The Power of LocaL radio

The Power Of Local Radio
This week we turn over our weekly feature page to veteran Talk radio
programmer and consultant Jon Quick. As a consultant to KFGO/
Fargo, Jon was given an “insiders” perspective on the North Dakota
News/Talker’s efforts at covering the devastating flooding in North
Dakota in recent weeks. From the first reports that the inevitable was
coming, to the transition to crisis coverage as rivers and streams
overflowed their banks, to what will undoubtedly be long-term coverage
of clean-up efforts, it’s a story that demonstrates just how much local
radio still means to people and the power it has to keep people calm
when their world is turned upside down by a catastrophic event.
When it became obvious over the weekend of June 18th that the Souris
River in North Dakota was going to crest much sooner and higher than
originally projected, the power of local radio went to work. Heavy
rainfall north of Minot and rapid snow melt in Montana had forced the
Army Corps of Engineers to increase the flow from the Lake Darling
Dam. The result was much more water, arriving downstream much,
much sooner. The word needed to get out, quickly. That’s when
July 8, 2011
KFGO in Fargo, which is located about 5-hours to the southeast of
Minot, sent a team of broadcasters to join their affiliate KCJB/Minot.
By Wednesday, June 22nd, KFGO News Reporter Bonnie Amistadi and
new media specialist John Biersbach were already in Minot. Back in
Fargo, News Director Paul Jurgens, Reporter Don Haney and others
were on hand to support the team that had been deployed to Minot.
Soon after arriving in Minot, while Bonnie was reporting live on KFGO’s
Jack and Sandy midday program, the evacuation sirens sounded and
they could actually be heard in the background as her report aired. To
offer some perspective, Minot is the 4th largest city in North Dakota. Of
its almost 41,000 residents, it was mandatory that over 11,000 people
needed to evacuate their homes immediately. Even the National Guard
was forced to evacuate their posts on dike patrol. By this time, the story
was making national news with all of the major networks covering the
news of one of the worst floods ever recorded in North Dakota history.
Locally, Amistadi and Biersback filed regular live reports for several
days, including a video tour of the Souris River flooding, filmed from
a Blackhawk helicopter (pictured) courtesy of the National Guard. The
video, which was posted on KFGO.com, showed the drama of a major
flood. At that point, hundreds of homes in Minot and the surrounding
areas were affected by the floodwaters, some buildings with only their
rooftops showing.
At a local evacuation center, Amistadi filed a compelling and heartfelt
visit with a displaced elderly lady. Upon conclusion of the interview,
Bonnie asked the lady, “Could you use a hug?” The woman nodded
and got one from the veteran journalist. Bonnie was obviously moved
despite having been on the front lines of many award-winning flood fight
broadcasts. While remaining a news professional, her humanity showed
through in every moment on the air. Another evacuee was staying in the
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(continued on page 3)
NTS MediaOnline Weekly
July 8, 2011
Page 2
PERSON-TO-PERSON
GIG ALERTS
Ten year CBS Radio/New York sales veteran and WCBS General Sales
Manager Chad Lopez also takes on GSM duties at all-news clustermate
WINS. Lopez assumes duties previously handled by Lee Davis, who is
now EVP/Sales for Univision’s radio stations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico
… From our “How Do I Get This Gig?” Department: New Jersey
101.5 personality Big Joe Henry will broadcast live from the Jersey shore
community of North Wildwood tomorrow (7/9) where he’ll report on
the sights and smells of this year’s NJ State Barbeque Championship
… Speaking of New Jersey, congrats to Greater Media News/Talker
WCTC/New Brunswick on taking top honors for “Best News” at the
New Jersey State Broadcasters Association’s annual Best Of Best
awards luncheon in Atlantic City … Longtime broadcast veteran Mike
Glickenhaus is named VP/Associate Publisher at the privately-held
San Diego Business Journal. Mike’s radio resume includes stints with
Tribune, Finest City, Clear Channel, Jacor and Noble Broadcasting.
Bloomberg Radio is seeking an on-air host with a minimum of
3-5 years large to major market radio and/or TV experience. Strong
interview skills, business insight and solid general news writing skills
are among the “musts” for this NYC-based network position. Get full
details and apply online HERE (EOE) … Midwest Communications
is accepting applications for future Market Manager positions. A
minimum of five years successful radio management experience is
required. Email your resume and cover letter to VP/Sales Jeff Wright
HERE (EOE) …Got a gig open? Looking for a new challenge?
