Bloomberg News has fired the lead author of an article that incorrectly said Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich had been released by Russia, among several disciplinary actions the news organization took after a review of the matter, according to WSJ.
The Bloomberg article, which came out at 7:41 a.m. ET Thursday, was published while Gershkovich and other prisoners were still in Russian custody—en route to Ankara, the capital of Turkey. It was later corrected to reflect the fact that the prisoners hadn’t been released yet at the time of publication.
Bloomberg News Editor in Chief John Micklethwait wrote in a note to staff on Monday that the article’s publication “could have endangered” the negotiated swap that freed Gershkovich and others.
“Even if our story mercifully ended up making no difference, it was a clear violation of the editorial standards which have made this newsroom so trusted around the world,” he wrote.
After an investigation, Micklethwait said Bloomberg has taken “disciplinary action against a number of those involved, and we will be reviewing our processes to ensure that failures like this don’t happen again.”
Jennifer Jacobs, a senior White House reporter and the article’s lead author, has been let go, according to a person familiar with the matter. “In reporting the story about Evan’s release, I worked hand in hand with my editors to adhere to editorial standards and guidelines,” Jacobs posted on X on Monday afternoon. She didn’t respond to a request for comment.
“Reporters don’t have the final say over when a story is published or with what headline,” she wrote. “This is why checks and balances exist within the editorial processes.”
Gershkovich had been in Russian custody for 491 days. He and more than a dozen others jailed by the Kremlin were exchanged on Thursday for Russians held in the U.S. and Europe, including a convicted murderer. It was the largest and most complex East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War.
Fox Corporation said fourth-quarter net income slipped due to a change in value of its investment in the online-gambling company Flutter as the company grappled with challenges in capturing advertising and saw a boost in revenue flow from distribution, according to Variety.
Earnings came to $319 million, or 68 cents per share, compared with $375 million, or 74 cents per share, in the year-earlier period.
Revenue in the period rose 2%, or $60 million, to $3.09 billion. Fox said the increase was largely driven by a 5% increase in affiliate fees, but noted that ad revenue in the period was basically flat with year-earlier results.
During a Tuesday call with investors, Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch said the company was encouraged that the advertising market seemed healthier than it had been six months ago, and pointed to the 2024 presidential election in the U.S, which he projected would drive sales results at the company’s local stations. Murdoch also said that Tubi, the company’s free, ad-supported streaming hub, continued to see momentum in terms of usage and advertiser interest.
The company’s cable networks saw revenue rise 2%, or $28 million, to $1.44 billion. Affiliate fees rose 2$, or $21 million, due to price increases, while ad revenue rose 3%, or $8 million, largely due to the company’s summer soccer broadcasts.
Fox’s traditional TV operations saw revenue rise 2%, or $28 million, to $1.62 billion. Ad revenue slipped to $679 million, compared with $688 million in the year-earlier period. Affiliate fees rose 9%, or $67 million.
The Minnestoa Twins' team’s radio contract with WCCO is set to conclude after this season, which has opened the door for recent talks with Sports KFAN and SKOR North.
According to The Ahtletic citing multiple team and radio sources with knowledge of the situation, the Twins are engaged in discussions to potentially remain with longtime partner WCCO, but sports-talk station KFAN, with its FM signal and a larger, younger audience, has emerged as a viable alternative some in the organization believe could be a partner with more long-term upside.
Hubbard-owned SKOR North, which broadcast Twins games under the station’s previous 1500-ESPN branding, is also part of the mix, per industry sources.
WCCO has been the Twins’ radio home for 53 of the franchise’s 64 years in Minnesota, including each of the past seven seasons.
SKOR North, then 1500-ESPN, was the Twins’ radio home from 2007-12, but has since rebranded with an emphasis on podcasts and YouTube content, along with syndicated national radio programming.
KFAN is the flagship station of nearly every other prominent sports team in the state, including the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Lynx and University of Minnesota football and basketball, creating ancillary over-the-air and streaming content for those teams that the Twins find appealing, industry sources said.
However, there’s also the downside of joining a station with such a crowded schedule: It’s likely fewer than half of the Twins’ games would be on KFAN, at least initially, due to existing contractual commitments to other teams on nights and weekends, as well as the popularity of weekday afternoon shows hosted by Dan “The Common Man” Cole and Dan Barreiro.
