For Immediate Release:

Thursday, November 24, 2022

Digital Marketing Expert Michael Ostrofsky Is This Week’s Guest on Harrison Podcast. The fact that the mighty Walt Disney Company turned this week to its former CEO Bob Iger to set the company on a more productive path in generating revenue for its video streaming service Disney+ underscores the challenges even the largest and resource-rich companies face monetizing their digital platforms. Michael Ostrofsky, founder and CEO of Atlanta-based digital marketing firm, Lyke Media (LykeMedia.com), is this week’s guest on the award-winning PodcastOne series, “The Michael Harrison Interview.” Ostrofsky is a four-decade veteran of Silicon Valley where he accrued an impressive track record for digital marketing innovation in a variety of diverse industries including Beringer Wine Estates, investment bank Hambrecht & Quist, and NCR Corporation, among others. Harrison and Ostrofsky talk about the challenges facing Disney, Twitter, and Facebook – relating their same issues to radio, television and newspapers, large and small. You don’t want to miss this! To listen to the podcast in its entirety, please click here.

Trespassing Charge Against Rhode Island Talk Host John DePetro Dropped. According to a report by WLNE-TV, Providence, the charge of trespassing against WNRI, Woonsocket talk host John DePetro has been dropped. The charge was the result of an incident in August of this year in which DePetro was producing a Facebook Live video outside the residence of Mark Perkins in the town of Warwick. The

residence had been of interest to police who had previously searched the property as they investigated the disappearance of a woman named Charlotte Lester. On that day, DePetro approached Perkins to ask about Lester, the police were called and DePetro was charged with unlawfully going onto the property. The following day, DePetro returned to Perkins’ home but remained on the street as he videoed. This time, Perkins started a push lawn mower and attempted to run into DePetro with it. He was subsequently charged with simple assault, a charge that is still pending. Regarding the trespassing charge being dropped, DePetro says, “I respect our justice system and respect law enforcement, specifically the Warwick Police Department. The search for Charlotte Lester continues as I resume my efforts searching for answers into her disappearance.”

WOKV-FM, Jacksonville-Based Talk Host Mark Kaye to Present ‘Thanks-Gaffe-ing Countdown.’ Midday talk radio personality Mark Kaye is producing a holiday-themed countdown of the top 40 political gaffes of the year. Kaye – whose show is based at

Cox Media Group’s WOKV-FM, Jacksonville and is syndicated to CMG sister talkers WHIO-FM, Dayton; WDBO-FM, Orlando; KRMG-FM, Tulsa; and WGAU-AM, Athens, Georgia – says, “Back when I was hosting Top 40 morning shows we always ended the year with a music countdown special. People love those. I love them too! But we don’t play music, we mostly just play gaffes. So, I decided to create a Thanksgiving special where we countdown the top 40 gaffes of the past year. It was pretty easy to put together.” Kaye says the special show will feature “gaffes” from a variety of political figures over the past year. Not just Joe Biden, but others. He adds, “Joe Biden is clearly the ‘Gaffe-master,’ but we were blessed this year with the emergence of John Fetterman, the continued ridiculousness of Kamala Harris, and even the First Lady who has a couple of entries in this year’s countdown.” The special airs today (11/23) from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm ET.

KFI, Los Angeles’ 12^th Annual Pastathon to Air on ‘Giving Tuesday.’ Next Tuesday (11/29), iHeartMedia’s news/talk KFI, Los Angeles will host the 12th annual KFI PastaThon event benefitting Caterina’s Club. The KFI PastaThon is an annual event that encourages listeners to donate money, pasta, and sauce to benefit Caterina’s Club, a local charity that provides more than 25,000 nutritious meals every week to children in need in Southern California. The charity also helps families get back into stable home environments and teaches teens the skills they need to work in the hospitality industry.

On ‘Giving Tuesday,’ KFI’s Tim Conway Jr will broadcast live from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm at the Anaheim White House restaurant to bring the community together to collect funds, pasta, and sauce to help children in our local communities. KFI hosts including Bill Handel, Jennifer Jones Lee, Gary Hoffmann, Shannon Farren, Mo Kelly, Dean Sharp, Neil Saavedra, and Wendy Walsh will promote the event on-air all week to drive donations. The 2021 event raised a record-breaking $1 million dollars and 115,000 pounds of pasta and sauce. Since 2010, this yearly event has raised over $4.6 million and 700,000 pounds of pasta and sauce for children in need in the community. KFI program director Robin Bertolucci says, “As we embark upon our 12th annual KFI PastaThon we know the need is bigger than ever but so are the hearts of our listeners and partners. Because of the incredible generosity of our listeners and partners like Barilla, Smart & Final and Wendy’s, Chef Bruno is feeding over 25,000 kids every week, and not only that, but he is also helping to break the cycle of poverty. Our goal this year is to once again raise over a million dollars to help Chef Bruno continue his mission.”

TALKERS News Notes. The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) announces that former WSBT-TV, South Bend, Indiana general manager Sally Brown was elected to the LABF board of directors during a recent board meeting. The highly

respected broadcasting executive most recently served as the development officer on behalf of the organization. Brown has an extensive history in radio and television broadcasting. She began her career as an announcer at a South Bend, Indiana radio station while still in high school and went on to spend the next 30-plus years in the radio industry, holding positions in sales, sales management, and station management. The LABF also announced the following board members were elected to serve new three-year terms: April Carty-Sipp, John Dille, Jack Goodman (co-chair), Jim Morley, Patricia Smullin and Jeff Smulyan…..iHeartMedia announces that chairman & CEO Bob Pittman and COO & CFO Rich Bressler will participate in a question and answer session during the Wells Fargo TMT Summit on Wednesday, November 30 at 4:10 pm ET. A live webcast of the session will be available to the general public at the start of the session through a link on the Investors homepage of iHeartMedia’s website. A replay of the webcast will be available in the Events & Presentation section of iHeartMedia’s Investors homepage.

Midterm Aftermath, Trump in ‘24/Legal Issues, Virginia Walmart Slayings, Rail Strike Threat, Twitter, Iger Returns to Disney, and World Cup Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (11/22). The results of the midterm elections, the leadership of both parties, and lame duck politics; former President Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential ambitions and his numerous legal issues; at least six slain in Virginia Walmart shooting; the nationwide rail strike threat and the state of the economy; Elon Musk’s operation of Twitter; Disney brings Bob Iger back as CEO; and the World Cup in Qatar 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: Athens, Caterina's Club, Charlotte Lester, Cox Media Group, Dayton, Georgia, Jacksonville, John DePetro, KFI, KFI Pastathon, KRMG-FM, Library of American Broadcasting Foundation, Los Angeles, Mark Kaye, Mark Perkins, news/talk radio, Orlando, Rhode Island, simple assault, Talkers Magazine, Thanks-gaffe-ing, trespassing, Tulsa, Warwick, WDBO-FM, WGAU-AM, WHIO-FM, WNRI, WOKV-FM, Woonsocket

Category: Front Page News, Industry News