RBR+TVBR InFOCUS Podcast Radio Ink Magazine

It has been one year since Adam Symson, President and CEO of The E.W. Scripps Co., explained why he believed a “bold new approach to serving” the broadcast television company’s local communities through a news initiative focused on “strengthening the economic sustainability” of its newsrooms while improving news coverage was needed.
The changes were highly noticeable. Some great people lost their jobs, while others were welcomed in to the company. An initiative to train longtime print journalists for jobs in broadcast TV news was launched. There was some head scratching from competing station leadership in some markets, while in other markets Scripps was quickly earning accolades for its efforts.
How is this “renewed commitment to community news” playing out 12 months later? That’s the focus of this InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM.




Joining RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson to discuss Scripps’ local news initiative today are two people highly engaged in the process.
Chris Nagus serves as Senior Director of Storytelling and Content Strategy, and he’s been traveling across the U.S. to help train and coach local news reporters.













He’s joined by Karen Lehr, who holds the role of Executive Reporter for “Idaho News 6,” KIVI-TV in Boise, Idaho. She has been with the Idaho News 6 team for more than a decade, moving to Boise from Orlando in 2013.

 

It has been a tumultuous eight months for the FCC when it comes to Radio. While many in the industry expected AM and FM to be on Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s back burner, the frequency and speed of regulations and actions taken concerning radio have led to surprise and concern.

While not addressing the most recent movements on AI or the FM duplication rule change, the newest Commissioner — Anna G. Gómez — did discuss two key issues to radio on Wednesday at the Hispanic Radio Conference in San Antonio. Gómez's opening keynote came following a heartfelt introduction from Spanish Broadcasting System founder and Chairman and President/CEO Raúl Alarcón Jr., and this Radio + Television Business Report InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM, offers her address in full.

On the afternoon of Monday, June 10, the FCC turned back the clock, in a way. In another 3-2 party-line vote pitting Democratic victors against Republican dissenters, the Commission reinstated section 73.3556 of the Commission’s rules (the radio duplication rule) for commercial FM stations.

What does this mean for radio broadcasting companies across the U.S.? Why after more than three decades did the Commission on June 5 adopt this order on reconsideration?

To answer those questions and provide a full analysis of why the FCC restored a rule that dates to 1992, RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson welcomes Foster Garvey Office Managing Director and Principal Brad Deutsch to the InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM.

It’s been three weeks since Pio Ferro, the new Senior Vice President of Programming and Content for Meruelo Media, settled in to beautiful downtown Burbank to take on a position that puts him in charge of what comes out of the speakers for four FM radio stations in Southern California.

What's Ferro's vision for the stations, that sees him working alongside President/CEO Otto Padrón from eighth-floor offices in a building with a prominently displayed mural that reads “Laugh Loud. Play Hard”?

In this exclusive chat, Ferro opens up about working for a privately held broadcast group, how great content can drive revenue and advertiser ROI, and why a Foo Fighters/Becky G mashup may not be the best of ideas in this fresh InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM, that comes on the eve of the 2024 Hispanic Radio Conference.

What makes Colorado Springs morning hosts Woody and Bobby standout air personalities in a world where syndicated wake-up shows and reduction-in-force initiatives due to tough economic realities dominate the headlines? Find out in this fresh InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM. 

It is now H.R. 8449, and is being championed by House Members Gus Bilirakis and Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr. as part of an effort to get it to the finish line. The new, marked-up "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act" surfaced earlier this week, and on Thursday a House Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee markup of three bills included discussion of the legislation that would mandate AM radio availability in all new vehicles sold in the U.S.

A host of House E&C Committee Members shared their thoughts on the legislation, with a Congresswoman from Detroit noting that while she clearly supports AM radio, she wants a full understanding of the cost to consumers and her constituents representing the domestic automotive industry's biggest companies.

This InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM, offers audio highlights from the May 23 session — giving you direct access to the future of kHz-band radio from our elected officials in Washington.

With no amendments, the bill was forward to the full committee. From here, the House E&C will schedule a discussion and vote on the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which would then get a likely floor vote in the full U.S. House of Representatives.