Cumulus Media announces that it has appointed Ryan Ermanni as On-Air Host, Afternoons on Detroit News/Talk station WJR AM 760. Ermanni is a longtime Motor City media personality and is well-known as Co-Host of The Nine on WJBK FOX 2 Detroit. He debuts today on WJR AM 760 and can be heard Monday through Friday from 2:00pm to 4:00pm.
Ermanni joins Cumulus Media and WJR AM 760 following more than 20 years on-air at Detroit’s WJBK FOX 2 television. A graduate of the University of Michigan with a B.B.A. degree in Economics, Ermanni started his broadcasting career at 9 & 10 News in Cadillac, MI, followed by stops in Toledo and back to Detroit, where he joined FOX 2 full-time in 2003. At FOX 2, Ermanni was feature reporter and then Co-Host of The Nine, the station’s late-morning talk show.
Steve Finateri, Regional Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Detroit-Ann Arbor, said: “Ryan Ermanni is not only a seasoned broadcaster with deep roots in Detroit media, he’s also a longtime fan of WJR. His passion for Detroit, his engaging on-air presence, and his respect for what WJR represents make him a perfect fit for our team.”
Ann Thomas, Program Director, WJR AM 760, noted: “We are thrilled to welcome Ryan Ermanni as a major addition to the WJR lineup. We are confident Ryan will bring fresh energy and compelling conversations to our afternoon programming, while honoring the values and voice that have made WJR a trusted name for generations.”
Ryan Ermanni commented: “I am so honored to be a part of the WJR daily lineup. I’ve always considered myself just a regular guy from the neighborhood who happens to have a really cool job. The WJR call letters mean something to me, as they do for many people who have grown up in our city and our state.”
Ermanni added: “I hope to build the same trust and connection here on WJR as I did at FOX 2. I’m not your typical newsman. I wear my personality on my sleeve, and I react to stories the way someone might if they were sitting at home or in their car. We joke that I’m a “man of the people”—and honestly, I take that as the highest compliment. What you see is what you get. So, if you spot me around town, don’t be shy - come say hello.”
SmartNews, a global leader in news discovery, released a comprehensive, nationwide ranking of the smartest and most news-obsessed cities in America, revealing that it’s not the country’s biggest cities leading the charge in intellectual curiosity, but rather small and midsized communities. Based on per capita daily news consumption, the data challenges long-held assumptions about where the most informed Americans live and redefines what it means to be one of the “Smartest Cities in America.”
“SmartNews research shatters the long-held belief that the largest cities in America have the smartest people. We have found that deeply curious, thoughtful, and intelligent Americans who spend more time reading the news live in smaller communities,” said Jason Alderman of SmartNews. “Far from being insular, these smaller communities are made up of the most engaged news consumers who stay up-to-date locally, nationally, and globally at an astonishing rate.”
SmartNews ranked 999 cities in America and found that Haysville, Kansas, with a population of 11,260, is the smartest city in the country. By comparison, New York City came in at 974 on the list of the smartest cities, with Los Angeles at 923, and Chicago at 912. The full list of the 999 Smartest Cities in America can be found on the SmartNews website.
It's looking like the Skydance-Paramount deal will eventually be approved. It's seems now to be a question of when, not if.
And then media watchers can expect of major overhaul of CBS News. according to media business columnist Charles Gasparino. He discussed significant changes in The NY Post Sunday.
His column highlights the anticipated overhaul of CBS News under new CEO David Ellison’s leadership, driven by the $8 billion merger and a controversial $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump over a lawsuit regarding a 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
Here are the key points:
Merger and Leadership Change: The Paramount-Skydance merger, backed by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison (David’s father and a Trump ally), positions David Ellison to oversee CBS News. The merger, which includes Paramount’s assets like CBS, Paramount+ streaming, and cable channels, requires FCC approval, which some speculate was influenced by the Trump settlement.
Bari Weiss
CBS News Overhaul: Gasparino suggests that Ellison, known for producing blockbusters like Top Gun: Maverick, plans to reshape CBS News. This follows reports that Ellison met with Bari Weiss, a prominent journalist, for a potential high-profile role at the network, indicating a shift in editorial direction. The column notes internal unrest at CBS News, with staff expressing anger over the Trump settlement, perceived as a capitulation to secure the merger.
Trump Settlement Context: The settlement, publicly disclosed as $16 million but rumored to be closer to $35 million with additional public service announcement commitments, is seen as a move to clear regulatory hurdles for the merger. Critics, including CBS staff and press freedom advocates, view it as compromising journalistic integrity to appease Trump, especially given his public praise for Ellison.
