Tuning In

Meet the Assignment Editors - Getting on the Agenda

2012-02-17T14:18:00.003-05:00

On Tuesday, March 13, PRSA’s National Capital Chapter willhost a workshop with top editors from major news outlets to discuss pitchingand the changing news media.

Panelists for the event include: Steven Ginsberg, DeputyPolitical Editor for the Washington Post; Lisa Matthews, Planning Editor forthe Associated Press; Vandana Sinha, Assistant Managing Editor for theWashington Business Journal; and Lois Dyer, Futures Editor for CBS NewsNetwork.

From discussing the best time to contact an editor, to howfar in advance they should be contacts, this workshop will provide PRpractitioners with fantastic tools for pitching their stories.

Date & Time: Tuesday, March 13 from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.

Location: Naval Heritage Center, 701 Pennsylvania Ave, NW(Metro: Yellow & Green lines)

Cost: $35 for members, $55 for non-members, $10 for students& retirees.

Directions: http://www.navymemorial.org/Visit/NavalHeritageCenter/tabid/153/Default.aspx

For more information and to register, please visit http://www.prsa-ncc.org/option,com_events/task,view_detail/Itemid%20,194/agid,451/year,2012/month,03/day,13/.

Case Study: National Association of Federal Credit Unions

2012-02-15T10:45:00.004-05:00

Curbing Holiday Budget Hangovers

National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU) saw a timely opportunity to promote credit unions and their services throughout the holidays and partnered with News Generation to capitalize on the fact that people want to avoid overspending their hard earned dollars during the holiday season.

The unique ability that radio has to effectively and efficiently reach a broad and large audience in a timely fashion appealed to NAFCU, and so a plan was set to pitch stations prior to “Black Friday”, arming listeners with useful tips before they went shopping. News Generation maximized reach by targeting the largest networks and top-25 market stations. This all earned-media strategic approach focused on securing quality interviews with top NACFU experts on highly-ranked stations to maximize on-air time for the organization.

The total audience reach for this campaign exceeded 27 million adults, across national, regional, state networks and top market stations, and the buzz led to more media requests after the tour ended. And keeping with the holiday savings theme, this effort cost a fraction of a cent to reach each listener.

Sample: This one Associated Press hit alone reached nearly 15 million listeners: https://newsgeneration.sharefile.com/d/sc6614c3961a4dd58.

Lessons Learned from Sports Team Communicators

2012-02-15T09:39:00.006-05:00

(left to right: Kevin Byrne, Lara Potter, Ben Guerrero, Mex Carey)

On Tuesday, February 14, 2012, the PRSA National Capital Chapter hosted an event at the U.S. Navy Memorial & Heritage Center in Washington, D.C. “What Sports Team Communicators Can Teach Us.” Panelists included Kevin Byrne (Senior VP, Public & Community Relations, Baltimore Ravens), Lara Potter (Vice President & Managing Director, Communications & Brand Development, Washington Nationals), Ben Guerrero (Manager of Media Relations, Washington Capitals), and Mex Carey (Sports Information Director, Georgetown University). The event was moderated by Aaron Cohen (Vice President of Media Relations, MSL Group).

The discussion began with opening remarks from Cohen who noted that whether or not you are in sports communications, every PR professional can learn something from the sports industry.

The conversation focused on social media’s role in sports communication. Byrne noted that during the most recent Super Bowl, more than 22,000 tweets were sent each second and concluded that, “everyone is a reporter [in the digital age].” More often than not, teams aren’t breaking their own news so it’s that much more important to stay ready and be aware of what is happening around you.

Similarly, Ben Guerrero echoed the importance of social media’s role with the Capitals, thanks to owner Ted Leonsis who is a huge social media advocate, particularly blogging. As a result, the Caps probably have a bit of a social media head start on other NHL teams. Bloggers are welcome in the locker room and players, Guerrero noted, are given the freedom to express themselves, showcasing their personalities, but educated to do so in smart ways.

With all the positive impacts social media has had on the sports world, it has also had its fair share of setbacks. When it comes to college sports, Georgetown University’s Mex Carey stated that he has to closely monitor his players’ social media footprint, as many students don’t realize that they are not just representing themselves, but also a brand. One of the benefits of working with students rather than professionals, is that he has the ability to educate his players on communication, noting, “I’m their teacher when it comes to PR.”

The panelists also answered questions from the audience. Several questions were asked about management of crisis communication within sports teams. All panelists noted that it is important for players to go through extensive media training as most simply don’t realize their media influence when they turn professional. In instances where there is a crisis, Byrne cited the importance of the PR person to be at the table from the start, helping immediately to guide the communications response. Potter agreed and added, “stay true to your DNA and stay on message with a consistent story.”

As the event came to a conclusion, questions of crisis, scandals, and lockouts were discussed. Of the ups and downs in sports, Guerrero put it best when he stated, “whether you are winning or losing, you can always help the community.” Moreover, when asked about a responding to game or season losses, Byrne eloquently summed it all up with, “we are always selling hope.”

Stay tuned...

What Happened to HD Radio?

2012-02-15T09:00:00.003-05:00

Following the 2002 FCC announcement in that “Hybrid Digital Radio,” or HD Radio, would be the standard digital audio broadcasting for the U.S., there was a lot of hubbub about what this new technology would mean for radio, bringing “CD-quality” audio to the airwaves. Larger music-formatted stations that had the big-budgets rushed to implement the new technology and were the first to jump on the bandwagon.

As you may remember, News Generation first wrote about HD radio when it came on the scene in 2007. To read the original story, click here.

So what happened? In short, radio-listeners didn’t come along for the ride. To listen to HD radio, you had to buy a receiver to get the digital signal, which was pricey then and hasn’t come down much since. For a medium that is considered “free” and “easy to use” by its users, this is a death-blow. It’s the same reason that satellite radio is struggling with – justifying its price/value to its listeners.

The other challenge is actually governmental in nature. The FCC made it clear that while this was “the technology” that U.S. based radio broadcasters would use in the future, they gave no timeline for a digital migration, thus, no urgency was created. In this scenario, the “if you build it, they will come” mindset didn’t work.

So while the backbone of digital broadcast is still there for the taking, determining when and how people will migrate over and answering the important question of what it will bring to enhance the listening experience are must-answers before this technology will take hold.

Stay tuned…

History of African-American Radio

2012-02-08T13:08:00.000-05:00

During Black History Month, we wanted to highlight radio pioneers in the African American community and provide a history of the birth of African-American radio in the U.S.

African-American radio began in Atlanta in 1949. Jesse B. Blayton, Sr. purchased the radio station WERD and housed the station in the same building on Auburn Avenue where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. held the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. WERD also helped launch the career of Jack “The Rapper” Gibson,

America

’s first Black radio jockey.

In another southern city, Baltimore in the 1950s found WBAL as the voice of the city. Station jockey Chuck Richards invited Jocko Henderson to be on his radio show. Within a few months, Jocko was off on his own, hosting radio shows up and down the East Coast, catering to African Americans. He became so popular in the 1970s, that he even hosted his own television show on WNTA and launched the magazine, Philly Talk. Later in his life, he worked to promote his “Get Ready” campaign which aimed to teach children math and history through records.

Similarly, in upstate New York, Frankie Crocker was getting his start in radio as flashy and seductive radio jockey at WUFO. He then went on to host a show on WBLS in New York City where he coined the phrase “Sock it to me, Mama!” and was known for his suave ways. He also went on to host shows at the Apollo Theater and became one of the first V.J.’s on VH-1, which eventually earned him a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 1980, Dewey and Cathy Hughes purchased one of DC’s most popular radio stations, WOL. Cathy Hughes had already proven success in the radio industry after launching “The Quiet Storm” on WHUR, Howard University’s Radio, as well as WYCB, a gospel station. A few years later, Cathy Hughes went on to launch one of the most famed Black radio institutions in the United States – Radio One. Radio One is headquarted in Lanham, MD and is the largest broadcasting company targeting African-Americans. Today, Cathy Hughes is known as the Mother of Urban Radio.

These radio pioneers have help shaped the face of both urban and mainstream radio today which continues the legacy of broadcast quality and service still found across the radio spectrum.

Stay tuned…

The News-Talk of the Town

2012-01-25T17:33:00.000-05:00

News-Talk is the big talk on the Eastern Seaboard this week with the launch of the new all news, WNEW in Washington, DC, A CBS owned station rivaling CBS-affiliated powerhouse WTOP, even taking some long-time staffers with its launch. Some may question why CBS wants to rival itself, but a Washington Post article about the new format may reveal some insight. WTOP routinely brings in ad dollars that dwarf its competitors -- more than three times the advertising revenue of any other station in Washington, making it the richest radio station in the country.

Now the female-oriented news-talker WEMP in New York has moved away from its female-centric format to a more straight ahead news-talk station. Sean Ross from Radio-Info takes a fresh listen and determines that while some initial clunkiness existed with a new station, new format and new staff from several disciplines, the power of an all-news FM cannot be underestimated. According to Ross, “Twenty-five miles from Manhattan, I’m unable to listen to WCBS or WINS on my clock radio in the morning. At my Central New Jersey office, on the edge of the New York metro, the only traffic or weather I’m going to get on AM 1010 on my winter ride home is for Toronto, as CFRB drowns out WINS after sunset.”

So, it looks like the glory days of news-talk stations, especially those on the FM dial, are still to come.

Stay tuned…

Sports PR Workshop - 2/14

2012-01-24T12:57:00.000-05:00

What Sports Team Communicators Can Teach Us

If sports are a metaphor for life, sports communication is a metaphor for the rest of PR.

On Tuesday, February 14, the National Capital Chapter of PRSA (PRSA-NCC) will host a workshop at the U.S. Navy Memorial & Heritage Center in Washington, DC from 8-10 a.m.

In this workshop, sports team professionals from the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Nationals, Georgetown Hoyas, and Washington Capitals will provide valuable lessons from their years of experience working in sports communications.

Topics for the workshop will include message discipline in the digital age; lessons about crisis communications from the sports world; integrating social and traditional media and being your own news source; internal communications and selling your plan to your company or client; and how an underdog or small played breaks into the news cycle.

The event will be moderated by Aaron Cohen, Vice President of Media Relations, MSL Group.

Panelists include:

• Kevin Byrne, Senior VP, Public & Community Relations, Baltimore Ravens, @Ravens

• Lara Potter, Vice President & Managing Director, Communications & Brand Development, Washington Nationals, @Nationals

• Mex Carey, Sports Information Director, Georgetown University, @MexCarey

• Ben Guerrero, Manager of Media Relations, Washington Capitals, @WashCaps

Tickets for the event are available for purchase at https://secure.kinsail.com/results.asp?p=prsancc&pt=store&GroupID=22506.

U.S.

Navy Memorial & Heritage Center

701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20004

Metro: Yellow/Green lines @ Navy Memorial/Archives station

For directions and parking, visit www.navymemorial.org

Survey Digs Into Station Programming Preferences

2012-01-13T21:44:00.002-05:00

Our recent survey of 150 news/talk radio stations in the top 100 radio markets found that interviews makes up the largest proportion of on-air programming for both English and Spanish stations.

On the English side, interviews make up more than 40 percent of a stations programming, followed by wire stories at 19 percent, network feeds at 17 percent, news releases at nearly 16 percent, and listener call-ins at 8 percent.

On the Spanish side, interviews make up 34 percent of a station's programming, followed by news releases at 24 percent, network feeds at 18 percent, listener call ins at 12 percent and wire stories at 12 percent.

That's a lot of air time for stations to fill. This programming need giving media relations pros an opportunity to provide stations with guests who have a compelling and timely message.

Next week, we will reveal what stations told us about what it really takes to get a story on the air.

Stay Tuned...

What’s the buzz on radio in 2012?

2012-01-06T17:33:00.000-05:00

At the close of 2011, News Generation conducted a survey of 150 news/talk stations in the top 100 radio markets, both English and Spanish, to find out how they see the year ahead in radio. The preliminary results are in. What topics do they expect will lead station coverage in the coming year? For the English language station, the Economy (53.1%) edged out the (Presidential) Election (45.8%), but these two topics together dominated their responses. For Spanish language stations, their anticipated topic coverage was more dispersed with the top rankings going to Entertainment (37.5%) and Health (25%), followed closely behind by the Economy (15%) and Education (15%).

What kinds of stories would stations like more of to include in their locally produced newscasts? Across both English and Spanish language stations, if it’s a national story, it needs to be BIG to warrant a specially produced piece in their local coverage. And most said these national stories simply must affect their local communities. This could be through a local interview or story angle. “Timely news releases/interviews that affect our community.” “Good, factual interviews with a local angle.” Interviews with local spokespeople on relevant, timely issues of the day.” Spanish language stations echoed these requests for more interviews and would also welcome ones specifically related to health and education that impact the Hispanic community.

So what’s the takeaway? One thing is for certain. 2012 will not be a business as usual year on the airwaves. One survey participant said they’d like “Interviews that inform and challenge the events, ideas and cultures of its listeners.” Another suggested, “Real, meaningful stories, not commercials.” Great guidelines to keep in mind in the new year.

Stay Tuned...

PRSA's Diamond Award for Outstanding Service to National Capital Chapter

2011-12-28T12:21:00.000-05:00

At the PRSA National Capital Chapter’s holiday party on December 19, 2011, Susan Matthews Apgood was honored with the chapter’s highest award for service. Ms. Apgood received the Diamond Award in recognition of her outstanding service to the chapter this year.

In 2011, Susan was the chair of the chapter’s Thoth Awards Gala, an event she also co-chaired both the Gala and Judging in 2010. She has been a member and is the 2012 co-chair of the Professional Development Committee, the chapter’s programming arm to keep professionals active in learning and engaged with the organization through its chapter-wide events.

Susan can be seen at nearly every PRSA-NCC event and is always actively promoting the group’s excellent contributions to the public relations community in the Washington, DC area. Congratulations Susan Matthews Apgood for such a wonderful recognition of your tireless efforts to support PRSA-NCC.

The National Capital Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is the largest PRSA chapter in the country, with more than 1,000 members. The NCC represents public relations professionals from the major business sectors in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, including associations, agencies, corporations, universities, non-profits, government, and independent practitioners. Visit http://www.prsa-ncc.org/ for more information.

Happy Holidays from All of Us at News Generation!

2011-12-20T10:36:00.002-05:00

Wishing you a warm holiday season, and wonderful new year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T79ztzQksjc&feature=youtu.be

Radio Trends from 2011, and Looking Ahead to 2012

2011-12-20T10:14:00.000-05:00

We see several important trends happening in the industry right now that can impact the work that we do. The first is the prevalence of what we call "general assignment reporters." Many stations no longer have budgets to employ reporters dedicated to a single issue or beat, such as the environment or healthcare. Increasingly reporters are expected to cover several beats. Pitching and message delivery to these general assignment reporters must therefore be developed with this in mind. So avoiding jargon or industry specific terminology is important from pitch to placement of a story.

There is also a major trend toward stations using social media and blogs to further their audience reach and engagement. It's now standard practice for stations to place content on their websites, Twitter, or Facebook profiles to drive listenership throughout the day. Stations often run a portion of an interview on air, and then place the entire interview on their website as well. In addition, social media plays a key role in engagement. It's used to help gather local stories, garner story feedback and inform a part two of a given story, build radio personalities and even conduct promotions.

We also see dramatic growth in the number of Spanish-language radio stations. In 2011 alone, from the spring to the fall Arbitron measurement periods, there was a whopping 21.3 percent increase in the number of stations. This trend is more than a demographic shift. The growth in this radio market provides an opportunity to reach this burgeoning population in their own language with messages tailored to them. Stay tuned...

On Message and On the Money: Crisis Communication Lessons from International Finance

2011-12-14T11:18:00.000-05:00

Presented by the PRSA-NCC Professional Development Committee
Date & Time: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 , 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Location: Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington DC, 20004
Cost: $35 PRSA, WWPR and BPRS members; $55/non-members; $10/students/retirees, $10 additional the door.
Register here

When entities like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund were established to foster global monetary cooperation after World War II, no one could have anticipated a world of 24/7 e-news, iPad magazines and Twitter. These new mediums – in addition to an increasingly interconnected global economy, the pull of emerging markets and Euro zone upheaval – make international financial communication a crucial strategic challenge.

This PRSA-NCC Professional Development Workshop will provide concrete examples of how financial institutions manage unfolding policy messages, often mitigating potential crises while communicating with a global, multi-cultural audience in dozens of languages. Whether you’re connected to international business, picking up crisis communications tips or just interested in the intricacies of tweeting in Arabic, this lively panel will provide a real-world examination of the financial messages that are shaping our global economic recovery.