WCCO broadcasts every Twins game, building much of the Audacy-owned station’s identity around the team, whereas with KFAN many games would be moved to other iHeart-owned stations or perhaps even streaming-only availability. Last year, the Timberwolves agreed to that same type of setup in leaving WCCO for KFAN, providing precedent for the Twins.
The Twins have left WCCO before, ending their five-decade partnership to join Hubbard-owned 1500-ESPN from 2007-2012 and then Pohlad-owned stations from 2013-16. They’ve previously had talks with KFAN on several occasions, with the earliest negotiations going back more than a decade to when KFAN was an AM station with fewer team partnerships.
Hubbard Radio has announced the appointment of John Goforth as the new Vice President/General Manager of Podcasts. The announcement was made today by Dave Bestler, Hubbard Radio’s EVP/Chief Financial Officer. Goforth, a seasoned expert in broadcast and podcast sales and content strategy, most recently served as Chief Revenue Officer for Magellan AI, where he spearheaded sales strategy and business development. His extensive industry experience includes leadership roles at HowStuffWorks, iHeartPodcasts, Midroll Media, and CBS Radio.
In his new role, Goforth will collaborate closely with local Hubbard Radio markets to enhance sales strategies for existing podcasts. And as part of the Hubbard Radio corporate team, he will create new podcast initiatives and strategic partnerships, to build an even more robust podcast network.
John Goforth
“We fully understand and embrace the evolution in our business from radio to audio,” said Bestler. “We are creating must-hear content in all eight of our Hubbard Radio markets, and listeners are increasingly accessing our content on-demand. John will help expand our podcast offerings, while growing revenue with the podcasts we already have.”
Goforth shared his enthusiasm, stating, “I couldn’t be more excited to join the amazing team at Hubbard and help grow their already impressive portfolio. It’s thrilling to be at the intersection of local and national in the podcast space. As we’ve seen in other channels, cracking the code on local is the key to explosive growth.”
Ginny Hubbard, President/CEO of Hubbard Radio, commented, “The minute I met with John, I knew he was the right person to lead this important initiative. Hubbard Broadcasting has been creating engaging audio for over 100 years. We are proud of our heritage but are also embracing the next century as listening evolves to include digital and on-demand platforms. John’s background in sales leadership, strategy, and analytics makes him the perfect leader to work with our local markets.”
Debby, now a tropical storm, roared ashore Monday along the Big Bend coast of Florida, killing at least four people, flooding streets, and causing widespread power outages as the storm roared toward Georgia and South Carolina, where it's expected to bring catastrophic flooding this week.
"Tornadoes, catastrophic flash and urban flooding, coastal flooding, rip currents, strong gusty winds are all expected,'' in parts of the Southeast over the next several days, the National Weather Service said.
An apparent tornado touched down on Edisto Beach, South Carolina after 9:30 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service in Charleston. There were multiple reports of structures damaged on Edisto Beach and across the river from Edisto Island from the radar-confirmed tornado, the weather service said.
Other popular beach destinations, including Kiawah Island and Johns Island, were being warned of possible tornado activity as additional severe storms moved onshore.
Debby, the fourth named storm of what is predicted to be a historic hurricane season, made landfall Monday at 7 a.m. near the coastal town of Steinhatchee as a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Steinhatchee, about 70 miles west of Gainesville and home to some 500 people, is just 10 miles from where Hurricane Idalia came ashore last year.
One of the most powerful committees in Congress has sent a letter to dozens of major corporations in the United States demanding answers on their involvement in an advertising alliance that Republicans say is potentially trying to silence conservative voices in media and news.
"The Committee on the Judiciary is conducting oversight into the adequacy and enforcement of U.S. antitrust laws," the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee wrote in a letter to Adidas, one of more than 40 companies it reached out to in total, seeking answers about collusion concerns.
"Through its oversight, the Committee has learned that collusive activity is occurring within the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), of which your company is a member. In particular, the Committee has uncovered evidence of coordinated action by GARM and its member companies, including boycotts of disfavored social media platforms, podcasts, and news outlets."
Along with Adidas, the letter was sent to a variety of other companies, including American Express, Bayer, BP, Carhartt, Chanel, CVS and General Motors, asking them to preserve documents related to their involvement with GARM.
Rob Rakowitz
GARM describes itself on its website as a "cross-industry initiative established in 2019 by the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) to help the industry address the challenge of illegal or harmful content on digital media platforms and its monetization via advertising."
The website adds that GARM is "apolitical" and "voluntary."
