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T H E G R E AT E R M E D I A | 4 V O L . 7 FA L L 2 0 1 2
SPECIAL
EDITION
c o n t e n t s
FA L L 2 0 1 2
I N
T H I S
I S S U E
Table of Contents:
Look Who’s Making Greater Media Greater 3,7
People & News 4-5
Honors and Awards
6-7
Boys Just Want to Have Fun/John DeBella Celerbrates 30 Years with Greater Media
8-9
Hello, Everyone,
Community/Giving Back 10-15
Snapshots 16-17
“Nightcall” Host Embraces His Long History as On-Air Personality
18-19
Interactive Spotlight 20
Neither Rain, nor Sleet, nor Snow…nor High Winds 22
Newspaper Division Delivers the News despite Hurricane Sandy
23
Greater Media Engineering Keeps Stations on the Air during Hurricane Sandy
24
WDHA-FM & WMTR-AM Stay Live and Local
throughout Hurricane Sandy
25
On the Road to Recovery after Hurricane Sandy 26
Greater Media Employees Rally to Help Their Own after Hurricane Sandy
27
Think Pink 32
Halloween 2012 34-35
Election 2012 36-37
Music 38-40
Look Who’s Reading The Grapevine
42
Weddings, Babies & Engagements 43
The Greater Media
GRAPEVINE
PUBLISHER: Greater Media, Inc.
EDITOR: Heidi Raphael
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Monique Walton/MWalton Design
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jennifer Amato, Chris Brunt, Clare Marie Celano, Matt DeVoti,
Scott Kohlhepp, Chris Miller, Stella Morrison, Kelly Wallace and Adele Young
PRINTER: Maureen Morrow/Printex
Special thanks to the people of Greater Media for making this publication possible.
ADDRESS:
Greater Media, Inc.
35 Braintree Hill Office Park
Suite 300
Braintree, MA 02184
781.348.8600
For more information, please contact Heidi Raphael at [email protected].
Grapevine is published 4 times a year by greater media, inc.
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GRAPEVINE
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Letter From The Chair
As we prepare to welcome
2013, I would like to
express my sincere
gratitude and appreciation
to each of you for your
outstanding commitment
to Greater Media over the
past year. We continue to
blaze new trails due to the
contributions you make
every day.
Year, and Traci Kloss, who
was named Streetfighter of
the Year, at the 2012 Radio
Wayne Awards.
In addition, I would
like to recognize Mike
Brophey, Ginny Rogers
and the entire Country
102.5 WKLB-FM team
for being named Major
Market Station of the
As always, you make Greater Year at the 2012 Country
Media greater on a daily
Music Awards in Nashville,
basis. This past quarter
TN. Congratulations
proved that time and time
also go out to WMGKagain. Your dedication
FM’s John DeBella on
and generosity to your
celebrating 30 years on the
fellow employees and the
air with Greater Media in
communities we serve was
Philadelphia.
seen and heard loudly
throughout the days that
On behalf of my family and
preceded and followed the the Bordes family, I wish
wrath of Hurricane Sandy. you and your families a very
The “We Take Care of Our happy holiday season, and
Own” Campaign, which
a healthy and prosperous
helped our employees
2013!
impacted by the storm, is
a shining example of this.
Sincerely,
And very special thanks to
everyone at our radio and
Peter Smyth
newspaper operations in
New Jersey for all you did to
weather the storm and get
important information out
to our listeners and readers.
I would like to congratulate
Matt DeVoti, who was
named Sales Manager of the
G
great!
recognizing
people who go
the extra mile
LOOK WHO’S MAKING
GREATER MEDIA GREATER
BOSTON
Jamie Martel (right)
Marketing Director
WROR-FM
PJ Sittig
Midday Producer/Promotion-Programming
Assistant WROR-FM
Jamie is the WROR-FM Marketing
Director (a title that is not nearly
enough to describe all she does).
PJ is the Midday Producer/
Promotions/Programming Assistant.
It started as a question: “What can we
do to help the Red Cross Hurricane
Sandy Fund?” Jamie Martel’s answer:
“Maybe we can sell Loren & Wally
Dashboard Statues for $25 and see
what happens.” More than 600
statues and $23,500 later, Jamie and
PJ are still executing the behind-thescenes details of this amazing idea.
They’re processing and confirming
the orders, hand-writing address
labels, stuffing envelopes, and talking
to listeners who have ordered their
statues.
Why have they turned our office into
a mailing facility while still doing
their full-time jobs? Because they
care. Because they don’t settle for
good, they demand great. Because
they make Greater Media greater.
They always step up and ask what else
they can do. Thanks to Jamie and PJ
for going above and beyond ... not
just on this project ... but EVERY
day.
CHARLOTTE
Amelia Davis
Promotions & Interactive Media
Coordinator
Greater Media Charlotte
Amelia has just celebrated her
one-year anniversary with Greater
Media Charlotte, and we don’t
know how we survived without her!
Amelia is the designer behind many
graphics you see on 1079thelink.
com and wbt.com. She is a vital
part of our sales effort, creating
online sponsorship opportunities
and working with clients. Amelia
crafts all of our WLNK-FM and
WBT AM/FM emails, designing
and creating content that is visually
pleasing and accurately represented
for programming, promotions and
sales. Amelia is the ultimate team
player and is making Greater Media
Charlotte greater every day!
Billy Black
Imaging Director
Greater Media Charlotte
If you are looking for off-the-wall
creativity, with a dash of irreverence
and fun, Billy Black is your man.
As Imaging Director for WBT AM/
FM and WLNK-FM, Billy has
brought the image of both stations
to a new level of excitement and
professionalism. With Billy’s sense of
humor and technical ability, we have
promotional announcements that
have compelling content and connect
with our listeners. Billy is not only a
genius at work, but he’s an all-around
great guy, fun to be around and full
of life. Billy is truly making Greater
Media Charlotte greater!
DETROIT
Steve Dobrusin
Account Manager
WRIF-FM
Greater Media Detroit
It’s no understatement to say that
broadcasting is in WRIF-FM Account
Manager Steve Dobrusin’s blood and
his family. He grew up loving Detroit
radio. His mother worked for Specs
Howard School of Broadcasting,
his sister is a radio seller in Dallas,
and his wife works for a public radio
station in Michigan. No wonder his
radio sales career path led him to
WRIF-FM more than 13 years ago.
The main thing that Steve loves about
his job is that no two days are the
same. He looks at each day as a new
opportunity filled with challenges and
triumphs.
Proving that no two days are the same,
Steve shares one of his favorite WRIFFM memories: “I was working late
one night and took the back stairs by
the studios to head out to my car. As
I walked past the studio door, who
walks out … Joe Perry of Aerosmith!
I didn’t even know he was in the
building. It was amazing!”
Steve is also a musician. He has been
playing the drums for more than
35 years and still loves to head to
his “man cave” and rock his Ludwig
drum kit.
Some people would be surprised to
learn of one of Steve’s other passions
… tattoo art. He got his first tattoo, a
musical note, in his early 30s. It has
since become a part of a montage/
portrait of one of his musical heroes,
Miles Davis. Tattoos for Steve are
serious business. Each marks a
significant moment for his family and
for his passion for music.
Steve is proud to share his life with
his wife, Carol, and two stepchildren,
Scott and Chelsea. He is close to both
kids and is often sharing insights on
life with them. He recalled recently
reminding Scott always to “Say what
you mean and mean what you say.
And always do what you say you’re
going to do.”
At Greater Media Detroit, we know
that advice is something that Steve
Dobrusin puts into practice every day.
That’s one of the many reasons we’re
excited to thank Steve for making
Greater Media Detroit great!
Paula Paul
Traffic Director
Greater Media Detroit
Someone once said, “If you don’t
have a smile, I’ll give you one of
mine.” If you’re ever at the Greater
Media Detroit offices and you feel in
need of a smile, look no further than
Traffic Director Paula Paul.
Paula has been a member of the
Greater Media family for more than
11 years. She found her passion for
radio early while attending Specs
Howard School of Broadcasting.
Paula shared with us that she was lured
to radio because of its creativity.
In the beginning of her career
Paula focused on copywriting and
production. She soon found herself
drawn to traffic. Here’s how Paula
sees it: “Traffic is all about working
the puzzle. I love making sure that
each piece is in its place. You know
the puzzle is complete when the log is
ready for the next day.”
When we asked Paula about some
of her favorite things about Greater
Media Detroit, she responded
immediately: “The people! It’s great
to work with people that you like.
Our team is like my work family.”
Paula is thrilled be a part of the GMD
Traffic Team. “I really couldn’t do it
without the whole team. One of the
perks is being able to work with my
fellow Traffic Director, Dana Knight.
She’s my Traffic Buddy and Soul
Sister.”
When not at work, Paula loves
spending time with her family. Son
Chris is finishing his undergraduate
degree and getting ready to head to
law school and son Jimmy is studying
at Michigan State University. With a
bit of empty-nest syndrome setting
in, she and significant other John
find themselves taking on lots of
house projects. Of course Paula’s
interest in design shows on HGTV
and cooking shows on the Food
Network may have played a role in
the increase of “projects” they’ve
undertaken. In her free time Paula
and John pursue two their favorite
pastimes, films and traveling. One
of her favorite spots to visit so far has
been Sedona, AZ. She and John are
on a quest to visit all of the national
parks and each of Michigan’s 100plus lighthouses. They also plan trips
to film festivals.
At Greater Media Detroit, we’re
proud that Paula Paul and her smile
are a part of our team. Every day,
Paula makes Greater Media great.
NEW JERSEY
All Employees at Greater Media New Jersey
The work ethic that I have witnessed during the
aftermath of Hurricane Sandy has been second
to none. Greater Media New Jersey employees
have demonstrated extreme courage and creativity
during very difficult circumstances. The net
result of these extraordinary efforts was that
all our stations remained on the air, while our
competitors went dark.
— Dan Finn
NEW JERSEY
NEWSPAPERS
James McEvoy
Staff Writer
Greater Media Newspapers
James has been an invaluable member
of the Editorial Department at
Greater Media Newspapers since
his arrival in September 2011. A
staff writer for the East Brunswick
Sentinel, James is responsible for
covering six towns in our coverage
area, requiring him to stay on
Continued on page 7
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people
PEOPLE & NEWS
Greater Media Boston’s Paul Shulins
Co-Chairs 2012 BTS Symposium
Greater Media Boston Chief
Engineer Paul Shulins recently
served as the co-chair of the 2012
IEEE Broadcast Technology
Society (BTS) Symposium.
The BTS is a worldwide society
under the IEEE and promotes
learning for broadcasters
internationally. The Symposium
is a three-day event featuring
papers from experts in radio and
TV engineering, and is attended
by about 150 engineers and
consultants worldwide. This year’s
event was held in Alexandria,
VA, and was a huge success.
Shulins was in charge of obtaining
sponsors and speakers for the
event.
As a result of the efforts of Shulins
and Co-Chair David Layer,
the event’s revenue grew by 100
percent over last year. In addition,
he was able to bring in many
highly regarded speakers in the
radio industry to participate in
several special panel discussions,
including engineering legends
Frank Foti and Bob Orban.
Paul Shulins
In addition, he worked with
NewTek and one of the BTS Ad
Com members to televise the
event live on the Web, as well
as sell it for archive playback at
a later date. This opportunity
made the program accessible to
international members who could
not travel to Alexandria.
Shulins, who has been involved
in the event for the past three
years, has agreed to serve as cochair again for next year’s event,
which is slated to take place in San
Diego.
Moms Rock Oxford Valley Mall with BEN-FM
95.7 BEN-FM and The First National
Bank of Newtown presented the
1st annual Moms Rock! Expo on October 20
at the Oxford Valley Mall in Langhorne,
PA.
The Expo, hosted by BEN-FM Morning
Personality Marilyn Russell, featured
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GRAPEVINE
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Lord and Farley Join
the Greater Media Charlotte Family
New Faces from Different Places Join Sales Team
a day of activities designed specifically
for mothers, including shopping
deals, beauty tips, free samples, and
plenty of pampering and relaxing. In
addition, Sephora gave free makeup
consultations, J.C. Penney offered free
“updos,” and Gordon Jewelers provided
free ring polishing.
Speakers included Beth Allen, owner
of HIP Chicks, who discussed the
importance of self-reliance through
empowerment, and Dawn Ellery,
owner of Sweet Escape in New Hope,
who talked about how to embrace your
talents and turn them into a profitable
business venture.
2 012
Kerie Lord
Naomi Farley
Recently Greater Media Charlotte
was very fortunate to recruit two
outstanding individuals from
outside the market with diverse
radio backgrounds to help us
continue to make Greater Media
greater.
major and large market radio, and
television.
Kerie Lord: A Philadelphia
native, Kerie grew up in the
radio industry. Her father, Dan
Sullivan, once served as General
Manager of a Greater Media
station in Philadelphia. She
started in radio and later went on
to work as an account executive for
television stations in Philly and
Raleigh-Durham, NC.
In addition, Greater Media
Charlotte Vice President and
Station Manager Trip Savery
personally worked with Kerie at
Curtis Media Group. She recently
moved to Charlotte to work for
Greater Media Charlotte. Kerie
brings great perspective from
Naomi Farley: A Durham native,
Naomi had been working for
former WBT AM/FM Local Sales
Manager Al Bunch in Lenoir,
NC. She recently got married
and moved to Charlotte. Naomi
brings a great perspective from
small market radio to large market
Charlotte.
“We are thrilled to have these
two outstanding individuals join
our outstanding Greater Media
Charlotte family,” said Savery.
“Their valuable insight and
perspective will help us continue
to grow our business and take us
to the next level.”
Continued on next page
Jason Furst Named Program Director
of Greater Media’s WBT AM/FM in Charlotte
Nicholas Lombardi Joins Greater Media Boston
Nicholas
Lombardi
Jason Furst has been named as
Program Director of Greater
Media’s WBT AM/FM in
Charlotte, NC. He officially
began his new position on
October 29,2012.
The radio programming veteran
most recently served as Program
Director of WHAM-AM and
WHTK AM/FM in Rochester,
NY, and WSYR AM/FM in
Syracuse, NY. In addition, he
previously programmed WWHTFM, WHEN-AM and WWDGFM, all based in Syracuse, as well
as KUSJ-FM, KOOC-FM and
KSSM-FM in Killeen, TX.
Jason Furst
“We are excited to have Jason
join the Greater Media Charlotte
family,” said Greater Media,
Inc. Vice President of Radio and
Charlotte Market Manager Rick
Feinblatt. “His experience made
him the perfect choice to lead the
WBT AM/FM team.”
“I am excited to join Greater
Media Charlotte and work with
the fine talent associated with
these legendary call letters,” said
Furst.
MAGIC 98.3 FM Presents
Sounds of Summer Giveaway
CRYSTAL Auto Mall and MAGIC
98.3 FM teamed up to help New Jersey
listeners keep more of their cash in their
pockets with the Crystal Auto Mall Sounds
of Summer Giveaway. One lucky grand-prize
winner drove away in a brand-new 2012
Toyota Prius Plug-in!
From August 6 to September 6, fans
had the opportunity to enter their name
in the drawing to win a brand-new
Prius. With all entries in, the final
contestants had a 1 in 64 chance of
driving away from Crystal Auto Mall
inside their 2012 Prius Plug-in.
Throughout August, listeners were
invited to enter the drawing in three
different ways: online through the
MAGIC Music Members Club, on-air
by listening for the Sounds of Summer
sounder, or in person at Crystal Auto
Mall in Green Brook.
In addition, the day of the actual event,
listeners could enter for a final 10
spots. Sixty-four envelopes were placed
on the table in front of the car, each
containing either a consolation prize or
a non-winner letter as the names began
to be drawn. Finally, longtime listener
Kristen Hernandez (who had recently
purchased another vehicle from Crystal)
received the keys to her brand-new 2012
Toyota Prius Plug-in!
Nicholas Lombardi has been
named General Sales Manager
of Radio 92.9 WBOS-FM. A
seasoned radio professional,
Lombardi most recently managed
Hubbard Media’s 97.1 WDRVFM “The Drive” in Chicago,
IL. In addition, he previously
managed stations in Albany, NY,
and worked in Hartford, CT, as
an account executive.
“I have known Nicholas since
he started in the business,” said
Greater Media Market Manager
Rob Williams. “He was a top
performing account executive
from day 1, and I have enjoyed
watching his success and growth
as a sales manager. He’s the
perfect addition to our strong
management team.”
WROR-FM’s Iron Chef Cookoff
a Resounding Success
THE Iron Chef Cookoff, sponsored by GE,
at the Tri-City Sales Showroom, Salem,
MA, was packed with listeners who came
to watch WROR-FM’s Afternoon Drive
Host Julie Deveraux and the Morning
Show’s Hank Morse whip up their
favorite recipes. The winner? Julie, with
her teriyaki coleslaw and basted chicken!
WROR-FM’s Julie Devereaux, Ron Vecchia of sponsor GE,
and WROR-FM’s Hank Morse in front of Julie’s winning recipes.