Panelists include:

Bill Murray, Chief of Media Relations at the International Monetary Fund
Greg Ip, U.S. Economics Editor for The Economist
Silvia Kofler, Minister-Counselor, Head of Press & Public Diplomacy/Spokesperson for European Union Delegation to the United States
Representative from the World Bank (invited)

Potential discussion questions include:

How do institutions like the World Bank and the IMF adjust messages for cultural relevance while still maintaining consistency?
How do global financial institutions manage relationships with the financial press, given the need for both timely dissemination and political discretion?
How can communicators mitigate the adverse reactions that inevitably accompany any highly charged financial decision on the global stage?
What is the role of social media and web content in shaping world views of these institutions? How are programs like World Bank’s #thinkEQUAL campaign crossing barriers such as language and basic Internet access?

Participate in our holiday donation poll

2011-12-09T18:22:00.000-05:00

News Generation is making holiday donations again this year to some worthy organizations. Visit http://svy.mk/vjOPsd to cast your vote.

Polling closes at noon on Thursday, December 15, 2011, and we will announce the winners on Friday, December 16, 2011.

Stay tuned...

Spanish Radio Boom

2011-11-28T17:39:00.000-05:00

Since last Spring, Spanish radio has been hopping. According to the most recent Arbitron data, there are now 825 Spanish language stations, up from 680 in the Spring. This is no surprise, however, since Hispanics make up the fastest-growing group in the nation, with 16.3 percent of the population. In fact, according to the U.S. Census, grew by 43 percent from 2000 to 2010, from 35.3 million to 50.5 million. This trend is more than just a demographic shift. The growth of the Spanish language radio market provides a great opportunity to reach this burgeoning population in their own language with messages tailored to them.

Through our years of pitching, we have found that messages tailored to the Hispanic market, pitched and sent in Spanish, work well for radio. We have often heard from producers and news directors that many PR practitioners simply use their same English-language materials and pitch stories in English. A little effort to know about the population, pitch in-language and provide radio-ready Spanish language pieces pays off, because your message is customized to the station’s audience and needs. If a producer or news director has to translate all materials themselves and make the story relevant to their audience, only the biggest, breaking news stories will be covered. So take some time to look at your Spanish outreach initiatives and provide some radio-ready materials.

To take a look at some of the great stories we’ve been pitching to Spanish language radio, visit Radio News Source.

Stay tuned...

Biggest Radio Story of the Year?

2011-11-18T17:43:00.002-05:00

We're hearing that the development of another all news station in Washington DC to rival WTOP may be the biggest radio story of the year. Actually, the thing that makes this a big story is that all news stations are rising in prominence with stations like WTOP seen as money makers. How many years have we heard that news doesn't make money? Tell that to CBS. They clearly want to compete head to head in a market where news happens all the time, and with their own affiliate, at that.

According to Radio Info, First, "Merlin challenged CBS with all-news in New York and Chicago. Now CBS challenges WTOP in Washington. At first it was hard for Hubbard’s WTOP (103.5 and associated signals) to give credence to the rumors – that CBS would buy an FM in Washington DC and compete with them. For one thing, WTOP is a heritage affiliate of CBS News Radio and has a contract through 2013. Then WTOP’ers started hearing more, and they believed."

But word has it that WTOP programmers are not afraid of another news outlet in the market. According to the station's vice president of programming Jim Farley, more news is always a good thing, and they welcome the competition. We couldn't agree more.

Stay tuned...

PRSA-NCC Holiday Party is on Monday, December 19

2011-11-14T09:33:00.000-05:00

Monday, December 19, 2011

Carmine’s Restaurant
425 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC
5:30-8pm

Kick off your holidays with friends and colleagues at this PRSA-NCC end-of-year event.

Join us at the legendary family style Italian restaurant located conveniently in Washington, D.C’s Penn Quarter. Metro: Gallery Place/Red Line and Archives/Navy Memorial/Yellow and Green Lines

PRSA-NCC will announce the recipients of the chapter’s Diamond and Silver Awards.

Includes hors d'oeuvres and a holiday beverage.

Event Fee: $40 PRSA, WWPR and BPRS members; $55 guests

Register here

We will also accept donations on behalf of KidSave, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating change so forgotten orphanage and foster kids grow up in families and connected to caring adults.

Profile of Radio Veteran Lynn Jimenez

2011-11-11T18:19:00.000-05:00

Excellent article this week on Lynn Jimenez from San Francisco powerhouse KGO-AM. In an era of downsizing, personnel shifts and market moves, Jimenez is a rarity, spending more than two decades at the same station. But don’t take that longevity as a sign that she hasn’t been moving, moving, moving all along… Read Phyllis Stark’s insightful profile of this dynamic newsie.

Radio Waves: What’s Making News in the World of Radio

2011-11-01T17:59:00.000-05:00

Rumors have abounded that there will be a Houston station going all news, but no one expected it to be Radio One to make introduce an all news format. According to RadioInfo.com, Radio One has taken note of an all news station WTOP in its hometown market of Washington, DC. Now Radio One is seeking the help of Houston-based consultant Ed Shane, to create an all-news station from scratch. Debut is set to be around November 14, just two short weeks from now.

Clear Channel has said that the layoffs it made of programmers in small to midmarkets in the past several weeks was not a typical layoff for cost-cutting purposes, but rather “part of a revamping of about 600 regional radio stations” where regional managers will now help oversee programming decisions. Clear Channel is clearly focusing on midsize and smaller markets to help expand its growth, instead of all of its efforts focused on the top-markets where competition is more fierce and stations are more established.

And one more boon for social media, a new survey by Generational Strategies has found that Americans now spend more time on Facebook than watching TV between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. What we’d like to know is how many of them are “listening at work” to their favorite stations while checking Facebook.

Stay tuned...

A Unique Use of the Airwaves – Radio and Hurricane Irene

2011-10-26T08:34:00.001-05:00

We often think about media in terms of its coverage of stories of importance. Many times though, those stories don’t necessarily impact us personally. Weather stories, however, take on a personal level of urgency when they are happening right outside our doors. Hurricane Irene is one such story.

Coverage from RadioInfo.com’s Ross on the Radio completed an analysis of how radio covered the coming storm during "Irene," especially music-oriented radio which doesn't necessarily stray into "news you need" territory very often.

What the article provides us with is a comparison and contrast between the coverage a listener could get on news and talk radio, like WPRO, a news talk station in Providence and WEMP, news station in New York, with NJ101.5’s weekend oldies format and Philadelphia's classic hits WOGL.

Not surprisingly, even the lighter formatted entertainment-oriented stations were taking on the role of information provider by disseminating important news and information for their local listening audience. What the article also outlines is music-oriented stations had a nice "helping each other" tone, instead of the more urgent reporting tone on the news and talk stations.

The article also finds some lighter programming like "hurricane dance parties" and themed songs like "Dancing in the Rain" and "1999." It’s interesting to see radio as both an information lifeline and a companion during "Irene." In a more dramatic turn, on September 4, the New York Times ran an article that details one DJ's determination to provide lifesaving information in the face of unprecedented flood waters.

According to the article, "As floodwaters rose on the morning of Aug. 28, [Big Jay] Fink interrupted the regular Sunday programming on WRIP-FM (97.9); instead of a classic Casey Kasem countdown, listeners found Mr. Fink — beginning what would be a 13-hour on-air marathon. He calmly fielded calls from people trapped by the surging waters and doled out information on makeshift shelters."

Fink provided information when listeners were unable to get cell reception because of down towers and power being knocked out to a large number of citizens. People listened from battery powered-radios during the storm and later from their car radios as they were assessing the damage. Big Jay Fink and fellow DJ Joe Loverro who joined him took numbers and relayed information from listeners to emergency response units.

In another example of radio as a companion, Fink also played some music between callers, and even that was carefully chosen to help out in times of trouble. “I didn’t want sad songs; I didn’t want happy songs,” he said. “I wanted songs about being together.”

We have often said that radio provides local information unlike any other medium and these stories of storm coverage illuminate that message greater than any number of listenership statistics or surveys of listening audiences ever could.

posted by Lynn Harris Medcalf

The Changing Landscape of Social Media – What Communicators Need to Know

2011-10-21T09:47:00.000-05:00

We are excited to sponsor this PRSA-NCC event on November 9: "The Changing Landscape of Social Media – What Communicators Need to Know" with panelists from Twitter, Facebook and LivingSocial, Registration information is at: http://bit.ly/plwa1p. Hope you can join us!

Social Media Creating Closer Relationship Between Listeners and Stations

2011-10-19T10:40:00.001-05:00

We recently released the second of two surveys to get the scoop on how stations are integrating social media into their news operations with findings from radio stations in the top-50 markets. We did the same survey in the Summer of 2009, 50 stations were asked about this relatively new medium that nearly half of the newsrooms (45%) used Twitter and Facebook at the time. Today, that number more than doubled to 96 percent.
Further, station personnel confirm that social media is here to stay. Sixty-five percent of stations believe that social media helps break news faster; fifty-eight percent believe it enhances listenership; and sixty-two percent say it provides another broadcast medium. This is compared to 2009, where 30 percent reported that keeping pace with technology and using social media builds listenership loyalty and keeps listeners tuned-in throughout the day.
Where a trend has been reversed is with “citizen journalists.” In 2009, the majority of radio newsrooms (56%) relied on social media for story leads from “citizen journalists,” and 34 percent of radio newsrooms said social media not only provided leads, but also possible sources of information for news stories. Today, only 31 percent use citizen journalists, down 25 percent from 2009. So while use of social media among stations has exploded over the past two years, the use in terms of news leads has actually declined.
Our findings showed that 100 percent of the newsrooms we surveyed said they do not believe social media will ever replace mainstream media, but will assist in the competitive information environment by breaking news first or getting an “exclusive.” In fact, one station intimated that social media allows the public to feel as if it is participating in the news, by being able to provide tips and take part in a dialogue about news stories, with some developments being reported first via Twitter or Facebook, then on air.
How this information can benefit public relations professionals pitching stations is to keep their social media element in mind. If stations have a YouTube channel, provide reporters with some video to enhance their presence. If stations have a Facebook page, provide them with giveaways or other promotions they can use to drive listeners to their page. If reporters or stations are on Twitter, follow them, and find out more about the stories they cover, so you can fine-tune your pitch, build the relationships and get information out in a speedy way.
According to radio newsrooms, the take home message on the future of social media seems to be that while social media won’t replace traditional media, traditional media and social media will no longer exist as separate entities. They will continue to work in tandem to provide audiences with the news they want on the device they want it. Speed and relationships are the name of the game.

posted by Lynn Harris Medcalf

What’s on the Airwaves: The Latest on Satellite Radio

2011-10-12T11:05:00.000-05:00

In 1997, the Federal Communications Commission gave two companies, Sirius and XM, approval to begin satellite radio broadcasting. Four years later, in 2001, satellite radio came on the scene with lots of fanfare, but what is happening today? The big development is that there is only one satellite radio company today. Sirius and XM each paid more than $80 million for their license. The debt was too great for each company to carry on their own, so they merged into one. SiriusXM Radio, Inc. was born in July of 2008 and today is the only satellite radio company in the United States. The company offers more than 230 channels comprised of commercial-free music, sports, talk shows, news stations, and provides local weather and traffic updates.
The primary source of revenue for SiriusXM is the subscription fee paid on an annual, semi-annual, quarterly or monthly basis for listeners receiving the service. In addition, revenue comes from activation fees, advertising on select non-music channels, the direct sale of satellite radios and accessories, and from fees it charges to provide local weather and traffic.
There’s a unique relationship between Sirius and the automobile industry. In the first quarter of 2011, the Mad Money Fund reported that SiriusXM had a 60 percent penetration rate in the new car market and of those who bought cars, and about 46 percent continued to use SiriusXM after the trial period expired. So SiriusXM depends on car sales to keep subscriptions up. That’s why it’s starting to reach into the used-car market where car sales are increasing.
That dependence on subscriptions may be one of the company’s biggest obstacles, however, especially in a lean economy. In 2009, Arbitron did a study showing that more than 32 million adult listeners tuned in to SiriusXM on a weekly basis. Today, industry analysts believe that number is more like 20 million. They site other hindrances to its growth to be:

Installation costs for digital radios;
The Federal Communications Commission giving commercial radio stations the go-ahead to broadcast digital signals, free of charge without the need for special equipment; and
Programs with adult themes and content that parents can find problematic. Since satellite radio is available on a subscription basis, it is under fewer restrictions from the government and can feature more uncensored, mature content.

But, here’s what we know about those who are loyal SiriusXM subscribers. According to Arbitron, they spend two hours and 45 minutes a day in their cars, and during that time they spend 71 percent of their time listening to SiriusXM. They are also highly educated, with 56 percent of listeners graduating from college or having advanced degrees. And, they are affluent, with 24 percent of listeners having household incomes of $150,000 or more.
These listeners are interested in specific programming and SiriusXM Radio’s relationships with an array of personalities and artists, from shock jock Howard Stern, to the very conservative Fox News Talk, with financial news from Bloomberg Radio, health news from Doctor Radio, lifestyle programming from Martha Stewart Living Radio, and lots of sports. For the sports fan, SiriusXM Radio is the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, Major League Baseball NASCAR, NBA, NHL, PGA Tour, and major college sports.
This type of niche programming is one of satellite radio’s biggest strengths, where listeners can get exactly the programming they are looking for and people who get placements can get to the exact audience they are looking to reach. What is unknown, however, is just how large that audience is on each channel. That’s something that advertisers and others want satellite radio to provide, but thus far have not been able to get SiriusXM to let out of the vault.
Today, the future of satellite radio is uncertain. The National Association of Broadcasters predicts that the government’s green light to commercial radio stations to broadcast digital signals could spell trouble for satellite radio. Since there are no monthly fees, and no installation or maintenance costs, it is attractive in this sagging economy.

posted by Martha Sharan

Dress Rehearsals for Radio Interviews, Part 2

2011-10-06T15:35:00.000-05:00

In our Spring newsletter, we provided tips for improving interview skills through media training.

We had such an overwhelming response from the article and subsequent blog postings that we wanted to provide a follow up. While some media training techniques can be applied to many different types of interview settings, there are techniques specific to radio to consider when it comes to preparing for an interview.

Now, we are going to take a step back and talk about some important items that can be completed before an interview takes place to make sure things go as seamlessly as possible. Here are five tips to help prepare spokespeople:

Prepare five to six key bullet points and supporting materials. If you have statistics on local markets where interviews are scheduled, prepare and review them. Have them handy during an interview and review them between interviews as a refresher. It’s important however, that these bullets sound natural and not overly rehearsed.
Complete a dress rehearsal. Practice as much as you can. Have people ask you questions on the subject matter so you can hear they way your answers sound. Answer questions out loud, using gestures and body language that you would use as if you are speaking in front of an audience.
Visualize how the story will play on the radio. Think about how this will sound on the air. This will help you prepare concise, quality answers.
Use words that create a picture in the listeners’ mind and stay away from using a passive tone with your words. Use active verb tenses to really engage the listener.
Prepare sound bites. Answers should generally be about 30 seconds in length, which will give the reporter sound bites they are looking for. Less editing for the reporter means potentially more airplay of the interview.

For all of our interview preparation tips, visitwww.newsgeneration.com/radio_resources/tips.htm. This Summer, we also produced a video to outline some of those points as well. To view it, visit www.youtube.com/newsgenerationinc#p/u/0/iSDdamDGYMs.
In our Spring 2012 newsletter, we will focus on five or six tips for spokespeople to concentrate on for the day interviews take place.

posted by Susan Matthews Apgood

A Fascinating Look at Radio and the Storm

2011-09-06T11:59:00.001-05:00

On September 4, the New York Times ran an article that details one DJ's determination to provide lifesaving information in the face of unprecedented flood waters.

According to the article, "As floodwaters rose on the morning of Aug. 28, [Big Jay] Fink interrupted the regular Sunday programming on WRIP-FM (97.9); instead of a classic Casey Kasem countdown, listeners found Mr. Fink — beginning what would be a 13-hour on-air marathon. He calmly fielded calls from people trapped by the surging waters and doled out information on makeshift shelters."

Fink provided information when listeners were unable to get cell reception because of towers being down and power had been knocked out to a large number of citizens. People listened from battery powered-radios during the storm and later from their car radios as they were assessing the damage. He and fellow DJ Joe Loverro took numbers and relayed information from listeners to emergency response units.

He also played some music between callers, and even that was carefully chosen to help out in times of trouble. “I didn’t want sad songs; I didn’t want happy songs,” he said. “I wanted songs about being together.”

We have often said that radio provides local information unlike any other medium and this one DJ and station's story illuminates that message greater than any number of listenership statistics or surveys of listening audience ever could.

Stay tuned...

Radio and the Storm

2011-08-30T13:54:00.000-05:00

Just read a good article from Sean Ross on Ross on the Radio about how radio covered the coming storm during "Irene," especially music-oriented radio which doesn't necessarily stray into "news you need" territory very often.

Sean does a nice compare and contrast between the coverage one could get on news and talk radio, like WPRO and WEMP, with NJ101.5’s weekend oldies and Philadelphia's classic hits WOGL.

