RTNDA Reports More News On-Air…

Friday, October, 10, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

(Weekend Edition) 

More news on radio this year?  In what country?  Apparently in this country.  That’s the report from the Radio Television News Directors Association and Hofstra University.  Don’t know about you but I’m not hearing more news on the station I listen to.  And they can’t be talking about all-news radio because you can’t get more news on those stations unless you add another hour to the day.  The RTNDA/Hofstra survey reports an increase in the minutes of locally produced news with major markets averaging 83.9 minutes, large markets 55.8 minutes, medium markets 53.2 minutes and small markets 49.9 minutes.  The gains “were fueled by added news in afternoon drive and evenings.” …

The bigger the news staff, the more news produced says the report.  The median staff size remained one person.  A record-high 83.1% of radio news directors also have other responsibilities - 23% are talk show hosts, 17% also do sports and weather, 11% are PDs, 10% are GMs, 7.3% dabble in sales and 7.3% include public affairs as part of their duties.  I wonder how many sweep out the place when everyone leaves…

This report reminds me of the days when even contemporary radio did news.  The late Roger Allan who was news director at WRKO in our hey day was proud of the job his news department did within the framework of our 20/20 news format and he had the awards validating that pride.  You can do news and do it well at all formats of radio if you do it right.  You owe that to your audience… 

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1492] Lost and Found: Christopher Columbus reaches the New World when he sights a Bahamian Island believing he has reached East Asia (10/12). Hey I get lost trying to find aisle 8 in Food Emporium…
2. 1845] The Fleet’s in: The U.S. Naval Academy opens in Annapolis (MD) with 50 midshipmen and 7 professors enrolled. Midshipmen study at the academy for four years and train aboard ships each summer (10/10). The first graduating class was in June of 1854. If you haven’t been there yet - make the trip…
3. 1951] Fall Classic memories: The Casey Stengel led Yankees beat the New York Giants in 6 games to win their 3rd consecutive WS. That number will grow to 5. Joe DiMaggio in his final year and rookie Mickey Mantle both played the outfield together with Mantle in right field, DiMag in his customary center field position (10/10).  Bob Sheppard recreates his announcement of the lineups for that game…1957] Lou Burdette’s 3rd WS victory gives the Braves the championship over the Yankees in 7 games (10/10)…1967] The ‘Impossible Dream’ ends. Red Sox pitcher Jim Lonborg makes a valiant attempt to pitch on two days rest but loses game 7 of the Boston-St. Louis World Series. Final score 7-2 Cardinals. I was at that game (10/12)…1973] The New York Mets beat the Reds in game 5 of the NLCS to advance to the World Series against Oakland (10/10). We won’t talk about the results of that WS.  Here’s a video history of the Mets…
4. 1968] Lift off: Apollo 7 is launched with Wally Schirra, Don Fulton Eisele and R. Walter Cunningham aboard. It’s the first time live television broadcasts were received from space (10/11)…
5. 1971] “Happy Trails“: Gene Vincent dies from a ruptured stomach ulcer at 36 (10/12)…1997] John Denver is killed in a plane crash when he runs out of fuel. Denver was 53 (10/12)…1999] Basketball Hall Of Famer Wilt Chamberlain dies in his sleep of a heart attack at 72 (10/12)…2004] Christopher Reeve passes away from cardiac arrest after slipping into a coma. The former Superman was 52 (10/10)…
6. 1975] Wedding Bells: Hillary Rodham (R) switches party to the Democrats when she marries Bill Clinton (10/11)…
7. 1975] Live from New York: George Carlin hosts the first “Saturday Night Live” with Janis Ian and Billy Preston as the first musical guests (10/11)…
8. 1991] Hill v. Thomas: Anita Hill accuses Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment in ‘must see TV” for the masses (10/11)…
9. 2006] Google gobbles You Tube: Google Inc. announces that it’s snapped up You Tube Inc. for $1.65 billion (10/10)…
10. 2006] Tragedy on 72nd Street: Yankees relief pitcher Corey Lidle, 34, and his co-pilot/instructor Tyler Stanger die when their small plane crashes into the 40th floor of a 50 floor hi-rise in Manhattan (10/11). Pilot error was ruled…

Music Memories:

• 1964] Released on this date: “Leader Of The Pack” -Shangri-Las (10/10)…1970] “Tears Of A Clown” - Smokey & the Miracles (10/10)…
• 1964] Number One on this date: “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” - Manfred Mann (10/12)…1966] “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” - Four Tops (10/11)…
• 1968] Curtains: John Sebastian leaves the Lovin’ Spoonful for a solo career (10/12).  John Sebastian performs at Woodstock…1975] Rod Stewart appears with Faces for the last time (10/12)…
• 1978] Premiered on this date: Steve Perry joins Journey as lead singer (10/10)…

Commentary:

Lloyd Thaxton, 81, passed away last weekend. Thaxton, a five-time Emmy winner created and hosted his own show in the 60s. It was the highest rated musical show in the country for eight years. I always thought “The Lloyd Thaxton Show” was the most creative dance show on television - also the most fun for viewers. Thaxton would lip-synch the hits dressed in costumes. His best one was the Viking suit he wore when he mimed “Cara Mia“. Lloyd’s wife Barbara, wrote the following on his blogsite: “My name is Barbara Thaxton, Lloyd’s wife. Lloyd passed away last Sunday morning in my arms. He has now moved on to this next creative project…making the angels laugh. Goodbye my beloved. I will miss you. The world will miss you.” Lloyd Thaxton’s blogsite can be accessed by clicking here…

See you at the Media Gang Luncheon tomorrow…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”:

(10/10) Dale Earnhardt Jr. (34), Mario Lopez (35), Brett Favre (39), Julia Sweeney (47), Tanya Tucker (50), David Lee Roth(53) and Ben Vereen (62)…(10/11) Jane Krakowski (40), Luke Perry (42), Steve Young (47), David Morse (55), Daryl Hall(62) and Elmore Leonard (83)…(10/12) Hugh Jackman (40), Susan Anton (58), Chris Wallace (61), Sam Moore(73) and Dick Gregory (76)…

Timeline Countdown: 15 days until the World Series opener, 21 nights until Halloween, 22 nights until Standard Time…

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