For Immediate Release:

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Jack Heath is This Week’s Guest on Harrison Podcast. Longtime New England broadcaster Jack Heath is this week’s guest on the award-winning PodcastOne series “The Michael Harrison Interview.” Heath is host of the popular 9:00 am – 12:00 noon midday news/talk radio show, “Good Morning New Hampshire” heard daily on a statewide network of stations owned by regional independent giant Binnie Media called “The Pulse of NH.” The show features discussion of the topics that are important for the citizens of the Granite State in news, business, politics, and finance. Heath is a former news director and VP of WMUR-TV in Manchester and a former TV reporter in Boston and Maine. Harrison and Heath talk about the political and social nuances of New England; New Hampshire’s traditional impact on the presidential election cycle; how increasingly defensive campaigns connect (and don’t connect) with talk radio; the differences in broadcasting news/talk programs on radio and TV; and what it’s like working for an independent, privately held regional broadcasting company. Lots of takeaways! To listen to the podcast in its entirety, please click here.

Angelo Cataldi Reflects on His Career at Sports Talk WIP-FM, Philadelphia. In a piece by Dave Uram published at KYW-AM/FM’s website, retiring WIP-FM morning drive personality Angelo Cataldi looks back at his 33-year career at the Audacy sports talk station. Cataldi is leaving WIP after more than three decades of great ratings. But, as Uram writes, that success didn’t come easily. “The success of his show was a

testament to him and his teammates placing themselves in the shoes of the listeners – his fellow sports fans – by figuring out what was important to them. It took work ethic and dedication every day.” That dedication didn’t make Cataldi an easy person to work with or for, and Cataldi knows it. He says, “I’m demanding. I have an enormously high standard that I aspire to every day. And I hold the people that work with me to that standard, to the point where I can’t imagine some days what they’re saying after I walk out.” Cataldi confesses that when he became the lead host, his obsession with perfection took over his life and that did some damage. “Three years in, I was in a bad spot … I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to do it. And I ended up getting some help. I was off for three weeks when I was in a clinical depression because I couldn’t deal with the pressure of doing a show.” Uram writes that Cataldi needed therapy and antidepressants. “I really had to deal with it. And my marriage didn’t survive. It was too much pressure. It was too much stress, and I had a period there of transition … The people around me understood that I was probably paying more attention to that job than I was to anything else. And that has been the way it’s been. It hasn’t been perfect in my life because I’ve given so much of it over the job.” Cataldi will sign off after the Eagles’ season ends and midday personalities Joe DeCarmara and Jon Ritchie will take over the morning drive program.

Mike Mutnansky Next WEEI, Boston Personality to Exit. After 12 years with Audacy’s sports talk WEEI, Boston, Mike Mutnansky will exit the station when his contract ends on December 22. Mutnansky hosted in

several dayparts on WEEI – currently he’s the evening host – but he also has worked in afternoons and in morning drive. Mutnansky’s announcement comes a week after PM drive personality Lou Merloni revealed he’s exiting the station after his contract with WEEI was not renewed. MassLive reports that while addressing his situation, Mutnansky says he expects his next opportunity will be in the sports betting industry as Massachusetts prepares to legalize sports betting.

RTDNA Announces Call for Entries for 2023 Edward R. Murrow Awards. Yesterday (12/13) was the first day that entries are being accepted for the Radio Television Digital News Association’s 2023 Edward R. Murrow Awards. RTDNA says, “Among the most prestigious in news, the Murrow Awards recognize local and

national news stories that uphold the RTDNA Code of Ethics, demonstrate technical expertise, and exemplify the importance and impact of journalism as a service to the community. Murrow Award winning work demonstrates the excellence that Edward R. Murrow made a standard for the broadcast news profession.” The Murrow Awards are organized into four divisions: 1) Local TV and Radio; 2) Network, Syndication Service, Program Service TV and Radio; 3) Digital News Organizations; and 4) Student Awards. The entry period closes on February 7, 2023. The Regional Winners will be announced in the spring, the National Winners will be announced in the summer, and the Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala will be held on October 9, 2023. Get more information and register here.