Republicans aren’t so sure and suggest in their letters to the major corporations that GARM "has deviated far from its original intent, and has collectively used its immense market power to demonetize voices and viewpoints the group disagrees with."
The committee previously released an extensive report outlining how it believes "large corporations, advertising agencies, and industry associations participated in boycotts and other coordinated action to demonetize platforms, podcasts, news outlets, and other content deemed disfavored by GARM and its members."
A federal judge ruled that Google engaged in illegal practices to preserve its search engine monopoly, delivering a major antitrust victory to the Justice Department in its effort to rein in Silicon Valley technology giants.
The Wall Street Journal reports Google, which performs about 90 percent of the world’s internet searches, exploited its market dominance to stomp out competitors, U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta said in the long-awaited ruling.
“Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly,” Mehta wrote in his 276-page decision released Monday.
Mehta agreed with the government’s central argument that Google suppressed competition by paying billions of dollars to operators of web browsers and phone manufacturers to make Google their default search engine.
That allowed the company to maintain a dominant position in the sponsored-text advertising that accompanies search results, Mehta said.
A Google spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Audacy has announced the addition of “The Will Cain Show” on Newsradio 1080 KRLD (KRLD-AM), weekdays from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. CT, effective immediately.
On “The Will Cain Show,” Cain tackles the latest headlines from his unique perspective, along with thought-provoking long-form interviews with leading figures and live calls from listeners. “The Will Cain Show” merges the worlds of news and sports with a spotlight on audience interaction.
Will Cain
“Will’s unique perspective on today’s top headlines will be a welcomed addition to our revamped lineup on KRLD,” said Drew Anderssen, News & Talk Format Vice President, Audacy, & Brand Manager, NewsRadio 1080 KRLD and Texas State Networks. “We’re excited to expand his reach and introduce his wildly popular program to KRLD listeners in Dallas and nationwide via the Audacy app.”
“I can’t believe I’m now on the station that I heard as a kid growing up in Sherman on the car radio,” said Cain. “I’m so excited to be on my hometown radio station and can’t wait to build a community together on KRLD.”
Cain currently serves as co-host of FOX News Channel's (FNC) “FOX & Friends Weekend,” Saturdays and Sundays from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ET, and as the host of “The Will Cain Show,” weekdays at 12:00 p.m. ET on FOX News Audio, where he merges the worlds of news and sports with a spotlight on listener interaction. He joined the network in August 2020. Before joining FNC, Cain served as an on-air personality at ESPN, where he hosted his daily radio show, and a political analyst and host for CNN.
📻Listeners can tune in to Newsradio 1080 KRLD (KRLD-AM) in Dallas on-air and nationwide on the Audacy app and website. Fans can also connect with the station via X, Facebook and Instagram.
Salem Media Group, Inc. announced Monday that Larry Elder will be rejoining the Salem Radio Network, Salem News Channel and Salem Podcast Network.
Elder rejoins the Salem Radio Network and the Salem News Channel on August 5th, 2024 after a 2-year hiatus, where he will replace Brandon Tatum. Larry is well known for over 20 years as a radio talk show host in Los Angeles. He joined Salem’s owned station KRLA AM 870 The Answer in 2016, and was later syndicated across the country by Salem Radio Network.
Larry took some time away from radio/TV to run a highly successful candidacy during the Gavin Newsom re-call election in 2021. While the voters did not re-call the governor that time, Elder proved he was a viable candidate garnering the most votes of the 50 candidates running to replace Newsom. From that experience, Elder decided to run for President of the United States in the 2024 election. He dropped out of that race in October 2023, and threw his support behind former president Donald Trump.
VSiN, The Sports Betting Network, announces the appointment of long-time media industry executive Steve Cohen as the network’s Executive Vice President, Talent and Programming.
Cohen spent the last 20 years as the Senior Vice President of Sports Programming at SiriusXM, where he built and oversaw their sports talk radio stations, including channels done in collaboration with all professional sports leagues. He will join VSiN leadership in working to rapidly expand sponsorship, distribution, and audience, while continuing to deliver the most credible content sports bettors can find anywhere.
“With more than 37 years under his belt, Steve is one of the most respected and innovative executives in the media business and was key in VSiN’s original launch on SiriusXM,” said VSiN Founder, Brian Musburger. “Having launched more than a dozen sports talk radio stations, including SiriusXM NFL Radio and Mad Dog Sports Radio following a successful 17-year career in terrestrial radio, it’s hard to find a media leader with more experience giving an audience exactly what they’re looking for. He is a beloved manager with a track record of getting the best out of talent and a unique understanding of the importance of unbiased, credible information for sports bettors.”