Toyota Prius
winner with
MAGIC 98.3
FM’s Chris
McCoy, John
Lisk and Jeff
Rafter along
with Crystal
Auto Mall staff
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H O N O R S
Radio Wayne
Awards Presented
to Philly Account
Manager and
to Jersey Sales
Manager
97.5 FM The
Fanatic Account
Manager Traci
Kloss and
WDHA-FM and
WMTR-AM Sales Manager
Matt DeVoti were named
among the winners at the
recent Radio Wayne Awards,
presented annually by Radio
Ink magazine.
Kloss was named as the
recipient of the 2012 Radio
Wayne Streetfighter of Year
award. In addition, DeVoti
walked away with the Sales
Manager of Year award.
The official presentation
took place on September 19
during a luncheon at the 2012
Radio Show at the Anatole
Hilton Hotel in Dallas, TX. The
finalists were chosen by a
panel of respected industry
judges. The Radio Wayne
Awards, honoring the top
managers and sales people
in radio, were inspired and
named after “Radio Wayne”
Cornils, a radio broadcaster
who served many years as
executive vice president of
the RAB (Radio Advertising
Bureau).
&
A W A R D S
Greater Media New Jersey Takes Top Honors
at 38th Annual Jasper Awards
Greater Media New Jersey
recently took top honors
at the 38th Annual Jasper
Awards. The event took place
on October 12 at the Robert
B. Meyner Reception Center
at the PNC Bank Arts Center,
Holmdel.
The Jasper Awards were
established in 1974 to honor
excellence in the New Jersey
communications industry.
This year’s competition
received more than 220
entries in 100 categories,
encompassing advertising;
print materials; direct mail;
corporate identity; special
purpose print material; radio
and television; audio/visual;
excellence in writing, media
and public relations; special
events; and interactive
communications.
A panel of experts from the
tri-state area judged the
entries based on criteria
such as creativity, concept,
artwork, and effectiveness in
reaching the target audience.
The awards panel presented
a total of 110 awards to 43
firms in the state.
radio stations won Gold
awards in the following
categories:
Trophies awarded to GMNJ Interactive at the JSPRAA awards banquet
PRINT MATERIAL
• Poster — WRAT-FM:
Asbury Park Beerfest
RADIO
• Education or Community
Promo: WJRZ-FM, Pirates of
the O.C.
• Radio Commercial, 30 or
60 seconds: WRAT-FM,
East Coast Cookery
The Greater Media Interactive
Division received Silver
awards in the following
Interactive categories:
ELECTRONIC
COMMUNICATIONS
• Web Banners: Hire A
Veteran
• Webcast/Webinar:
WDHA-FM, Live in Studio D
PRINT MATERIAL
• Newsletter, Internal:
Interactive Link
The Jasper Awards support
the James R. McCormick
Memorial Scholarship Fund,
which was established
in 1983 to recognize
outstanding achievements
and provide financial
assistance for Shore area
students. Jim McCormick
was an active Jersey
Shore Public Relations and
Advertising Association
member who was tragically
killed that year. At the time
of his death, McCormick
served the residents of the
Monmouth County area as
Director of Public Information
and Tourism. He had also
worked as a newspaper
reporter for The Register and
the Asbury Park Press.
WMMR-FM & WRAT-FM Recognized
by Radio Contraband’s 2012 Rock Radio Awards
• Major Market Radio Station
of the Year 2012: WMMRFM (Philadelphia)
• Major Market Program
Director of the Year: Bill
Weston, WMMR-FM
• Major Market Music Director
of the Year: Sean “the
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Rabbi” Tyszler, WMMR-FM
• Medium Market Music
Director of the Year:
“Rockyn” Robyn Lane,
WRAT-FM, New Jersey
from left to right, Sean “the Rabbi” Tyszler, Robyn Lane & Bill Weston
WRAT-FM
Nominated in
Several Categories
for 2012 Asbury
Music Awards
Congratulations to WRAT-FM
and its station personalities
who have once again been
named among the finalists
for the 2012 Asbury Music
Awards:
TOP RADIO/INTERNET
STATION TO SUPPORT LIVE
MUSIC
95.9 WRAT-FM
TOP RADIO PERSONALITY
IN SUPPORT OF LIVE MUSIC
Maria Mar
Jersey Rock 95.9 The Rat
Robyn Lane
Keith Roth
95.9 The Rat
AsburyMusic.com
Steve Hook
TOP JOURNALIST IN
SUPPORT OF LIVE MUSIC
Maria Mar (The Aquarian
Weekly)
Nominees were selected
by club owners, bands and
publications involved in the
Asbury Park music scene.
Last year, The Rat’s very own
Maria “Mar” Ciezak took home
the award for the Top Radio
Personality in Support of Live
Music for her “Jersey Rock”
show.
The annual event was
scheduled to take place on
December 13 at the legendary
Stone Pony nightclub. The
Asbury Music Awards began
in 1993 and have become a
Jersey Shore tradition. For
more information, visit http://
www.asburymusicawards.
com/AMA-Master-10.25.pdf.
Boston’s Country 102.5 WKLB-FM Named 2012
Country Music Association Station of the Year
Greater Media Boston’s
Country 102.5 WKLB-FM was
awarded the Country Music
Association’s highest radio
award, Major Market Station
of the Year, at the annual
awards show in Nashville on
November 1.
Stations are judged primarily
on their air sound, ratings
and community involvement.
WKLB-FM was able to
demonstrate proficiency in
all of these areas with the
submission, which is judged
by industry peers.
“To be selected for this honor
is especially gratifying as
we move toward our 20th
year of serving Boston with
great country music,” said
WKLB-FM Program Director
Mike Brophey. “This is one of
the pinnacle awards in our
industry. I’m excited for our
staff, particularly those who
have been with us for a lot of
years. Each one of our people
is part of winning this award.
Their professionalism and
dedication have made this
happen.”
The awards show was
televised on ABC-TV and
capped an extremely busy
week. Lori Grande, part of
Country 102.5 FM’s morning
show, broadcast for two
days, interviewing nearly 60
artists, including Taylor Swift,
Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan,
Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and
many more. Her interviews
are posted on WKLB.COM/
CMA2012, and many made it
on the station’s morning show.
Additionally, there were
several large music company
gatherings before and after
the awards show to which
Country 102.5 FM was invited.
Ginny Rogers, WKLB-FM
Assistant Program Director
and Music Director, is
especially involved in the
Country 102.5 WKLB-FM Program Director Mike Brophey and Assistant
Program Director/Music Director Ginny Rogers accept the CMA’s 2012 Major
Market Station of the Year award.
Nashville music scene. Said Rogers: “At the awards show, we
were seated near many of the stars, and it was great to be right
up front as we received our beautiful crystal award. We made
sure to bring it home to Greater Media Boston with the utmost
care!”
This has been an especially exciting year for Country 102.5
WKLB-FM. Boston has become a hot bed for country music,
moving a lot of concert tickets, such as Jason Aldean selling out
two shows at Fenway Park, and Gillette Stadium concerts from
Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney. Digital downloads of music
grow each month, and of course Country 102.5 FM’s ratings have
been consistently in the top five, and have reached a rank of 2nd
in the 25 – 54 demo several times. The station is also the highest
weighted country station in America by Country Aircheck
magazine.
“Country really has come into its own in Boston, with the
Country Music Association choosing Boston two times for their
songwriter series. For us to win our Station of the Year award
this year just seems natural and fitting. We are excited, thankful
and proud!” said Brophey.
great!
LOOK WHO’S MAKING
GREATER MEDIA GREATER
Continued from page 3
top of numerous issues facing
communities big and small. James
is a devoted reporter who is always
up to the task, whether it involves
covering a hot topic at a packed town
council meeting, a feature story
on a community event, or on-thescene reporting of a serious crime.
Of particular note was James’ work
under a tight deadline following a
tragic shooting at a local supermarket
in August 2012. James gives his all to
every story, ensuring that each is fair,
accurate and meaningful. His work is
very much appreciated.
PHILADELPHIA
Sean Burke
Promotion Coordinator
WMGK-FM
Sean has really energized the Squad
and brought an even higher level of
organization and attention to detail
to our MGK Classic Rock Squad. In
addition, he is very hands on with
the Sales staff and takes a lot of time
devising the best games, activities and
setups at client events. Sean has been
nominated as someone who makes
Greater Media greater because of
the outstanding work he’s done to
make MGK’s appearances and live
broadcasts better both for the station
and for our clients.
G
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30 years
special feature
By Jennifer Amato
Boys Just Wanna Have Fun
John DeBella Celebrates 30 years with Greater Media Philadelphia
JOHN DeBella, Howie
Mandel and 50 radio listeners
played Ring Around the Rosie
in a Philadelphia park.
Why? “Because we could.”
“I am extremely proud,” he
said. “There are few people
in America who can say they
are on the radio in the same
market for this amount of time.
Not only am I proud I did it, but
I am proud I did it in the city of
Philadelphia.”
DeBella, 62, had dreams
of being a scenic lighting
and costume designer for
Broadway. He worked toward
his degree at Hofstra University
in Long Island, NY, but decided
to work at his college radio
station, WVHC, on a whim.
“It seemed like fun. I was a
huge music junkie. It was 1968,
and it was the height of rock
’n’ roll. Being at a radio station
made all the sense in the
world,” he said.
One night after graduation,
DeBella was sitting around
with some friends when he
was told about an opening at
a local radio station. He asked
his friend how he knew about
it, and he replied that it was his
job, and he was getting fired
the next day. DeBella decided
to apply anyway, and became
the morning man from 6 to 10
a.m. for WLIR on Long Island
from 1976 to 1980.
“It was a style nobody was
doing,” DeBella said about
GRAPEVINE
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John DeBella with Gregg Allman
John DeBella with Dwayne “The
Rock” Johnson
John DeBella with Gene Simmons
John DeBella tells it like it is,
and has been for 37 years
on professional radio. He
celebrated his 30th anniversary
with Greater Media on
November 15.
8
clockwise from top left,
John DeBella with David Gilmour
2 012
John DeBella rides in the “Louie
Louie” parade.
John DeBella with Richard Lewis
John DeBella with Michael Anthony
moving from the typical
morning show of “deep-voiced
guys talking very slowly” to
a more upbeat, fast-paced,
musical, informative format. “It
was my personality and what
was natural to me. What was
on the radio I found to be very
boring.”
John
DeBella
with
David
Lee Roth
Although DeBella was on the
cusp of changing the country’s
idea of a morning show format
and radio, in general, he said he
felt “completely alone” because
people marked him as “too
wacky” or “over the top.”
Thank You
for Serving –
Greater Media
Boston Honors
Their Veterans
However, the ratings started
to climb, and LIR became the
first active rock station in the
country.
After leaving for six months
to work at a Top 40 program
in Pittsburgh, he returned
to LIR from August 1980 to
November 1982.
He then transitioned to Greater
Media’s 93.3 WMMR-FM in
Philadelphia. He said the new
format “really exploded,” with
numbers unknown to the
station, the market, the format
and the nation. He said no FM
rock ’n’ roll radio station had
ever been Number 1 in that
market in the country before.
“We were in shock. … For us,
we were just a bunch of guys
doing silly things, having a
good time,” he said.
Those good times included
listening to the late Grover
Washington Jr. playing the
theme from “My Three Sons”
in the park, hosting weeks
of shows from England, and
interviewing Pete Townshend
of The Who in 1993 in a nowinfamous interview.
DeBella decided to use his
notoriety for good, instead of
selfish reasons. He wanted the
popularity of his show to be
about the music, the city and
the lifestyle of its residents.
He recalled his first day at
MMR, walking in and saying,
“Okay, I’m here, Where’s the
party?” His program director
connected him with a local
club owner, and just a few
weeks later on December 7 “I
threw a party for myself — and
seven people showed up.”
VP/Market Manager for Greater Media Philadelphia John Fullam (left) and
WMGK-FM Program Director Charley Lake (right) surprise John DeBella at
the end of his show to award him the “Golden Mic Award” for 30 years of
Philadelphia radio excellence.
Thus began DeBella’s DeBall,
an annual gathering of the
show’s fans who get to see a
free concert and party with
their favorite morning show
host. Now, it has gotten so big
that for every one person who
gets a ticket, 10 are turned
away, DeBella said.
“It turned into a thank you to the
listeners,” he said. “We appreciate
the fact that you are there.”
DeBella has other ways he
reaches out to the community,
too.
The John DeBella Turkey Drop
has listeners donating more
than 10,000 turkeys in less
than a four-hour span each
November, so that families
in the Philadelphia area can
be fed for Thanksgiving and
Christmas. The Veterans
Radiothon raises more than
$100,000 a year for a local
veterans group. The DeBella
Dog Walk in the spring
supports dozens of animal
shelters and rescue groups.
DeBella, who lived through
the times of Elvis Presley, the
Beatles, Manfred Mann and
the Dave Clark Five, described
music as being “visceral,”
“emotional” and “physical.”
“There isn’t a point in my life
that I can’t think of a memory,
and a song doesn’t come with
it,” he said. “You hear a song,
and it puts you in a place and
time.”
There have been a lot of times
and places over DeBella’s
30 years at Greater Media.
Although he said that getting
up at 3:30 a.m. every morning
“sucks,” he said, “I’m going to
do my best to get you through
that sucky period, to make you
laugh, to make you think, to get
you to know the world’s gonna
be OK.”
Currently the morning host on
Classic Rock 102.9 WMGK-FM,
DeBella said he would love
to stay on the air as long as
possible.
The Staff of Greater Media
Boston gathered on the
Veterans Day holiday to
thank their colleagues
for their service. The
veterans were treated to
a special lunch, consisting
of delicious MRE packages
(which stands for meals
ready to eat), in memory
of the C-rations they were
issued when serving in the
military.
The honored veterans
included: (l-r) Loren Owens
(Marine Corps), Mike
Addams (U.S. Army), Tony
Baglio (U.S. Air Force) and
John Muller (Marine Corps
Reserve).
But he does have one regret
in life.
“If I had one wish in the world it
would be to be born with Peter
Smyth’s hair.”
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community
GIVING BACK
WRAT-FM Helps the Needy with Annual
Broadcast for the People of New Jersey
relief. The FoodBank of
Monmouth and Ocean Counties
is in need of food more than ever
before. In addition, the nonprofit
Holiday Express was looking to
secure a large supply of gift-basket
items, such as toiletries. Local
shelters were also asking for more
cold-weather clothing, including
new gloves, winter hats, socks and
other much-needed items.
Greater Media New Jersey’s 95.9
WRAT-FM once again hosted its
annual Thanksgiving season drive,
Broadcast for the People of New Jersey, on
November 19 and 20 to help New
Jersey families in need.
WRAT-FM’s live Broadcast for
the People of New Jersey was held at
ShopRite in Neptune and was
sponsored by Pepsi, NJ Lottery,
Sansone Jr. Route 66 Automall,
Coors Light and Shore Point
Distributing.
The station expected to fill a
40-foot tractor-trailer with items
to be donated to local charities.
There has never been more of
a need, due to the devastation
from Hurricane Sandy and the
nor’easter that followed. The
Shore area was hardest hit. Not
a day goes by since the hurricane
that WRAT-FM doesn’t get several
calls from listeners who suffered
losses — from power to their
entire homes.
“The FoodBank will need food
more than ever this year,” said
WRAT Promotions Director
Doug Sjonvall. “Typically, the
food we donate is gone within
a few days. Now, I’m sure it will
be gone in a matter of hours.
Warm clothes for many of those
displaced are a necessity as well.
It’s not about T-shirts, it’s
sweaters, coats, boots and shoes
that are in need. Never before has
this drive hit this close to home
as it does now. And our listeners
are always out in full force to help
their New Jersey brothers and
sisters.”
This year, the Broadcast for the People
of New Jersey focused on hurricane
greater media
gives back to the
community
WMGK-FM John DeBella Turkey Drop
Assists Families Who Have Fallen on Hard Times
Thousands of families in the
tri-state were able to enjoy a
happy Thanksgiving again this
year, thanks to help provided
by 102.9 WMGK-FM’s 11th
Annual John DeBella Turkey Drop.
WMGK’s partner in the Turkey
Drop, City Team Philadelphia,
saw a record number of 15
percent more sign-ups for
holiday meal assistance this year.
The organization provides food
and services to less-fortunate
individuals, families, shelters
and food groups in the tri-state.
For the second year in a row,
lines stretched from inside the
Cityteam International ministry
in Chester, around the block
and over the Seventh Street
bridge.
On Tuesday, November 20,
from 6 to 9 a.m., Classic Rock
102.9 WMGK Morning Host
John DeBella broadcast live and
accepted monetary and turkey
donations during this year’s
Turkey Drop at Love Park.
The John DeBella Turkey Drop is the
largest, one-day food-gathering
event in Philadelphia. Last
year’s Turkey Drop collected more
than 10,000 turkeys.
Half of the families seeking
their assistance this year are
people doing so for the first
times in their lives. Cityteam
staff members have been
humbled by the embarrassment
that many of those seeking their
help have expressed. Those in
need want to be able to provide
for themselves but due to certain
circumstances have no one else
to turn to other than Cityteam.
In addition to Love Park,
members of the WMGK-FM
on-air staff accepted donations
throughout the tri-state area.