Country Star Granger Smith Visits Salem Radio Network in Dallas. Award-winning country artist Granger Smith was in Dallas on December 13 or the red-carpet premiere of his new PureFlix film, Moonrise.  Smith (right) dropped by the Salem Radio Network studios to lend his support to Mike Gallagher’s annual Angel Tree campaign for the non-profit Prison Fellowship. He also chatted with SRN’s VP of news & talk programming Tom Tradup (left).

Former WGN Television and Radio Personality Floyd Brown Dies at 92. The Chicago Tribune reports that Floyd Brown, who broke color barriers by being one of the first Blacks hired by a national radio network, died on Friday (12/9) at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin, Illinois at age 92. His obituary says, “Over the

course of Brown’s 50-plus-years career, he worked as an engineer, program manager, newscaster, sportscaster and associate news editor and hosted several radio and television shows, including a jazz program, ‘The Floyd Brown Show’ that aired on Sunday nights on WGN radio.” He first worked as an engineer at WRMN in Elgin, but when a staff announcer was late one day, Brown went on the air. “He achieved national recognition in the mid-1960s when he was hired by NBC-owned WMAQ in Chicago, becoming the first Black to be hired by a major network. It was such an achievement that he was featured on the cover of NBC’s company magazine with Bill Cosby, who was then starring in the NBC television show ‘I Spy.’ He would work at WMAQ radio from 1965 to 1970 before moving to WGN radio and television, where he remained from 1971 until his retirement in 1999.”

The Economy/Fed Interest Rate Hike, McCarthy’s Speakership Campaign, Border Security, Respect for Marriage Act, Trump Legal Battles, TikTok Legislation, Elon Musk & Twitter, Tripledemic/China’s COVID Problem, FTX Collapse, Russia-Ukraine War Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (12/13). The slowing rate of inflation, high mortgage rates, and the Fed’s expected interest rate hike; U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s battle to be the new Speaker of the House; the recent influx of migrants in El Paso and the broader issue of U.S.-Mexico border security; President Joe Biden signs the Respect for Marriage Act; former President Donald Trump’s legal battles; lawmakers introduce legislation to ban TikTok in the U.S.; Elon Musk’s ongoing overhaul of Twitter; the influenza, COVID and RSV cases filling emergency rooms in the U.S. and China’s COVID outbreak; U.S. regulators investigate the collapse of crypto exchange FTX; and Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing  research from TALKERS magazine.

The Radio Sales Arena is Changing and We Are On the Leading Edge. The key to sales growth in radio going forward is multi-platform digital marketing. In the coming decade, “radio” will simply be the engine driving an increasingly complex and sophisticated array of digitally powered platforms creating endless packages and options for the

advertiser. The keys to success will be in branding that cuts through the noise and surgical targeting that delivers optimum efficiency for agencies that know exactly what they want. The Salem Media Group is leading the way and the opportunities for our sales team are endless. But, right now, we need that special individual who has the tools, the vision and the ambition to get it done. That one special person who truly “gets it.” Jerry Crowley, the longest-running GM in the nation’s largest market, says, “We want one outstanding seller who can take it to the moon! Compensation will reflect potential and performance – salary will range from 50k- 85k plus substantial bonuses and generous commissions.” Candidates should send cover letter and resume to Jerry Crowley, VP/GM, Salem Media Group, NY (WMCA 570am The Mission/WNYM 970am The Answer) at Jcrowley@nycradio.com.

Salem Media New York Seeks Production Director. News/talk “AM 970 The Answer” WNYM and Christian Teach & Talk “AM 570 & 102.3 FM The Mission” WMCA is seeking its next full-time production director. Candidates must be experienced and willing to work in our studios in Lower Manhattan, NYC. Interested candidates can apply directly on our corporate website here.

Tags: 2023 Edward R. Murrow Awards, Angelo Cataldi, Audacy, Boston, Chicago, clinical depression, color barriers, Dave Uram, engineer, Floyd Brown, Granger Smith, Joe DeCamara, Jon ritchie, listeners, Lou Merloni, Mike Gallagher, Mike Mutnansky, news/talk radio, newscaster, Philadelphia, program manager, Radio Television Digital News Association, ratings, retiring, RTDNA, Salem Radio Network, Sports Talk, sportscaster, Talkers Magazine, Tom Tradup, WEEI, WGN, WIP-FM, WMAQ

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