Bob & Sheri, syndicated by NOW! Media on more than 65 radio stations across the country, entertained hundreds of listeners this weekend in conjunction with their move from Blueberry Broadcasting’s WKSQ-FM (Kiss 102.5) to WABK-FM (Big 104) last month.
The duo is no stranger to Downeast Maine, having been on Kiss 102 for over a decade. “We love our Maine listeners,” explained Bob & Sheri co-host and Now! Media co-owner, Sheri Lynch. “We’re thrilled to be making the move to Big 104 where the better signal and musical fit will be a perfect new home.”
“Whenever we’re meeting listeners, I’m always blown away by the incredible loyalty this audience has and how connected they are to the show,” said Tony Garcia, co-founder of NOW! Media. “When you see listeners bringing gifts, reciting show segments, and literally trembling and weeping about meeting their favorite personalities, you can’t help but be humbled at the affection and also impressed at the power Radio has to connect authentically with listeners.”
Photo Caption - R-L: Bruce Biette, Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Blueberry Broadcasting; Lamar Richardson, Sheri Lynch, and Bob Lacey of Bob & Sheri; Race Allen, Operations Manager, and Louis Vitali, Chief Executive Officer, Blueberry Broadcasting.
The Kansas Association of Broadcasters has announced its 2024 Station Excellence Award winners and Russell Radio won a record 14 awards. Russell Radio competes in the small market radio division.
News Director David Elliott won first place in the complete newscast category for his May 20 local news.
In the spot news category, Elliott won first place for his General Election report and Marketing Representative Erik Stone placed second for his storm damage update with Russell and Ellsworth County Emergency Management Director Keith Haberer.
In sports play-by-play, Elliott and Mike Blanke, the broadcast team for Russell High School football and basketball, received honorable mention for the Russell girls basketball game at Phillipsburg.
In the sports feature category, Stone received honorable mention for his interview with area State Wrestling qualifiers.
In complete severe weather coverage, General Manager Mike McKenna received honorable mention for his May 19 severe weather coverage.
In the commercial category, Mike McKenna, Bryleigh McKenna and Emma Schneider placed second for the Russell Play Park Lemonade Stand Challenge.
In station promotion announcement, Elliott placed second with his Russell football promo.
Russell Radio swept the public affairs program category with Elliott winning first place with a USD 407 Superintendent Jordan Perez interview, Elliott placing second with a Russell County Commissioner Duke Strobel interview and Stone receiving honorable mention for an interview with City of Russell Fire Chief Dylan Riedel.
In the DJ personality aircheck category, McKenna received honorable mention for Mike in the Morning.
In the morning show category, Stone placed second for the Morning Show.
And in station excellence, the Russell Radio team of McKenna, Elliott, Stone and Travis Hendryx received honorable mention for More Than Radio.
The KAB will recognize this year's statewide winners at an awards dinner during the Annual KAB Convention in Wichita on October 21.
Including these 14 2024 awards, Russell Radio has won 90 KAB awards since 2012 and was honored as the Small Market Radio Station of the Year in 2014.
The FCC has issued a Declaratory Ruling approving the acquisition by a company owned by a Canadian citizen of 100% of the ownership interest in a company that owns an AM radio stations in Seattle.
Radio Punjab CEO Sukhdev Dhillon filed a $75,000 deal in August 2023 to buy out partner Mohan Cheema’s 80% stake in KNTS (1680). Because Dhillon — who already owns a 20% interest in their jointly owned BAAZ Broadcasting — is a Canadian citizen, it required FCC approval to exceed the 25% foreign ownership limit.
Until about a decade ago, a 25% limit in the parent company of an FCC broadcast licensee would have been the limit allowed by the FCC under Section imposed on foreign ownership of a US broadcast station by Section 310(b)(4) of the Communications Act. Section 310(b) limits non-US citizens from holding more than 20% of a broadcast licensee, and foreign owners cannot hold more than 25% of a parent company “if the Commission finds that the public interest will be served by the refusal or revocation of such license.”
➦In 1881...gossip columnist Louella Parsons was born in Freeport Illinois. She was featured on a succession of big budget star vehicles on network radio, including Hollywood Hotel & Hollywood Premiere. For six years she also had a 15 minute show business gossip show on Sunday night. She died of arteriosclerosis Dec 9, 1972 at age 91.