Speculation on Changes: The column reflects broader concerns about CBS News’ future under Skydance, with fears of editorial shifts due to Ellison’s reported interactions with Trump and his father’s political ties. Some X posts speculate that Ellison might replace much of CBS News’ staff, though this remains unconfirmed. The overhaul could involve new investments but also risks further alienating staff already frustrated by Paramount’s current leadership under Shari Redstone.
Gasparino’s piece critiques the settlement’s implications, aligning with sentiments that it undermines CBS News’ credibility. The column may also explore how Ellison’s vision, potentially less focused on traditional journalism and more on commercial media, could reshape the network’s identity.
The potential involvement of journalist Bari Weiss in reshaping CBS News could have significant implications for the network's direction, credibility, and internal dynamics.
Move Toward Non-Traditional Voices: Reports indicate that Skydance CEO David Ellison, who is poised to lead CBS News post-merger, has considered Weiss for a high-profile role, potentially at "60 Minutes." Weiss, known for her critiques of mainstream media as biased and her prominence in right-wing media circles, could push CBS News toward incorporating more contrarian or conservative perspectives. This might diversify the network's commentary but risks alienating viewers who value its current editorial stance.
Polarization of Content: Weiss’s reputation for challenging progressive narratives and her association with The Free Press, which emphasizes "fearless" journalism, could lead to programming that appeals to audiences skeptical of legacy media. However, her controversial stances, such as her views on cultural and political issues, might intensify debates about bias, potentially polarizing CBS’s audience.
Attracting a New Audience: Weiss’s involvement could attract viewers who feel alienated by mainstream media, aligning with Ellison’s apparent interest in non-traditional talent. This could expand CBS’s reach in a competitive media landscape but risks alienating its core audience.
Competitive Pressure: As legacy media faces challenges from digital platforms and independent outlets like The Free Press, Weiss’s influence might push CBS to adopt a more confrontational or opinion-driven style to compete with these alternatives. However, this could dilute the network’s brand as a trusted news source.
Polling data during the last twelve months Show a majority of Americans support the concept of deporting all undocumented immigrants, though support varies depending on how questions are framed and what specifics are included.
Here’s a detailed look at four polls:
Axios/Ipsos Poll (January 10-12, 2025): This poll found that two-thirds (approximately 66%) of Americans support deporting immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally as a general concept. However, support dropped significantly when specific deportation methods were outlined, such as using active-duty military (38% support) or separating families (34% support). The poll, conducted with a nationally representative sample of 1,025 adults, highlighted strong partisan divides, with 93% of Republicans, 67% of independents, and 43% of Democrats supporting deportations in principle. Support for deporting legally present immigrants was much lower, at about 10% overall.
January 2025 Times/Ipsos poll: The poll, conducted from January 2-10, 2025, with 2,128 U.S. adults, found that 55% support deporting all immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, a 13-point margin over the 41% who oppose it. Stronger support exists for deporting specific groups: 87% favor deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records, and 63% support deporting those who entered illegally during the Biden administration’s last four years. Notably, 54% of Hispanics and 44% of Democrats also back deporting recent arrivals from that period.
Scripps News/Ipsos Poll (September 13-15, 2024): This survey reported that 54% of voters supported mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, including 86% of Republicans and 25% of Democrats. Conducted with 1,027 adults, the poll also noted that support for restrictive immigration policies, like limiting asylum, was strong (55% of Democrats supported asylum restrictions). The poll underscored immigration as a top voter concern alongside inflation.
CBS News/YouGov Poll (June 4-6, 2025): This poll found that 62% of Americans supported a program to deport all undocumented immigrants, with particularly strong backing from Republicans. However, support waned when respondents considered economic impacts or when deportations were not focused on those with criminal records. The survey, based on 2,428 adults, noted that many Americans believe deportations targeting dangerous criminals enhance safety, but support dropped for broader efforts, especially among independents.
Reuters/Ipsos Poll (December 5-10, 2024): This poll indicated that 53% of respondents supported deporting most or all immigrants in the U.S. illegally, a figure consistent with 51% in 2017. However, only 30% supported harsh measures like detention camps, with 53% opposing them. Conducted with 4,183 people, the poll showed that Americans are less supportive of aggressive tactics and prefer selective deportation, particularly for those with criminal records.