While the entertainment oriented stations were dispensing important news and information, what he finds is a nice "helping each other" tone, instead of the more urgent reporting of the news and talk stations. He also finds some lighter programming like "hurricane dance parties" and themed songs like "Dancing in the Rain" and "1999."

Interesting to see radio as both an information lifeline and a companion during "Irene."

Stay tuned...

Speak clearly: 5 ways to write for the ear, not the eye

2011-08-26T15:21:00.000-05:00

Good article from Ragan about the art of speaking clearly, and the differences between writing well and speaking well: http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/43533.aspx. Sound advice for spokespeople who want to be ready on-air.

Media Training: Art rather than Science, Part 1

2011-08-19T18:04:00.000-05:00

As we begin to get ready to unveil our media traning video, we thought we'd take this opportunity to outline some media training tips myths.

Myth: I've done plenty of media interviews, so I'm ready for whatever a reporter might throw at me.

Fact: You can never have too much practice, and never underestimate a reporter's ability to surprise you. The reality is that the people that appear most natural in media interviews are "naturals" because they've practiced so much that they feel totally comfortable. Let's face it, having a microphone in front of your mouth or a camera pointing at your face is not something that our ancestors ever had, so no one is a "natural" on camera. It is a skill that can be developed, not something you're born with. And the only way to flex your media muscle is to tone it by practicing.

Myth: I know my message points backward and forward, so I'm all set.

Fact: Actually, it's the ability to be flexible and know your messaging in such a way that you can weave it into an interesting story that makes you media ready. Let's face it. We've all seen interviews where the interviewer asks a question and and the interviewee responds to a completely different question. That is someone who is a slave to their message points. The reporter asks anything that is in the least off the radar of the person being interviewed, and the interview veers off into dangerous, and sometimes comical territory. Know your message points, but remember to be a real person. Your authenticity will tell a much better story than a finely crafted, practiced sound bite ever could.

Stay tuned...

Social Media Research Update

2011-08-03T13:47:00.000-05:00

The research from the social media survey is still filtering in. Earlier in the research, 100 percent of our respondents reported using both Facebook and Twitter. After more responses have come in, that number has dropped a little to 96 percent. One news talk station does not use Facebook but uses Twitter and another news-talk station does not use Twitter, but uses Facebook. It’s interesting to see some stations that have not fully jumped on the social media bandwagon yet.

Sixty-five percent of the respondents stated that using social media breaks news faster, and 62 percent said that it provided another broadcast platform. I agree with the majority here. These days people are always connected with their Blackberries, iPhones and Droids. People are not always able to be close to a radio to tune in for their news, so they are checking their Facebook and Twitter to see what is happening as it is happening. If a station wants to be the first to release a story or even a song, they aren’t going to post it on their webpage; they are going to post it on Twitter and Facebook. It used to be that you could go to a website and from there discover if the site had a Facebook or Twitter account. Now it seems to be the other way around. Facebook and Twitter are the first sites people go to, and from there they can click links to get to more information.

Many of the stations expressed concern with the validity of social media sites. Anyone can be a “journalist” and post whatever they want. But that is why I believe it is so effective to have radio stations participate in social media. People want accurate information regardless of whether they listen to the station. A radio station is a reliable source of information and stations can benefit from their information on social media.

Two years ago we sent stations this same survey. Stations are utilizing social media more than ever and the results from two years ago have changed dramatically. Social media usage has doubled and an everyday person can now be a part of the news. Where will radio go next? Stay tuned…

Latest Radio Industry Developments

2011-08-01T17:30:00.000-05:00

Several late breaking developments came today as Sporting News Radio anounced it was re-branding as Yahoo Sports Radio. According to Radio-Info.com, sports experts from Yahoo will contribute to the radio shows, and the radio-generated content will in turn be used on Yahoo. There are no immediate changes planned for the current lineup, but listeners can expect the addition of one or two new shows.

In other merger news, Westwood One announced today that it will merge with Dial Global Radio Networks. In April, Westwood sold its Metro Networks business to Clear Channel. Now the remainder of Westwood is merging with Dial Global . The companies report that "the combination of assets creates a diverse radio programming, services, and advertising sales company," according to Radio-Info.com.

On Sunday, group owner/operator of Rick Buckley of Buckley Radio, died due to an apparent brain aneurysm. Buckley radio owns powerhouse station WOR 710 in New York (710), along with news and music-formatted stations across the country. Rick was a past Chairman of the RAB board, past chair of the Southern California Broadcasters Association and an active member of the Broadcasters Foundation. The company announced that long time Chief Operating Officer Joe Bilotta will succee Richard Buckley as its President and Chief Executive Officer.

Stay tuned...

College Radio Stations Being Silenced

2011-07-19T08:32:00.000-05:00

College radio stations serve as a voice for both students and the local community in which they’re located. A college radio station can provide local news, public affairs and information, a presence in community events, as well as music that is not getting airplay on commercial radio, as well as local music that is specific to the area. Recently, there has been an increase in the sales of college radio station properties to outside broadcasters interested in syndicating programming, like National Public Radio. This recent development has many students and supporters of college radio in local communities upset.

In these hard financial times, many colleges have been using the sale of their educational frequencies as a revenue generating opportunity. Oftentimes, these frequencies are worth millions of dollars to those who want to buy them. One of the main problems though, is that many colleges recognize the dollar value of their station, but not their value to the campus and surrounding community, leaving a void for both students who want experience at a broadcast station and the local community that relies on the not-for-profit voice the station provides. University and college administrators making these decisions are unaware of the possibilities of terrestrial radio and when they are told that radio is dying, they are even more willing to sell the license, especially if it will garner millions in unexpected revenue for the college or university.

On one side, there are critics who say the sales make good financial sense for colleges and universities to sell, and there are many students who will benefit from the exchange by providing the institution with needed funds that won’t cost students anything to provide. Because of the struggling economy, many university and college budgets are under pressure and tougher decisions have to be made. Such a decision may be between selling the campus radio station, increasing fees for students or laying off employees.

On the other side are people that are close to the college station and have felt its impact and sense of community, not to mention the countless students who have received on-air and management training through college radio and its often all volunteer staff. It’s true that a college-run station can be a powerful forum for ideas which is essential to student and community life. Radio can create a voice for students and the community through its many on-air programming opportunities.

There have been several movements this year to protest this issue. Now, the National Association of Collegiate Broadcasters is supporting College Radio Day on October 11th this year. The aim is to gain greater awareness about the issue and encourage people who do not normally listen to college radio to do so on this day, and encourage listenership throughout the year. The movement might gain awareness of the role of college radio on the broadcast spectrum, but until the economy improves, there is no telling if it will stop the college station buy-outs. Stay tuned…

Social Media Research Update

2011-07-11T14:11:00.002-05:00

My research project is underway! So far, I have received responses from about 10% of the stations on their use of social media. From the data to date, there is a large difference between responses today and those collected two years ago. For example, two years ago only 45 percent of the stations were using Facebook and Twitter. My results so far show 100 percent of stations that have responded are using both Facebook and Twitter. In addition, a majority of these stations are also using blogs, MySpace, and YouTube as well. All of the stations reported using social media to enhance listenership, saying it, “creates closer relationship between listeners and the station” and “deepens understanding of community, relationships”.

Regarding stations using social media for news gathering, more than 50 percent of the stations use social media to get leads on stories. Stations have also responded that they get listener feedback on their social media sites to enhance their coverage on a particular story and some are even using it to find interview subjects. However, interestingly enough, these stations did not find social media to be a “reliable source” of information and 100 percent said social media will not replace traditional media. I found this last part to be very interesting. Someone is trained in traditional media sourcing may not want to admit to the power of social media, but the reality is that there are many people who are using Facebook and Twitter to receive news. While it may not be the most accurate form of news, it is definitely a quick and easy way to receive news and information on the go.

We still gathering responses from stations so we can get the more comparable results possible. As results come in, I will continue to update my findings. Stay tuned…

Rocking Out With WRXP

2011-07-08T13:44:00.000-05:00

WRXP is a top rock station in New York. What makes them such a top ranking station in a densely populated area such as New York? Is it the music that they play? The promotions that they run? The jocks? Or could it be their use of social media? The station has a large list of social media that they use, but I am most impressed with their use of Facebook.

Upon visiting the site, I was immediately drawn in by their promotions, events, and “The RXP Random Picture of the Day.” Its little things like the random picture of the day that catches people’s attention and prompts them to visit the station’s page to check it out or leave a comment. The random picture shown below received 36 “Likes” and 21 comments.

You can tell a lot about a person or a company just by looking at their Facebook wall. You can see if they are an active user, how many friends they have and if their friends actually know them and comment on posts or are acquaintances with little interaction, and their daily activities as seen through posting pictures and updates. Facebook is a lot deeper than some people realize. WRXP’s page is completely geared toward the station and not a specific jock or host. In fact, after spending a morning listening to WRXP, I discovered that the station is driven more by music and by individual personalities. I listened the whole morning and didn’t hear much from the host, it was mostly music. There were a couple segments of local news and sports news, but otherwise the station is very music-intensive.

After listening to the station, I was surprised at the popularity of WRXP on social media sites. There was little interaction on the radio, but a lot of interaction on the social media sites. They post things daily and get a very good response from their listeners. I didn’t see one post that someone had not either “Liked” or commented on.

I see Facebook as a chain reaction. If one of my friends is interacting with a local radio station, it’s not long before I will see it come up on my news feed and I will visit their page. WRXP has utilized this organic growth and created a very successful, entertaining and fun Facebook page because of their strong interaction with listeners on the web.

Music of "The People"

2011-07-07T14:19:00.002-05:00

WVEE, V-103 The People’s Station, has been the number one station in Atlanta for years. Is this because of the way they market their station through social media? Or is it because the surrounding demographic is most interested in Urban music? Or perhaps a combination of the two? With an average quarter hour (AQH) figure of more than 52 thousand, the station consistently ranks as #1 among Atlanta’s radio listeners. The station also has over 73,000 Facebook likes and over 17,000 Twitter followers. With its high ranking among, is V-103 doing anything with social media than other stations are not doing to extend their listening audience?

V-103 has very basic Facebook and Twitter pages. They consist of updating listeners on new music, events and contests. So what is it that makes this station number one? The hosts and DJs on the station are very prominently known. They each have their own social media sites and seem to connect with their listeners on a personal level. While V-103 has a large online presence through its well-know hosts and DJs, I think a large part of an urban station’s popularity is going to be what type of music they play and how much they actually interact with listeners on-air. WVEE refers to their station as “The People’s Station.” Using this tagline, they are showing the station really connects with listeners and is part of their listeners lives through playing music and providing program that “the people” want to hear. In this case, I think social media only contributes in small part to their popularity. It seems it’s their on-air programming that drives the most interest in the station. Stay tuned…

http://v103.radio.com/

https://www.facebook.com/v103thepeoplesstation

Chicago Ladies Love Valentine

2011-07-06T07:54:00.001-05:00

WLIT is an Adult Contemporary station in Chicago. Adult Contemporary is a forma known to have an adult female demographic, so I thought it would be interesting to see if the station was using as much social media as other stations that target younger audiences. What I found was that WLIT was using the same amount of social media, they just had different strategies to reach out to their listeners.

When first visiting the Facebook site I knew within the first tn seconds that it wasn’t a station I would listen to regularly. And the more I looked the more I saw it as a “mom” station. In fact, most of the Facebook posts could be applied to mothers or women between the ages of 25-54. When I visited the morning host, Valentine’s page, I found that not only was Valentine a male but he was also very popular with the ladies. There were numerous posts from women who clearly love this guy. One of the posts really made me laugh.

“WOW Val. I couldn't get ready for work unless I listen to your show. I'm a faithful listener. I had no idea how hot you are, and take this from a 59 year old Grandma!!! This is the first time I've gone onto the website. You're adorable, inside and out”

He is a real charmer on and off the air. In fact, Valentine’s Facebook page was the first page I have come across where the listeners have more posts on the wall than the host does. Women everywhere are in love with this guy.

I think WLIT’s strategy behind social media is specifically gearing it towards women, in what they are interested in, and having a great host who is obviously relatable. Many of the posts were things on being a mother, having a husband, going to work and associated stories and pictures. I think most would agree that we want to listen to something that we can relate to our own lives and thus feel a connection. Stay tuned…

WTOP: Profile of Washington's Only All-News Radio Station

2011-07-05T16:04:00.001-05:00

WTOP News in Washington, DC utilizes social media in a different way than music-oriented radio stations. The station’s use of social media is centered around their news stories and trying to get the word out to as many people as possible. On Facebook and Twitter, they post subject headings with links to the full story. For something like Twitter that can be directed straight to people’s phones, this social media method is a great way to get the story directly in the person’s hands, literally. And although WTOP is a radio station, the stories they post are available in print as well, so they can appeal to people on the go with their handheld devices without having to hear the audio portion of the story.

Now, does this form of social media actually help the radio station? Or does it just promote the name? I for one have been following WTOP on Twitter since I created my account. Some people may only have an interaction with them via their Twitter feed and very little traditional radio listening. Through their feed, I am able to get the weather and read breaking news right from my phone, which isn’t even a smartphone, by the way. The accessibility is extraordinary, but is it doing anything for the station itself?

The thing that sets WTOP apart from other stations I have been researching is their technology involving phones. Not only do they have a text alert system that sends breaking news directly to your phone via text message, but they have a system called Audio Now. Audio Now is simply a number anyone can call on any phone to get WTOP radio streaming directly to the phone. While it is a pretty simple concept, much like an answering machine, the accessibly to a radio station’s live stream really amazes me. A radio used to just be a box that sound came out of. It then progressed to be put in cars and then onto computers and now it can come directly out of your phone. What’s next for radio? As the first mass media, radio is actually very tech-savvy, using methods to grow and improve the way we hear radio. Stay tuned...

Michael Smart: A Real Smart Guy

2011-06-29T09:05:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending a half-day Michael Smart seminar titled Perfect Pitching for PR Professionals. Now, I am no PR Professional, but after this seminar I feel like I could call any reporter and pitch them a story on dental floss.

Michael was able to instruct a room full of PR people on how to successfully pitch to reporters based on his own pitching experiences and through coaching others. His pitching techniques were successful enough to land his stories in the top media outlets in the country. The amazing thing about the examples he used was way he could turn a semi-interesting fact into an appealing and personable news story. Who knew that a story on a guy who made stamps could be turned into nationwide news? That’s just the edge that PR people need nowadays. With newsrooms downsizing and reporters becoming busier with more beats to cover it’s harder to get their attention with a story that they will actually be interested in. And PR people know this. Obviously, they need a story that will be of interest to the reporter. But just how do they that right angle? Or the perfect headline? After hearing Michael Smart speak I don’t think anyone left the seminar without a new idea or creative way to get the attention of reporters. As if the PR world couldn’t get any more competitive, it just did thanks to Mr. Smart.

http://www.michaelsmartpr.com/

Profile - The Station or the Host?

2011-06-23T14:45:00.000-05:00

KIIS-FM is LA’s #1 Hit Music Station. Is this because of the great music the station plays? Or is it because of the hosts and personalities on the station?

When researching the station, I found it to be very active in its use of social media. Then I looked at their social media hits versus Ryan Seacrest’s numbers and found no comparison. KIIS-FM had 114,411 Facebook “likes,” while Ryan Seacrest has a whopping 653,777. Are people more likely to follow a host or personality rather than a station in general?

Ryan Seacrest might be an unusual example due to his national fame and celebrity status. Regardless, I believe radio listeners are more apt to follow the station’s hosts rather than the stations themselves, because of the connection are looking for from a person rather than from a station. Facebook is where your friends are and if you “like” Ryan’s page, you and can look through his photos, comment on his posts and feel as though you are actually “friends” with Ryan Seacrest.

Ryan’s profile picture seen here shows Ryan more as an everyday person than as a celebrity. I find this to be more personable and again non-famous people can feel a larger connection to him when they see him in a medium that we’re actively involved in.

Here are some other forms of social media Ryan uses:

Twitter - 4,736,778 followers and over 5,000 tweets. People can follow Ryan to see what he’s up to but also find out a lot of entertainment news. Because Ryan is involved in so many areas of TV and radio, he is able to get his information out from every area on one feed.

MySpace - 688,912 friends. I didn’t know so many people were still on MySpace. We might have to check on the status of “active” users.

YouTube - Total Upload Views 48,088,771 and 62,538 subscribers. Viewers can visit Ryan’s YouTube site to see personal videos of him and the shows he’s producing.

Personal Website www.ryanseacrest.com – Basically shows every aspect of Ryan’s professional career. This site provides news, video, blogs, photos, events and contests, but is not in as personable format as his social networking sites.

