The Four Sides Of Ian Punnett

The Four Sides Of Ian Punnett
Like with most of us, there are a number of
sides to talker Ian Punnett, but after a recent
conversation together I’ve boiled them down to
four essential parts. There’s the late night radio
personality familiar to millions as the regular
weekend host of Premiere Networks Coast-ToCoast. Then there’s the affable local morning guy
at MyTalk 107.1 (KTMY/Minneapolis), where
he co-hosts a show with his wife. And there’s
IAN PUNNETT
Ian the author, with two successful children’s
books that have raised money for charity -- a
gesture that speaks to his fourth side, Ian the ordained deacon. All four
sides come together to produce a unique Talk radio personality.
Is it fair to say you have four different personalities?
Yes, but I also think it’s important to say that within all four of those
personalities, I am still the same person. I’m a boundary-tester, a shakedown cruiser, and an experimenter who loves to innovate. Even back
when I did more mainstream Talk radio, I was always pushing the
boundaries of what I could talk about and not get tossed off the radio.
Instead of fist pounding and yelling, I was bringing bigger life questions
and faith issues into a conservative talk show. I’ve always tried to not
walk the same path as everyone else -- I’m always looking to cultivate
a different approach. It allows me to be, in all of those contexts, an
evangelist -- someone who promotes new ideas, encourages people
to speak out, laugh, and connect with something bigger than just the
schedule in front of you on a given day.
November 11, 2011
Talk about the road from traditional talk host and weekend guy
at Coast-To-Coast, to co-hosting mornings in Minneapolis.
I was on the air in Atlanta 13 years ago when Premiere was looking
for someone who could handle weekends at Coast-To-Coast. I’m sure I
wasn’t their first choice, but with me they got somebody who was willing
to take a risk and learn. The same thing was true with MyTalk 107.1. I’d
just come to town to do middays on Hubbard’s AM 1500 KSTP, which
was News/Talk at the time. They wanted to break out of the traditional
confines of the conservative Talk radio model and felt I could do that.
I hadn’t been there long -- about three months -- when they came to me
with the idea for doing a female oriented Talk format on an FM they’d
just acquired. They asked if I’d be willing to make the jump, even though
none of us knew exactly what the plan was. Presented with that, of course
I immediately said, ‘I’m in!’
How did you end up doing mornings with your wife, Margery?
I was doing a mid-morning show on which I’d frequently be talking about
something my wife and I were talking about last night, and decide to just
call her and talk about whatever it was. Management liked the chemistry
and asked us to do mornings together. She works from a studio at home
and I come into the station. And that’s how we’ve done it for the past eight
years together. It’s perfect because I am just far enough away that she
can’t kick me in the shins.
Why do you think MyTalk 107.1 has managed to build a Talk
station that speaks to and draws women?
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(continued on page 3)
November 11, 2011
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PERSON -TO- PERSON
GIG ALERTS
Joe Croce has been named VP/Sales for Longport Media’s New
Jersey radio stations that include Talk WOND and Sport/Talk WBSS/
Pleasantville (which simulcasts CBS Radio Philly Sports/Talker WIP)
… Local TV sports reporter Joe Dubin joins Cromwell Group-owned
Sports/Talker WPRT (The Game)/Nashville as co-host of The Sports
Revolution alongside Willy Daunic … WGN/Chicago PD Bill White
quietly assumes additional duties as the Tribune News/Talker’s News
Director. White has been covering both jobs since the departure last
spring of Charlie Myerson for crosstown Merlin Media all-newser
WWWN-FM … The Minnesota Twins name the Milwaukee Brewers
#2 play-by-play voice, Cory Provus, to replace the retiring John
Gordon in the Twins’ broadcast booth … Clear Channel/Tucson PD
Chris Patyk has left the building. Reach him HERE … WHO/Des
Moines afternoon host Simon Conway has embarked on a month long
college tour, where Drake University was the first stop for holding
debates with college age Republicans and Democrats. Upcoming
planned stops include dates at Iowa State, the University of Iowa and
University of Northern Iowa.
KTRH/Houston is looking for a full-time outstanding storyteller who is
“much more than a journalist.” The perfect candidate understands how to
weave a great story for the ear -- meaning focus, tight writing and using
effective, compelling sound. A great major market opportunity awaits the
news anchor/reporter with the right stuff. Email your resume and audio
samples to News Director Roger Hudson HERE … Got a gig open?
Looking for a new challenge? Just e-mail the details and contact info to
use HERE and we’ll post it here, free of charge, as a service to industry
professionals.