Support for mass deportation is highest when questions are general and declines when specifics, like family separations or deporting long-term residents with jobs, are included. For example, polls consistently show near-unanimous support (up to 87%) for deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records, but opposition grows for deporting those with U.S.-born children (55% opposed) or those who arrived as children (68% opposed).
Partisan Divide: Republicans (84-93%) are far more likely to support mass deportation than Democrats (10-25%) or independents (46-67%). This reflects a polarized political landscape, with Republican support driven by rhetoric around border security and crime.
Paramount last week agreed to a $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump to resolve his lawsuit against CBS News, stemming from the editing of a 60 Minutes interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris before the 2024 election.
A Trump spokesman claimed the settlement holds “fake news media accountable,” but critics argue Paramount capitulated to a baseless lawsuit.
A recent Pew Research Center study of 30 major news outlets highlights a partisan divide in CBS News’ audience: 56% of Democrats trust it as a news source, compared to just 23% of Republicans.
Trust In CBS News
The settlement has sparked concerns about press freedom in the U.S. and speculation about Paramount’s motives, as the company awaits FCC approval for its merger with Skydance Media.
Pew Research also found that 85% of Americans believe news organizations are influenced by corporate interests, with 55% saying this influence is significant. Similarly, 86% see government and political influence, with 57% noting it as substantial.
TikTok is creating a new version of its app for U.S. users as part of a potential sale to a group of investors, according to The Information, citing anonymous sources.
This follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement on Friday that he will begin discussions with China on Monday or Tuesday regarding a possible TikTok deal, stating the U.S. is close to finalizing an agreement for the short-video app’s sale.
The new app is slated to launch in U.S. app stores on September 5, per the report. Last month, Trump extended the deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, to divest its U.S. assets to September 17. Users will eventually need to download the new app to continue using TikTok, though the current app will function until March 2026, with timelines subject to change.
TikTok did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment, and Reuters could not independently verify the report. Earlier this year, a deal to spin off TikTok’s U.S. operations into a new U.S.-based company, majority-owned by American investors, was paused after China signaled it would not approve it, following Trump’s imposition of steep tariffs on Chinese goods. Trump noted that any deal would likely require China’s approval.
Podcaster are increasingly leveraging live events to capitalize on growing advertiser interest in podcasts as a marketing channel.
Accoirding to Digiday, Rising Advertiser Interest in Podcasts:
Brands are increasing their podcast marketing budgets, viewing podcasts not only as an audio medium but as part of the broader creator economy. This shift is driven by the rise of video podcasting and the perception of podcast hosts as influencers with loyal, engaged audiences.
The article highlights that advertisers are attracted to podcasts for their ability to deliver high-impact engagement, extending brand presence beyond traditional audio feeds into live experiences and video content.
Podcast companies are organizing more live events to meet advertiser demand for premium sponsorship opportunities.
For example, SiriusXM, a major player in the podcast industry, hosted 10 live podcast events in 2024. By June 2025, SiriusXM had already held 18 live podcast recordings, with plans to double or triple this number by year-end.
These events, typically hosting 40–50 fans, are not ticketed but generate revenue through sponsorships from brands like Hershey’s and Macy’s. SiriusXM reported a 160% increase in ad revenue from live podcast events in 2025 compared to all of 2024, though exact figures were not disclosed.
Events are held at venues like SiriusXM’s in-house studio in New York City or external locations like Avalon Hollywood, offering brands opportunities for in-person activations, such as branded coffee bars, and visibility through logos and branding in the event space.
Sponsorship Opportunities and Revenue Model: Live podcast events provide brands with unique sponsorship opportunities, including logo placement, in-person activations, and integration into audio and video content produced from the events (e.g., bonus content for RSS feeds or YouTube). This multi-channel approach enhances the value for sponsors.
PodLife, a live podcast event platform, reported that over 50% of its featured events in 2025 are sponsored, reflecting growing brand interest. PodLife encourages podcast hosts to pitch live events to their existing sponsors, as these events serve as high-engagement touchpoints.
Vox Media, another key player, has seen brands like Smartsheet increase their podcast marketing spend in 2025, with live recordings cited as a significant draw. Live event inventory commands higher rates than standard ad reads, though specific pricing was not disclosed.
The president of Bell Media, Sean Cohan, last week emphasized the critical role of news in the company’s digital strategy.
Bell Media, which owns CTV News—Canada’s largest English-language newsbrand across TV, radio, and print—reaches 28% of Canadians weekly, according to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report. Online, CTV News is the second-largest newsbrand with a 19% weekly reach, trailing CBC News at 23%, and is the most trusted at 63%, just ahead of CBC News at 62%.