This included seven Giant Food
Stores locations in Pennsylvania
and three Panera Bread sites in
New Jersey.
WROR-FM’s Hank Morse hosted
Walk Now for Autism Speaks – with
a little help from the Grinch!
The event was held September 30
at Suffolk Downs in East Boston.
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94.7 WCSX-FM Stages Benefit Concert
for Motor City Police Officer’s Family
Doctors Rock the Keswick Stage with
102.9 WMGK-FM
Rock MD Champions
Rule of 13 hold the check that will
benefit the charity Miles for
Melanoma of Delaware.
94.7 WCSX-FM put together
a benefit concert for the family
of West Bloomfield, MI, Police
Officer Patrick O’Rourke,
who died in the line of duty
on September 9, 2012, leaving
behind a wife and four children.
Fifty Amp Fuse performed
live with many special guests,
including Mitch Ryder, Stewart
Francke, Tino Gross and many
more. Amy O’Rourke and her
children were on hand to express
their gratitude to the community
for coming together for her
family.
Bob Seger heard about this
great cause and donated a
beautiful Washburn guitar with
a personalized message that was
auctioned to the highest bidder at
the event. Ted Nugent, Kid Rock
and Chris Osgood also donated
autographed auction items.
Fifty Amp Fuse and special
guests rocked the stage all night
long at the benefit concert
for the O’Rourke family.
Amy O’Rourke and her four children
attended the benefit concert and
showed their gratitude to the
community for coming together
in support of their family.
In addition, Doug Podell was
on-site broadcasting live from
the Royal Oak Music Theatre,
and other 94.7 WCSX-FM onair staff members were also on
hand to lend their support.
Five bands, each containing at
least one local doctor, rocked
the stage at the Keswick Theatre
in Glenside, PA, on October 11
for the WMGK-FM and Cancer
Treatment Centers of America
Rock MD finals. The five finalists
competed to win a $2,000
donation to their charity of
choice, free recording time at
Sigma Studios, and the title Rock
MD Champions.
Months prior, Classic Rock
102.9 WMGK-FM and Cancer
put out the call to doctors in the
tri-state area: “If you’re a doctor
and you play an instrument or if
you’re in a band, we want to hear
your music and we want you to
enter the WMGK and Cancer
Rock MD competition.” After
receiving multiple entries, the
MGK staff narrowed the entries
down to five finalists.
102.9 WMGK-FM’s Andre
Gardner was the host of the
evening’s festivities. The
competing bands were:
• Blue Bizness, featuring Dr.
Donald J. Zeller
• Rule of 13, featuring Dr.
Christopher Conti
• Open Road, featuring Dr. Steve
Terranova
• Shadow Merchant, featuring
Dr. Sean Reiter and Dr. Paul
McGinnis
• Volunteers, featuring Dr. James
Sipio
Rule of 13 won the prize on
behalf of their charity, Miles for
Melanoma of Delaware
Who Let the Dogs Out? MAGIC 98.3 FM’s Kennel Club Teams with Sammy’s Hope
Wally, Gillie, Frankie, Baxter and Zena
are dogs on a mission … to find a home!
Currently, MAGIC 98.3 FM has been working
closely with Sammy’s Hope, a volunteer rescue
group that finds “forever homes” for dogs
and cats in shelters. Wally and the gang of dogs
currently listed for adoption under MAGIC’s
Kennel Club are from the Edison Animal
Shelter, located in Edison, NJ. The Kennel
Club has seen much success as Frankie, Zena,
Jimmy and Baxter have found owners to love
and be loved by.
left, MAGIC 98.3 FM Morning
Host Chris McCoy with Wally
Continued onpage 12
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1450 WCTC-AM Serves Up Bert’s Burger
to Benefit Foster Children in New Jersey
There’s a new burger in town at
Southside Deli, and it’s got Jersey
written all over it! Best of all, it
has been created by WCTC 1450
AM’s very own “Jersey Today”
Host Bert Baron.
The Bert Baron Burger
“I wanted to combine the
classic Jersey sandwich and a
cheeseburger, and so it was born,”
said Baron. “It’s a beef burger
topped with pork roll, fried egg,
cheddar cheese and ketchup,
served on a hard roll. It just
screams Jersey!”
The Loren & Wally Morning
Show hosted their annual Thanks for
Serving dinner at the Grand Army
Hall in Scituate, MA. This event is
an absolute favorite of everybody
at 105.7 WROR-FM because
the attendees are the best dinner
guests!
Shared stories included letters
that started at age 16 during
the Vietnam War, kept tucked
away until their upcoming 40th
anniversary; and a mother and her
young son sharing their different
experiences while he recently
served overseas.
The promotion began on
December 12, in recognition of
Foster Children’s Day.
Baron added, “One hundred
percent of proceeds from sales
on that day go toward supporting
programs for foster children. I
The Loren & Wally Morning Show’s Annual
Thanks for Serving Dinner Honors Boston Area Veterans
encourage everyone to support
our children and warm up this
December with a Southside Deli
Bert Baron sandwich.”
Marketing Director Jamie Martel
said they honestly couldn’t find
a more appreciative group when
we are actually thanking them for
serving.
WROR-FM’s Hank Morse listens to
a story from one of the honored
veterans.
WROR-FM Morning Show Host
Loren Owens, a veteran himself,
thanks a young soldier for his service.
Greater Media Charlotte’s “Team Lindy”
Participates in LungStrong Race
Country 102.5 Lends a Helping
Hand at MS Fashion Plates Benefit
(l-r) WBT AM/FM Account Executive Joe Hughes,
WBT/WLNK Traffic Manager Billy Hall, WBT/
WLNK Account Executive Neal Triompo and
WBT/WLNK Account Executive Jenn Jackson
raced on October 13 in the LungStrong Race/Walk
in Lake Norman, NC, as Team Lindy in
honor of Neal Triompo’s mother,
Linda, who passed away last summer.
Country 102.5 WKLB-FM’s Morning Show
Personality Lori Grande emceed the MS Fashion Plates
luncheon at Boston’s Sheraton Hotel. The models
were women living with MS.
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1450 WCTC-AM Contest Gets Students
Back to School FLOMO-Style!
With school back in session and
school supplies in demand,
FLOMO teamed up with 1450
WCTC-AM for the FLOMO School
Pack Giveaway. Schools from all
over New Jersey were welcome to
enter the contest, with the hopes
of being the lucky classroom to
win and provide each student with
a FLOMO backpack stuffed with
a huge assortment of FLOMObrand pens, pencils, binders,
notebooks and more.
On October 26, WCTC-AM’s
Bert Baron just could not pick
a favorite, so he went back to
FLOMO to request a second
set of prizes, and the company
happily obliged. Both Mrs.
Kraus’s second-grade class at
Faber School in Dunellen and Ms.
George’s third-grade class at the
Academy Street School of Dover
were chosen as the winners, and
students were happy to receive
their backpacks. School was then
officially back in session!
WKLB-FM’s Country Music Healing Tour
As part of WKLB-FM’s
Country Music Healing Tour, recording
artist Casey James stops by
Boston’s Floating Hospital for
Children to visit with patients
and staff.
Today’s 105.1 FM Hosts Call for Kids Radiothon
Today’s 105.1 FM hosted the Call
for Kids Radiothon over the Labor Day
weekend benefiting Children’s
Miracle Network. All the funds
raised at the weekend event
staged at Arts, Beats and Eats in
downtown Royal Oak, MI, went
toward the purchase of lifesaving equipment and specialized
pediatric programs, with 100
percent of the donations staying
in the community at Beaumont
Children’s Hospital.
Today’s 105.1 FM on-air
personalities broadcasted the
Call for Kids Radiothon live from the
Citizens Bank Stage. Guests had a
chance to step inside the Citizens
Money Machine to catch real
dollar bills. Citizens Bank then
matched whatever was caught
and donated those funds to the
Children’s Miracle Network of
Beaumont Children’s Hospital.
On Sunday, Seth Gold from
truTV’s hit reality television series
“Hardcore Pawn” stopped by the
clockwise from top left,
Today’s 105.1 FM’s Jim Paolucci
cheered on a listener in the Citizens
Bank Money Machine at the Call for
Kids Radiothon.
A lucky winner at the 2012 Call
for Kids Radiothon shows off her
winnings with a Citizens Bank
representative and Today’s 105.1
FM’s own Mitzi Miles.
Lisa Jesswein from Today’s 105.1 FM
gets in on the action and hands out
Children’s Miracle Network beads to
all who donate to the cause.
Citizens Bank Stage to support
the Today’s 105.1 FM Call for Kids
Radiothon. He posed for photos and
signed autographs for a five-dollar
donation.
Everyone had a great time helping to
raise money for such a great cause.
Continued on page 15
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WBOS-FM and Calling All Crows Join Forces to Build Community,
Bring People Together
BY STELLA MORRISON
92.9 WBOS-FM in Boston
and the nonprofit Calling
All Crows have formed
a melodious partnership
based on a mutual love of
music and giving back to
the community.
Calling All Crows, a
nonprofit organization
based in Boston, seeks to
connect artists with fans in
social action projects and
activism, often centered
around human rights
issues. Musician Chad
Stokes from the bands
Dispatch and State Radio
founded Calling All Crows
with his wife and tour
manager, Sybil Gallagher,
in 2008.
“Through Chad and his
musical pursuits, he
wanted a way to engage
fans in causes and activism
that he wanted to support,”
Jen Hallee, Executive
Director of Calling All
Crows, said. “We continue
to work with Chad and
his bands, and we’ve also
started to work with other
musicians in the industry.”
The partnership with
WBOS-FM started at the
station’s annual Earthfest
concert in May 2012.
“Our initial involvement
came through Dispatch
because they’re from
Massachusetts and Bostonbased,” Ken West, Program
Director for WBOS, said.
“We thought they would
be a good organization
because we are a music
station and they are
musicians who wanted to
help spread activism and
community involvement
through music, and
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After spending a long day painting at the Boston Arts Academy, a high school in
need of repairs, Calling All Crows volunteers were treated to a surprise visit and
performance from Dispatch.
that’s the genesis of our
relationship with them.”
Hallee explained that Stokes’
goal was to involve fans
in something greater than
the concerts they were
attending.
“We began working with
WBOS with the idea that
we’re working together for a
future where live music isn’t
just about ticket sales, but
about how an artist engages
fans by encouraging them to
become greater participants
in the world around us,”
Hallee said. “On tour, a band
can engage fans who are
showing up, or do a preshow
service project.”
WBOS-FM worked with
Dispatch on such a project
in October; in partnership
with the station, fans assisted
in renovating the Boston
Arts Academy, a high school
specializing in the arts that
was in need of repairs.
“The band, listeners and
Calling All Crows all
converged on this arts school
that was in desperate need
of renovation,” West said.
2 012
“The day after the concert,
all kinds of people came to
paint the school.”
In December, Calling All
Crows and WBOS-FM
teamed up again for a
benefit show on the 14th and
15th. The station also planned
to host an after-party on the
15th for Calling All Crows and
State Radio fans.
“They’ve been helping with
promotions and ticket sales,
donating items for our
charity auction, and the afterparty,” Hallee said.
Funds from the evening will
be donated to Calling All
Crows to help them continue
the work that they are doing
with bands and stations
across the Northeast.
Hallee called the partnership
with WBOS “beneficial” and
delights in the opportunity to
brainstorm ideas with their
staff.
“Music is a strong force in
building community and
bringing people together,”
Hallee said. “There’s great
synergy between the
organizations. Whenever
we have something based
in Boston, we reach out
to WBOS and they are
on board with helping
to promote it and with
sharing ideas on how to
make it better.”
West hopes that WBOS’s
involvement will help raise
awareness about the work
that Calling All Crows is
doing in their area.
“Hopefully, the listeners
we have are able to find
out about the charity,”
West said. “Part of their
mission is that music
should activate people,
and the marrying of our
radio station with their
activism is good for fans
of the bands. It helps
promote doing good in
the community, and that’s
what a good local radio
station is about.”
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community
GIVING BACK
WMGK-FM Urges Listeners to Rock and Roll Up Your Sleeve
WMGK-FM’s Andre Gardner (right)
with a listener proudly displaying
his “Music Is in My Blood” T-shirt
after making a donation.
102.9 WMGK-FM and the
American Red Cross teamed up
to host the 2nd annual 102.9 MGK
Rock and Roll Up Your Sleeve Blood Drive
on October 6 at the Flyers Skate
Zone in Voorhees, NJ.
WMGK-FM’s goal was to have
their Classic Rock listeners
contribute at least 450 units
of blood to help the Red Cross
maintain a stable blood supply.
All presenting donors received
a limited-edition, WMGK Blood
Drive T-shirt, a coupon for free
skate rental at Flyers Skate Zone,
as well as the chance to register
to win one of two autographed
pucks signed by the Philadelphia
Flyers’ Wayne Simmonds.
Members of the MGK full-time
air staff attended the Blood Drive
throughout the morning and
afternoon to thank listeners for
their donations.
WDHA-FM and WMTR-AM Celebrate
3rd Annual Puptoberfest
WDHA-FM and WMTR-AM
celebrated a day for everyone’s fourlegged friends on September 29 with
their 3rd annual Puptoberfest. The event,
which took place at Horseshoe Lake in
Succasunna, NJ, drew more than 2,500
listeners.
The day was filled with live music,
vendors, games and wagging tails.
WDHA-FM hosted the 2nd annual
Ultimate Rock Dogs contest on WDHAFM.
com leading up to the event. Out of the
12 finalists, a long-haired dachshund/
sheltie mix named Jeremiah Bear took
home the title of “WDHA’s Ultimate
Rock Dog.”
“The Final Cute-Down”:
MAGIC 98.3 FM’s Cutest Baby Contest
AS more and more baby pictures
poured into WMGQ-FM’s Cutest Baby
Contest, the harder it became for voters
to choose their favorite baby to win this
year’s contest. Round 1 seemed simple
enough as the field was narrowed to 50
babies between July 17 and July 22. It
got a little tougher from July 24 – July
29 as the field was narrowed to only 25
babies. The top 10 were chosen from
July 31 to August 5, and the votes were
close in the final round. Finally, on
August 7 five-month-old Renee, from
Flemington, NJ, and her proud parents
were declared the winner of a $500 gift
card and a washer and dryer set from
Maytag.
Today’s 105.1 FM Crave Party
Awards Over $25,000 in Prizes in the Motor City
TODAY’S 105.1 WMGC-FM
recently invited listeners to come out to
the station’s first-ever Crave Party at the
Andiamo Showroom in Warren, MI.
Guests enjoyed appetizers, desserts,
shopping, music and a cash bar. Plus,
more than $25,000 in prizes were
awarded throughout the evening. Prizes
ranged from designer purses to shoes,
jewelry, luggage and more! Some of the
well-known designer names included
Coach, Louis Vuitton, Kate Spade,
Marc Jacobs, Betsey Johnson, Givenchy,
Michael Kors, Vince Camuto and many
more.
Today’s 105.1 FM on-air hosts Mitzi
Miles and Chris Edmonds reveal
the wall of prizes featuring over
$25,000 in designer purses, shoes,
jewelry and much more!
Listeners could win tickets to the event
either by listening to the radio weekdays
at 8 a.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. and being
the 25th caller or by registering online
at Todays1051.com.
Overall, 400 listeners had the chance to
win one of 92 prizes.
The evening was hosted by Today’s
105.1 FM Morning Show Host Chris
Edmonds. Midday Host Mitzi Miles,
along with other station personalities,
mixed and mingled with guests
throughout the evening.
One lucky Crave Card winner shows
off her brand new Coach purse from
the Today’s 105.1 FM Crave Party.
from top to bottom,
WDHA-FM’s Morning Jolt Co-Host
Jim Monaghan with his canine
“lookalike”
WMTR-AM’s Operations Director
Chris Edwards poses with a listener
at Puptoberfest.
WDHA-FM’s Midday Host and
Music Director Terrie Carr hosts
the Ultimate Rock Dogs contest at
Puptoberfest.
Listeners check out one of the many vendor
tables at the Crave Party that featured
everything women crave.
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snapshots
greater media
in pictures
FACES & PLACES
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8
2
16
9
17
3
19
18
10
4
20
11
21
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1. Radio 92.9 WBOS-FM’s Amy Brooks
with Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins; 2. Sir Purr, the Carolina Panthers mascot, dances with fans on the WBT AM/FM
stage; 3. WRIF-FM Rock Girl Juliet patrolling the Detroit Lions’ tailgate parties; 4.