So what is more important, the station or the host? What do you think? While I am waiting for the survey results to filter in, I will be profiling some other stations use of social media to see just what I think is working and what they might want to work on. Stay tuned…

Week One - Here's What Questions We're Posing...

2011-06-22T13:46:00.002-05:00

In my last blog posting, I discussed the upcoming survey of stations on their use of social media. Now, the surveys have been sent out! I asked the same 50 stations surveyed in 2009 the same questions on social media. Here are the questions we asked:

1. What New Media/Social Media does your station use?

2. What role do you think New Media/Social Media has on your reporting of a news story?

3. How does your station use New Media/Social Media in newsgathering?

4. Do you use “citizen journalists” in your reporting?

5. Is Social Media a "reliable source" or do you use another source to validate information from Social Media?

6. Will Social Media replace traditional media?

My inclination is that a majority of the stations are going to be actively involved in using Social Media for their station and in their newsgathering, but I want a little more detail from the stations. The ability to accurately compare these results will make it possible to see the growth of social media in just two years. As the results come in, I will keep you updated on what stations are saying. Stay tuned…

Let the Research Begin

2011-06-16T15:06:00.003-05:00

In 2009, a News Generation survey of 50 radio newsrooms in the top 50-markets found that only 45 percent of the respondents use Facebook and Twitter, and the use of the social media was primarily to offer the stations’ technologically savvy audiences an extension of conventional radio and provide another broadcast platform. At that time, only 30 percent of respondents believed that keeping pace with technology and using social media would build listenership loyalty. Fifty-six percent of reporters in radio newsrooms said they relied on social media for story leads from “citizen journalists” and 34 percent said social media could also provide possible sources of information.

Two years later, one can only guess how much these numbers have changed. I plan on asking these same questions to the same stations that were surveyed two years ago and compare the results, plus track some new trends on the horizon. Very much like I couldn’t last a day without my Facebook account, nowadays I believe it is vital for radio stations to have an online and social media presence. And what better place to market your station than free, easy-to-use sites like Facebook and Twitter?

I am hoping to find out the inner workings of radio station’s social media use, but I would also like to open the door to questions. What you want to know from radio stations and radio news reporters? Let me know and it might just help me get an “A” on my paper. Stay tuned…

The Role of Social Media in Radio

2011-06-13T15:32:00.001-05:00

Hi, my name is Erica and I am currently a summer intern at News Generation in Bethesda, MD here from the University of Utah. As a part of my internship, my school requires us to write a research paper on something that correlates with our internship. I have chosen to research radio stations use of social media and how the rise in social media has influenced radio stations.

Social media is taking over the world, literally. Among the different forms of social media there is Facebook and Twitter, both of which have made their mark on the world. There are over 500 million active users on Facebook and there are thousands of Tweets going out every day. As an active Facebook and Twitter user I know firsthand the power of social media. A majority of the time, Facebook and Twitter are where I get my news and information.

In my research, I plan on looking at two different sides of social media for radio, the business side and the programming side. I want to find out what stations are doing with social media and if it’s working and making a difference in how stations are run. I want to find out if listeners are responding to the social media and if the number of listeners has risen due to the popularity of social media.

Lastly, I want to find out if listeners feel a connection to specific radio hosts provided all the different means of interacting directly with the people behind the microphone. Follow me this summer to see what unfolds. Stay tuned…

Radio Used to Alert Physicians to June 30 Deadline for ePrescribing

2011-06-09T12:52:00.000-05:00

A doctor’s scrawl of a prescription on a small piece of paper may soon be a thing of the past, if the combination of looming federal incentives payments and consumer demand work their magic in the medical marketplace. But right now, the one-two punch of money on the table and patient requests have resulted in still less than half of all physician’s offices using the safe and efficient process of ePrescribing.

To discuss the challenges and opportunities of bringing ePrescribing to physicians and patients, News Generation scheduled a series of interviews with veteran physician Dr. Lawrence Susnow, who practiced internal medicine and geriatrics for 20 years before starting NewCrop, a provider of ePrescribing systems.

Dr. Susnow discussed how prescribers can confirm prescription benefit information prior to sending an e-prescription, eliminating the need for the pharmacist to verify those details. And because there is no handwriting for the pharmacist to interpret, there is less potential for error caused by similar-sounding drug names.

Based on the interview with Dr. Susnow, MarketWatch prepared this story to feed to their radio affiliates nationwide. In total, the radio media tour reached more than four and a half million listeners including hits on American Urban Radio Network, MarketWatch, and Wall Street Journal Radio.

Stay tuned for more cases studies on the way radio can inform a debate...

Inspiring & Frank Talk by Vivian Schiller

2011-05-25T13:54:00.000-05:00

Today I had the privilege of seeing Vivian Schiller speak frankly at an event presented by Bethesda Magazine and the Roundhouse Theater about her career and recent controversy which lead to her separation from NPR.
Steve Hull, editor of Bethesda Magazine, lead the discussion and after asking her about recent events, got into the future of media. She made sure to say her crystal ball was not more or less fine tuned than anyone else, but I thought had some interesting insights on radio. Which, of course, made my ears perk up. Mr. Hull first asked her about newspapers and magazines, and she was bullish on both.
For radio, she mentioned she thought internet radio was going to be big in the next few years. I had always thought of internet radio as content streamed by anyone and a form of non-traditional, non-terrestrial radio. But, she was referring to mobile apps and online versions, like TuneIn, where you can get traditional stations anywhere via computer, smartphone or car. So, if I listened to WAMU in Washington and am traveling to Los Angeles on business, I can still listen to WAMU.
This presents a challenge to all local stations to provide the best local and relevant content at all times.
The challenge I see as a PR professional is how is all of this non-traditional listening going to be tracked and verified. Stay tuned...

Posted by Susan Apgood

Strategy, Measurement Keys to Winning PR Awards, Per Thoth Panel

2011-05-12T11:33:00.000-05:00

A four-person panel of Thoth, SABRE, Silver Anvil and other award-winners stressed the importance of broad business goals, meaningful evaluative data and effective entry presentation for public relations award submissions at the Public Relations Society of America National Capital Chapter’s (PRSA-NCC) “How to Create an Award-Winning Thoth Application and Showcase Success” seminar Wednesday at the Navy Memorial.

The panelists included Marie Manning, vice president of public affairs for Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide; Tori Fort, vice president of Zeno Group; John Forrest Ales, director of global brand public relations for Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Trent Flood, communications manager of enterprise business services for Lockheed Martin. News Generation, Inc. President Susan Matthews Apgood served as moderator. Overall, the panel agreed that strategy, substance and style are crucial for an award-winning entry.

Manning kicked off the seminar by discussing reasons for pursuing awards, ranging from positive attention for companies and causes to the career benefits of achieving professional recognition and sharing best practices. As a Thoth judge, she stressed proving points through pictures, graphs and color while providing context for measurement data.

“The most important thing is to show substance,” said Manning.

Fort then discussed the importance of budgeting enough time to develop and effectively proof award entries, sharing anecdotes from the American Urological Association and the NFL’s collaborative campaign to promote prostrate health. She emphasized internally analyzing strengths and weaknesses of the campaign and addressing special circumstances such as a volunteer-driven budget in the entry, even if exact figures can’t be shared.

Ales stressed the importance of creating a plan worth sharing by ensuring that every campaign includes strategic components of planning, research, implementation, evaluation and budgeting. Flood built upon this point by highlighting the importance of clear goals and objectives, which led Lockheed Martin to incorporate multiple phases and a tiered measurement structure into its I Campaign, which won the 2010 “Best in Show” Thoth Award. The panel then addressed concrete questions about the internal awards process, promoting shared clients and tracking real-world outcomes.

The deadline for PRSA-NCC’s Thoth Awards is Friday, July 8.

Written by Jacque Riley, APR, Freelance PR Writer & Strategist

How to Create an Award-Winning Thoth Application and Showcase Your Success

2011-05-05T08:14:00.000-05:00

How to Create an Award-Winning Thoth Application and Showcase Your Success

Presented by the PRSA-NCC Professional Development and Thoth Award Committees

Date: Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Time: 8:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Location: Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004
Cost: $35/PRSA and WWPR members; $55/non-members; $10/students/retirees; additional $10 at the door
Register here

The Thoth Award is Washington, DC's most coveted public relations recognition of achievement. Please join PRSA-NCC and learn how to effectively write and submit your best work for this coveted PR award. The deadline for this year's PRSA-NCC's Thoth Awards is Friday, July 8 and will be here before you know it. Our expert panel will guide you through the submission process and equip you with insider tips that will make your submission stand apart from the rest. Don’t miss this opportunity to make your entry shine.

Register today to join expert panel - all Thoth winners - as we discuss:
• Thinking about an award submission at the onset of a campaign
• Review of internal processes to produce award-winning applications
• Tips for making your award stand apart from the rest
• Advice for first time submissions, including the “dos” and “don’ts” for submissions

Panelists include:
• John Forrest Ales, Director, Global Brand Public Relations, Hilton Hotels & Resorts
• Trent Flood, communications manager of Enterprise Business Services, Lockheed Martin
• Tori Fort, vice president, Zeno Group
• Marie Manning, vice president public affairs, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
Moderator: • Susan Matthews Apgood, president, News Generation, Inc.

Speak To Be Remembered and Repeated: 7 Rules to Remember

2011-04-21T11:06:00.003-05:00

Below is an article from the April 21 edition of the Daily Dog that we thought was worth reposting. Some great tips here for all those who speak publicly.

Speak To Be Remembered and Repeated: 7 Rules to Remember

By Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE, Executive Speech Coach

"Speak to be remembered and repeated" is the advice I give my executive speech-coaching clients. Isn't that the goal of every executive, professional speaker and sales professional — to be remembered and repeated?

However it's easier said than done. Here are some tips.

1. Speak in short sentences or phrases. Edit your sentences to a nub. Jerry Seinfeld said, "I will spend an hour taking an eight word sentence and editing it down to five." In comedy, the fewer the words between the set-up and the punch word, the bigger the laugh. In business communications, change the punch word or phrase to impact phrase.

2. Don't step on your punch word. It should be the final word or idea in the sentence. (Yes, this works for Jerry Seinfeld and his comedian brethren, and it also works for business communicators.)

The otherwise-powerful word "today" can also be the biggest impact-diluting word in business communications if you use it wrong. For example, in the sentence, "You have to make an important decision today," your punch word should be "decision." So switch it around and change the noun "decision" to the active verb "decide." "Today, you have to DECIDE!"

3. Perfect your pause. Deliver your punch word and then pause...and pause...and pause. Give your listeners time to digest what you've just said. Get comfortable with silence, and don't be tempted to rush on or fill it with "um's."

4. Repeat your key ideas more than once. Do not be afraid of being redundant. Instead, worry that tomorrow your audience members will not remember your key ideas.

5. Never read your speech. Remember the audience wants to hear from you. If someone is simply going to read a script or the titles off a PowerPoint slide presentation, you could have stayed home. (PowerPoint is a magnificent visual aid, but not a scripting aid.)

6. Use stories. Help your listeners to "see" your words. Statistics and facts are fine, but sell your message and make yourself unforgettable by getting listeners to make the movie in their heads. For example, you might say, "Drunk driving is a bad idea. Let me share with you some statistics on the loss of control drivers experience after even one beer." Instead say, "Never, never, never drive drunk! Not even after one beer. I know. My friend Eliot Kramer was absolutely positive that two drinks couldn't affect his timing and judgment." (Hold up a single shoe, dangling from its shoelaces.) "Six months ago, he died." Farther on, add some statistics and then conclude with a reference to your powerful story.

7. Say something memorable. Presidents have gifted speechwriters to coin ringing phrases for the history books. You can be just as memorable in your field when you think about what you want to say and why. Here's an example from the memorial for 60 Minutes' Ed Bradley. Fellow reporter Steve Kroft said, "I learned a lot from Ed Bradley, and not just about journalism. I learned a lot about friendship, manners, clothes, wine, freshly cut flowers (which he had delivered to his office every week) and the importance of stopping and smelling them every once in awhile."

Another example, from Mike Powell when he was a senior scientist at Genentech, giving a speech to the Continental Breakfast Club: "Being a scientist is like doing a jigsaw puzzle, in a snow storm, at night, when you don't have all the pieces, or the picture you are trying to create."

Remember to try out these seven key ideas as you prepare your next presentation so your words will be remembered and repeated. Why else would you go to all that effort?

Patricia Fripp is an executive speech coach, sales presentation trainer, and keynote speaker on sales, effective presentation skills and executive communication skills. She works with companies large and small, and individuals from the C-Suite to the work floor. She builds leaders, transforms sales teams and delights audiences. She is the author of Get What You Want!, Make It, So You Don't Have to Fake It!, and is Past-President of the National Speakers Association. To learn more about having Patricia do her magic for you, contact her at http://www.fripp.com/.

How to Create an Award-Winning Thoth Application and Showcase Your Success

2011-04-18T14:49:00.003-05:00

The deadline for this year’s PRSA-NCC’s Thoth Awards is Friday, July 8. That date will be here before you know it. Please join PRSA-NCC and learn how to effectively write and submit your best work for the coveted PR award. Our expert panel will guide you through the submission process and equip you with insider tips that will make your submission shine. Don’t miss this opportunity to make your entry stand out against the rest.
The panel is moderated by Susan Apgood, president of News Generation.
Date: Wednesday, May 11, 2011, from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. More details can be found at: https://secure.kinsail.com/results.asp?p=prsancc&pt=store&GroupID=21407.

AM/FM Combos Extend News-Talk Broadcasts

2011-04-11T14:41:00.002-05:00

Over the last few months, radio trend watchers have likely noticed a flurry of activity around AM news and talk stations taking over FM station frequencies to give the news-talk property a clearer sound and signal.

These new AM/FM simulcast combos give the station the best of both worlds – the AM that listeners have always known and identified the station by and a new FM clearer signal upon which to broadcast their programming, allowing them to compete with other music-oriented FMs without listeners having to switch over to the AM band.

Further, these FM takeovers are often struggling properties within one station family, which allows the owner to program the station without additional station staff or resources. Examples of the AM/FM trend include:

KBMZ-AM/FM in Kansas City at 980 and 98.1

WBEN-AM/FM in Buffalo at 930 and 107.7

WSB-AM/FM in Atlanta at 750 and 95.5

KOMO-AM/FM in Seattle at 1000 and 97.7

WBT-AM/FM in Charlotte at 1110 and 99.3

Stay tuned…

Haiti Recaptures the Hearts of Radio Audiences in America One Year After the Devastating Earthquake

2011-04-05T10:47:00.001-05:00

On Monday, January 10th the team at News Generation devoted the day to the people of Haiti – bringing their stories and needs back to the forefront and reminding Americans that the job of rebuilding the island nation is far from over. More than 51 million listeners heard the message through radio media tours and an audio news release carried on seven radio networks: Associated Press, Fox News, Metro Source, American Urban Radio Network, USA Radio Network, Bloomberg News, and Wall Street Journal Radio; and scores of the top news, news-talk and talk stations in the country.
Haiti, as you may remember, was the victim of one of the most devastating natural disasters of our time. The earthquake hit on January 12, 2010, killing more than 220,000, injuring more than 300,000 and leaving more than one million of its citizens homeless and fighting diseases like cholera.
Two days before the one-year anniversary, we offered radio stations across the country two separate radio media tours: one, with the president of the international relief organization Oxfam America; and the other, with the director of a film premiering on the PBS series Independent Lens called “Children of Haiti.” We also pitched a news release for stations wanting a capsulated version of the latest from Haiti, due to the brevity of their newscasts.
The response from stations was overwhelming for several reasons. First, the interviews and news release were made available two days before the one-year anniversary of the quake. News and news-stations like to book interviews ahead of an event, preferably not the day of and definitely not the day after an event. Second, the direction of the interviews about Haiti was diverse enough that two of the networks, American Urban Radio Network and Metro Source, scheduled both interviews.
Oxfam America’s perspective was from the outside looking in at the country, giving listeners a status report on the progress of rebuilding Haiti, on the humanitarian aid that has helped keep millions of Haitians alive and on the current needs of the people for access to basic services like water and health care. The “Children of Haiti” interviews took another approach with the story of Haiti being told from the inside looking out. The documentary focused on three out of thousands of orphaned and abandoned children who shared their perspectives on their country, and on their lives past, present and future.
Lastly, the pitch was straight forward – the purest form of a public relations effort. It was the type of pitch radio stations and networks are looking for: information that will advance a story and make it timely, a meaty topic that listeners can identify with and get personally involved in. Interviews with substance keep the American public coming back and tuning in for a daily dose of education, enlightenment, empowerment, and entertainment.

posted by Martha Sharan

Using Radio During a Crisis

2011-03-29T14:22:00.001-05:00

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear about a crisis? Speed, responsiveness and immediacy probably come to mind first and foremost. If you are an individual impacted by the crisis, you want information, and you want it now. If you are an organization responding to a crisis, you want to get out information, and you want to do it now.