While news is a small part of Bell Media’s portfolio, which includes Canada’s top TV network CTV, channels like Noovo, Astral’s out-of-home advertising, iHeartRadio Canada, and streaming service Crave, it remains a cornerstone of its digital transformation.
The Press-Gazette UK reports Crave recently expanded its content by 30% to 40,000 hours, covering entertainment, news, sports, and kids’ programming, and introduced a bundled subscription with Disney+ and TSN.
Cohan highlighted CTV News’ success on FAST (free ad-supported television) channels, launched last year with ten themed streams, including a popular CTV News channel featuring national and local programming. These channels, available on platforms like LG Channels, Plex, The Roku Channel, and Samsung TV Plus, are seeing rapid growth, with audiences increasing by about 20% monthly. Unlike on-demand streaming, FAST channels offer scheduled programming with ads, resembling traditional TV.
Cohan noted that FAST channels, still emerging in Canada compared to the more mature U.S. market, attract younger and diverse audiences, suggesting news remains relevant. He stressed the need for agility in delivering news across various platforms to meet evolving consumer preferences, countering claims of news’ decline. “The demise of news has been greatly exaggerated,” he said, emphasizing its reimagined role in Bell Media’s digital ecosystem.
New York Public Radio (NYPR) has announced the appointment of new leadership and three new members to its Board of Trustees.
Longtime NYPR Trustee John Rose was named Chair of the Board. Rose is a Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he served for 20 years as a Managing Director and Senior Partner and led the Global Media, US Private Equity, and Northeast State and Local practices. He is also a co-founder and active Board member of Tenetic, a leading syndicated data services company in the TV and radio space; an Executive Advisor at Rockefeller Global Investment Banking; an Adjunct Faculty member in Media at NYU Stern; and on the Boards of the Metropolitan Opera, Playwrights Horizons, and the Citizens Budget Commission.
The Board’s new Vice Chairs are Anna Quindlen, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, columnist and author; and Carl Weisbrod, a former Chairman of the New York City Planning Commission and a national authority on city planning, affordable housing policy and urban development.
NYPR also welcomes three new members to its Board of Trustees. Gary Knell is a deeply experienced media executive whose career includes impactful tenures as President and CEO of Sesame Workshop, NPR, and National Geographic. Jenna Weiss-Berman is an esteemed leader in the podcasting space who co-founded Pineapple Street Studios, and is currently Head of Podcasts at Paper Kite Productions, the film and television production company founded by Amy Poehler. Jeremy Kuriloff is Managing Director and Partner at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), working at the intersection of consumer, media, and private equity.
Corporate reputations on a net basis have declined this year, though not as precipitously as they did last year, according to the latest annual Axios Harris Poll 100. Close to half (46%) of all corporate reputations measured declined, against 37% that improved, per the report from Marketing Charts.
The blame is placed on “greedflation,” which many Americans think has been occurring. To wit, 7 in 10 believe companies are taking further advantage of inflation to increase their profit margins. An even greater 77% feel that companies often sell lower-quality products and services while charging higher prices. And with tariffs affecting consumers’ spending intent, 6 in 10 feel that companies will use them as an opportunity to raise prices more than they need to in order to boost profits.
Value is clearly at the forefront for consumers, who are more than twice as likely to say that the quality of goods and services is falling behind (48%) rather than exceeding (22%) their current prices. As such, as The Harris Poll notes, “inflation fighters” come out on top in the reputation rankings, led by Trader Joe’s. The company enjoyed a 3.5-point increase in reputation score (to 82.1 on the 100-point scale), the sixth-largest overall of the top 100 companies. It rose 12 positions to capture the top spot.
Just behind Trader Joe’s is Patagonia (82.0), rising from the 7th spot last year and marking the 7th time in the past 12 years that it has ranked in the top 10. It’s followed by Microsoft (80.7), Toyota (80.6), and Costco (also 80.6). Last year’s leader, Nvidia, tumbled down to the 8th spot. All told, 10 of the 100 most visible companies in the US (by familiarity) had an Excellent score, meaning that they ended up with a Reputation Quotient of 80 or higher.
Despite corporate reputations trending lower, that’s is a departure from last year, when only 2 companies had an Excellent score.