WDHA-FM Sales Manager Matt DeVoti
and General Manager Nancy McKinley with
Matt’s daughter and friends at Puptoberfest; 5. MAGIC 100.1 FM’s Morning Show
Hosts Dianne DeOliveira and Glenn Kalina
before their Corn Maze Challenge; 6. Country 102.5 WKLB-FM staff (Scott Thompson, Ginny Rogers, Dawn Santolucito and
Steve Kelly) celebrate with artist Hunter
Hayes whose song “Wanted” hit No. 1 the
day he visited the station; 7. Street Teamer
Jamie DelVishio greets younger listeners
dressed in costumes for BEN-FM’s Boo
at the Zoo promotion at the Philadelphia
Zoo; 8. Syndicated radio personality Bob
Lacey and Henry Hinton, President of radio and cable TV company Inner Banks
Media, announce that Pat McCrory has
been declared the winner in the NC governor race; 9. Olympic gymnast McKayla
Maroney visits WMMR-FM and the Preston & Steve Morning Show; 10. News Talk
96.9 FM’s Michael Graham and Jim Braude
“Debated the Debate” on-air after one of
the presidential debates; 11. WDHA-FM’s
Morning Jolt Co-Host Kim Mulligan takes
a seat in WDHA-FM’s Rock Force One;
12. WMMR-FM’s Pierre Robert at the
A.B.A.T.E. Toy Run; 13. MAGIC 100.1 FM’s
team competes in a bed race on the boardwalk; 14. MAGIC 106.7 FM Midday Host
Nancy Quill gets in the holiday spirit with a
visit from the Grinch; 15. 107.9 WLNK-FM’s
Anthony Michaels goes out to the Carolina
Renaissance Festival; 16. Greater Media NJ’s
Dave Kirby, Robbin Friedell, Dianne DeOliveira, Bert Baron, John Lisk and Marie Senkeleski at the Susan G. Komen Race for the
Cure; 17. 97.5 FM The Fanatic’s Tony Bruno
loves tacos; 18. 107.9 WLNK-FM’s Anthony
Michaels co-hosts Be the One benefit race
and announces raffle winners and runners’ times; 19. Lauren Beckham Falcone
from WROR-FM’s Loren & Wally Morning
Show hosted three cooking demonstrations during the Thermador Cooking Tour;
20. WRIF-FM DJs Screamin’ Scott and
Hightower rocking a Detroit Tiger PreGame Party with Greektown Casino Girls;
21. News Talk 96.9 FM talk hosts Michael
Smerconish and Joe Ligotti; 22. 107.9
WLNK-FM’s Kelly McKay judges the Simon
Fashion Now Show with co-judge Emily
Maynard from “The Bachelor”; 23. WJRZFM MAGIC 100.1’s Afternoon Drive DJ Tripp
Rogers lends a helping hand to the Jersey
Road to Recovery after Hurricane Sandy;
24. WMMR-FM’s Marisa Magnatta & PD Bill
Weston report live backstage at the Budweiser Made in America Festival; 25. WMMR-FM’s Jason Fehon leads Team ‘MMR
to victory at the Pennsylvania Renaissance
Faire Media Olympics; 26. WROR-FM’s
Loren Owens, Tom Doyle and Wally Brine
with headliners Dom Irrera & Lenny Clarke
at WROR’s Comedy Night benefiting Autism Speaks & The Greater Boston Food
Bank; 27. WMGK-FM’s John DeBella with
actor Bradley Cooper; 28. 96.9 News Talk
WTKK-FM’s Street Team at Giggles Comedy Club in Saugus for a Veterans Day benefit featuring Jimmy Tingle, Lenny Clarke
and friends in support of Fisher House
Boston, New England Center for Homeless
Veterans and Operation Troop Support;
29. 97.5 FM The Fanatic Fantasy Girls with
the Phillie Phanatic; 30. WDHA-FM Morning Jolt Co-Host Jim Monaghan and PM
Drive Host and Program Director Curtis
Kay enjoy some refreshment before Rock
the Park; 31. 107.9 WLNK-FM’s Brent (Bandy O’Brien) hosts the Runway 5K; 32. WMMR-FM’s Marisa Magnatta rappels down
a 20-story building with Max Talbot from
the Philadelphia Flyers to support Outward
Bound Philadelphia; 33. MAGIC 100.1 FM’s
Sales Executive Joanne Kurilla, Afternoon
Drive DJ Tripp Rogers, and Business/Traffic Manager Sharon Zarnowski enjoy some
frozen yogurt; 34. Radio 92.9 WBOS-FM
Street Teamers Bridget Gioia and Kristen
Panetta at the Haunted Happenings Festival on Halloween in Salem, MA. 35. WMGKFM’s John DeBella presented the ‘Golden
Mic Award’ by VP/Market Manager John
Fullam, acknowledging John DeBella’s 30
years on the air in Philadelphia.
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G R A PEVIN E
17
‘Nightcall’ Host Embraces His Long History as On-Air Personality
Peter Werbe’s Late-Night Show on WRIF-FM
Draws Listeners around the Globe
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Greater Media Detroit’s
Peter Werbe can say
something most radio onair personalities can’t: He
has hosted the same radio
talk show for four decades.
With his hosting of the
late-night show “Nightcall,”
he has established a
unique feat in an industry
that sees many on-air
hosts moving around on a
regular basis.
Werbe’s tenure began in
1970, making him one of
the longest broadcasting
hosts in radio history.
Werbe serves as Public
Affairs Director for Greater
Media Detroit’s WCSX-FM,
WRIF-FM and Today’s
105.1 WMGC-FM, and hosts
“Nightcall” on Sundays
on WRIF. The show can
claim that it is the longestrunning phone-in talk show
in radio history, according
to Werbe, but because it
airs only weekly, it is rarely
given credit for its record.
“Nightcall” is a live, twohour, phone-in talk show
that airs at 11 p.m. every
Sunday. Werbe also hosts
the weekly “Peter Werbe
Show,” where he interviews
authors, musicians, and
political and cultural
activists. The show features
two 25-minute interviews.
In the Detroit area, “The
Peter Werbe Show” can
be heard on WCSX-FM
and Today’s 105.1 FM on
Sunday mornings at 6
a.m. and directly following
“Nightcall” at 1 a.m. on
WRIF-FM. Podcast links
to the interviews are
available through WRIF-
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In many cases, public
affairs programs can have
a tendency to be, well,
dull, according to Werbe.
But over the years, he
has managed to keep his
listeners interested and
calling in.
FM’s website. The show’s
podcasts, which Werbe says
have the largest listenership
of all Greater Media stations,
draws fans from all over the
globe, including Mexico,
China, Japan, Finland,
Tasmania, with even a listener
in Antarctica.
And the talk-show host
commends WRIF-FM
for being so supportive
of the show. His show
offers listeners what it
has for decades — honest
discussion about issues
affecting citizens nationally
and locally as well.
Werbe also hosts a Classic
Rock show on the WCSX-HD
channel, Deep Trax, from 2 to
7 p.m. weekdays.
In an interview with the
veteran radio host, Werbe
said that when his talk show
began in the early 1970s, the
topics discussed were issues
such as the Vietnam War,
the civil rights movement
and the women’s rights
movement.
“Any talk show will always
bring complaints about not
being fair,” he said, adding
that he gets many emails
that he responds to.
“We also discussed issues
like the transition of Detroit
from a white-dominated
political and economic city
to one that is predominantly
African-American. We also
dealt with ‘white flight,’ ”
Werbe remembered, adding
that this was a particularly
tempestuous period in
Detroit.
The station covers a large
city with a strong union
and liberal presence, and
his show reflects this.
The talk-show host said
his listening audience
represents a cross section
of the area his show covers.
He said he appreciates and
looks forward to WRIF-FM
listeners calling in with their
comments.
“We will sometimes
introduce a light topic,
such as the Detroit Tigers
victory or the fact that rock
artist Meat Loaf endorsed
Republican presidential
candidate Mitt Romney,
and use that as a way to
segue into the elections,”
he says.
Following the same format
that has worked well for
decades, Werbe’s show
features topics such as the
economy and “what affects
us in a city that has been hit
so much more than most,”
Werbe said.
Preparation for his show
includes meetings with
staff, checking news sites,
and reading numerous
articles to decide what the
show will lead with.
from top to bottom,
Peter Werbe and Juline Jordan
prepare to broadcast in the WRIFFM studio.
Peter Werbe and Juline Jordan
take it to the streets in downtown
Detroit.
Peter Werbe met R&B great Martha
Reeves of Martha and the Vandellas at the 2011 Detroit Labor Day
parade.
Peter Werbe presents an award at
the 2010 Motor City Music Awards.
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His guests are “interesting
people who conform to
the interests of the show’s
target audience.”
Recent ones include Gar
Smith, author of “Nuclear
Roulette: The Truth About
the Most Dangerous
Energy Source on Earth”;
Tova Andrea Wang, author
of “The Politics of Voter
Suppression: Defending
and Expanding America’s
Right to Vote”; and Peter
Kornbluh, author of “The
Cuban Missile Crisis,
1962,” who spoke on the
50th anniversary of the
crisis about the moment
the world faced possible
nuclear annihilation.
Since 2006, singersongwriter and WCSXFM DJ Juline Jordan has
co-hosted the show with
Werbe. And the chemistry
between the two works,
and works well. Werbe
feels the show takes on a
different character when
Jordan is by his side.
“She brings her intellect
and a certain ‘sparkle’ to
the show that I don’t have.
When I’m alone, I’m deadly
serious,” he jokes.
Jordan is a 20-year rock
radio personality and has
been with Greater Media
since the late 1990s. She
has appeared on CNN and
MSNBC, often debating
senators and other radio
talk-show hosts from
around the country about
the news of the day.
According to her
biography on the WCSXFM website, Jordan began
her career as a TV news
reporter for ABC affiliates
in Iowa, working as a crime
reporter. She fell in love
with radio when she was
sent to cover morning
radio shows in the town.
In addition to co-hosting
“Nightcall” with Werbe,
Jordan hosts Classic Rock
radio on 94.7 WCSX-FM on
weekends.
Werbe said he got into
radio by “something
of a fluke of the times.”
He recalled that he was
working for one of the “socalled 1960s underground
newspapers, Detroit’s Fifth
Estate,” when WRIF-FM went
on the air in 1970.
“The station management,
badly needing some street
cred, put several Fifth Estate
members, including me, on
the air hosting specialty
shows to relate to the youth
scene of the times. Now,
WRIF is the youth scene
for many young people,”
according to Werbe.
The talk-show host also
pulled DJ shifts even though
he had no prior broadcast
training. He simply went on
the air cold, with just the
desire to discuss ideas and
play rock ’n’ roll.
Asked what has sustained
his interest in radio after
many decades, Werbe said,
“The music remains exciting,
whether it’s the new material
on WRIF or the classics of
WCSX. And the debates over
ideas are crucial to discuss
in a public forum such as
the one Greater Media has
allowed me access to.”
Conversations may not
always go smoothly, however,
and sometimes he may strike
a nerve or two.
“Sometimes, people do
object to our opinions.
Sometimes, it’s hard for
people to listen to opinions
they don’t agree with, but
in the end, we are always
respectful to them,” Werbe
explained.
To electronically subscribe,
visit www.theBeachBeat.
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reater
Thursday morning.
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Giving Clients What They Want
By Matt DeVoti
General Sales Manager
WDHA-FM and
WMTR-AM
New Jersey
Picture this: Your daughter
takes a major tumble off her
bike and winds up with deep
cuts to the knee. You run to
the local medi-center, and
when the doctor enters the
room, instead of addressing
your crying child, he
begins to tell you about his
education, class rank, hi-tech
facilities, etc. How much do
you think your child cares
about the diplomas on the
wall when all she wants is the
pain to go away?
Unfortunately some sellers
act like that doctor and
ignore the basic needs of
the client. Instead, they
should listen, listen and
listen some more to what
the client is saying. Years
ago I had the good fortune
as an air personality to
interview celebrities. When
I got into sales, I realized
that clients are no different
than celebrities … they love
to talk about themselves!
Once prospects open up
about themselves, you have
uncovered a fountain of
information — use it to create
the proper radio bandage for
their skinned knee.
So the question is, how does
a manager guide their team
to stay focused on delivering
to clients what they want
and need? For me, I have
stripped the issue back down
to the basics to help get
the seller’s head out of the
clutter.
Although he says he and
Jordan tend to be “left
of center,” the two onair personalities respect
all WRIF-FM listeners’
viewpoints.
Insights
While mentoring students
about sales at Seton Hall
University’s radio station, I
coached by using “dating
scenarios” that worked so
well I have often used them
with my staff. The parallels
between dating and sales are
endless. Here’s an example: If
you approached that special
someone across the bar
room floor and asked them
to dance or offered to buy
them a drink, it would begin
with casual conversation
ABOUT THEM! By showing
your interest in them, you are
slowly gaining their trust and
moving forward to the next
step, a date (an order), a
second date (order renewal),
committed relationship
(long-term contract), and
so on.
If we, as managers and
sellers, can keep in mind that
it’s always about the client
and their sore knee, we will
be much more successful
at providing solutions. Like
your sweetheart, focus on
your client, be honest with
your client, and never cheat
on your client. This way
even if you make an honest
mistake, they will defend you
to outsiders because they
trust you.
Matt DeVoti is making
Greater Media great in
his role as General Sales
Manager for 105.5 WDHA-FM
and 1250 WMTR-AM in
New Jersey.
“We treasure and value our
WRIF listeners. And in the
end, we’re all WRIF rockers.”
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G R A PEVIN E
19
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Interactive Spotlight
GMNJ Interactive Prepares for Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Sandy was coming,
and we had plenty of time
to prepare, but for Greater
Media New Jersey Interactive,
preparation for the imminent
superstorm began at the
height of the hurricane
season. In midseason, in
anticipation of a possible
late-season hurricane, the
GMNJ Interactive team set up
a series of shared channels
in Digital Suite, which were
preloaded with hurricane
preparation information and
information on what to do
after the storm, all provided
by a variety of sources like
the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), the Federal
Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA), and the
American Red Cross.
When the forecast predicted
Sandy’s arrival on October 29,
the hurricane prep plan went
into action. Immediately the
six New Jersey stations were
able to be a resource, directly
through their websites, for
the community and a hub for
delivering information to the
areas hit worst by the storm.
GMNJ Interactive will continue
to provide hurricane victims
with information not only about
the recovery, but also about the
rebuilding of the Jersey Shore.
The featured channels “Road
to Recovery/Relief Resource”
will remain live on the station
websites indefinitely until New
Jersey can bounce back from
this devastating natural disaster.
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WROR-FM Hosts Boston Christmas Festival
“Lem” (Tom Doyle) and
“Ephus” (Wally Brine)
with the “Men from
Maine” Gingerbread
Cabin, which was
featured at the Boston
Christmas Festival.
IT’S YOUR PARTY, and you
can pick what you want to! MAGIC
100.1 FM loves a good party, and so we
wanted to help one lucky listener plan
their own $10,000 party!
WBT AM/FM Attends Greek Festival
— A Local Community Event
WBT AM/FM fans line up
to enter a kiosk contest
at the set.
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At MAGIC 100.1 FM, It’s Your $10,000 Party!
Brad & Britt broadcast
live from the Greek
Festival in Charlotte in
September.
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For four weeks, we qualified listeners with
the Party Song of the Day to win a pair
of MAGIC 100.1 FM party passes. We
would ask listeners what type of party they
would have if they won, and they gave us
a wide range of types, such as birthday,
graduation, divorce party, and even a “50
Shades of Grey” party! Then on October
3, 2012, all of the qualifiers gathered at
the Clarion Hotel in Toms River, NJ, for
our own party, and one listener walked
away with a $10,000 party, including
the location, food, DJ, photo booth and
more for their own party!
from top to bottom,
MAGIC 100.1 FM staffers Marie
Senkeleski, Scotty B, Tripp Rogers,
Dianne DeOliveira, Glenn Kalina and
Rich Vacca
MAGIC 100.1 FM’s It’s Your Party
qualifiers
MAGIC 100.1 FM’s Tripp Rogers,
Glenn Kalina and Dianne DeOliveira
with the It’s Your Party winner
SPECIAL
SECTION
SU MME R
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G RA PEVIN E
21
BY JENNIFER AMATO
SPECIAL SECTION • SPECIAL SECTION • SPECIAL SECTION
Neither Rain, nor Sleet, nor Snow
… nor High Winds
Greater Media New Jersey Stations Do Everything in
Their Power to Broadcast Live during Hurricane Sandy
MILLIONS of residents
across New Jersey bore the
brunt of Hurricane Sandy in
late October, as did dozens
of employees of the six
radio stations who kept
broadcasting throughout
the storm and during its
aftermath.
“For many people, it’s in
their blood if you are in
the radio industry, to want
to remain live and local in
times of emergency and
tragedy,” said Dan Finn,
Senior Vice President
and Regional General
Manager for Greater Media
New Jersey. “We have
a responsibility to our
listeners to remain on air
and provide content and
provide information.”
To do so during the
“Frankenstorm” that
wreaked havoc by causing
major power outages,
downed trees and extensive
flooding, the six radio
stations in New Jersey
maintained constant
coverage so that listeners
without power could at
least receive information via
a battery-operated radio or
in their vehicle.
The staffs of 105.5 WDHAFM and 1250 WMTR-AM
in Morris County slept at
the station for three days
and fielded phone calls
from power companies,
police and emergency
management offices. The
engineers worked aroundthe-clock to keep the
stations on the air.
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“We saw a spike on all
fronts, but it was crossplatform with the website;
our social media made us
the go-to place,” Finn said.