Where these two worlds tend to intersect is in the media. Radio often provides the ability for people to respond quickly during a crisis. Without need for highly produced video, both radio stations and their affiliated websites provide media outlets with information that can be updated as quickly as news is breaking.

Recent examples of using radio during a crisis include coverage of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, which according to Radio Info, “News of the quake has taken over radio reports [with] Japan's NHK Radio providing around-the-clock coverage.” The protests in Wisconsin are another example of radio use during a crisis. Union representatives and the Governor regularly engaged with radio reporters. Outlets like Fox News and ABC News Radio reported regularly from the frontlines of the debate to provide the latest developments in the budget battle and collective bargaining.

In a 24/7 news environment, it’s not only imperative to get there first, but for reporters to get it right. This means that as a communications organization, you must prepare in advance of a crisis in order to get the facts right when it counts most. Here are some tips for dealing with a crisis:

Identify your messaging in certain scenarios. Play out ways that a crisis could unfold taking into account the nuances of your organization and know what your messaging would be under each circumstance.
Once a crisis breaks, fine-tune your messaging. Depending on each circumstance, it will be vital to tweak your messaging to respond to the particulars of each circumstance. Don’t skip this step or you will seem like you aren’t credible and don’t know what is going on.
Keep it simple. Always keep in mind the issue you’re responding to and what your organization is doing about it. Avoid using overly complex explanations, ideas or legal wording.
Your primary mission is to communicate. This means to be clear and concise, and communicate in a forthright and confident manner with factual, helpful information and an action step for listeners to take if they have been impacted. The step could include providing a website or a phone number to get more information. No stonewalling and no “let me get back to you on that” messaging.
Go to the media contacts you know first and quickly. These are people with whom you have had a productive relationship in the past who can help get your message out quickly and accurately. This means prior to a crisis, you have to communicate with your news contacts regularly and build those ongoing relationships, not just reach out to them during a crisis.
Don’t offer exclusives. This is no time to get into a media competition about what outlet is going to break this story. Get the story out to the right contacts at the right time, and don’t delay. If a television station is coming out to interview your CEO, don’t wait for them to arrive to begin communicating. Every delay means that someone else is telling your story without your input, and those impacted by the crisis could be suffering in the meantime.

For more information and tips for spokespeople to review before conducting an interview, visit our Radio Resources.

TV Hits to Share for Ernst & Young Tax Guide 2011

2011-02-24T13:29:00.001-05:00

Check out our in-studio TV interiew on ABC News NOW from February 22: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/video/tax-tips-preparing-tax-season-12972610?tab=9482930&section=4806329&playlist=1363934&page=1

And, from foxnews.com in the same day: http://video.foxnews.com/v

/4551014/50-commonly-overlooked-tax-deductions/?playlist_id=162726

What Makes a Good Talk Show Host?

2011-02-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

I recently read an article in "News Talk Edge" on RadioInfo.com about whether Keith Olbermann should consider hosting his own radio show after his dismissal from MSNBC. This got me thinking about what makes a good talk show host. Not just a popular talk show host, but a good talk show host.

Many days what passes for good talk radio is based merely on a host’s ability to attract and keep an audience. The minute their audience numbers begin to decline, so does their attractiveness to programmers.

But there is much more to being a good talk show host than a popularity contest. So I thought I might take the opportunity to explore the type of talk show host that might appeal to a broader audience, not just the ideologues on the far right or left.

If you’re considering becoming a host, do your potential audience a favor, and ask yourself the following questions:

Do you want to explore topics fully? This means talking to people with whom you may vehemently disagree, yet still have the ability to grant a good point when you hear one.
Do you have an overt political agenda? While it’s find to have a viewpoint and to express it on the air, if your goal is to get more people of one party or another in office, do us all a favor and go work on a campaign instead of working the airwaves.
Do you have an intellectual curiosity about a number of issues? Say, pop culture and science or the economy and environment … Having a broad range of interests will have your listeners coming back because they want to know more about the most surprising of things.
Do you consider yourself an expert or are you more interested in inviting experts on your airwaves? It’s always far more engaging to hear from a variety of different topic area experts than one person with a megaphone who thinks they know something about everything.
Do you want to be a celebrity? If your outrageous actions put you in the spotlight as the center of the story instead of a vehicle for telling a good story, talk radio may not be your avenue. Be a commentator on other talk shows, but not the host of your own show.

I know there are those who want to listen to talk radio to cheerlead their own camp and get more people to agree with their politics. I understand that type of talk radio can be wildly popular with the likes of Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and Randi Rhodes, but give me shows like NPR’s All Things Considered or WJR’s The Frank Beckmann Show any day, so I can go boldly into the world with more facts and data to use and maybe, I’ll be just a little smarter from having tuned in…

Calling All Media Relations Rock Stars!

2011-01-25T13:48:00.001-05:00

To keep up with our continued growth, we are hiring for positions in both our Atlanta and Bethesda offices. We are looking for rock star additions to our media relations and marketing teams. Freelance media relations positions and internships are available in both of our offices.

More information about these opportunities is available at newsgeneration.com/employment.htm.

Local Radio in Columbus Helps Local Homeless Man

2011-01-05T18:47:00.006-05:00

One homeless man may be getting a second chance at his dream to use his "god-given gift." In Columbus, Ohio, local panhandler Ted Williams has been seen with a sign stating that he’s a former radio announcer facing tough times.

Hearing about the man, a reporter from the Columbus Dispatch talked with him and the resulting video was a remarkable display of his talent as he explains how he went from a successful career to life on the street.

Williams describes meeting a radio announcer when he was 14 years old who said that radio is "theater of mind."

According to the Dispatch, Williams said, “Well, hey. I can't be an actor, I can't be an on-air personality, but the voice just became something of a development over the years and I went to school for it. And then alcohol and drugs and a few other things became a part of my life. I've got two years clean, and I'm trying hard to get it back. And hopefully somebody from one of these television or radio stations will say, 'hey, I need a voice-over.'”

But his story doesn't end there. The video has gotten more than six million hits on YouTube as of January 5, resulting in an appearance on CBS television’s the Early Show and viewers of the YouTube video offering job leads.

A local morning radio show Dave and Jimmy on Clear Channel-owned WNCI interviewed Williams Wednesday and said on the station’s website, “While there are thousands of talented folks in our business struggling for a way back in, or to add another part-time job to help make ends meet, you never know where the next potential talent can come from.”

"We're going to find some way to help this guy!" the morning show announced on the show's Facebook page.

At the end of the video, Williams sums it up by saying, “And I love radio.” Perhaps radio in Columbus will love him back! Stay tuned to hopefully hear his golden pipes on a radio station near you.

A chilly January for some at Clear Channel

2010-12-21T10:36:00.000-05:00

As reported by radio-info.com, Clear Channel newsroom are expected to make newsroom cuts on January 14, details at http://bit.ly/gfdzpJ

Preparing for a Radio Interview

2010-12-13T17:15:00.000-05:00

The old adage, “It’s not what you say, but how you say it” may have more resonance than you ever thought. We recently attended a professional development seminar on media training and according to Keenan PR, only fifteen percent of what people hear in a telephone interview is based on what is said, with a full eighty-five percent based on how a spokesperson sounds.

While this may seem a superficial response, based on the physical attributes of one’s voice – those with a deep tenor unfairly advantaged – it actually points to a larger theme. Those who are confident and prepared for anything, sound better. So, even if you are not blessed with the vocal qualities of a Bob Edwards or Cokie Roberts, fear not. You will automatically sound better by knowing that you’re the go-to person on your subject matter. How do you get to be that confident?

In addition to providing a spokesperson with talking points, it’s important for him or her to have some experience with the format of a radio interview – the back and forth interplay, and how to get an interviewer back on track should they stray into an area that your spokesperson may not want to address. To help prepare a spokesperson for radio interviews, we often suggest that our clients conduct at least one “mock interview” with both softball and more contentious interview questions included to fully prepare a spokesperson.

For more tips, visit www.newsgeneration.com/radio_resources/tips.htm, and scroll down to "Top Tips for Radiant Radio Interviews.”

Are you buying an ad when you purchase an audio news release with a guaranteed placement?

2010-11-16T21:10:00.002-05:00

The short answer is absolutely. Clients and potential clients often ask us if we can guarantee a certain placement and usage rate with our services. We do not provide guaranteed placements. We specialize in earned media placements. There are many differences between guaranteed and earned media placements.

The first and most important being that guaranteed placements are advertisements, where money is exchanged between service companies and stations in exchange for airtime. Second, earned media placements run in news and public affairs programming and guaranteed placements run between newscasts and advertising segments. Third, guaranteed placements have less credibility or value than earned placements, since they fall into a station’s advertising lineup, rather than in its programming content, where most clients want to be.

We do not buy time on radio networks or stations. Rather, we pitch reporters, assignment editors, morning show producers, and public affairs directors, and they determine whether to use a story in their newscasts or talk shows based on the merit of the story, not because they are being paid to run it. Therefore, the placement or usage of a story depends on its news value and the current news issues of the day.

Tapping Radio’s Power to Get Out the Vote

2010-11-11T12:27:00.001-05:00

The day before the midterm elections the White House was buzzing with activity. While most presidents choose to be on the road stumping for local candidates, this year President Obama opted to stay in his office and conduct a series of strategically targeted radio interviews.

CBS News confirmed that President Obama was recording what they termed as “a flurry of interviews on urban-oriented radio shows, including one with "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest.”

The interview with Seacrest was pretaped to air on Election Day, along with interviews on the popular urban morning shows Russ Parr and Steve Harvey. The President also conducted a live afternoon drive interview on November 1 with Michael Baisden.

Going even further, the President got local by doing interviews with hosts in key markets of Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Honolulu, and Miami. He wasn’t alone in the radio appearance category, however. First Lady Michelle Obama also recorded interviews with Steve Harvey and Yolanda Adams.

What’s interesting about this tactic is that President. Obama’s strategists seem to understand how powerful radio is in driving a message home. Using his time strategically, the President could be on the air all over the country in a short few hours from his desk. A feat that he could not achieve by physically travelling to all those locations in such a short period of time.

While the President certainly could have used television to drive this message out, he chose radio. This is because radio allows you to reach key demographic and geographic groups better than any other medium. He focused on what many of us in the radio industry know – listeners to these radio shows are exactly the audience he wanted to reach where he wanted to reach them.

While the Democrats may have lost ground in key battleground states in the Election, the White House pushed the communications envelope by using a focused, targeted approach to reach voters – a strategy that we’ll likely continue to see deliver a tailored message to their key voters.

Radio Waves: Latest Industry Buzz

2010-10-25T14:52:00.003-05:00

As reported in radio-info.com, the National Association of Broadcasters recently held its annual Radio Show. Along with the latest technologies and developments in the dynamic world of radio, many attendees were abuzz about awards. WTOP-FM in Washington continued its winning streak by garnering two Marconi Awards for Major Market and News/Talk Station of the year. Even more importantly, the award-winning station also perennially garners top ratings and revenues in their category.

According to Jim Farley, WTOP’s vice president of News and Programming the station is so successful in programming and revenues, because it sees itself not just as a news and talk station, but rather because it focuses on its role as a “digital news provider.” The multi-platform organization also has a strong sense of mission, keeping the listener at the core by covering authentic content that’s meaningful in listeners’ lives.

In other news from NAB, tensions are running high as 15 more radio markets are transitioning to Portable People Meters, or PPM, to measure audience. With radio revenues returning sluggishly, many sales professionals at news and talk stations are worried that the combination of the economy and expected lower ratings that have plagued other stations in markets that transitioned from Diary collection to PPM.

In more technical developments, Sirius XM reports that its newest satellite is heading for the friendly skies. Taking off from Kazakhstan, the XM-5 satellite was released by the Proton rocket more than 22,000 miles from Earth. The satellite radio provider expects to launch another satellite, the XM-6, sometime in late 2011.

And finally with the last laugh. A new syndicated comedy format is trying out its routine on traditional radio. The Donkey Comedy Network is unveiling the 24/7 Comedy Radio. Comedy veterans point to the success of 24/7 comedy channels on satellite radio, television and movies in hopes it will be a success on traditional radio. Further, executives believe that Americans need humor to cope with tough economic times, and that radio operators want more programming options to reach the coveted 18 to 34 demographic. No joke.

PRSA-NCC Panel in DC -- Why Radio Still Matters and How to Make it Part of Your Communications Strategy on Thursday, October 28

2010-10-14T09:55:00.004-05:00

Why Radio Still Matters and How to Make it Part of Your Communications Strategy

The media landscape is changing, and yet at the same time it has been broadened with the inclusion of new social media and online networking tools. But often ignored in the discussion is how radio can play an important role in your communications program.

Radio reaches tens of millions of people each week, and it’s a great way of targeting your message to listeners who are interested in your issues in a low-cost and effective way.
At this PRSA Professional Development session you will hear from a panel of communicators who will detail your options for using radio to communicate your message—and why news/talk radio should be a component of any organization's public relations plan. Our panel of speakers will detail their communications successes with radio and the tools they’ve used.

Panelists include:

American College of Emergency Physicians, Julie Lloyd – Public Relations Manager
American Federation of Teachers, Janet Bass – Acting Director of Public Affairs
Burson Marsteller, Neil Grace – Director Media Practice
Environmental Defense Fund, Sharyn Stein – Media Director

Presented by the NCC Professional Development Committee
Thursday, October 28, 2010
8:00 - 8:30 a.m.: Registration/networking/continental breakfast
8:30 - 10:00 a.m.: Program

U.S. Navy Memorial & Heritage Center
701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004
Metro: Navy Memorial/Archives (yellow/green lines)

Cost: $35/members; 55/non-members; 10/students/retirees; additional $10 at the door
Register at: http://bit.ly/daTgYM.
If you have questions, please call the chapter office at 703.691.9212.

Why Radio Still Matters and How to Make it Part of Your Communications Strategy in DC on Thursday, October 28

2010-10-11T09:08:00.002-05:00

The media landscape is changing, and yet at the same time it has been broadened with the inclusion of new social media and online networking tools. But often ignored in the discussion is how radio can play an important role in your communications program. Radio reaches tens of millions of people each week, and it’s a great way of targeting your message to listeners who are interested in your issues in a low-cost and effective way.

At this PRSA Professional Development session you will hear from a panel of communicators who will detail your options for using radio to communicate your message—and why news/talk radio should be a component of any organization's public relations plan. Our panel of speakers will detail their communications successes with radio and the tools they’ve used.

Panelists include:

Julie Lloyd, American College of Emergency Physicians
Janet Bass, Public Relations Manager American Federation of Teachers
Neil Grace, Media Director Acting Director of Public Affairs Burson Marsteller
Sharyn Stein, Director Media Practice Environmental Defense Fund
Moderator:Phil Rabin, Editor of the Capital Communicator

8:00 - 8:30 a.m.: Registration/networking/continental breakfast
8:30 - 10:00 a.m.: Program
U.S. Navy Memorial & Heritage Center
701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004
Metro: Navy Memorial/Archives (yellow/green lines)
Cost: $35/members; 55/non-members; 10/students/retirees; additional $10 at the door
Online registration will open soon.If you have questions, please call the chapter office at 703.691.9212.

The Latest Radio Trend: Promotions & Public Service Announcements

2010-10-04T15:56:00.000-05:00

As media budgets tighten, those of us working in the radio industry have noticed some interesting trends as they relate to both on-air broadcast and those seeking to earn airtime. While there continue to be opportunities in news, talk show and public affairs programs through media relations work, other on-air opportunities can provide novel ways of reaching radio listeners.

From the station standpoint, with advertising budgets tight, many stations are running short on radio ads to fill airtime. In most cases, that means filling in those timeslots with public service announcements.

In fact, since the early spring of 2010, we have seen the usage rate of public service announcements approach that of news items that we pitch. What used to be a secondary focus for stations has now become an increasingly important element of their on-air programming.

For non-profits and associations with a community-oriented message, this is an opportunity to provide stations with well-produced 15 and 30-second public service announcements to fill available air-time. Stations appreciate PSAs that are both accurately timed and well-produced, because they don’t have to take additional production time, staff and effort to make these PSAs fit their programming needs. So sending them ready to use audio files is key to your success.

Another opportunity for companies that may not have large advertising budgets to buy time is to use their goods and services as a giveaway. This keeps their names on the air and affiliates their company and image with a fun and exciting promotion. The benefit for stations is that it provides extended listening as they promote “listen to win” promos and rewards loyal listeners with valuable goods and services.

Two promotions we completed this summer include a laptop giveaway to college oriented stations over the span of a week – a value of more than $4,000 for the weeklong promotion; and a week of free, family-friendly travel to more than 2,000 hotel destinations across the county – a value of more than $2,000 for the weeklong promotion.