Just e-mail the details and contact info to [email protected]
and we’ll post it here, free of charge, as a service to industry professionals.
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE
NETWORK/SYNDICATION NOTES
The New York Daily News reported this week that Glenn Beck and his
family will take up residence in suburban Dallas. The Premiere Radio
Networks syndicated Talk radio host recently sold his Connecticut digs …
Envision Radio Network’s syndicated feature USA Today Fantasy Sports
Minute adds KXMR/Bismarck, ND. Meanwhile, Envision-distributed
outsource local news provider Virtual News Center ramps up with the
hiring of six new anchors including Alan Spector and Darrell Moody
(Orlando); Daune Robinson (Cleveland); Dave Alpert (Los Angeles);
Peter Killeen (Philadelphia); and Dianna Kelly (Atlanta) … Free Talk
Live adds WILM/Wilmington, DE, WBCK/Battle Creek, WSFE/
Somerset, KY, WNCO/Ashland, OH and WHUB/Cookeville, TN as
new affiliates of the Saturday night edition of the syndicated talk show.
EMERGING TALK MEDIA
A new study by eMarketer.com predicts that growth for U.S. online
ad spending will “crest this year at 20.2% and remain solidly in
double digits through 2014.” Mobile, Facebook and Google will
contribute to the predicted online ad spending growth that eMarketer
says will approach $50 billion by 2015. Learn more HERE…
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They say one picture is worth a thousand words and that is certainly the
case with this photo of the City of Minot taken from a National Guard
Blackhawk helicopter flying over the region to assess damage from the
overflowing Souris River.
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NTS MediaOnline Weekly
July 8, 2011
(continued from page 1)
shelter with her husband, parents, three-year old daughter and her twoweek old son. It was the second time the family had been evacuated in
three weeks. The woman was still pregnant the first time they’d all stayed
at the shelter. Meanwhile the river continued to rise and the KFGO/KCJB
news team continued to report on more flood evacuees who wondered
just what would ultimately happen to their homes.
On Thursday, June 23rd, KFGO talk show host Mike McFeely joined
the KFGO news team in Minot. McFeely, along with fellow KFGO talk
host Joel Heitkamp, brought the flood news to the entire state via the
KFGO network of affiliate stations. They received invaluable assistance
from radio veterans Don May, Scott Kittel and Operations Manager
Allison Bostow from KCJB, who provided the local contacts and keen
insight to the devastation faced by the community. The two stations
bonded in the interest of providing life-saving public service efforts 24/7
and worked together like a well-oiled machine. Later, McFeely and the
KCJB team reported on the air, from the air, as they flew with North
Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple and other leaders during another
National Guard Blackhawk helicopter tour. It was on this flight that they
learned that more than 4,000 homes had taken on water.
Today, while the worst of actual flooding is over, the story doesn’t end
there. Just last weekend people were slowly being allowed back to their
homes. Not yet to live in them, but to check and see what they can save,
if anything. Many of them will come home to mold, mildew, and the need
to totally rebuild. All will come home to face difficult challenges left in
the wake of the floods. NTS MediaOnline Weekly readers and people
from all across the U.S. can go to a new website, www.rallyminot.com, to
learn about ways to contribute and offer your help to so many thousands
of people who have been displaced. Along with dramatic photos of the
devastation posted at the site, you will also read this optimistic message:
“Minot will rise again. All it will take is a little Magic.”
Part of that ‘magic’ has been the continuing role of radio during this
disaster that has offered more amazing evidence of the real impact
that live and local radio can have on people’s lives. The citizens and
leadership of Minot and the State of North Dakota have all expressed
sincere thanks to KFGO and KCJB for presenting unprecedented
coverage of an unprecedented event. The recovery for Minot -- the next
chapter in the life of the North Dakota City -- is only now beginning.
Stay tuned.
Reach Jon Quick, President of absoluteMAX! Media, HERE
CONTACT NTS MEDIAONLINE
Al Peterson
858.486.7559
[email protected]
Brooke Trissel
512.218.8228
[email protected]
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