WCTC-AM newsroom in Somerset,
NJ, during Hurricane Sandy
Two days before the
hurricane landed south of
Atlantic City on October
29, the station designated
its community service
shows to interviewing
local officials about how
to stay safe and where to
go for shelter. During the
storm, they consistently
updated listeners on road
closures, power outages,
downed trees and wires,
and flooding, as well as
providing information on
the hurricane track and
wind. In addition, the two
stations aired calls from
listeners, who phoned in
useful updates on various
towns and roadways.
The stations continued
to run public service
announcements on road
closures, shelters and power
restoration.
In addition, the two stations
organized donation drives
with the American Red
Cross for food and clothing
and with the Animal
Response Commission for
listeners’ pets.
In New Brunswick at 1450
WCTC-AM and MAGIC 98.3
WMGQ-FM, the staffs were
also working on-site around
the clock.
One special component
of the news show was
interviewing local mayors
to let residents know what
resources were available to
them.
The station websites,
along with Twitter and
Facebook, became sources
of information for localized
updates from government
officials, charities and utility
companies.
The stations worked with
the Federal Emergency
Management Agency
(FEMA) and the Red Cross
to provide constant onair updates of what the
organizations needed to
help the families impacted
by the storm.
In the days that followed
the storm’s landing, WDHAFM’s live gas blog was
heavily retweeted and
used on Twitter in central
and northern New Jersey
as open stations became
scarce.
MAGIC 100.1 WJRZ-FM,
based out of Lake Como,
featured conversations
with mayors from Toms
River, Brick, Manahawkin
and Long Beach Island;
officials from the Office of
Emergency Management; a
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representative from FEMA;
and people from several
animal shelters.
Station employees began
collecting donations for
the Ocean County Hunger
Relief and the Jersey Shore
Animal Center within days
of the storm. The station
thus rebranded its “Share
the Magic” initiative to
“Share the Magic on the
Road to Recovery.”
95.9 WRAT-FM, also in Lake
Como, focused its efforts on
sharing information through
Facebook. The social media
networking site was used
to collect and disseminate
information; for example, a
listener would call and ask
about where to find gas
and the question would be
posted online.
Facebook was also used to
post storm-damage pictures
and share heartbreaking
stories of destruction.
It also provided more
detailed information about
resources, such as phone
numbers and website links
for government benefits
and programs. The power
of Facebook was evident
since before the storm. The
station had a daily traffic of
approximately 3,000 people
visiting the site; in the days
surrounding Sandy, there
were more than 12,000
visitors.
However, keeping in
consideration residents
who didn’t have electricity,
WRAT-FM also fielded
BY JENNIFER AMATO
Newspaper Division Delivers the News
despite Hurricane Sandy
Staff Members Travel to Press Plant to Get Out the Papers
AT 7 a.m. on Monday,
October 29, a group of
employees mustered at their
office in Manalapan, NJ.
With the severity of
impending Hurricane Sandy
unknown, the decision was
made to begin layout and
pagination of the News
Transcript and the TriTown News, two of the 12
newspapers produced each
week. The plan was to have
all staff members out of
the office and safely home
as quickly as possible, and
to handle the remaining 10
publications on Wednesday
after the storm had passed.
also was without power
and no generator truck was
available for Manalapan,
the only viable option was
to deconstruct the server
room and move it to a
different facility.
Publisher and General
Manager Ben Cannizzaro
made the decision to
travel to North Jersey
Media Group, the printing
facility Greater Media uses
in Rockaway Township.
A limited number of
employees from several
departments carpooled the
one-hour trip, driving part
of the way without working
traffic lights.
However, after Sandy made
landfall late that Monday
and into Tuesday, the overall
destruction was mindboggling. The powerful wind
and rain resulted in massive
power outages, downed
trees, flooded homes and
impassable roads.
“[North Jersey Media
Group] had the ability to
handle our production,
and they had the space,”
Cannizzaro said.
So, on Wednesday, October
31, at about 8 a.m., another
small group left their homes
and families to report to
Manalapan to decide how
to handle the remaining
newspapers. However,
there was an additional
problem: The office did not
have power — no overhead
lights, no computer access,
no Internet service and no
phone lines.
Cannizzaro, Lennon, Mark
Rosman, Brian Donahue,
Karen Kesten, Neil
Borenstein, Jennifer Amato,
Jeff Granit, Jeff Messeroll,
Joan Fruchter, Barbara
Benko, Diane Thompson
and Diane Avery “were
willing to drive up there …
and at least in one case,
[without being] sure if
they had enough gas to
get back. Many had issues
with their own homes,”
Cannizzaro said.
Gene Lennon, Director
of Interactive, IT and
Production, announced
that there were several
disaster recovery plans in
place. However, since GMN’s
backup facility in Sayreville
“It was our first time
building an outside room,”
Lennon added.
North Jersey Media Group
provided the facility, power
and Internet access for the
newspaper group, and their
systems staff was on hand
to assist with setting up the
three servers.
From about 11:30 a.m. to
3:30 p.m. the equipment
was hooked up. There
were just a few technical
issues that needed to be
solved before eight of the
remaining 10 papers could
be worked on; the decision
was made to suspend
the production of the
Woodbridge Sentinel and
TheBeachBeat.com online
newspapers for the week.
During this time period,
managing editors were
communicating with
their reporters via phone,
personal email accounts
and text messages. Many of
the reporters did not have
power of their own, but
traveled to sites that did.
Some visited the towns that
were hit by Sandy to gather
news.
“All things considered,
we were able to do those
eight remaining papers
competently,” said Mark
Rosman, Managing Editor
of the News Transcript,
Tri-Town News and the
Examiner. “During the week
of the hurricane, all of the
reporters really adapted
well to working at off-site
locations. They contacted
the people they needed to
contact and got where they
needed to go. They did an
excellent job sending stories
to the editors, and we
were able to proceed with
production.”
During this time, head
photographer Jeff
Granit processed storm
photographs he and his
staff had taken in Sandy’s
aftermath.
Once pagination of the
papers was under way, it
became the responsibility of
the production department
to check pages and transmit
them to the printing press.
However, software
programs such as Quark
XPress 7, QuickTrac, 4D
Client and Instant PDFer
were not available on North
Jersey Press’s system.
This meant that finding
advertisements was
difficult for the team, and
if a production member
could not reach a sales
representative, they had
to replace an ad with a
different one. Folios had
to be placed individually
on each page. PDF files,
which the printing press
recognizes, could not be
made quickly but had to
be converted into different
formats, saved onto a
thumbnail drive and taken
upstairs multiple times
to the second floor via
elevator.
“We weren’t able to
troubleshoot as much,”
Fruchter said, “but, all in all,
everybody worked together,
helping each other over
these problems, and we
got the papers out. Even
though we were challenged
by technicalities, we had
the human resources to
overcome these challenges.”
Fruchter laughed that even
though the GMN production
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G R A PEVIN E
23
Greater Media
Engineering Team
Keeps New Jersey
Stations on the Air
During Hurricane Sandy
THE devastation of the
New Jersey Shore from
Sandy has been horrific, and
through heroic efforts of
dedicated and resourceful
engineers, local Greater
Media engineers were able
to keep the company’s six
New Jersey stations on the
air.
That’s according to Greater
Media, Inc. Vice President of
Engineering Milford Smith,
who told Radio World
shortly after the October
29 storm that all transmitter
sites and studio locations
were still operating on
generator power and
probably would be for at
least a week or more.
In a note Smith shared with
Greater Media engineers
company-wide, he describes
what it took to keep the
New Jersey stations on-air:
“Kudos to Keith Smeal, who
was able to resuscitate
the previously submerged
WCTC-AM site,” Smith
wrote. There was 27 inches
of water in the transmitter
room and the generator was
under water as well. The
station was the last of the
Greater Media properties
to see commercial power
restored after spending 15
days on generator power.
“For those of you not
familiar with the site,” Smith
wrote, “the tower is built on
an elevated pier (20 feet)
and the building is built on
higher ground. It takes a
huge rise in the adjacent
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Raritan River to inundate
the site but Sandy was up
to the task. WCTC soldiered
on during that time via its
auxiliary site at the studio
location (shunt feed of
FM tower). Pretty darn
impressive!”
Smith went on to credit
fellow engineer Bill Clanton
at WJRZ-FM “who, upon
failure of a fan clutch on
the WJRZ studio generator,
rigged a water spray
arrangement to keep
the radiator cool and the
generator running.” Clanton
did this “while trapped at
the site by trees and wires
across the only access
road.”
He also cited Jason
Ornellas at WDHA-FM
“who continues to handcarry five-gallon diesel fuel
cans into the mountain top
site as the access road is
blocked by multiple downed
power poles.”
His team has not had time
to assess other damage to
properties; however, Smith
noted that a lot of trees
are down at or near these
facilities and there will likely
be more damage to repair.
On a personal note,
a number of Greater
Media employees have
experienced the loss of
their homes and personal
possessions. “It is to their
credit that they soldiered on
during and in the aftermath
of this massive storm,”
Smith noted.
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top to bottom
Images from Hurricane Sandy
in NJ: Belmar, Long Branch,
Milltown, Sayreville
Photos by Amy Rosen, Kenny
Walter, Scott Friedman and
Stella Morrison for Greater Media
Newspapers
BY SCOTT KOHLHEPP
WDHA-FM & WMTR-AM Stay Live and Local
throughout Hurricane Sandy
THROUGHOUT
Hurricane Sandy, WDHAFM and WMTR-AM stayed
on-air live, providing vital
information to a large
listening audience that
had lost power during
the storm. Both stations
helped to announce open
shelters, closed roads,
emergency information,
and gave updated weather
forecasts both on-air and
through social media outlets
that proved to be vital
throughout the storm and
its aftermath.
After the storm clouds
cleared, both stations’
listening areas were littered
with downed trees and
power lines, flooding,
widespread power outages,
and a gas crisis that
continued for more than a
week.
Once again, WDHA-FM and
WMTR-AM led the way,
delivering information onair, online through station
websites, and through social
media. Both stations’ web
pages provided valuable
FEMA information for those
affected by the storm,
announced warming and
charging stations in the
area, open shelters, and
created a gas blog to inform
listeners where the few
open gas stations in the
area were located. WDHAFM’s Hurricane Sandy page
yielded more than 22,000
page views during and
immediately after the storm.
Both stations also kept
updated forecasts as an
early-November snowstorm
A tree fell early in the storm at the WDHA-FM/WMTR-AM studios’ parking lot in Cedar Knolls, NJ,
narrowly missing a few cars.
dropped between 6 and
12 inches of snow on the
already crippled area.
Station Engineer Jason Ornellas
refilled generators twice a day for
a week at WDHA-FM’s tower
site until the power came back on.
WDHA-FM and WMTR-AM’s
Station Engineer Jason
Ornellas ensured that the
stations stayed on the air
throughout the storm.
Both stations’ studios and
tower site lost power early
in the storm, but Ornellas
made sure that generators
at both sites ran properly
and continued to run.
WDHA-FM and WMTR-AM
air personalities, program
directors, and the station
traffic director stayed at
the studios throughout the
storm and its immediate
aftermath to make sure
the stations remained live
and local in New Jersey’s
biggest time of need.
After the storm, the stations
donated construction
equipment and cleaning
materials to towns along
the Jersey Shore to help
with the cleanup efforts. In
addition, they worked with
the Community FoodBank
of New Jersey on its annual
Turkey and Food Drive on
November 17 at ShopRite in
Parsippany. After the storm,
Community FoodBank
began distributing more
than 100,000 pounds of
food daily to help those in
need.
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G R A PEVIN E
25
On the Road to Recovery after Hurricane Sandy
MAGIC 100.1 FM Staff Works Nonstop
to Inform and Assist Jersey Shore Residents
BROADCASTING in
the heart of Ocean County,
NJ, merely a few miles from
Long Beach Island and less
than 30 miles from Seaside,
MAGIC 100.1 WJRZ-FM
ruled the airwaves with
up-to-the-minute news on
everything evolving around
Hurricane Sandy. Leading
up to the October 29 storm,
the staff set up cots and
air mattresses throughout
the station, and stocked
cabinets, just to prepare for
what turned out to be many
days and nights camping
out at the station.
After the area lost power,
the station stayed on the air,
running on a generator and
despite a tree hanging on
power lines across the road
at the station’s entrance.
But keeping Ocean County
informed was the only goal,
and it was a team effort
with the staff selflessly
displaying an “all hands on
deck” attitude.
The Interactive Department
immediately created the
page “MAGIC 100.1’s On the
Road to Recovery,” which
was loaded with information
on the storm, where to
receive shelter, news
updates, and more.
clockwise from top,
Destruction after Sandy with a
displaced “NJ” skate ramp / Local
business in Toms River loses its sign.
/ MAGIC 100.1 FM’s Road to Recovery
website banner/ Views of MAGIC
100.1 FM Promotion Director Marie
Senkeleski’s back and front yards after
the superstorm / Cars as well as boats
float in the middle of Fischer Boulevard in Toms River, NJ / A sign at local
restaurant before the hurricane hit
Next, it was time to get
New Jersey back on its feet.
Every day after Hurricane
Sandy, the MAGIC 100.1
promotions team was out
collecting donations to
aid those less fortunate
in Ocean County. They
collected donations for
The Ocean County Hunger
Relief, who then distributed
the items to the shelter
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and food banks. They also
collected donations for the
Jersey Shore Animal Center
and Big Brothers Big Sisters
of Ocean County. They
didn’t collect mere bags of
donations; rather each day
they received numerous
pallets filled with supplies
and donations!
A live broadcast was held
November 16 and 17 in
the ShopRite parking lot
in Toms River for Share
the Magic on the Road to
Recovery, where a 52-foot
tractor-trailer collected
donations for the people of
Ocean County.
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BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Greater Media Employees Rally to Help
Their Own after Hurricane Sandy
Greater Good point persons
were as follows: in Boston,
Amy Hull; in Charlotte,
Karen Suddreth; in Detroit,
Jennifer Williams; and in
Philadelphia, Kelly Wallace.
In a letter, Peter Smyth
recognized the difficulties
some Greater Media
New Jersey employees
were having. He thanked
employees for their efforts
and acknowledged the
efforts of employees to help
Greater Media employees
severely impacted by the
storm.
EMPLOYEES of Greater
Media came to the aid of
their Greater Media New
Jersey colleagues who
were severely impacted by
Hurricane Sandy.
The October 29 storm,
which brought high winds
and unprecedented damage
to the Jersey Shore area,
left the region with lengthy
power outages, downed
wires and trees, and recordhigh tides and flooding.
For many, homes were
destroyed, vehicles were
damaged, and lifetimes of
memories were swept away.
Employees were asked in
the month of November
to focus on providing
relief and assistance to
the Greater Media New
Jersey family members
who were impacted by the
storm that officials called
“unprecedented.”
A call was put out to all
employees, inviting them
to lend a helping hand and
make a difference in the
recovery as part of the
company’s Greater Good
initiative.
Greater Media employees
rallied together and came
through for their family
members in New Jersey,
providing needed assistance
that did indeed make
a difference, said Peter
Smyth, Chairman and CEO
of Greater Media, Inc.
Greater Media Good Wish List on Amazon.com
Smyth added, “You have proven —
as quoted by Bruce Springsteen in his
latest song — that ‘we take care of our
own.’ I’m proud to be a part of your team.”
Employees were offered
several options in which
to contribute. They were
asked to visit the Greater
Media Greater Good Wish
List at Amazon.com (http://
bit.ly/greatergoodnj).
Employees were asked to
review the items needed to
help fellow Greater Media
family members during
the cleanup and recovery.
They were able to purchase
items from the company’s
“Wish List,” which would
then be shipped directly to
stations in New Jersey to be
distributed to those in need.
Employees also had the
opportunity to purchase an
item from a list and take it
to their cluster’s designated
Greater Good point person
by November 9. The list
included items such as
batteries, blankets, chain
saws, cleaning supplies, gas
cans, generators, gift cards,
heavy-duty extension cords,
hotel accommodations,
microwave ovens, outdoor
grills, pillows, propane tanks,
protein bars, radios, readyto-eat foods, rubber gloves,
small propane grills, surge
protectors, tools and TVs.
“As a result of your
generous donations,
Greater Media New Jersey’s
employees received
assistance valued at
$12,000,” Smyth said. “The
items collected, which
ranged from generators,
chain saws and gift cards to
food, blankets and cash, are
helping those still dealing
with the aftermath of the
storm.
“We are so grateful for
everything each of you did
for the greater good of
others. You have all gone
above and beyond and it is
much appreciated.”
Smyth added, “You have
proven — as quoted by
Bruce Springsteen in his
latest song — that ‘we take
care of our own.’ I’m proud
to be a part of your team.”
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G RA PEVIN E
27
innumerable questions
through phone calls.
In addition, WRAT-FM staff
members put together an
initiative to send their van
with two volunteers for
several hours each day to a
different community to lend
a hand.
And to make sure the
survivors of the storm were
not forgotten, the station
designated this year’s
main donation collection,
Broadcast for the People
of New Jersey, with a focus
on food and new warm
clothing.
Overall, Finn said that
none of the radio station
buildings sustained damage
during Sandy.
The radio stations did not
break from their format but
tried to entertain listeners
while providing the best
coverage of information
possible.
“We remained live on the
air because of multiple
generators and backups
[that kept] the signal alive,”
Finn said.