She was the star of the self-produced sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy, and Life with Lucy, as well as comedy television specials aired under the title The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.
Ball's career began in 1929 when she landed work as a model. Shortly thereafter, she began her performing career on Broadway using the stage names Diane Belmont. She later appeared in several minor film roles in the 1930s and 1940s as a contract player for RKO Radio Pictures, being cast as a chorus girl or in similar roles.
During this time, she met Cuban bandleader Desi Arnaz, and the two eloped in November 1940. In the 1950s, Ball ventured into television. In 1951, she and Arnaz created the sitcom I Love Lucy, a series that became one of the most beloved programs in television history. The same year, Ball gave birth to their first child, Lucie Arnaz, followed by Desi Arnaz Jr. in 1953. Ball and Arnaz divorced in May 1960, and she married comedian Gary Morton in 1961.
She died of an aortic aneurism April 26, 1989 at age 77.
➦In 1915...Jim Ameche born in Kenosha, WI (Died at age 67 – February 4, 1983). He was a familiar voice on radio, including his role as radio's original Jack Armstrong on Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy.
Jim Ameche
When his older brother, Don, left his position as the host and announcer for The Chase and Sanborn Hour in the early 1940s, Jim took over for the remainder of the show's run. He also was heard as mountie Jim West on ABC's Silver Eagle (1951–55). Other shows Ameche was heard on included Grand Hotel, Hollywood Playhouse, and Big Sister. In the 1940s, he had several programs on WGN radio in Chicago.
He was heard on stations in Los Angeles and Palm Springs in the late 1950s and early 60s. For many years he was a popular local radio personality in the New York City area. By the late 1960s, he was working as an announcer on New York's WHN 1050 AM and the TV pitchman for a Longines Symphonette Society mail-order record album featuring clips of old-time radio broadcasts. In the 1960s he also read radio advertisements for Gibson wines.
For many years, he was the afternoon announcer on WQXR, the classical radio station of The New York Times, and was a familiar and beloved voice.
➦In 1939...1st broadcast of "Dinah Shore Show" on NBC radio.
➦In 1973...Wolfman Jack first aired on WNBC 660 AM, New York.
Wolfman Jack
The Wolfman was paid handsomely to join WNBC in New York in August 1973, the same month that American Graffiti premiered, and the station did a huge advertising campaign in local newspapers that the Wolfman would propel their ratings over that of their main competitor, WABC, which had "Cousin Brucie" (Bruce Morrow).
The ads would proclaim, "Cousin Brucie's Days Are Numbered", and they issued thousands of small tombstone-shaped paperweights which said, "Cousin Brucie is going to be buried by Wolfman Jack".
After less than a year, WNBC hired Cousin Brucie, and Wolfman Jack went back to California to concentrate on his syndicated radio show.
➦In 1982....WQXI (Atlanta) was first to use Harris Corp AM stereo system
➦In 1991...Broadcast journalist Harry Reasoner died at age 68 (Born - April 17, 1923). Reasoner workedfor ABC and CBS News, known for his inventive use of language as a television commentator, and as a founder of the 60 Minutes program. Over the course of his career, Reasoner won three Emmy Awards and a George Foster Peabody Award in 1967.
Debby strengthened into a hurricane as the system neared a Monday landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region, where residents have fled ahead of a potential week-long disaster across the South.
Top winds intensified to 80 miles (130 kilometers) per hour — making Debby a Category 1 system — and are expected to strength further before hitting the coast, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm will likely to push as much as 10 feet (3 meters) of water inland and bring heavy rain.
“This is a life-threatening situation,” Richard Pasch, a senior hurricane specialist at the center, wrote in a forecast. “Potentially historic heavy rainfall across southeast Georgia and South Carolina through Friday morning will likely result in areas of catastrophic flooding.”
President Joe Biden declared an emergency in Florida and ordered federal resources to help the state, the White House said. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp have declared emergencies in their states as Debby moves north. Florida’s Dixie County ordered coastal residents to flee starting at 2 p.m. Sunday, and adjacent Taylor County has opened shelters.
Florida coastal areas may see upward of $250 million in damage and losses. If the storm causes widespread flooding across the South, particularly around Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, the tally may rise as high as $1 billion, said Chuck Watson, a disaster modeler at Enki Research.