As you make plans for your media outreach in coming months, consider some of these alternative and creative station programming opportunities to expand and enhance your media reach.

from Lynn Harris Medcalf from our Fall, 2010 newsletter

Tom Joyner: Sticking to His Roots

2010-09-28T10:11:00.000-05:00

Reaching more than 100 affiliates and one million listeners, Tom Joyner is the host of the most popular African American syndicated radio program in the United States. Through his celebrity, Joyner dedicates himself to supporting causes, such as voter registration, and throughout the year promotes voter registration over the air, on his website and during his live 'Sky Shows' broadcasts.

Joyner’s producer, Karyn Wheat, notes that the show does conduct a lot of on-air interviews, but the ones they do feature are generally with African American celebrities. “These interviews do not all have to be light-hearted” says Wheat. “If the story has to do with diabetes, offer an African American celebrity who suffers from the disease and chances are greatly improved that we will conduct the interview.”

Another interview option within the show is the segment called the ‘Little Known Black History Fact.’ Erica Taylor produces this segment that is dedicated to those who have made history in the African American community and may have gone unnoticed. In the past, she has booked guests ranging from one of only three women to have played in the Negro Baseball League, during the launch of United Negro League stamps from the U.S. Postal Service, to the first African American driver for UPS. She is always looking for people from all walks of life who have contributed in some way to the African American story.

In order to understand the heartbeat of the show, it is often best to start with things that are important to the host. For example, to improve healthy living, Joyner holds a 'Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day' season between April and September. During that time, he rallies families and friends to go to the doctor to get a check up to prevent any health problems and in particular, to treat any existing health issues. The season-long timeframe prevents people from being able to say they could not make it to the doctor on a particular day. Joyner is also a strong proponent for providing financial assistance to students at historically black colleges and universities, and through the Tom Joyner Foundation, he has helped raise more than $55 million since 1988 for college scholarships.

While Tom Joyner’s show is looking for a specific type of interview, the effort is certainly worth it. He holds a high level of trust among his listeners and with more than one million of them, so media representatives should take the extra effort to find a spokesperson who will fit his criteria. You won’t regret it.

This article was written by Curt Gill for our Fall, 2010 Newsletter

WHAT’S MAKING NEWS INSIDE RADIO NEWSROOMS?

2010-09-20T14:30:00.002-05:00

~ 68% of Radio Newsroom Personnel Believe Those in Management are Willing to Invest in News Staffs to Effectively Cover Their Markets ~

News Generation has just released the findings of its survey of 100 news, news-talk and talk stations in the top-50 markets to get the scoop on what’s happening inside radio newsrooms during this recession, both operationally and editorially. Looking at staff size, commitment to news coverage, who and what drives news content, the latest practice of sharing news stories and pooling resources, and the future of radio news – the outlook is encouraging.

Despite the economy and initial pressure to thin the ranks, radio news and news-talk newsrooms appear to be well staffed. The survey shows that the average newsroom is made up of a ten-person team. News directors and decision-makers inside the newsroom believe this healthy staffing size shows a rebirth in commitment to local news. News stations tend to be people-intensive and therefore expensive, yet, more than half of the newsroom personnel surveyed (68%) believe those at the top, either corporate bosses or station managers, are still willing to invest in news staffs that can effectively cover the markets they serve.

Staff size combined with news value plays an essential role in determining the stories that get on the air. The majority of news and news-talk stations (65%) use one or both of these factors to plan their news day. However, talk show oriented stations don’t put as much emphasis on newscasts. Their hosts address topical issues and are more editorially driven and rely on their sister stations for two-to-three minute, top-of-the-hour, headline news. Thirty percent of the talk stations we surveyed do not have a newsroom staff at all, and 45% employ fewer than five reporters.

Overall, general assignment reporters are the work-horses of the news staff, gathering and writing most of what we hear on the air. But, a new trend is rising, with interns contributing to the news of the day. So far, their reports average out to about 3% of the on-air product. Highly structured internship programs are offered by 95% of the stations surveyed, whereby interns get real-life, hands-on experience. Another trend, citizen journalism at the local level, is also expanding. While it is not playing a significant role at most stations yet, there are citizen journalists regularly disseminating information on some major market stations.

News Generation, Inc. is an award-winning public relations services firm specializing in radio. Founded in 1997, the company specializes in utilizing radio techniques, such as radio media tours and audio news releases, to secure earned placements for corporations, associations, non-profits and clients of public relations firms. For more information, visit http://www.newsgeneration.com/ or http://www.radionewssource.com/.

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On The Air: Latest Radio Developments from the Front Lines

2010-09-09T12:49:00.000-05:00

Here are the latest developments in the dynamic world of radio:

KTNI in Denver has changed its format again, the second time in just more than a year. The “Truth” talk station is now “Jammin” R&B oldies. As the station headed into the holiday weekend, it dropped the talk at the end of the syndicated “Jerry Doyle Show” and debuted the new "Jammin' 101.5."

The re-formatted KBSZ in Phoenix is adding an FM signal at 96.1.

At the Jersey Shore, two Millennium-owned AMs went oldies. Heading into the holiday weekend, WADB ended its sports programming and began simulcasting Ocean County's WOBM (1160), which dropped adult standards to go "Good Times Oldies."

WSJT “Smooth 98.7” in Tampa is now a hot AC station dubbed “Play.” The format is reportedly current hits without rap.

And we’ll end with some stern talk from Howard, Stern that is. Rumor has it that Howard Stern is “pretty sure” he’ll be leaving satellite radio when his five-year deal is up in December. Stern says Sirius XM wants a second five-year deal, but he’s not crazy about the terms.

Stay tuned…

Radio Coverage During a Crisis: Capitalizing on Radio’s Strengths

2010-09-01T16:01:00.001-05:00

Given the breaking news coming out of Silver Spring, Maryland today about a hostage-taker at the Discovery Channel headquarters, we wanted to take this opportunity to delve into how radio covers news during a crisis situation.

According to Randall Bloomquist in a recent article “The Challenge of Crisis Coverage,” radio’s traditional methods of covering a crisis situation like a natural disaster or hostage situation could be enhanced. While he says, “Radio typically does a great job covering local disasters. Nevertheless, there is room to improve. In particular, radio needs to tap into the crisis communication power of social media, citizen reporting and Internet audio – to both deliver and gather information.”

One advantage radio has over other mediums is that it doesn’t require a video feed to report breaking news. As soon as news happens, an anchor simply opens the microphone and begins reporting the facts he or she has to date. While radio has the immediacy to report news quickly, does it have the resources? Radio is in a dual pressure situation: cutbacks at stations mean fewer people to actually do the news-gathering, a situation made even more pressing during a crisis situation, where one person would be responsible for being on the air and on the street at the same time.

This is where technology may provide some relief and immediacy. Bloomquist suggests stations create a Twitter account specifically for emergencies and use it to push out and receive news during a crisis. Further, he suggests that stations recruit listeners as citizen journalists to help provide coverage where they may be lacking. Lastly, he recommends that stations harness the power of their websites and streams to make station sites the go-to destination for breaking news.

All of these methods can be done cost-effectively, but a word of caution. Citizen journalists are not trained in news-gathering, so anything they report must be vetted and approached with caution to get the facts right. We will be discussing news-gathering resources in greater detail next week when the results of our 100-station newsroom survey are released. How are stations coping with the pressure to first and to be right?

Stay tuned…

Why do you use AQH figures instead of CUME figures for audience measurement?

2010-08-25T10:46:00.000-05:00

A: AQH, or Average Quarter Hour, tracks true listeners and is measured by industry leader Arbitron. Listeners have to be tuned into a station for at least five minutes during a 15-minute time period. For CUME measurements, which tend to be roughly six to ten times that of AQH, tracks listeners that touch upon a station -- no matter how briefly -- during the course of a daypart. So, a listener can scan on a station several times, not really listening to any of the content and be counted in CUME calculations for as many times as they scanned over a station. We want to make sure qualified listeners are actually hearing our client content. So even though AQH is a bit more conservative, we strongly believe it is a more accurate and complete reflection of listenership.

We received this question from a client, and it is a good one. We posted the answer on our website, but wanted to share on our blog as well.

Want to See Us on the Radio AGAIN?

2010-08-24T10:27:00.000-05:00

Want to See Us on the Radio? Check out our second newly introduced video on YouTube at: http://bit.ly/cQWhbo. This one highlights our radio media tour service.

American Psychological Association Uses Podcasts to Further Awareness of Psychology Issues

2010-08-20T14:12:00.003-05:00

According to emarketer.com, Internet users downloading podcasts is expected to grow to 17% in 2013, from 9% in 2008. That translates into 37.6 million people downloading podcasts on a monthly basis, double the figure just two years ago.

While broadcasters seldom use podcasts as part of their news or information gathering, this direct-to-consumer medium has widespread appeal to iPod users and other Internet surfers looking for topics of personal interest to them.

Further, communicating more complicated issues naturally fit within podcasts’ framework since it can be longer than a typical 60-second news item.

That’s why the American Psychological Association (APA) chose this medium to communicate messages from this year’s annual convention in San Diego.

From August 12 to 15, researchers, practitioners and educators convened at the 118th APA Conference to examine a wide range of current issues affecting our society, including happiness, stress, memory, social relationships, and same-sex marriage.

There were 1,400 sessions focusing on every aspect of psychology, with hundreds of continuing education sessions, including intensive, hands-on training especially for practitioners.

We partnered with APA to develop questions and guide discussions with nine practitioners and researchers about:

Using our content website, we provided information to radio industry about the specialists in these areas, alerting reporters via Twitter and RSS feeds. To communicate with its members, APA placed podcasts on its convention site.

These podcasts will help the organization to communicate internally about the depth and breadth of research and topics surround psychology.

The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world’s largest association of psychologists. APA’s membership includes more than 152,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants, and students.

Sources of Information in the Digital Age: Where is Radio?

2010-08-10T08:58:00.000-05:00

According to a new study by the Annenberg School for Communication, the number of Americans who say that newspapers are an important source of information continues to wane. The survey finds that only 56 percent of Internet users surveyed agreed that “newspapers were an important or very important source of information,” while 68 percent said that television was. Further, 78 percent said that the Internet was an important source of information. Interestingly, the study did not include radio as an information source.

While the Pew Internet and American Life project did ask where people get their information and found that 61 percent of Americans said they get at least “some of their news” online. They compare that with 54 percent who said they listen to a radio news program and 50 percent who said they read a national or local print newspaper. How does “some of their news” online compare other forms of media, when they conclude that “almost all respondents, 92 percent, said they get their news from more than one platform,” according to CNN's reporting of the story?

These surveys illustrate radio’s dilemma. While Arbitron studies continue to find that radio listenership is steady, with radio reaching 92% of all U.S. consumers every week, few studies bother to drill down and find out what slice of the information pie radio and other mediums are receving. Yet it’s radio’s programming of news and information that has led to news, news-talk and talk stations collectively making up the number one most listened to format based on total number of listeners in the U.S. Concluding, as the Pew study does, that almost all respondents get their news from more than one platform does not help programmers understand media consumption and, therefore, provide what it is that media consumers want out of their information sources.

Recent Radio Success

2010-08-05T12:33:00.000-05:00

Check out the awesome radio coverage secured by NewsGen on behalf of Hager Sharp's Release of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2010 KIDS COUNT Data Book on Child Well-Being, details at http://bit.ly/b3y7tT

Want to See Us on the Radio?

2010-08-02T13:15:00.001-05:00

Check out our newly introduced audio news release video on YouTube at: http://bit.ly/9BthRH Stay tuned for our radio media tour video’s debut later this month.

Nielson Survey Shows Ethnic Radio Listening Higher Than General Population

2010-07-27T16:51:00.001-05:00

In its “Radio Today” reports, Arbitron has consistently reported that black and Hispanic listening is often higher than that of the general population. Now Nielsen is weighing in reporting that black listeners “spent 21% more time listening than all persons 12+” according to Radio-Info.com. For Hispanics, the spread is 13% more time.

According to the report, it’s not so much that ethnicities are likely to seek out radio and listen more, it’s that radio is more a part of their daily lives. In fact, Radio-Info.com reports that radio’s reach among blacks and Hispanics is about the same as for the national average – they’ve just got the radio turned on more. As for locations where radio listening takes place, not surprisingly Nielsen says 40% is in the car; 34% at home and 23% at work.

One big caveat in the research is that Nielson surveyed markets outside the top 100, thanks in large part to contracts awarded to Arbitron by Cumulus in 51 markets. So far, Nielsen hasn’t announced any additional markets beyond the original “Cumulus 51.”

Despite its limited geographic scope, what this research does show is one of radio’s biggest strengths: an ability to understand and speak to its audiences. More than any other medium, radio reaches particular targeted demographics with music and a message that speaks to its audiences.

Whether it’s an R&B oldies station reaching an upper middle class black audience in large urban cities or a regional Mexican radio station in a border town, radio programmers who understand how to get, keep and relate to their audiences walk away with an ever-increasing share of the pie. Their audiences reward them with longer listening hours and brand loyalty.

Stay tuned…

Women consumers want a cell phone that carries a radio receiver, says the new Alan Burns study of 2,000 women

2010-07-16T09:09:00.000-05:00

“Almost half of all women and nearly three quarters of early adopters would buy a different cell phone if it contained a radio receiver,” was just one of hte findings at a webinar earlier this week. This must be music to Jeff Smulyan’s ears – he’s been beating down the doors of device manufacturers and phone companies for years now. Alan Burns says the top line finding from the new study is “great news for the radio industry, because now we have hard data to show cell phone manufacturers that putting radio receivers in their products would benefit them financially.” The study finds that over half the women in the survey said they’d listen to more radio if they could listen on their phone. And we know that people don’t want to carry a bunch of extra devices – they want their phone to multi-task like crazy.
More from the study – “perceived listening is flat, with 25% listening more lately and 28% less. Most of those who are listening less say there’s no radio station that sounds like it really understands them.” Here’s a scary one for radio – “over half of 15-24 year old women say that one day, they won’t need to listen to music on the radio, because they can get it online or digital devices, cell phones, etc.” Alan, being a good consultant, looks for catchy phrases the sum up his findings, and he says the women in the study show that “radio’s strengths boil down to the Big C’s – Convenience, Companionship and Community.” The usual dichotomy about DJs shows up here. The #2 reason that heavy radio users give for listening is that they hear “entertaining people.” The #3 reason for listening less is – you guessed it – “useless DJ chatter.” That’s a challenge. For more information, visit http://www.radio-info.com/.

Susan Sarandon helps kids “Book a Brighter Future”

2010-07-02T17:31:00.000-05:00

There is no shortage of organizations doing good work, but one non-profit had the good fortune to snag a celebrity spokesperson known for her cause-related work almost as much as her award-winning acting roles.

This week, Susan Sarandon teamed up with Reading Is Fundamental for the Book A Brighter Future campaign, a national partnership to raise awareness and support of children's literacy.

This program will help RIF provide free books and literacy resources to children nationwide, while expanding RIF's outreach to the children at greatest risk for developing reading difficulties, at a time when their funding has been slashed by the administration.

The Book A Brighter Future campaign is an annual promotion held at Macy's stores to help raise money for local RIF programs and to provide reading resources to the children who need them most.

This campaign provides an opportunity for Macy's customers to join the effort and have an impact on literacy in their community. From June 30 through July 31, Macy's customers can give $3 and receive a coupon for $10 off one purchase of $50 or more at any Macy's store nationwide. Macy's will give 100% of every $3 to RIF.

To publicize their efforts, Ms. Sarandon led an in-store reading at a book store in New York and completed a series of radio interviews across the country. News Generation was fortunate to be able to provide radio support for this important campaign and raise awareness about the importance of early reading programs.

To hear a segment of one of Susan’s interviews, visit our content website and and to learn more about this worthy campaign, visit Book A Brighter Future.

Learn About PR's New Rules on Wednesday, July 14, 2010

2010-06-25T09:59:00.002-05:00

How do you craft the perfect "twitter pitch" or best contact a reporter in an environment dominated by social media?

Join some of the area's best PR minds for a lively breakfast discussion on these issues and many others in "The New Rules of PR."

Moderated by C.Fox Communications president Carrie Fox and featuring valuable information from award-winning communicators, this event will highlight creative insights into developing a story that not only gets noticed, but garners positive media coverage.

The event will also feature suggestions from some of the city's best bloggers and journalists for making your pitch stand out, scoring coverage and ensuring that your message is re-tweeted.

CONFIRMED PANELISTS INCLUDE:

*Jennifer Nycz-Conner, special projects producer and columnist for The Washington Business Journal, where she covers a variety of topics within the local business community. She is also the voice of the WBJ's Twitter handle, @WBJonline

*Kate Michael, aka 'K Street Kate', president and founder of the popular online lifestyle magazine of the same name, and talk show (The District Dish), that promote life, work and play in the District of Columbia

*Michael Price, Press Secretary for At-Large Councilmember Kwame R. Brown and the brains behind the Councilmember's popular website and social media

*Chinyere Hubbard, Vice President, Communications and Marketing, Washington Convention and Sports Authority (WCSA), responsible for all public relations and marketing activities in support of WCSA, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and WCSA's sports and entertainment programming.