Because of these efforts,
estimates were that
listenership “went up
tremendously,” Finn said.
“We know that from the
amount of activity on
the phone lines and the
tremendous spike of the
traffic on our websites
that we could immediately
register,” he said.
Finn was impressed with
the employees’ action,
especially considering some
of them didn’t have power
or access to their own
homes.
“I can’t say enough about
the employees of Greater
Media New Jersey. They
stepped up as they always
do,” he said.
He especially thanked Peter
Smyth and Greater Media’s
corporate office for their
support.
“We had the right tools to
get the job done, and it was
very greatly appreciated,”
he said.
G
computers were separated
only by one floor from the
printing press, there were
still issues.
“The irony of it is, we were
in the same building and
had problems, but when
we are ‘x’ number of miles
away, it goes smoothly,” she
said.
Members of the Editorial
Department left at 10:30
p.m., while Lennon,
Messeroll and Fruchter were
there until after 2:30 a.m.;
normally the production
team leaves by midnight on
a Monday deadline.
provided lunch and dinner
for the employees so they
could focus on working.
Cannizzaro even went to
get gas for one employee.
North Jersey Media Group
adjusted its printing
schedule to accommodate
Greater Media, Cannizzaro
said, and though the papers
weren’t printed until late
Thursday, they were still
delivered on Friday and
Saturday.
“They looked excellent,
they really did. I was very
impressed,” Cannizzaro said
of the quality of newspapers
produced that week. “[It
shows] our people will do
whatever they need to even
under extremely challenging
conditions … and we can’t
overlook our 100 carriers
who despite personal
challenges of their own
and difficulty finding gas
made sure all newspapers
were delivered as quickly
as possible. We received
some nice notes from our
readers regarding getting
our papers out.”
Power at the Manalapan
office was not restored until
People lining up for gas in Manalapan, NJ.
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Sunday night, November
4. With deadlines normally
taking place on Mondays
and Tuesdays, this could
have caused a second
week of challenges for the
newspaper staff. However,
Cannizzaro said I.T. staff
members visited the office
that Sunday and tested the
power to make sure the
situation had improved.
Lennon said this was a relief,
since even though North
Jersey Media Group was
equipped to serve Greater
Media’s production needs
for several more weeks, it
was a difficult commute.
So on Monday morning
Cannizzaro, Rich Klypka,
Mark Maury and Troy
Tomaselli traveled back to
Rockaway to retrieve all of
the GMN equipment, and
then set everything back up
in Manalapan.
Employees worked that
Monday in Manalapan, and
completed deadline that
Tuesday through Thursday.
In the 30 years Rosman
has been with Greater
Media Newspapers, he said
he does not remember
ever having to move to a
different production facility
and adjusting the schedule
so dramatically.
“We did show we are able
to be adaptable,” he said.
“[The staff] went above
and beyond. Frankly, we
would not have gotten the
papers out without them,”
Cannizzaro said.
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Sales of Loren & Wally Dashboard Statues Benefit
Red Cross Hurricane Relief Efforts
Daughter of GMNJ’s Director of Interactive/NTR Featured on
Popular “Say Yes to the Dress”
By Jennifer Amato
IN the wake of Hurricane Sandy,
WROR-FM in Boston came up with an
amazing idea: Selling the coveted Loren
and Wally dashboard statues for $25
each, with 100 percent of the proceeds
going to the Red Cross.
SANDY made landfall in New
Jersey on October 29. That same day,
Katharine Odachowski was supposed to
go to Kleinfeld’s in Manhattan to pick up
her wedding dress. Needless to say, that
did not happen.
“Before Hurricane Sandy, we were
running a Power of the Statue campaign,
asking people to do ‘good’ and then
tell us about it to get a statue,” said
Jamie Martel, Marketing Director at
WROR-FM.
“Obviously, there was some
apprehension that the wedding would
not happen,” said her father, Tony
Odachowski, the Interactive and NTR
Director for Greater Media New Jersey.
Katie’s wedding was scheduled for
Sunday, November 4.
The campaign has now taken a different
direction, with listeners reaching out to
support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.
As of November 15, more than 900
statues have been sold, netting more
than $23,000 in donations for the Red
Cross. The campaign will continue until
the supply of statues runs out.
WROR Promotion Assistant PJ Sittig
and Mailroom Assistant Leo Egan mail
out more than 900 statues.
“This is proof our listeners are the
greatest! They care about people even if
they are from New York,” said co-host
Loren Owens.
“Yeah, what he said,” Wally added. “But
honestly, we are truly overwhelmed
by the loyalty and generosity of our
audience.”
WMMR-FM Joins Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts
have been affected by the destruction of
Hurricane Sandy. While millions dealt
with the inconvenience of losing power
or heat, many were hit much worse,
with their homes severely damaged or
destroyed.
The Relief Drive began at 6 a.m. and
continued with WMMR-FM’s Pierre
Robert broadcasting live from 10 a.m.
to 3 p.m. WMMR-FM personalities
— The Preston and Steve show hosts,
Jaxon, Matt Cord and Jacky Bam Bam,
plus sports and local celebrities, joined
Pierre for the cause.
Kleinfeld’s was badly affected by
the superstorm, losing power and
experiencing some flooding. So, the
famous dress shop rented space in a
church on 85th Street and relocated
its seamstresses there. Odachowski
said Ronnie Rothstein, co-owner of
Kleinfeld’s, called to say that the dress
would be ready, and not to worry. So, two
days before her wedding, Katie went into
New York.
“Despite all of the panic going on
throughout the week, she got her dress on
Friday,” Odachowski said.
Also, during the week phone calls were
made to various vendors, some of whom
could not be reached because of the
lack of electricity, cell phone service and
Internet access.
AN estimated 50 million people
On Wednesday, November 7, 93.3
WMMR-FM and Xfinity Live organized
the Hurricane Sandy Relief Drive, collecting
supplies for those in need of the most
basic of creature comforts and staples.
A drop-off site was set up at the Sports
Complex in South Philadelphia.
Working with the Salvation Army,
WMMR-FM collected bottled water,
soda, juice and wrapped snacks, along
with new, personal items — baby wipes,
towels, razors, deodorant, toothpaste
and heavy-duty trash-can liners.
Hurricane Sandy Interrupts but Does Not Stop
Odachowski Family Wedding Plans
WMMR-FM’s Jacky Bam Bam with
loads of donations
To make matters more apprehensive,
on the morning of the wedding, St.
Francis of Assisi Church in Metuchen,
NJ, still did not have power. The
rehearsal two nights prior had to be
done by candlelight and flashlight. By
some miracle, during the 11 a.m. Mass
— just hours before Katie’s wedding was
scheduled — the power came back on at
the church and at about 15 surrounding
houses. With the Nuptial Mass scheduled
for 3 p.m., this was welcome news,
Odachowski said.
What was more amazing, he said, is that
power at the church was lost again just a
few hours after the ceremony.
WMMR-FM’s Pierre Robert with
donors
The Salvation Army took all of the
supplies collected for immediate
distribution in affected areas.
Luckily, too, The Palace at Somerset
Park and the DoubleTree hotel, where
the wedding guests were staying, were
part of a three-block area of Davidson
Avenue in Somerset that retained power
all week, though the surrounding area
did not. All of the 180 guests who came
from around the country were able to
attend and stay at the hotel, despite a high
occupancy rate of area families without
power and electric-company workers who
were also staying there. The DoubleTree
also accommodated a small party that
Odachowski was supposed to host at his
house the night before but could not
because of the power outage.
The reception at The Palace went off
successfully, complete with a live band,
photographer and florist as scheduled.
“It all came together, which is amazing,”
Odachowski said. “The whole thing — it
was like it was meant to be.”
Although some of the vendors had to be
changed, Odachowski said everything
ultimately worked out. He said despite
all of the challenges faced that week, his
daughter stayed levelheaded and never
lost hope.
Her positive attitude and distaste for
drama are reasons he was surprised
she was chosen to be featured on the
television show “Say Yes to the Dress,”
which is known for its bridezillas as they
search for their dream wedding gowns.
However, the Woodbridge schoolteacher
wrote into the show and was chosen to
tell how she met her husband, Damien
Liastro.
She visited Kleinfeld’s in Manhattan with
her maid-of-honor sister, her two aunts
and some bridesmaids a few months ago.
The show was taped and is scheduled to
air on TLC; the new season of “Say Yes to
the Dress” began in December.
Producers then decided to travel from
New York despite the aftermath of Sandy,
and film the actual wedding, chronicling
the day — from Katie getting dressed at
the hotel to the church ceremony to the
reception at The Palace.
“Our take is, my wife is kind of looking
down on us,” Odachowski said of his
wife, who passed away four years ago.
“With the tension and anticipation and
uncertainty, we expected it to fall apart,
but it never did.”
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WMMR-FM’s Jacky Bam Bam Has Long History with Philadelphia’s
Mummers Parade
BY STELLA MORRISON
The Mummers Parade
is an annual New Year
celebration in South
Philadelphia that’s rich
in color, prestige and
tradition. Since the
1800s, Mummers parade
from Broad Street in
Philadelphia about three
miles to City Hall in
elaborate décor — makeup,
feathers, and iron cages
weighing up to 90 pounds
— and compete both for a
cash prize and the hearts
of the thousands who line
up to watch.
Although the process of
developing a costume can
be quite secretive, one
of Greater Media’s own
on-air talents, Jacky Bam
Bam of 93.3 WMMR-FM in
Philadelphia, shared some
of his secrets.
WMMR-FM’s Jacky Bam Bam has
worn a colorful array of costumes
during his many years of participating in the Mummers Parade on New
Year’s Day in Philadelphia.
A first-place winner a few
years over, Jacky has been
attending the parade since
he was a little boy and
has been parading in it for
more than 25 years.
“I grew up in South
Philadelphia, and my father
and mother would take
me every New Year’s Day,”
Jacky said. “When I was a
little boy, I’d watch these
guys in costume come
down the street. It was
like watching the Rolling
Stones in my book.”
Jacky started out in the
lower of four divisions
in the Mummers Parade
as a “comic,” those with
less elaborate costumes
who march first in order.
He currently marches
second in parade order
with the “fancies,” those
who dress up in traditional
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Mummers costumes built
with extraordinary detail
and flair. A string band in full
costume follows the fancies,
and the final “fancy brigades”
perform at the Philadelphia
Convention Center, where
thousands buy tickets to
watch the performance.
Mummers often begin the
costume process early in the
year.
“I always wanted to carry the
big back piece,” Jacky said. “I
like the big plumes. Growing
up, I enjoyed seeing the oldtime Mummers who would
wear the big costumes. I
tried out for the string band
and could have joined, but
I wanted to dance and be
Steven Tyler and Mick Jagger
for a day. I can’t do that while
playing drums.”
He explained that the
Mummers theme is filed with
the City of Philadelphia to
ensure that no duplication
occurs. As a Mummer
involved in the “handsome
costume” category, once
his theme is filed, he is not
allowed to add a single item
to his costume.
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“From the time New Year’s
Day ends, you already have
ideas in your head about
what next year’s theme will
be,” Jacky said.
“There are rules to adhere
to — I cannot add to the
suit, but I can take away.
I have to end the parade
where I start the parade,
and I can’t take the back
piece off, no matter how
heavy it is,” Jacky said.
Fancies have 35 seconds
to compete in front of the
judges with a short routine
for a chance at the modest
first-place prize.
“Sometimes you pop, and
sometimes you don’t,”
said Jacky, who won first
place several times during
his tenure as a Mummer.
“I do this because I love it,
not for the money. It’s in
my blood. It’s for the kids
on the street — I want to
make them happy and
say ‘Happy New Year’ to
everybody. It’s a beautiful
thing and makes you feel
really good.”
Even when he’s not
working on the parade,
Jacky makes it clear to
those around him that
being a Mummer is one of
the highlights of his year.
“If Jacky’s there, then oh
my goodness, the parade
is just a blast,” said Eric
Simon, Promotions
Director for WMMR.
“He’s very involved with
the parade year-round.”
reater
Thursday morning.
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Investing in Your Community
Jacky is known to talk
about the parade on his
overnight radio show to
encourage his listeners
to come see the parade,
or even to participate.
“I want to see the
tradition grow to the
next generation; that’s
why I love talking to
people about mummery,”
Jacky said. “I say on-air
all the time, ‘If you’re
interested, I’d love for
you to join. Try it once;
at least you can say you
were a Mummer for a
day.’”
As for this year’s theme,
Jacky Bam Bam wouldn’t
share any details with
The Grapevine, but he
promised that attendees
will be in for a treat.
“Talking about the theme
before New Year’s Day
is bad karma, but I will
tell you that the suit is
beautiful and it’s very
me,” he said. “New York
drops the ball, but we
have the Mummers
Parade. There’s nothing
like New Year’s in
Philadelphia.”
Insights
By Kelly Wallace
Director
Interactive & Account
Development
Greater Media
Philadelphia
Many of us have so much
for which to be thankful …
excellent jobs, great families,
nice homes, fun vacations,
good health. And, as busy as
our lives are, every person
has the ability to carve
out a little bit of time that
can benefit another in a
great way. It’s a choice. It’s
rewarding.
I began volunteering about
six years ago. It certainly
wasn’t that I didn’t have
enough to fill up my spare
time. I started because
I had a burning need to
help homeless animals by
volunteering at a local animal
shelter. And over the years
I’ve learned a lot, including
the fact that when you
give your time and talent,
you often receive amazing
benefits in return, including:
A new circle of contacts –
Volunteers come from all
walks of life. Whether they
are young or old, wealthy
or working class, one thing
is certain: They share a
commitment to make the
world a better place through
the charity they support.
And through that shared
commitment spring new
relationships, sometimes
friendships, which connect
people beyond the purpose
of the charity. I’ve met many
very accomplished people
who have spent a lifetime
working in the corporate
world. Volunteering leads to
new business connections,
and to people doing business
with other professionals who
share the same passion.
religious organizations and
community clubs provide
a sense of belonging and
vision for a shared goal
and belief, so do charities.
Whether it’s your intention or
not, you make new friends,
you expand your thinking,
you provide a service, and
you become a resource.
Growth – Volunteering
provides an opportunity to
learn. It might be learning
from people who have a
different set of professional
talents, it might be learning
a different philosophy,
and it might be learning
to appreciate all that you
have. It also provides an
opportunity to teach, not
just those volunteers who are
young and still figuring out
their path in this world, but
also to teach the nonprofit
skills and philosophies that
often bring success in the
corporate world.
When I started at the animal
shelter, I had two rescue/
shelter dogs. Six years and
two failed fosters later, I
have four (thank heavens for
township limits!). They’re all
amazing. I have countless
new friends, I’ve made new
business contacts, I have
learned about industries and
specialties that I otherwise
would not be exposed to,
and I’ve helped save lives.
Not every animal makes it
out of the shelter system,
but the ones who do, make it
into forever families because
of dedicated volunteers.
It’s fun – Volunteering
is fun and rewarding.
Whether you volunteer
for an animal shelter, a
children’s organization, or
a community project, there
is nothing more rewarding
than making a difference
in the life of someone else.
And in much the same way
Find something you love and
give back … it’ll return to you
tenfold.
Kelly Wallace is making
Greater Media greater in her
role as Director, Interactive
& Account Development for
Greater Media Philadelphia.
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BEN-FM Decks the Malls
BEN-FM registered 20 listeners
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to win a $1,000 gift card to a different
mall each week during the Deck the Malls
promotion. The listeners went to the
mall for BEN-FM’s appearance and one
name was drawn out of the “magic bowl”
to win the big prize. Shoppers were also
registered to win $100 mall gift cards.
BEN-FM Party Patrol member Jason “The Elf” Gooch with listener
Lynn Dougherty of Glenolden, PA,
who won a $1,000 gift card to the
Oxford Valley Mall
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MAGIC 106.7 FM Celebrates 20 Years of
Making Strides
Forty thousand people joined
MAGIC 106.7 FM’s Candy
O’Terry and her “Think Pink
Team” to celebrate the 20th
anniversary of the American
Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against
Breast Cancer walk at the DCR Hatch
Shell on Boston’s Charles River
on October 14.
For the 10th consecutive year,
MAGIC 106.7 FM was the radio
partner for the noncompetitive,
5-mile fundraising walk, which
raised $3 million to help in the
fight against breast cancer. Making
Strides in Boston is the nation’s
oldest and largest one-day breast
cancer walk, raising $52 million
for the fight to end breast cancer
since the walk’s inception in 1983.
MAGIC 106.7 FM’s Candy
O’Terry hosted stage duties with
local television news anchors
Kim Khazei and Reid Lamberty
MAGIC 106.7 FM’s Candy O’Terry
with members of Catholic Memorial
High School at the Making Strides
Against Breast Cancer walk.
from 7 NBC and even found
time to recruit her own “Think
Pink Team” of 43 walkers and to
complete the walk with them to
raise close to $5,000.
Listeners stop by with their Pink Pints to spin the prize
wheel at The LINK set.
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WLNK-FM’s
Kelly McKay Hosts
Making Strides Against
Breast Cancer
A family of 107.9 WLNK-FM listeners
stops by the “pig” before the run!
