from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm and will feature special guests including fellow NBC Sports Radio colleague and former New York Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer.  And as TALKERS reported earlier in the week, ESPN Radio’s Mike Hill and Mark Schlereth will broadcast from the draft and will feature the additional analysis of ESPN’s John Clayton and Mel Kiper, Jr.

‘Coast to Coast AM’ Host George Noory Participates in Space Day.  The Premiere Networks nationally syndicated talk host is pictured here at Jefferson Elementary School in Riverside, California speaking with a student during “Space Day” activities at the school.  George Noory was the keynote speaker at the 15th annual Space Day event at Jefferson Elementary School sponsored by Lockheed Martin.  The event drew nearly 1,600 students from four local elementary schools who spent the day learning how environmental scientists and aeronautical engineers use science and math to explore space and protect the environment.  The students also experienced and participated in more than 50 hands-on activity stations with space exploration and environmental related themes.  Noory presented an inspiring and engaging presentation to students on the importance of learning math, science and technology, as well as always being curious so they could become life-long learners.  He challenged the youngsters — who ranged from second to sixth graders and were already well accustomed to using Facebook, Instagram and smartphone technology — to ask questions, seek answers and find their own truths.

Alliance for Women in Media Lobbies Obama Administration on FCC Chairman Issue.  The Alliance for Women in Media is letting the Obama Administration know it is concerned about diversity and inclusion relative to the broadcasting industry and wants the White House to take that into consideration when it nominates a new FCC chairman to replace outgoing chairman Julius Genachowski.  The organization’s president Erin Fuller says, “The Alliance for Women in Media has been encouraged by the past appointments of commissioners that share our priorities of diversity and inclusion.  We eagerly await the FCC to reach full composition, and stand ready to assist in areas including research, public education and promoting the role of all forms of media in our society.”   The AWM says it “strongly believes the FCC needs leaders committed to reversing the extraordinarily low representation of minorities and women in media and telecom ownership, procurement and employment, yet the representation of women and minorities remains disproportionately low in industries overseen by the FCC.  These industries collectively represent one-sixth of our nation’s economy.”  The letter to the White House notes that “minority and women’s participation in broadcast ownership are particularly at risk, as they continue to decline rapidly.  As the nation becomes increasingly diverse, the signers of this letter encourage our president to address these issues by nominating leaders who will assign the highest priority to racial and ethnic minority and women’s participation in the nation’s most influential industries.”

Boston Marathon Bombing Aftermath, Immigration Reform, Sequester Effects/Airline Delays, Gun Control Legislation, and Bush Presidential Library Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (4/24).  The ongoing post-bombing analysis and legal case surrounding Dzhokhar Tsarnaev; the debate over immigration reform; the effects of the sequester and the growing delays in airline schedules; proposals for gun control legislation and the new Bush Presidential Library were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.