NETWORK / SYNDICATION NOTES
Talk Radio Network’s syndicated America’s Morning News adds
WRCG/Columbus, GA and WMNY/Pittsburgh, which also adds
TRN’s America’s Radio News Network and The Laura Ingraham
Show … The Wall Street Journal Radio Network’s Daily Wrap
adds new affiliates WHJJ/Providence and Buckley Broadcasting’s
Hartford simulcast on WDRC-WMMW-WWCO and WSNG. Other
recent affiliates of the nightly Michael Castner-hosted show include
KQV/Pittsburgh and WGIR/Manchester, NH … Radio America
syndicated host Peter Schiff -- who’s viral video taking on the Occupy
Wall Street protesters while holding a sign reading, “I Am The 1%,
Let’s Talk” has become an Internet sensation -- adds KKOV/Portland
as the newest affiliate of his daily 1-3pm (ET) midday talk show …
Talk Shows USA’s weekly syndicated Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk adds
WXKT/Gainesville, GA, WKEI/Kewanee, IL, WHUB/Cookeville,
TN and WTHQ/Brookport, IL … WDBZ (“The Buzz”)/Cincinnati
adds Rob Redding’s Redding News Review, syndicated via Genesis
Communications Network, to fill the urban talker’s 6-9pm slot …
KLAA/Los Angeles (Orange, CA) adds Envision Radio Networks
feature Where Are They Now with Ahmad Rashad.
.
EMERGING TALK MEDIA
Veteran White House correspondent Julie Mason joins SiriusXM’s
P.O.T.U.S. Channel as host of The Press Pool. The daily, three-hour
program, which airs weekdays at noon on the satcaster’s channel 124,
focuses on political coverage through the eyes of the reporters,
columnists, bloggers and commentators that cover the world of
politics … BREAKING NEWS alerts by following us on TWITTER,
or “friend” us on FACEBOOK. Find one-click links to both at
www.NTSMediaOnline.com.
FROM POWER PIG TO POWER PLAYERS
That’s Hobbs Media namesake Gabe Hobbs grabbing a souvenir moment
with Merlin Media CEO Randy Michaels during this year’s Talk Media
Conference & Talk Show Boot Camp in Dallas. The duo’s career paths
first crossed back in the glory days of Jacor Broadcasting at legendary
Tampa CHR “The Power Pig”(WFLZ).
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NTS MediaOnline Weekly
November 11, 2011
(continued from page 1)
I think we’ve really cracked it. Others will have to do it, too, but it totally
works, because what we do has high entertainment value. I admit that we
flat out did it wrong for about seven years. We were getting parts of it
right, but I think that we’re totally hitting the mark now. Spoken word radio
for women doesn’t have to be left or right. And it can’t be ‘smart girls’
revenge.’ It’s all about attitude, fun and taking a break. It’s not the club
where you go to have your beliefs reaffirmed, it’s a place where you can
go fool around and feel like you’re playing hooky for a few minutes. It’s
pop-culture focused, with high entertainment value and very little serious,
issues-oriented Talk. There’s lots of gossip and talk about funny things that
happened on TV last night -- I liken it to a “live” People magazine in the
making everyday.
Talk to me about your other career as an author of children’s books.
I’ve written two books, the first one -- Dizzie The Mutt With The Propeller
Butt -- is kind of sweet and targets a younger audience. We raised a lot of
money for an animal rescue group from sales and it was really gratifying.
With my latest book -- Jackula The Vampire Dog -- I did kind of push
things a little. I wanted to try for a slightly older reader, so it’s more mature
with a little touch of menace. I also have a deal for a book for adults with
Crown Books that will come out in 2013. Writing is something I do at night
when I can’t sleep, which is most nights.
‘‘
I’ve always tried
to not walk the same path
as everyone else.
’’
Underpinning all of this is the ordained deacon. How does that
complete the total package?
My intent in getting my Masters in Divinity degree was to serve the church
in a non-stipendiary role. I just wanted to be able to do whatever it was I
was called to do. I was ordained and I now do 15-20 hours a week pro bono,
working on whatever projects I’m needed for. I preach about one Sunday
a month either at my own church, or as a guest at another church. My
company supports it, my wife and family support it, and I know it’s helped
me be better at my radio job, too.
So, do you “have it all” as they say?
I have the two best jobs in radio, period. I think what we’ve been able
to build here at MyTalk 107.1 -- thanks to the patience and support of
Hubbard Broadcasting -- will change spoken word radio. I love my wife
and working with her everyday, I love my weekends at Coast-To-Coast
and I love being able to do what I feel the need to do for my church. It’s all
really great -- everybody should want to be me. I really appreciate and love
the life I have been given.
CONTACT NTS MEDIAONLINE
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512.218.8228
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