107.9 WLNK-FM’s Kelly McKay broadcasts live at Charlotte’s NoDa Brewing
Company’s Pink Pint Night to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
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WDHA-FM &
WMTR-AM Join
Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness
Members of Candy O’s
“Think Pink Club” on stage at the
Hatch Shell before heading out to
the Making Strides Against Breast
Cancer walk. The 43-member team
raised nearly $5,000.
107.9 WLNK-FM Supports Breast Cancer
Awareness at Pink Pint Night
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WLNK-FM’s Kelly McKay
offers support to a listener at
Charlotte’s Making Strides Against
Breast Cancer walk on October 20.
WMTR-AM Cool Kids members
Claude Jaillet, Steve Barna, Anthony
Carrea and Jen Strasle at the Saint
Clare’s Foundation Walk for Breast
Cancer Awareness on September 23
WDHA-FM and
WMTR-AM
General Manager
Nancy McKinley
and WMTRAM Operations
Manager Chris
Edwards make
announcements
to the crowd at
the Saint Clare’s
Foundation Walk
for Breast Cancer
Awareness.
MAGIC 100.1 FM Teams Up with Susan G. Komen to
Help Create Awareness for Breast Cancer Research
MAGIC 100.1 FM, Susan G.
Komen for the Cure, and
Six Flags Great Adventure
hosted several events to help
create awareness for breast
cancer research. On August 11,
Afternoon Drive Jock Tripp
Rogers hosted Paint the Park Pink
at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
MAGIC 100.1 FM’s Morning Show
Host Dianne DeOliveira took first
place in the Race for the Cure.
in Jackson, NJ. Then on
September 30, the 19th Annual
Race for the Cure became one of
the largest races with more than
10,000 participants. MAGIC
100.1 FM Morning Show Host
Dianne DeOliveira, the station’s
designated runner, took first place
in the race!
The crowd of cancer
survivors at the Susan G. Komen
Race for the Cure
Greater Media Honors Radio Traffic Employees
on Traffic Professionals Recognition Day
BY STELLA MORRISON
Traffic Professionals
Recognition Day, an
annual day set aside to
acknowledge the work of
traffic directors across the
country, was observed on
November 2.
For those who hold a job
that is often under the
radar, the day, established
by the Traffic Directors
Guild of America, is
intended as a special day
to say “thank you” to
the employees at radio
stations who ensure that
each notification and
commercial airs at its
appropriate time.
“The traffic department is
pretty much like the oil to
the engine, as far as the
station goes,” Billy Hall,
Traffic Director at Greater
Media Charlotte, said. “We
control the commercial
flow and inventory, we
solve problems, work on
continuity — pretty much
anything involving the flow
of the station goes through
us in one way or the other.”
Each day, a traffic director
is expected to work on
logistics for the on-air
advertising content at a
radio station.
Kerry Joyce Coldwell,
traffic director at Greater
Media Boston, believes that
the position is key at her
radio station because it
keeps the stations running
smoothly and accurately
each and every day.
“It’s the heart of the radio
station,” Coldwell said.
For a traffic director,
each day is different,
since each day involves
different materials.
“Balancing things out is the
biggest challenge of the
job,” Coldwell said. “Each
day, the sales manager
is trying to maximize
inventory [advertising],
and advertisers sometimes
change their copy at the last
minute.”
“It’s like putting a puzzle
together every single day,
and that’s why I like it,”
GMC’s Hall said. “Every
day, it gets shaken up and
broken overnight, and in the
morning, you have to piece
it together.”
However, the basic functions
of the job are the same, even
if the material is different.
Content, advertising and
announcements need to
be arranged every day —
sometimes multiple times
— in order to secure perfect
programming.
“We’re working with logs,
sales and programming,”
Hall said. “It’s very deadline
driven too, so everything
is pretty fast-paced, and
there’s really no down time.
There’s always something to
be solving.”
Hall believes that without
a traffic director and the
entire traffic team, the
fast-paced nature of a radio
station would be hampered
considerably.
“All angles of the station
rely on the traffic director
to keep things running
smoothly,” Hall said. “If you
have a traffic department
that you can’t trust, or
one you have to check on,
it slows down the entire
operation.”
clockwise from top left, Greater Media recognizes our traffic professionals:
Boston, Charlotte, New Jersey (WDHA-FM/WMTR-AM, WRAT-FM/WJRZFM, and WCTC-AM/WMGQ-FM), Philadelphia and Detroit
The traffic team includes a
variety of positions, including
traffic assistant and a
continuity director.
“It’s all teamwork,” Hall said.
“We all have each other’s
backs.”
Coldwell took Traffic
Professionals Recognition
Day to recognize the hard
work of her team that
works together to ensure
the smooth operations of
the Greater Media radio
stations in Boston.
“I wanted to recognize
everyone in the
department for their work.”
Coldwell said. “I recognized
my peers by bringing
it to people’s attention
that this is a good day to
say ‘thanks’ to the traffic
department.”
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John DeBella’s 6th Annual Masquerade Bash
Benefits Toys for Tots
Prize money worth $1,750 was up
for grabs in the costume contest
held that evening. First place won
$1,000, second place received
$500, and third place got $250.
Finnigan’s Wake provided a free
buffet; the station’s “coffin of
candy” buffet featured a casket
filled to the brim with a variety
of free candy. The official
WMGK house band, Sofa Kings,
played live from 9 p.m. until 1
a.m. WMGK-FM’s Ray Koob
broadcast live from Finnigan’s
throughout the evening.
One hundred percent of the
proceeds from the Masquerade Bash
benefited the U.S. Marine Corps
Reserve Toys for Tots campaign.
This year’s party raised thousands
of dollars and tons of toys for Toys
for Tots.
Radio 92.9 WBOS-FM Rocks Salem’s
Haunted Happenings
Salem is the official home of
Halloween for many bewitching
reasons, and for the fourth
consecutive year, Radio 92.9 WBOSFM hosted a live music stage and Boo
Pub in the heart of Salem, MA, on
Halloween night. The Boo Pub is an
outdoor bar stocked with top client
Anheuser Busch’s Shock Top and
Budweiser. Radio 92.9 House DJ
Matthew “Mattu” Petrulavage kept
the crowd entertained and dancing
all night.
Classic Rock 102.9 WMGK-FM
Morning Personality John
DeBella and the entire 102.9
MGK air staff took over
Finnigan’s Wake on October 26
for John DeBella’s 6th Annual Masquerade
Bash.
2
The live music stage was located right
in the center of Salem’s Washington
Street, where local act Order 66 and
party rockers Replicas performed in
front of thousands. The night ended
with a costume contest for all ages,
where the winner (a Lego Tom Brady)
won a trip.
John DeBella and wife Lisa in
costume at the Masquerade Bash
Radio 92.9 Promotions
Coordinator (and Taco!) Jason
Rossi, with Marketing Director
Crystal Margolis in the Boo Pub
Costume contest winner, a Lego
Tom Brady
The MGK 2012 house band, the Sofa
Kings, entertains the crowd during
the Masquerade Bash.
Local band Order 66 entertains
thousands from the 92.9 live music
stage on Halloween night in the
center of Salem’s Haunted
Happenings celebration.
above, MGK listeners continue to
show their generosity and support
for the U.S. Marines by bringing toys
and monetary donations for Toys
for Tots to the Masquerade Bash.
left, MGK listeners enjoy the annual
“Coffin Full of Candy.”
A couple of spooky
characters wander into Radio
92.9’s Boo Pub.
At WROR-FM,
Halloween Was
Cutting Edge
The WROR-FM Loren
& Wally Show crew show off
their personalized pumpkins
carved by a listener (kneeling):
(l-r) Lauren Beckham
Falcone, Loren Owens,
Wally Brine and Tom Doyle.
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MAGIC 100.1 FM’s Annual Halloween Party
Proves Frightfully Fun
Ghosts, goblins and ghouls, oh my!
MAGIC 100.1 FM held its annual
Halloween Party at Martell’s in
Point Pleasant, NJ, on Friday night,
October 26.
The only way to get into the party was
to win! Listeners had to listen for the
“Ghost of JRZ” (and if you know
anything about the WJRZ studios, you
know that you are NEVER alone!).
This year’s party featured live music
from Big Bang Baby and cash prizes
for the best costumes … plus a free
food buffet. One lucky winner walked
away with a five-day, four-night,
all-inclusive Apple Vacation to the
beautiful resort Now Sapphire Riviera
Cancun!
MAGIC 100.1 FM Promotion
Director Marie Senkeleski with
“Honey Boo Boo”
MAGIC 100.1 FM staff at Halloween
Party: Marie Senkeleski,
Tripp Rogers, Scotty B, Glenn
Kalina, Dianne DeOliveira, Keebler,
Barbara Farragher, Jasmine
and Rich Vacca
MAGIC
100.1 FM staff
at Halloween
Party: Marie
Senkeleski,
Tripp Rogers,
Scotty B, Glenn
Kalina, Dianne
DeOliveira,
Keebler, Barbara
Farragher,
Jasmine and
Rich Vacca
107.9 WLNK-FM Hosts The Boo Cruise
WDHA-FM and WMTR-AM
“Haunt” New Jersey on Halloween
WDHA-FM once again celebrated
Halloween by throwing one of
northern New Jersey’s biggest costume
parties: WDHA-FM’s Monster Bash at
Miami Mike’s Sports Zone in East
Hanover. The event was attended by
hundreds of listeners who were all
vying for the costume contest grand
prize of $1,500. All night, party-goers
were entertained by music from The
Nerds. The top costume contest prize
was won by DHA listener Hope from
Hawthorne whose costume depicted
the famous “flagpole” scene from “A
Christmas Story.”
WDHA-FM and WMTR-AM were
back out on Halloween Day, joining
local Morristown, NJ, businesses for
the annual Trick-or-Treat in Downtown.
With a snowstorm hitting the weekend
prior to Halloween and many local
residents without electricity or heat,
DHA and MTR were able to bring
smiles to thousands of trick-ortreaters’ faces with free candy and
games throughout the afternoon.
WDHA Promotions members Lauren
Lopes, Megan Peason, Erin Doherty,
Jen Strasle and Lacey Brock pose
for a picture at Monster Bash.
Brian, James, Angie and
Francesska from Team DHA pose
during WDHA-FM’s Monster Bash.
WMMR-FM Rocked Halloween with
Sold-Out Creep Show
WMMR-FM rocked Halloween
night with a sold-out concert on
South Street in Philadelphia,
presented by Dos Equis. Hundreds
of listeners won free tickets to the
Creep Show, which featured national
recording act Foxy Shazam, who
dressed the part and rocked the crowd
at the Theatre of Living Arts (TLA)
with their frenetic stage performance.
WMMR-FM’s own resident vampire
and overnight DJ, Jacky Bam Bam,
opened the show — deejaying from the
stage to set the Halloween mood. The
evening also included a performance
by local band The Endless March
(made up of the six winning musicians
from an earlier promotion, Jaxon’s
Building the Band, who actually formed a
band and stuck together), who also
rocked the Halloween mood, dressed
as famous musicians like Slash and
Tommy Lee. The majority of the
crowd was also in costume to create a
perfect Halloween night in Philly.
Kelly McKay dresses up as
Morning Hosts Bob AND Sheri and
is standing next to listener Honey
Boo Boo!
107.9 WLNK-FM listeners dress up
as Sun Drop dancers for The Boo
Cruise, a floating Halloween party!
Emcee for the night was MMR’s
Jacky Bam Bam.
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The Darkness perform on stage.
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E L E C T
I O N
96.9 WTKK-FM’s Town Hall Meeting
at Faneuil Hall a Sold-Out Success
News Talk 96.9 WTKK-FM’s
Town Hall Meeting at Boston’s historic
Faneuil Hall on October 13 was
a sold-out success. The night,
moderated by 96.9 FM’s morning
duo of Jim Braude and Margery
Eagan, featured a prominent
panel of WTKK-FM’s on-air
hosts and contributors, including
Michael Graham, Michael
Smerconish, John Batchelor, Ron
Insana, and the Boston Globe’s Brian
McGrory.
Outside Boston’s historic
Faneuil Hall
The 800 seats were filled.
“News Talk 96.9’s All-Star
panel debated the ‘state of the
state’ of the 2012 presidential
election and the hotly contested
Scott Brown/Elizabeth Warren
Massachusetts Senate race,”
said Program Director Grace
Blazer. “Our entire team looked
forward to engaging in smart
and entertaining debate with our
audience and advertisers.”
In addition, the event featured
a question-and-answer portion
of the program. A video podcast
was posted on the station website
NewsTalk969.com following the
event.
News Talk 96.9FM WTKK’s
Morning Show Co-Hosts and Town
Hall moderators Margery Eagan
and Jim Braude
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Commander in Chief on 96.9 WTKK-FM’s
Michael Smerconish
President Barack Obama
recently joined Boston’s
News Talk 96.9 WRKKFM’s Michael Smerconish on
October 26. The interview
marked Smerconish’s seventh
conversation with the current
Commander in Chief, and the
fourth since he took office in
January 2009.
Boston’s News Talk 96.9 FM’s
Michael Smerconish interviews
President Barack Obama.
As in previous conversations
with the president, Smerconish
solicited questions from
listeners via Facebook and
Twitter.
Boston’s News Talk 96.9 WTKK-FM’s
Election Day Coverage
Boston News Talk
96.9 WTKK-FM’s
on-air hosts and
listeners at live
election night
coverage
Town Hall Panel: (l-r) Morning Show
Co-Host Margery Eagan, show
contributors Michael Smerconish,
John Batchelor, Brian McGrory, Ron
Insana, and Michael Graham, and
Co-Host Jim Braude
News Talk 96.9 Gets Up
Close and Personal with
the Candidates
Boston’s News Talk 96.9
WTKK-FM’s Morning Hosts
Margery Eagan and Jim Braude
interviewed U.S. Senate
candidates Scott Brown (R) and
Elizabeth Warren (D), one of the
most highly profiled Senate races
in the country. Elizabeth Warren
took the seat from Scott Brown in
the November election.
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News Talk 96.9 FM’s street team visit
polling locations throughout the day.
Scott Brown in the studio
News Talk 96.9
FM’s panel of
commentators live
as election night
results pour in.
Elizabeth Warren (center) with
News Talk 96.9 FM’s Margery Eagan
and Jim Braude
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A Look Back: A Reporter’s Perspective of the
2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte
By Chris Miller
WBT AM/FM
The dust has settled on an election
that divided the country, invaded
living rooms with hyper-negative
political ads, and gave no hint
of breaking the gridlock in
Washington.
So why am I already looking
forward to 2016?
In four years, when Democrats
meet again to nominate a successor
to President Obama, reporters in
that host city will want to know what
Charlotte’s experience was in 2012.
Will they want the Chamber of
Commerce answer, or a reporter’s
answer?
The local media were initially
smitten with the convention
organizers. But over time, the
D.C. mentality began to clash with
Charlotte’s Southern charm.
I wound up on the pages of The
Charlotte Observer because of a tweet
the DNC did not approve of.
Reporters were bullied by the
convention’s press office.
The convention eventually
became a joke in the eyes of the
Charlotte media. “Right on track,”
the answer to every fundraising
question, turned into a punch
line.
But the vinegar turned back into
sweet tea once the main event
arrived.
The first sign the convention and
all the hoopla that came with it
would be manageable came on
Sunday, September 2, two days
before the convention gaveled to
order.
Organizers of an anti-capitalist
protest promised thousands would
be marching through uptown
Charlotte that day, past the towers
of the city’s corporate players.
Police estimated the crowd topped
out at 800.
Greater Media Boston
Hosts 3rd Annual
Bostoberfest Weekend
top to bottom,
MSNBC on-site
Brad and Britt with Ann Compton
of ABC News
James Taylor sings “Carolina in My
Mind.”
Chris Miller, WBT AM/FM News,
with Sam Donaldson
Brad and Britt interview attorney
Gloria Allred.
To be sure, there were
confrontations between protesters
and police, but Chicago 1968 it
was not. The riot helmets and gas
masks local TV stations purchased
were sent back unused.
Protests were the most enjoyable
part of the convention because they
were the only unscripted events.
That’s not to say the convention
hall didn’t produce its own
memorable moments, including
former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords
leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
Having an almost front-row seat
to those moments, including
President Obama’s renomination
speech, was a thrill, but I have
to admit they didn’t excite me as
much as my front-row seat to a
taping of “The Daily Show.”
Watching Jon Stewart and crew
skewer my hometown, as well as the
convention itself, was well worth
the price of admission — the long
days, little sleep, overpriced arena
lunches.
GREATER Media
Boston’s National Team
invited 35 clients and
representatives from
around the country
for their 3rd annual
Bostoberfest Weekend,
October 19-21.
The fun-filled weekend
included a competitive
bowling tournament
for cash; a trip to
historic Salem, MA;
waterfront dining at
Legal Harborside; and
entertainment from
a mentalist/magician
who has performed
for Johnny Depp and
Steven Tyler.