The fastest-rising companies in terms of reputation rankings were:Home Depot (up 24 to #15)
ExxonMobile (up 20 to #66)
Chipotle (up 19 to #56)
Lowe’s (up 18 to #23)
Conversely, the largest falls in company reputation rankings were for:Tesla (down 32 spots to #95)
Adidas (down 28 spots to #33)
Alphabet (Google) (down 23 spots to #40)
CVS (down 21 to #57)
PepsiCo (down 20 to #42)
Spirit Airlines slid 2 spots to become the worst-performing company in terms of corporate reputation (58.5). Joining it as the only companies with a “Very poor” reputation were The Trump Organization (#99; 58.6) and X (#98; 59.8).
87-year-old Bruce Underwood, a long-time radio host and reporter, passed away recently, as announced on Sunday.
He was a prominent figure in the Guntersville, Alabama community, hosting the morning radio show "The Wake-Up Show" on WTWX 95.9 since October 3, 1958. Underwood also served as one of the first reporters for WHNT-TV, covering Marshall County starting in 1963.
Known for his dedication, he continued voicing commercials even after a fall last year forced him off his regular program.
His contributions extended beyond broadcasting, as he was recognized by the National Weather Service in 2023 for his daily weather reports.
Congressman Robert Aderholt and local media expressed condolences, highlighting Underwood’s legacy as a radio legend and community staple. The exact date and cause of his passing were not specified.
➦In 194?...Radio personality Joey Reynolds was born. Joey Reynolds is the pseudonym of Joey Pinto, long-time radio show host and disc jockey. Reynolds' broadcasting career started on TV in Buffalo at WGR TV 2 and he worked at various stations, including at WNBC.
Joey Reynolds
His first radio job was WWOL in Buffalo with Dick Purtan, then WKWK, in Wheeling, WV. After that, he continued at several venerable stations, including WKBW in Buffalo, New York, WNBC and WOR in New York City, KQV in Pittsburgh, KMPC and KRTH in Los Angeles, WDRC in Hartford, WIXY in Cleveland, and WIBG and WFIL in Philadelphia.
He rose to fame as a Top 40 radio personality during the 1960s and 1970s, amassing large audiences in places such as Hartford, Connecticut, Cleveland, Ohio, Detroit, Michigan, and his hometown of Buffalo, New York. Reynolds is often regarded as an early progenitor of "shock talk radio", whose sometimes outlandish on and off-air stunts garnered widespread publicity.
Joey Reynolds was in the category of disc jockey, playing music on music intensive radio stations from the very late 1950s until the mid-1980s during his time on Z100 and WFIL. In 1986, he arrived at the former WNBC in New York City doing the afternoon drive, Howard Stern's previous shift. That station was attempting to move into a more talk intensive full service format with music taking a backseat but still heard. Reynolds was basically playing a mix of oldies and adult contemporary cuts along with comedy and personality, and was most notably on the air when the station's traffic helicopter crashed, killing reporter Jane Dornacker.
He exited WNBC at the end of February 1987 and was replaced by the late Alan Colmes.
His next stations were morning shows and at that point Joey had evolved into more of a talk intensive program. He was less a DJ and more like a talk show host. By 1995, Joey was no longer playing music on his shows and in 1996 he arrived at WOR in New York. He has been a talk show host since.
On March 10, 2010, it was revealed that WOR would pick up Coast to Coast AM from Premiere Radio and would cancel "The Joey Reynolds Show." (Coast to Coast had been heard on crosstown rival WABC for several years, before that station dropped the show in favor of an in-house offering from Doug McIntyre, which led Premiere to seek WOR as the new New York affiliate.) Reynolds' last show, which was segregated into the "Final Gay Hour," the "Final Jewish Hour" and "The Final Hour," aired the morning of April 3, 2010.
On February 28, 2024, Reynolds sustained major head injuries when he fell out of bed and struck his head in his Manhattan apartment; he was found unconscious by his landlord the next day and hospitalized.
➦In 1944...legendary radio personality, Bobby Ocean, was born. He worked primarily on the West Coast. As you might expect Bobby Ocean is not his real name. His real is...Johnny! Johnny Ocean!
However, his first radio job was WDLP, Panama City, FL in 1963 using the name Ray Farrell.
He also used the on-air handles of 'Radio Ray' and 'Captain Turntable'. He first used the name Bobby Ocean at KGB 1360 AM, in San Diego, CA in 1968.
Best known for his work at KFRC 610 AM San Fransisco and KHJ 930 AM Los Angeles.
➦In 1949...the program "Dragnet" debuted on the NBC Radio Network.
Dragnet enacted the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners. The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects.
Dragnet is perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in media history. The series gave audience members a feel for the boredom and drudgery, as well as the danger and heroism, of police work. Dragnet earned praise for improving the public opinion of police officers.