*Susan Apgood, President of award-winning radio media relations firm, News Generation

WHEN:

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

8:00am-10:00am

WHERE:

Bistro Bis, at The Hotel George

15 E Street NW, Washington DC 20001

Closest Metro: Union Station

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

Executive Directors, Directors of Communications, Directors of Media Relations, Vice Presidents of Communications, Marketing Communications Managers, Agency Account Managers, Communications Officers

Register at: http://conta.cc/dsG8Bd

Radio Industry Illustrates Flexiblity in the New Media Climate

2010-06-16T14:06:00.001-05:00

We have often touted the flexibility of radio to adapt to a changing media landscape, whether it’s through podcasts, streaming, using Facebook pages or employing Twitter. For a traditional medium that is sometimes characterized with an old-time cabinet-style radio, current day stations are actually dynamic, multiplatform operations with their websites, Twitter feeds, Facebook pages, and YouTube channels an integrated part of their listener communications.

Case in point: Last week in the Wall Street Journal, NPR’s President Vivian Schiller addressed National Public Radio's digital growth. Schiller said, "We are agnostic about whether somebody listens over broadcast or listens to the exact same radio stream on the Internet… For the listener's ear, whether they're listening via an Internet stream or broadcast, it's identical."

Schiller’s comments echo those of the radio industry as a whole. Our station surveys and daily contact with stations show that the radio industry seems to inherently understand that they must innovate while at the same time continue to provide what their listeners want. It’s the “and” approach to growth rather than the “either” that other industries, namely print, are suffering from. It’s either the newspaper or online. It’s either the nightly television broadcast or cable ratings.

Radio programmers understand that it’s not either the radio in your car or the Internet stream on your computer at work -- it’s both. And they’re targeting both for maximum audience reach. No wonder radio consistently performs with 90 percent of the age of 18 plus audience listening weekly and a higher penetration than television, magazines, newspapers or the Internet.

Stay tuned…

Radio Results Best in a Decade

2010-06-02T10:39:00.000-05:00

Reflecting growing signs that the U.S. economy is back, radio delivers its best results in quarter-to-quarter revenue comps since Q1 2007 with a +6% overall increase to $3.687B. This gain represents the highest posted in nearly a decade, according to the recent study by the accounting firm of Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co. reported by the The Radio Advertising Bureau with more than 6,000 member Radio stations in the U.S. and over 1,000 member networks, representative firms, broadcast vendors, and international organizations.

Revenue Comparisons - 2010 vs. 2009 ($ In Millions)

Revenue $Q1 '10 % Chg

Local 2,450 2%

National 568 19%

Local & National Combined 3,018 6%

Network 260 6%

Digital 123 18%

Off-Air 286 Flat

Grand Total 3,687 6%

Source: Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co., May 2010

According to the report, the Eastern Region outpaced the rest of the nation in ad spending gains for Q1, up 12.7% - followed by the Southwest and Central Regions, up 9.7% and 6.7%, respectively. Spending is up but trails nationwide growth in the West (4.5%) and South (3.5%).

RAB President and CEO, Jeff Haley, says "Our growth in this recovery is showing signs that Radio's momentum is outpacing that of other traditional media... underscoring Radio's inherent strength with advertisers demonstrating renewed enthusiasm for spending in our medium... advertisers have found and, in many instances, rediscovered Radio. With ever-expanding Digital and Off-Air vehicles adding to Radio's appeal... this growth trend will continue to gain momentum," Haley concludes.

Local and National Radio Leading Growth Categories (Q1 2010; $ in Millions)

Category $Q1 '10 % Chg

Communications/Cellular/Public Utilities 350.5 6%

Television/Networks/Cable Providers 276.2 23%

Auto Dealers/Dealer Groups/Manufacturers/Rentals 230.6 39%

Financial Services 191.6 49%

Grocery/Convenience/Liquor Stores 187.2 27%

Home Improvement 31.0 18%

Source: Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co., May 2010

Communications/Cellular/Public Utilities, a strong category for Local and National Spot Radio throughout the past year, regains the top spot in Radio spending in Q1 '10, at $350.5M - an increase of 5.7% over a comparatively strong showing in Q1 '09. Battling cellular services AT&T ($108.3M) and Verizon Wireless ($104.1M) dominate the sector, comprising approximately 61% of total spending.

A huge boost in spending by its leading advertiser Comcast Cable (+32%, to $60.9M) propelled Television/Networks/Cable Providers into Radio's #2 rank for Q1 2010, up from 3rd in Q1 '09. The category grew 23% overall, to $276.2M.

TV broadcasters, cable networks, and access providers increasing spending to contribute to Q1's impressive gain include:

• ABC-TV Network (+105%, to $31.6M)

• NBC-TV Network (+321%, to $29.3M)

• USA Network (+429%, to $11.7M)

• CBS-TV Network (+121%, to $10.5M)

• Charter Communications Cable (+42%, to $9.0M)

• Cablevision (+132%, to $5.3M)

• Telemundo (+309%, to $5M)

• Cox Communications Cable (+45%, to $3.5M),

• ESPN (+107%, to $3.1M)

• HBO (+98%, to $2.2M)

With year over year spending virtually flat, the Restaurant category flips from 2nd in Q1 '09 to #3 this year, at $260.4M. McDonald's remains Radio's third-largest advertiser for this quarter, at $71.7M. Major competitor Wendy's Radio spend of $22.8M represented an increase of 18%.

The automotive industry's turnaround has been prominently in the news over the last several months, and the sector's spending on Radio is also rebounding. The Automotive category's very positive +39% uptick to $230.6M is cause for optimism for the year ahead. As in Q1 2009, Automotive occupied the #4 rank for spending this quarter.

Local and National Radio Auto Dealers/Dealer Groups/Manufacturers/Rentals (2010 vs. 2009; $ in Millions)

Advertiser $ Q1 '10 % Chg

Nissan Dealer Association $30.0 134%

Toyota Dealer Association 25.7 107%

Daimler Chrysler Plymouth Dodge Jeep Corporation 24.7 652%

Chevrolet Motor Corporation 14.8 328%

Honda Dealer Association 13.5 104%

Nissan Motor Corporation 13.4 98%

Lexus Dealer Association 8.6 365%

Chevrolet Dealer Association 7.5 107%

Source: Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co., May 2010

Lower in the spending ranks but also using more Radio to broadcast their sales appeals in Q1 were:

• Ford Motor Corporation (+18%, to $5.3M)

• Infiniti Motor Corporation (up nearly six-fold, to $4.3M)

• Honda Motor Company (+98%, to $3.2M)

• Mazda Motor Corporation (at $2.7M, up from $60.5K)

• Hyundai Dealer Association (+49%, to $2.2M)

Financial Services moves into Local and National Spot Radio's Top 5 this quarter with expenditures of $191.6M, up by nearly 50% from last year's Q1 spend of $129M (#7). An analysis of the top Q1 '10 Radio spenders finds a new order, with several smaller and/or regional banks moving into the top ranks:

• JPMorgan Chase emerges as the leading Financial Services category advertiser (was #2 behind Citibank last year) increasing its Radio investment by 138%.

• Chase is also tied with Communications advertiser MetroPCS as Radio's 6th largest spender overall for the quarter.

• Other major financial service accounts that added Radio dollars in Q1 are:

• PNC Bank (+59%, to $15.1M)

• Wells Fargo Bank (+53%, to $13.4M)

• Capital One (up nearly six-fold, to $11.4M)

• Fifth Third Bank (+75%, to $11.3M)

• Bank of the West (at $6.3M, from $604K)

• American Express with a $20.5M commitment versus just $24.9K last year

Despite an impressive 27% increase in spending, Groceries dropped to 6th place in overall Q1 Radio spending, at $187.2M. Top category spender Safeway ranks overall as Radio's 4th-largest Q1 advertiser at $60.5M, an increase of 63% over Q1 2009. Additionally on radio:

• Kroger Food Stores (+14%, to $27.7M)

• Supervalu (+4%, to $13.7M)

• Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market ($7.5M, from $783K - up nearly nine-fold)

• Trader Joe's (+29%, to $7.1M)

• A&P Supermarkets (up six-fold, to $5.1M)

Insurance companies spending in Radio's #7 sector was flat at $139.1M, though the category is significant in that it is led by 5th-ranked Radio advertiser GEICO ($40.5M in Q1 2010). Increasing competition for low-rate automotive coverage appears to be a major factor in Radio sustaining dollars in this category:

• State Farm Insurance (+151%, to $26.9M)

• Progressive Insurance (+212%, to $11.1M)

• Safe Auto Insurance (+37%)

• Esurance (+51%, to $3.1M)

• Titan Auto Insurance ($3.2M, up from $3.7K last year)

Growing consumer optimism has generated a building boom for home fix-up retailers in the early months of 2010, and the major players in the category have added to their Radio budgets as they compete to attract customers to their stores. Radio's revenue from Home Improvement advertisers grew 18% over Q1 '09 to $31M, with added spending by all four major players.

Retail Local and National Radio (2010 vs. 2009, $ in Millions)

Advertiser $Q1 '10 % Chg

Walmart 13.7 74%

Kohl's 13.6 126%

Home Depot 12.7 18%

Orchard Supply Hardware 8.0 16%

Lowe's Home Improvement 5.8 61%

Burlington Coat Factory 4.1 42%

Meijer Discount Department Store 3.2 53%

Source: Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co., May 2010

Other categories reported on in detail include:

• Specialty Retail

• Concerts/Theaters/Movies

• Beverages

• Political

For more details and additional information about the study, please see the PDF file here.

Airwave Advancements – Radio Developments from the Front Lines

2010-05-20T10:34:00.000-05:00

Here are the latest developments in the dynamic world of radio:

WMAL 630 in Washington, DC announced this week that Fred Grandy, half of the former morning show team of “Grandy and Andy,” will be the foundation of a new morning show team “The Grandy Group” to handle 5:00 to 9:00 a.m. timeslot. Chris Plante will return to his former slot of 9:00 a.m. to noon after a short stint on the morning show.

The Clear Channel urban station WMIB-FM “103.5 The Beat” in Miami has changed formats to Spanish Adult Contemporary “103.5 Super X.” The station went back to mainstream R&B only last year.

News/Talk station WDOX-AM Raleigh, N.C. has changed formats to Classic Country as WQDR-AM, Country Legends 570.

Alternative WDYL-FM in Richmond has changed format to Rhythmic Top-40 and will be branded as WHTI-FM Hot 100.9. Sister station WMXB-FM just went from Adult Top-40 to an Adult Alternative format last week. This is Cox’s second new format launch in Richmond in a week.

Stay tuned…

Intersection of Radio and Politics in Maryland

2010-05-10T13:52:00.000-05:00

In an intersting intersection of radio and politics, former Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich has declared that he will keep his Saturday radio show on WBAL-AM (1090) until the law says he must give it up, when he officially files as a gubernatorial candidate, running against current Governor Martin O’Malley. Further stirring the political pot, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley's campaign ran an ad on WBAL Radio Saturday criticizing former Governor Ehrlich. This ad ran twice on Ehrlich’s own radio show, stating that Ehrlich must be living in a "fantasy land" to say he left office with hundreds of millions of dollars in budget surplus.

While Ehrlich discussed the ad after it aired, he did not address the content of the ad, stating that was an issue for another time. Rather, he questioned why O'Malley's campaign would run an ad when the state Democratic Party has said that the program sponsors are de-facto funders of Ehrlich's campaign. The good news for broadcasters in Maryland is that this campaign should be a noisy one, with lots of campaign ad buys, which can help station further grow rising ad revenues.

Radio Embraces Technology to Extend Audience Reach

2010-04-28T17:07:00.002-05:00

Technology is the new name of the game in radio, so in this entry, we'll focus on technological advances on the radio dial.

According to a new Inside Radio survey about technologies and advancements with growth potential, 67% of respondents chose mobile phone apps while 46% opted for social networking. The rest of the survey showed audio streaming at 29%, station websites at 23%, online video streams at 21%, and trailing the field was HD Radio at 8%.

While streaming and HD Radio adoption may be flat, mobile phone apps are exploding. In fact, by May of 2010, 71 of Salem Broadcasting’s radio stations will have both iPhone and BlackBerry mobile applications under a new deal with AirKast.

In another platform development, Radio Info reports that Verizon’s fiber-to-the-home FiOS system is providing easy access to Internet radio through the home TV screen. Now you can search for hundreds of Internet radio stations on the TV screen, and even use a Motorola Droid or HTC Imagio smart phone as a remote control.

And the latest breaking news on the mobile radio front is HP buying Palm for $1.2 billion. It’s Palm’s platform which seems to be the big draw, as it allows HP to tap into the smartphone market and compete with the big boys like Apple and Microsoft.

Radio, the most mobile medium, has gotten even more mobile and is now providing even more listening opportunities in the home and on-the-go.

The Bob & Sheri Show: Dedicated to Real People and Real Talk

2010-04-22T08:48:00.001-05:00

If you are looking for pop culture morning talk, look no further than the nationally syndicated “Bob & Sheri Show.” Hosts Bob Lacey and Sheri Lynch broadcast live each weekday morning on more than sixty stations, chatting for four hours with each other, their devoted listeners and compelling guests. Owned by Greater Media, the program began locally on WLNK-FM in Charlotte, North Carolina. Soon after its debut in 1992, it became nationally syndicated and now reaches listeners across the country from Oregon to Maine, although the majority of its listenerbase is in the Southeast.

Executive producer Todd Haller (pictured on the right) says that the program is completely listener driven with a heavy emphasis on call-ins. Haller says that there is an interesting cross-section of listeners, from soccer moms to truck drivers, even though the target audience is females over the age of 25. Interacting with listeners is the centerpiece of the show, not only through call-ins during the live broadcast, but before, during and after on Facebook and Twitter.

When it comes to guests, Haller admits that they have scaled back quite a bit on interviews. Potential guests are looked at with great scrutiny, especially in light of the new Arbitron ratings system, Portable People Meters or PPMs, which will be put into place this fall to monitor radio listenership in markets across the country. According to Haller, this electronic monitoring system is putting pressure on the program to retain listeners during each broadcast, so the show is focusing on interacting with its core audience as a way to grow its listeners.

The bottom line for Haller is if the guest doesn’t capture the audience, then it is not worth having them. He is now leaning towards taped interviews to see if the guest will engage the listeners. Haller says that if the guest doesn’t “bring it” they will not make it on air. He has found that even top celebrities are not always good interviews. Sometimes, for example, unknown, quirky guests or authors who put a different spin on a topic turn out to be the best interviews.

The “Bob & Sheri Show” offers light-hearted talk throughout the morning with real people sharing real stories. The program reaches a hard working, passionate fan-base that wants to be entertained.

by Michelle Garceau

Intoxicating mixture of danger, drama and the daily grind

2010-04-16T16:56:00.001-05:00

What’s the most dangerous job in the world? If you watch the Discovery Channel, you might think it’s a career as a deep-sea fisherman, and you won’t get much argument here. Perhaps that’s what is so fascinating about Deadliest Catch – it’s the daily danger, personality drama and the mundane activities that come along with any job that provide fascinating viewing each Tuesday night.

That intoxicating mixture has proven a winner for Discovery, as the sixth season of Deadliest Catch launches one of the most highly-anticipated premiers of the year. This season takes viewers through some of the roughest situations the captains and crews have ever had to face on the high seas. From treacherous weather conditions to crew conflict to the death of beloved Captain Phil Harris, each of this season’s 16 episodes brings viewers into the intimate world of these crab fisherman.

On Monday, April 12, we worked with Andy Hillstrand, captain of the Time Bandit to complete twelve interviews with morning shows all over the country. Highlights include interviews with: Bob and Sheri, The Wiseman and Frank on WBZO, and The Danny Bonaduce Show.

You can catch the latest episodes on Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. on the Discovery Channel.

Rumors of Progressive Talk Radio’s Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

2010-04-14T10:21:00.002-05:00

With the recent bankruptcy filing by Air America, it would appear on the surface that experiments with progressive talk radio have met their maker. The thinking goes like this: It was too difficult to get traction against the juggernaut that is conservative talk radio and its dominance of the airwaves. Liberal talk radio simply could not compete.

While it would be easy to think this way, it would be incorrect to do so. Yes, the most visible manifestation of left-wing radio has been silenced, but that does not mean progressive talkers are not still out there plying their trade to large audiences hungry for a left-leaning take on the news of the day.

National Public Radio is the most obvious place to start. While the debate about which side of the aisle NPR tends to favor might linger among partisans, there is no doubt that the perception about NPR is that it leans heavily toward the left. There is also no doubt that the latest Arbitron figures have NPR reaching out to hundreds of affiliates nationwide, and to a listening audience of millions of people.

