Monday, July 26, 2021
Monday Memo: Is Your On-Air Product Old-School? Podcasting delivers on consumers’ expectation for on-demand EVERYTHING and consultant
Holland Cooke calls it “an opportunity to let retailers sponsor pertinent special interest topics.” But, in this week’s column, he cautions that “these are still digital
dimes, compared to the analog dollars solid live programming and painstakingly-crafted commercials will earn us.” To read what makes your station special, please click
here.
Pending Business: Going Up. In this week’s “Pending Business” column, radio sales pro
Steve Lapa, president of
Lapcom Communications, discusses the state of your “elevator pitch.” Will it work in less than the 60 seconds it takes to go to the eighth floor? Try this: Create one sentence that describes what your station does better than any of your competitors. Ask yourself is there a payoff for the advertiser in that one sentence or is it all product information? Are you connecting a #1 with an advertiser benefit? Have you taken the time to update your elevator pitch to put a more contemporary feel to the language? Lapa discusses these important points and more in an article that touches on the very basics of cutting right to the chase in presenting your station in a clear and positive light to a potential advertiser when time is of the essence. To read more, please click
here.Davis Sets Departure From iHeartMedia. Nashville-based
iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group chief operating officer
Darren Davis will
exit at the end of this year, but will continue with the company as an advisor. In a memo to the staff, iHeartMedia chair/chief executive officer
Bob Pittman and iHM president/chief operating officer/chief financial officer
Rich Bressler write, “Darren has a deep love for iHeart and a true passion for our business and our success. [He] has grown up through our organization continually taking on new roles and more responsibility, becoming a critically important contributor as part of our senior team. After almost 30 years with iHeart, Darren is looking forward to spending more time on a variety of other projects he’s passionate about, including real estate development; local community projects; and traveling with his family. Although his day-to-day operating expertise will be missed, we appreciate all he’s done for our company and are very pleased that he will continue his association with us, albeit on a more limited basis. Darren will be working closely with Digital Audio Group CEO
Conal Byrne through the balance of 2021 to continue our momentum and to effectively organize the Digital Audio Group for the future.” Davis has been with iHeartMedia (formerly
Clear Channel) since 1992 when he joined adult contemporary WASH, Washington, DC as a programming intern.
Local Journalism Sustainability Act Has NAB Support. Introduced by Democratic Senators
Maria Cantwell (Washington State);
Mark Kelly (Arizona); and
Ron Wyden (Oregon), the Local Journalism Sustainability Act of 2021 would aid local news organizations through tax credits to incentivize hiring more journalists, subscriptions and advertising from local small businesses. In a prepared statement,
National Association of Broadcasters president/chief executive officer
Gordon Smith notes, “At a time when misinformation and disinformation plague online platforms, broadcast radio and television continue to serve as reliable beacons of news that keep local communities informed and connected. We urge congressional passage of this legislation.” According to Senator Cantwell, “The COVID-19 pandemic made it crystal clear that local reporters and newsrooms are essential to keeping the public informed and safe, but their importance spans well beyond health emergencies. At its core, local news is about holding the powerful accountable. The strength of our democracy is based in truth and transparency. Local newsrooms are on the ground in our communities asking the critical questions, countering misinformation, and telling our stories. We have to protect these vital parts of our communities – once they’re gone, they’re gone.” Senator Kelly comments, “Local newspapers, radio stations, and TV stations are pillars of our community, bringing trusted local news [and] information about community events and the latest on public health updates in their area. The pandemic made an already difficult financial situation for these news providers even harder, which is why I support the Local Journalism Sustainability Act. By providing tax credits for individuals to support local news outlets, they can continue to provide important coverage for readers, listeners, and viewers.” Senator Wyden adds, “The decline of local news has had devastating effects on our communities. Local news has often been the only window into the city council or mayor’s office. Without these outlets, these important institutions in our communities go uncovered. Further, the decline of local news has only fueled the growth of misinformation as Americans lose their most trusted sources of information. As the son of a journalist, these developments trouble me greatly. Our bill would provide financial support to local news at this critical time for our democracy.”
TALKERS
News Notes. Former 13-year
Tampa Bay Lightning director of broadcasting & programming
Matt Sammon is appointed manager/business development & strategy for
Skyview Networks. Sammon joined Skyview last September as an executive producer overseeing
Notre Dame sports broadcasts and spent two years freelancing with
Sammonsez, LLC … After reporting part-time for
NPR the past several months,
David Gura will join the network next Monday (8/2) as business correspondent. Most recently the host of
MSNBC’s weekend morning show “Up With David Gura,” he previously was a
Bloomberg anchor. Gura began his career as an intern at
University of North Carolina news/talk WUNC, Raleigh.
Tags: Arizona, Bloomberg, Bob Pittman, Clear Channel, Conal Byrne, Darren Davis, David Gura, Gordon Smith, iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group, LLC., Maria Cantwell, Mark Kelly, Matt Sammon, MSNBC, Nashville, National Association of Broadcasters, Notre Dame, NPR, Oregon, Raleigh, Rich Bressler, Ron Wyden, Sammonsez, Skyview Networks, Tampa Bay Lightning, University of North Carolina, WASH, Washington, Washington State, WUNC
Category: Front Page News, Industry News