Enjoying a trip to Salem as part
of Bostoberfest Weekend are (l-r)
Kaitlin Campbell (GM), Sheryl Bloom
(Group M), Linda O’Grady (GM),
Karen Clouse (GSD&M), Jen Magozzi
(Katz Minn.), Liz Gonzalez (Interlex), and Leah DelaGarza (Interlex);
kneeling, Larry Roberts (Katz LA).
WMMR-FM Salutes
Teachers
I have proposed the city of
Charlotte, as a memorial to the
convention, erect two of the tall
iron barricades that ringed the
uptown area for a week. Next to
it would be a bronze statue of a
credentialed reporter, confused
if he was approaching the right
security checkpoint to either enter
or leave the convention zone.
So when the reporter in the future
host city wants to know what it’s
like covering such a major event,
I’ll say, Be ready for a few months
of headaches — followed by a
memorable few days.
WMMR-FM’s Pierre
Robert (center) hosts a
Workforce Salute Happy
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music
the music that makes
greater media
MUSIC AT GREATER MEDIA
WRIF-FM and Slash Put the Rock in Rocktoberfest
RADIO 92.9 WBOS-FM MUSIC
101 WRIF-FM held its 3rd annual
Rocktoberfest on September 22 at
Heritage Park in Taylor, MI.
Rocktoberfest is a celebration of the
arrival of fall, featuring great food, a
variety of specialty and Oktoberfest
beers, a “Sports Den” with college
football broadcast all day, and live
music including polka by The Polish
Muslims and an ’80s hair band
tribute by RockStar. But to truly
make it a Riff-worthy party, there
had to be someone to really kick off
the event … and who better than
Slash!
Prior to his show that evening,
Slash came out to hang with more
than 500 Riff listeners. He went
live on the air with WRIF-FM
Afternoon Drive Host Meltdown,
and conducted an open Q&A with
the crowd. Plus, everyone who
arrived early was in the running to
go backstage, meet Slash, and get an
autographed guitar presently directly
by him.
The whole day was a big party for
everyone in attendance. Not only
was it a great time for all who came,
but it also helped out an outstanding
local charity. A portion of the day’s
proceeds benefited the Penrickton
Center for Blind Children, a local
nonprofit facility in Taylor, MI, that
provides five-day residential daycare
and consultation/evaluation services
to blind, multi-disabled children,
ages 1-12. Profits raised at Rocktoberfest
went to replacing the safety surface
on the facility’s playground.
above,
Radio 92.9 WBOS-FM’s
Jason Rossi and contest
winners at the Paradise
Rock Club
left,
Brian Aubert of the
Silversun Pickups with
his carved pumpkin in
the Radio 92.9 studio
The crowd assembles for Slash’s
arrival at Rocktoberfest.
Radio 92.9 FM staff
and winners bowl with Morning
Parade and The Wombats.
Slash live on the Riff airwaves with
Meltdown
Radio 92.9 WBOS-FM Listeners
Treated to Breakfast with Smashing Pumpkins’
Frontman Billy Corgan
Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan joined a select group of
Radio 92.9 WBOS-FM listeners at the Hard Rock Cafe for an intimate
interview, breakfast, and meet & greet prior to the Smashing Pumpkins’
performance October 27 at Agganis Arena in downtown Boston.
Anne Carlini and Slash host a Q&A
session with Riff listeners.
Radio 92.9 FM’s Amy
Brooks interviews Billy
Corgan of the Smashing
Pumpkins.
Rocktoberfest was a great time with an
awesome host that was able to help
an outstanding local charity. The
Riff is already looking forward to
2013!
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Country 102.5 WKLB-FM & Taylor Swift
Provide Experience of a Lifetime for Lucky Listeners
In celebration of the muchanticipated release of Taylor Swift’s
fourth studio album “RED,” which
hit stores October 22, Country
102.5 WKLB-FM partnered with
Taylor on once-in-a-lifetime
experiences for our listeners!
First, Country 102.5 rolled out
the RED carpet for one lucky
winner and a guest to see Taylor
Swift perform live on “The Ellen
DeGeneres Show” in Hollywood
VIP style with exclusive access to
the RED Zone to watch the show
and the chance to get up close
and personal with Taylor after
the show! Next stop on the Taylor
tour: New York City, of course,
where another lucky Country 102.5
winner and guest were treated to the
VIP treatment at “Good Morning
America,” as they got to watch Taylor
perform live in front of thousands
of screaming fans and then head
backstage to hang in the RED room
and get a little one-on-one time
with this six-time Grammy winner!
Both were once-in-a-lifetime,
money-can’t-buy experiences!
But the celebration of RED didn’t
end there; the final stop was
Nashville, where Taylor turned
Music City RED in honor of her
latest CD release. Midday Host
Carolyn Kruse packed her bag and
headed to Nashville to broadcast
live on October 26 and spent some
quality time with Taylor. During
her special interview with Taylor,
Kruser got the inside scoop on
her new music, her favorite red
things, and so much more. Kruser
also gave away amazing Taylor
prizes to Country 102.5 listeners,
including an autographed guitar.
All the photos and interview from
Kruser’s “RED” trip to Nashville
can be found at www.wklb.com/
KruserRED.aspx.
WKLB-FM’s Carolyn Kruse sits down one on one with Taylor Swift
during a very special live broadcast in Nashville.
WDHA-FM Rocks the Park with the 2012 Uproar Festival
On August 24, 105.5 WDHAFM helped cap off the summer by
hosting their annual Rock the Park
at the PNC Bank Arts Center in
Holmdel, NJ. WDHA teamed up
with sister station 95.9 WRAT-FM
and the 2012 Uproar Festival for a full
day of rock.
Shinedown lead singer Brent Smith
during the 2012 Uproar Festival at
WDHA’s Rock the Park
The event started with a side stage
at 1:30 p.m. WDHA listeners
came out in full force, “showing
their DHA” and scoring passes
for exclusive meet and greets with
headlining bands.
In the parking lot, WDHA-FM
once again held their 3rd annual
Fully Loaded Tailgate, where contest
winners were treated to food and
beverages, with one lucky listener
walking away with a Fully Loaded Tailgate
package.
WDHA-FM broadcasted live
throughout the day from the venue’s
plaza and also had many of the
artists interviewed live on-air.
As the sun set, up-and-coming
band Adelitas Way kicked off the
main stage, ripping through a set
to get the crowd excited for the
night. Rockers Staind took the stage
next, with lead singer Aaron Lewis
guiding his band through many of
their hits and fan favorites. From
there, Godsmack took the stage and
played their way through a rocking
set.
WDHA-FM’s Terrie Carr (left) and
WRAT-FM’s Robyn Lane welcome
the crowd to the show.
Shinedown drummer Barry Kerch is
interviewed on WDHA-FM
before the show.
Shinedown then took the stage
as the headliners of the show,
performing “Sound of Madness.”
They capped off the night with a set
that included hits “Second Chance”
and “Fly from the Inside,” as well
as their cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s
“Simple Man.”
WDHA-FM listeners
“show their DHA.”
WKLB-FM Music Director Ginny Rogers, Taylor Swift
and Midday Host Carolyn Kruse
WDHA-FM’s Morning Jolt Co-Host Kim Mulligan with listeners
“showing their DHA” before the show
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39
music
WMMR-FM Music
MUSIC AT GREATER MEDIA
Country Rules in Boston!
It’s been a boom time for country music in Boston.
Country star Jason Aldean bested the likes of the Rolling Stones,
Bruce Springsteen, and Boston’s own Aerosmith by selling out
Fenway Park in just seven minutes!
WMMR-FM’s Brent Porche
with Three Days Grace
Country 102.5 FM’s
Morning Show Co-Host
Lori Grande with Jason
Aldean, who will return
to Boston’s Fenway
Park in July for two
sold-out shows.
105.1 WDHA-FM Music
above,
WMMR-FM’s Preston Elliot
(5th from the right) gives contest
winners a tour of the ‘MMR studios
before taking them to a Rush
concert.
right,
WMMR-FM’s Matt Cord (left) hangs
out with Jay-Z backstage at the
Budweiser Made In America festival.
Comedian Jim Breuer puts on
an air guitar show in front of the
webcam for the WDHA-FM
streaming audience.
WRIF-FM Music – Behind the Scenes
WDHA-FM Midday Host and
Music Director Terrie Carr with
Monte Yoho and Henry Paul
of The Outlaws
WDHA-FM Midday Host and Music
Director Terrie Carr with Heart
before hosting a YouTube Presents
performance and interview, which
broadcast live throughout the world
on youtube.com
Legendary guitarist Don Felder
from The Eagles live on WDHA-FM
and live on WDHA-FM’s stream
WDHA-FM Program Director Curtis
Kay and Midday Host Terrie Carr
with The Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Band in Studio D
40
GRAPEVINE
FA L L
WDHA-FM Midday Host Terrie Carr
with Sebastian Bach
2 012
The Riff’s Steve Black backstage
with The Deftones
Riff Rock Girl Juliet
with Rob Zombie
Steve Black hanging
with Three Days Grace
Riff DJs Ron Crichton and Jade
Springart, and Rock Girl Juliet
hanging with The Offspring
Look What’s Happening at 97.5 FM The Fanatic!
97.5 FM The Fanatic welcomed Mike
Greenberg and Mike Golic of ESPN2
and ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the
Morning to Philadelphia on Friday,
September 28. Mike & Mike broadcast
live from Xfinity Live! at the Sports
Complex in South Philadelphia.
The boys were in town for their annual
Football Tour leading up to big games
like the Eagles-Giants game later that
weekend. They were joined by some
special guests: Eagles head coach Andy
Reid, ESPN football experts Ron
Jaworski and Sal Paolantonio, the Eagles
Pep Band, and the Phillie Phanatic.
The Eagles went on to win that game
against the Giants.
G
G
By Chris Brunt
Director
Internet Operations
Greater Media
Detroit
Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic and
Eagles coach Andy Reid
Quickly answer this:
The Fanatic Fantasy Girls
What are the three websites
you can’t live without?
Now think about why you
visit those websites so
frequently.
Eagles QB Michael Vick with 97.5
FM The Fanatic’s Mike Missanelli
Is it because of their
perfectly validated HTML,
use of well-researched SEO
keywords, or promotional
pages?
Or is it because of fresh,
compelling content that
speaks to your passions and
interests?
Former Eagles QB Donovan
McNabb co-hosts with 97.5 FM
The Fanatic’s Ron Jaworski.
107.9 WLNK-FM takes part in
The Southern Women’s Show
While worrying about all the
aspects of website execution,
it’s easy to miss the forest
for the trees. In radio we can
spend lots of time making
sure the weekend promo
has a webpage or that the
images on the site have
proper image tagging so that
they are indexed by Google.
But we can’t forget that the
most consumed content on
our sites is not necessarily
promo pages.
Just like our listeners do not
flock to our stations to hear
the station promos, they
do flock to our websites
for our stations’ live station
simulcasts, DJ videos,
music news and pop culture
commentaries.
107.9 WLNK-FM
provides a dress station
for The Southern
Women’s Show.
Insights
The Power of Creative
Online Content
And there’s a new addition to the
station! 97.5 FM The Fanatic is
fulfilling the fantasies of their listeners
with the new female promotional
team The Fanatic Fantasy Girls. The
team is becoming a part of the station’s
appearances and broadcasts, bringing a
new way to engage sports fans.
The Fanatic Fantasy Girls were revealed
at the Mike & Mike Broadcast in
Philadelphia and were an instant hit
with the listeners who came out that
morning for the broadcast, and they
have been working ever since! The girls
stay in touch with their fans via their
Facebook page, www.facebook.com/
Fanaticfantasygirls and through their
Twitter account, @fanaticfantasyg.
reater
Thursday morning.
Listeners of 107.9 WLNKFM stop by and dress
up for The Southern
Women’s Show!
The great news is we have
free tools at our hands to
get immediate feedback to
the content that resonates
with our audiences. Google
G
Analytics now provides
real-time data. We can learn
which pages are getting
clicks as soon as the DJ
directs listeners to the
website or as soon as the
station’s email newsletter is
sent. We can see instantly
which stories on our
websites are being shared
across social networks and
which videos are getting
commented on.
Using this feedback allows
us to create new, similar
content. If cute baby
pictures are highly visited
on the website, how about
creating a section of photos
of cute babies in Halloween
costumes? A DJ cooking
video gets a lot of views one
week? Turn it into a series.
Creating more compelling
content based on high
engagement creates a
positive feedback loop:
High engagement leads to
more compelling content,
which leads to more high
engagement.
This is not to say the
technical details aren’t
important — listeners need to
be able to get to the content
they crave quickly and not
face technical obstacles
when they get there. But
it’s the content that’s the
foundation of not only our
on-air, but also our online
products.
G
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41
LOOK WHO’S READING THE GRAPEVINE!
Hunter Hayes plays for a live studio
audience at Studio 102.5 at
WKLB-FM in Boston, and celebrates
his first Number 1 hit “Wanted.”
Renowned Master Chef Ming Tsai takes
a break to read The Grapevine while in
Boston’s WROR-FM studios recording
a promotional spot for his new
cookbook, Simply Ming in Your
Kitchen. Chef Tsai hosts a cooking
show on public television, and was a
competitor on “The Next Iron Chef ”
on the Food Network.
The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band
checks out The Grapevine
while visiting the WRAT-FM studios
in New Jersey.
Greater Media
Corporate Remembers
Maria A. Lombardi
MAGIC 106.7 FM’s Candy O’Terry visited
Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa ... and came
back with trips for MAGIC listeners to win!
Maria A. Lombardi
OUR thoughts and prayers go out
to the family of Maria Lombardi,
who died on September 30 after
a long illness. Born in Cassano
Caudino in Avellino, Italy, Maria
lived in Braintree, MA, for many
years before settling in Methuen.
Maria earned her Associate Degree
from Northeastern University and
worked for the Stone & Webster
engineering company as a budget
coordinator before joining Greater
Media, where she worked for several
years in the accounting department.
She served as an inspiration to
all of us with her warm smile
and great outlook on life.
4 2
GRAPEVINE
FA L L
WBT AM/FM’s Brad & Britt
broadcast live from The
Bank of America Stadium in
Charlotte before the Carolina
Panthers game.
2 012
congratulations!
WEDDINGS, BABIES
& ENGAGEMENTS
Hello, Baby Lily
Introducing Lily Rose Samborski! Brian
and Megan (plus Ben the dog) are the
proud new parents of a bouncing baby
girl born October 19, 2012, weighing in at
6.9 pounds and 19 inches long.
Congratulations!
Engaged!
Hello, Baby Richard
MAGIC 100.1 FM and 95.9 WRAT-FM
Business/Traffic Manager Sharon
Zarnowski welcomed her seventh
grandchild, Richard, on October 11, 2012.
HAPPY
ANNIVERSARY
AN
5
YEARS
Love is in the air in Greater Media
Boston’s Traffic Department. WTKK-FM
Traffic Manager David Hastie and
WBOS-FM Traffic Manager Megan
O’Brien became engaged on October 13.
The couple plans to wed in 2013.
VERSA
NI
15
RY
VERSA
NI
RY
AN
On October 13, more than 50 Greater
Media employees, past and present,
attended the wedding of WMMR-FM
Assistant Promotion Director Todd DiFeo
and WMMR-FM Sales Assistant Megan
Collier.
YEARS
Please take a moment to congratulate the following
Boston
Christopher Cabral
Marcus Gray
employees as they celebrate “milestone”
anniversaries with Greater Media!
Boston
Stephen Kelly
VERSA
NI
Detroit
Ronald Wisswell
New Jersey
Virginia
Arrighetti-Mazzella
James Rotolo
Philadelphia
Robert Calvert
Jacky Bam Bam
AN
10
RY
Detroit
Inna Girngauz
New Jersey
Robbin Friedell
YEARS
Boston
Nika Schena
Michael Bloch
Detroit
Christopher Brunt
Paula Paul
New Jersey
Elisabeth Gallicchio
Lindsay Klein
Anthony Odachowski
Philadelphia
Paul Blake
Jason Fehon
Patricia Long
Anthony Maddox
Nancy Palumbo
Philadelphia
Rodney Byrd
Antoinette Pirrone
Publishing
Sharon Rudolph
Deborah Smith
Publishing
Robin Soles
FA LL
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43
N
IVERSA
AN
RY
30
HAPPY
ANNIVERSARY
YEARS
Congratulations to Legendary WMGK-FM Morning
Personality John DeBella for celebrating 30 years
with Greater Media Philadelphia!
Greater Media, Inc., with headquarters in Braintree, Massachusetts, is the parent company of 22 AM and FM stations
located in the Boston, Charlotte, Detroit, New Jersey, and Philadelphia markets. It also owns a group of weekly newspapers in
central New Jersey, as well as several telecommunications towers located throughout the United States.
• WMJX-WKLB-WROR-WBOS-WTKK Boston •
• WLNK-WBT Charlotte •
• WCSX-WRIF-WMGC Detroit •
• WMGQ-WCTC-WDHA-WMTR-WRAT-WJRZ New Jersey •
• WMGK-WPEN-WMMR-WBEN-WNUW Philadelphia •
• Atlanticville, Examiner, Hub, Independent, News Transcript, Sentinel, Suburban, Tri-Town News Newspapers • Motower Multilink •

PDF, 7.36MB - Greater Media

Transcription

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