Other nationally syndicated progressive talk shows like Democracy Now, and shows hosted by Ed Schultz, Stephanie Miller, Bill Press, Thom Hartmann, Diane Rehm, and others, occupy places on the dial at stations such as KTLK-AM, the second largest talk station in Los Angeles, and WAMU-FM, the second largest news-talk station in Washington, D.C. There is also an entire station dedicated to liberal talk on Sirius/XM.

So to paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the death of progressive talk radio have been greatly exaggerated. It still thrives, and it is still looking for good content to fill its segments and speak to its listeners.

by Curt Gill

Conservative Talk Dominates the Airwaves

2010-04-07T08:04:00.003-05:00

Arbitron, the national radio ratings company, finds that among radio formats, the combined news/talk format, which includes personality-driven talk shows, is estimated to reach more than 50 million listeners each week. The format is second only to country music in terms of national audience share.

So what is being broadcast on news/talk radio stations to attract such a large audience? The Center for American Progress asked that same question. Two years ago, it joined forces with the Free Press and completed an extensive study on the subject. The conclusion, as stated in its report “The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio,” conservative talk radio undeniably dominates the format.

The data in the report shows the following:

In the spring of 2007, of the 257 news/talk stations owned by the top five commercial station owners (CBS, Clear Channel, Citadel, Cumulus, and Salem), 91% of the total weekday talk radio programming was conservative, and 9% was progressive.
In terms of broadcast hours in a week of talk radio programming, ten times as much conservative talk as progressive talk was aired, that’s more than 2,000 hours of conservative talk heard compared to 254 hours of progressive talk.
And, in that same time period, the spring of 2007, looking at the top-10 radio markets, 76% of the programming was conservative versus 24% for progressive talk; the only exceptions were New York and Chicago, where they had more balance in their programming.

Some of the reasons researchers point to for the gap between conservative and progressive talk:

The repeal of the Fairness Doctrine. This has allowed station owners to broadcast more opinionated, ideological, and one-sided radio hosts – whether conservative or progressive – without having to balance them with competing views.
Consumer demand. Research by Pew indicates that 43% of talk radio listeners are conservative, 23% liberal, and 30% moderate.
Consolidation or group ownership vs. local ownership. It appears to be most cost effective and equitable for large, non-local owners to air syndicated programming on a wide scale. Syndicated programs tend to be dominated by conservative talk.

Here is the bottom line for media representatives. If you have a controversial topic with a bent to the left, you may struggle to get air time for your spokesperson and you will definitely need to have a very strong pitch to get the interview booked on conservative talk. You should also prepare your spokesperson for a spirited interview.

by Martha Sharan

Winners & Losers of the Healthcare Debate on Radio

2010-03-30T11:57:00.000-05:00

According to Googlenews.com, there were more than 144 thousand stories written and broadcast in 2009. Most of the media titles ranged from “A Rushed, Half-Baked Plan Could Be Hazardous to Your Health” to “Americans Cannot Wait Until Healthcare Reform Passes.” In the early spring, public support was high, but by August, a leading ABC poll read “Opposition to Health Care Reform is on the Rise.”

This public debate on healthcare, the first of its kind since 1994 with the Clinton initiative, was framed much differently with a two way conversation going on with the public through traditional media and social networking outlets. Every consumer had a voice, and did his or her best to be heard.

No matter what your position on healthcare, it was an interesting debate to watch play out in the media. From late Fall into the spring of 2009, it was all healthcare, all the time on talk radio. As a listener, it was difficult to get the facts straight. Are there 45 million people uninsured in the United States? Or, is that number overinflated by “faulty assumptions and data including illegal immigrants” who would not be covered in the plan?

Although the answers to those questions may still be unclear, what became crystal clear during this entire debate was: an established relationship with the media is critical to getting on the air. There were a number of organizations wanting their voice to be heard during this historical debate. But, it turns out that the ones who had their voices heard were the ones who had established their relationships with the media before this historical debate took place. Reporters turned to trusted sources and organizations for opinions and interviews.

During the 2009 debate, clients that completed audio news releases and radio media tours with us topped the 300 million listenership mark with more than 50 thousand hits to our content website. After the historic passage of the Healthcare Bill this month, the hits are sure to top those numbers in 2010.

For the remainder of our Spring, 2010 newsletter, visit: http://www.newsgeneration.com/newsletters/issue_s_10.html

by Susan Matthews Apgood

Producing Podcast on Finding the Intersection of PR and Advocacy to Reach Policymakers

2010-03-25T13:13:00.001-05:00

News Generation will produce a podcast of the PRSA-NCC event: Communications & Government Relations: Finding the Intersection of PR and Advocacy to Reach Policymakers and Win on Issues

If you are in the D.C.-area, join us at the event, or listen to the podcast the following week. Details of the event can be found at: http://bit.ly/9gNby0

Facebook Beats Google

2010-03-18T17:14:00.000-05:00

Despite uproar over its many revamps and rumor of a pay model this summer, Facebook has something to smile about this week. The social media darling has now beaten Google as the number one most visited site in the U.S. for the week ending March 13.

Google has been on top since September of 2007. While Facebook has surpassed Google on holidays, it has never beaten the search engine during the week – until now. Many will crow that this means social media has finally reached a level of legitimacy alongside Internet giants like Google. What it more likely means is that people are finding the more personal uses of Facebook more compelling than information they would find on Google.

Our interest in Facebook runs deep. Practically every radio station we come across in our pitching has a Facebook presence. We’re finding that this is another channel for stations to keep their listeners informed about events at the station and capitalize on strong loyalty among its listener base. Further, radio has been keen to adopt new technologies to keep themselves viable in an increasingly competitive media universe. Early adopters of podcasting, streaming and RSS, radio is now using social media to stay ahead of the curve.

Government and Broadcasting

2010-03-15T16:54:00.000-05:00

In the past two weeks, government activity surrounding the broadcasting industry has been at a fevered pitch. On March 4, 2010, FCC Commissioner Michael Copps criticized broadcasters and regulators for what he maintains is a failure to keep the public’s interest in mind in broadcast programming.

Copps maintains that "both the private and public sectors” have “dropped the ball” for 30 plus years in terms of serving the public interest. He further nodded to “three decades of horrendous decisions” that have resulted in media consolidation that he maintains has not helped broadcasters in their news gathering operations or assisted the public in getting more or better information.

While Copps said “there has never been a Golden Age of the Public Interest,” he does maintain that there was a more public-minded attitude during the “Ed Murrow era of journalism.” Further, he says that he understands that stations operate in order to make a profit but that news should not be the primary driver of that profit.

The second bit of news about the government and broadcast came on March 9, with Edolphus Towns (D-NY) of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee setting up a meeting with Bill Kerr, Chairman and CEO of Arbitron, to discuss the portable people meters methodology for measuring audience listenership. While there has been a lot of controversy in the industry about the rollout of this methodology and its validity, it’s unclear what role the government sees itself as having in measuring broadcast audience?

As Obama administration marks just over a year in office, do these developments mark the beginning of a new era of “re-regulation” of the broadcast industry? Broadcasters are listening closely, as their ability to operate and make a profit may be impacted by governmental involvement, especially if that involvement comes in the form of regulations requiring that broadcasters prove that they fulfill a “fiduciary” responsibility to serve the public good.

ABC Staffing Cuts Underscore New Journalistic Reality

2010-02-26T18:14:00.002-05:00

This week brought the announcement from ABC News that it was making large cuts in its newsroom staff, with up to 400 positions expected to be eliminated. That’s 25% of its staff. This marks another blow to the news business in terms of staffing. But more importantly, it embraces a new reality: that long gone are the days of large news bureaus teeming with reporters.

Today’s news reporting requires proximity and flexibility, something that the old style news bureau was a little too clunky to provide. Large, top down hierarchies with big editorial meetings and assignments handed down from on high are just not the reality in today’s ever-changing, fast-paced world of reporting.

In his memo, president of ABC News president David Westin describes what the reorganized ABC News will embrace:

Expanding use of digital journalists;
Backpack journalists who will shoot and edit their own pieces;
Combining weekend and weekday operations; and
Using a blend of staff and freelancers to respond to programming demands as needed

In other words, the new ABC News will be a modern newsroom with many staff filling multiple roles, simultaneously.

This is not to minimize the pain of the reporters who have been working hard, providing excellent coverage of stories as they break, who have now suddenly find themselves out of a job. But rather to underscore that journalism is undergoing a substantial and permanent shift in the way it’s done. With its announcement this week, ABC is in recognition of that fact and will hopefully now move forward as a lean journalistic organization ready to report in the 21st century.

Change is the Name of the Game in Radio

2010-02-19T15:06:00.002-05:00

In the dynamic world of radio, change is an everyday occurrence. So in this entry, we'll focus on the most recent high level radio staffing and formatting changes on the radio dial.

Brian Sussman succeeds morning show host Lee Rogers on KSFO-AM, San Francisco. The evening show featuring Brian Sussman is now moving to AM drive as he replaces the retiring Lee Rogers.

Bill Handel ends syndicated show. The KFI-AM, Los Angeles morning drive star is ending his additional midday syndicated talk show on Premiere Radio Networks.

In related news, Bill Carroll is replacing Bill Handel in the noon - 2:00 p.m. weekday slot on KFI-AM in Los Angeles.

KSTP-AM in Minneapolis switched formats from news/talk station to sports talk outlet on Monday, February 15.

WLS-AM in Chicago drops Mancow’s local show after 15 months.

Stay tuned...

How Do We Measure the Success of Social Media?

2010-02-10T16:54:00.000-05:00

At many of the social media and public relations seminars and conferences, it’s often asked how you can measure social media’s effectiveness. What is the true return on investment of using social media? Many times, the answer is that it’s not measurable; that it’s an intangible but necessary part of your media outreach.

What we found when we used one social media tool is nothing less than revolutionary in its ability to gauge effectiveness. Our content website Radio News Source normally received a respectable 10,000 to 12,000 hits per month. That is until we started using Twitter.

From one month to the next, we saw an increase of 40.84% in traffic to our site – from 12,590 to 21,281 visitors. The only thing we did differently? We started tweeting our stories. With many radio reporters following us, we are able to effectively reach them every time we have a new story. Our web hits have remained in the 20,000 visitor range and we continue to believe in the power of this medium to drive click throughs to our content site.

Since then, we have worked hard to grow our list of following and followers to include key radio personnel and stations that we definitely want on our radar to truly capitalize on the unique power of this social phenomenon. Stay tuned.

Sticky Situation: How Toyota Could Have Harnessed the Power of Radio in its Time of Crisis

2010-02-03T09:07:00.002-05:00

Imagine you’re behind the wheel of your Toyota vehicle. Having just heard that accelerator pedals may stick, and your car is one of the millions and millions affected. The company has frozen sales of this model, your model, but there is nothing planned to make your car safe.

Not only should Toyota have communicated more openly and with certitude about its plan to make current drivers safe. Why not use the very medium people are listening to while they are driving in your product? According to Arbitron, radio reaches more than 90% of people 12 and older weekly. In fact, radio has a higher penetration than television, magazines, newspapers or the Internet, yet the CEO of Toyota USA made his announcement about the pedal fix exclusively on the Today Show?

Radio’s immediacy could have helped get the word out quickly about a safety issue that is consuming the company. It might also have quelled criticisms that the company wasn’t doing enough outreach to the public quickly enough.

35 Million Listeners Tuned in To Sirius XM

2010-01-25T12:36:00.006-05:00

In 2008, Arbitron released figures for satellite radio listenership showing just over 17 million listeners are tuning in. Many of those following satellite radio complained that the survey was inaccurate and biased.

The last listenership study was part of a larger listenership survey on radio in general. Now Arbitron has now released the findings of study specifically aimed at finding out how many people are listening to Sirius XM.

The findings conclude that satellite radio has more than 35 million listeners. Listeners also spend about 2 hours and 45 minutes per day, according to the study, with most of that listening taking place, not surprisingly where most radio listenership takes place – in the car.

Now we know satellite radio has the audience, we’re all tuning in to see what they’re doing to keep them.

Progressive Talk Remains Vital Part of National Dialogue

2010-01-22T11:47:00.001-05:00

There is a lot of buzz in the industry about Air America shutting down, and how this is the death knell for progressive issues and voices on radio. While there is no doubt that right-wing talk still dominates the radio airwaves, progressive voices have been finding their home on radio since Air America’s inception in 2004 and through relatively traditional means. There is no doubt that Air America was a novel concept in radio at a time that the country and radio industry needed some fresh thinking, but Air America’s demise is much more about financial struggles than it is about political ones.

In reality, Air America has been less and less important over the last two years. Following their last bout of financial woes in 2006, progressive hosts like Randi Rhodes, Bill Press, Ed Schultz, and Stephanie Miller have been successfully seeking out their own syndication deals outside of Air America that will ensure their continued presence on radio. Satellite radio also provides a certain amount of security for progressive voices, as entire channels devoted to current issues demand timely, topical and engaging hosts to address a wide range of political opinion.

While we’re always sad to see radio outlets succumb to the current economy, remember that your engagement with your local and satellite stations will ensure that the programming remains reflective of what you want to hear. So stay tuned!

by Lynn Harris Medcalf

Pitching During a Crisis

2010-01-15T13:19:00.002-05:00

When news is breaking and you get breaking news alerts from CNN, MSNBC, FOX, and any other news organization you monitor, STOP PITCHING and start following the event that has every newsroom in the country scrambling.

Let’s use the earthquake in Haiti as an example.

Put yourself into the middle of any newsroom… First, there’s shock. Then, phones begin ringing off the hook from listeners worried about loved ones working or vacationing in Haiti.

Stations are trying to get facts and figures on the devastation – they are looking at airline cancellations, trying to establish contact with Haitian hospitals and government officials, hoping to hear news about visitors to Haiti from their local areas who could be injured or dead. As a media representative, this is the worst time to pitch an interview not related to this event.

The first day a crisis breaks, national networks are definitely off limits. Unless your interview has an extremely strong tie to the crisis, national networks should be given two to three days to strictly focus on the earthquake. Then e-mail communication would be the best way to ease into a topic not relating to the tragedy in Haiti.

For state, regional, and local stations, the day after the event, media representatives should look at geographic ties to Haiti. Stations where there are large populations of Haitians, or where communities, like those in Florida, are mobilizing to send help to the island, should not be on the call list because most likely they will be completely focused on earthquake coverage for several days.

Stations in the Midwest or on the West Coast –those farther away from the event, are probably not as single-minded and will be looking for “other” news a day or two after the crisis is initially reported.

As a media rep, stay informed… When in doubt, check out station websites and listen to podcasts/newscasts to get an idea of the focus of the day’s coverage and when it’s appropriate for you to move ahead with pitching your story.

~ Martha Sharan and the News Generation Team

A New Year News Perspective

2009-12-30T15:55:00.002-05:00

As the first decade of the new millennium draws to a close, 'tis the season for reflection. A time to look back at the past ten years, and a time to look forward to what lies ahead.

The Roman god Janus, from whom we get the name of the first month of the year, famously had two faces. One could see where he had been, and the other where he was going. Think of this time of year as the opportune time to provide our friend Janus with that which he seeks: the best of the big events and breakthroughs of the recent past, and, more importantly, the coming trends in news and entertainment.

As a species, we are fascinated with the great discoveries and innovations that have shaped our lives. Even more so, we wonder as to what changes lie in waiting. Take this natural curiosity and use it to help shape your headlines in the coming weeks. How far have we come? How much farther do we have to go?

January is also the perfect time for resolutions, so think about ways that will help make 2010 a better year than 2009. What simple steps can we all take to make our lives better in the time that lies right in front of us?

Happy New Year.

~ Curt Gill and the News Generation Team

2009 News Generation Nonprofit Winners

2009-12-03T14:34:00.001-05:00

Thank you to everyone who helped us by voting for and spreading the word about our client nonprofits! We were so impressed with the level of participation and support for these great organizations.

The first place winner, who will receive a $4,000 donation, is Friends of the World Food Program with an incredible 10,800 votes.

The runner up, who will receive a $2,000 donation, is the American Diabetes Association with 7,412 votes.

We hope that our combined efforts are helping make the holiday season a bit brighter. Happy holidays!

Twitter Your Final Vote for Charity!

2009-12-02T09:51:00.000-05:00

Friends,

Voting was disabled yesterday due to a problem with the Google network. We received notices from many of you and are grateful for your support! To amend the situation, we have established a workaround and will be extending the voting until 5:00 P.M. tonight.

We ask that you cast your final votes on Twitter. Simply tweet the following message:

@newsgeneration My vote goes to (insert charity) for this year’s holiday donation. #newsgenvote

Every tweet we receive will count as two votes and will be added to the existing count. Winners will be announced tomorrow morning. We truly appreciate your participation!

Thank you and good luck!

The News Generation Team