Why I Love Radio
LAURA INGRAHAM Why I Love Radio... I was hooked on Day One--the first day in August 1996 when I was invited to be a guest on Imus in the Morning, I thought "wow, that was fun!" The show was simulcast on MSNBC but it was the radio aspect that I immediately loved.My segments were, I was told, fiery and funny and popular enough to help land me a radio show with his then-syndicator. Television has its merits but radio allows for more of a conversation, less of a lecture. It’s more in the moment — no teleprompter teases. And I love radio because of the intimacy of the medium. By tuning in, listeners are inviting me into their home or car. I have to be a good guest or I may not be invited back. It’s all very personal. The near annual predictions of talk radio’s demise are, at this point, hilarious and are usually made by those for whom the result is wishful thinking. They ought to come up with another wish. For talk radio I have one prediction — you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
—Laura Ingraham, The Laura Ingraham Show, syndicated by TRN, author of the #1 New York Times best seller The Obama Diaries
MIKE GALLAGHER Why I Love Radio... My love affair started as a teenager listening late at night to Larry King on the old Mutual Broadcasting Network. I fell in love with the talk radio format. Then when I was a senior in high school, I got a job in construction in my hometown of Dayton, Ohio. I wasn’t cut out for it, and they put me in the mailroom where the my boss listened to nothing but talk radio. I took a tour of that station a few months later and saw on the bulletin board they were looking for a young talk host. That very night, the regular host was sick, and they actually let me fill in. The next day, they gave me a full time job . That was 32 years ago. and I’ve been on the air ever since. I believe terrestrial radio will remain king, but we should learn to adapt to social media and other technology so we can grow listeners. As long as we stay committed to excellence, the format and the medium will stay strong.
— Mike Gallagher, The Mike Gallagher Show, Salem Radio Network
BILL BENNETT Why I Love Radio... I didn't even know I wanted a career in radio until I had one. After working in many fields including government and as an author, I got the call from Salem Networks to create their morning show....Our show is a conversation with the American people, where interaction with callers is the most important thing. I really listen to the callers. Like an old friend once said, you have one mouth and two ears; Use them in that proportion. I love radio and really believe it's a more thoughtful medium - and it's a more cerebral medium. I've appeared on TV many times, and people will often comment about my tie, or my clothes, or that I need a haircut. But when I'm on radio they talk about what I say. They listen with their brain. Radio is the intellectually superior medium!
— Bill Bennett, Morning In America, Salem Radio Network
MARK VANNESS Why I Love Radio... I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit listening to some of the greatest jocks on the planet and wanted more than anything to be them! They made me feel great, I wanted to do that too! I was the shy guy with a hint of class clown and always knew that given the chance I could do that thing my radio idol Steve Dahl does! It wasn’t and isn’t about being a celebrity, it’s about affecting people. Making them smile, cry, laugh, sigh, bring them up or lending a shoulder when they are down! I think it’s the most challenging of mediums because with out the benefit of the visual it’s harder to change the way someone feels. I’ve been lucky enough that I am in the 23rd year of my career! I can’t wait to get to work everyday!! — Mark Vanness, WBZZ FM Schenectady, NY, Mornings, mark@buzz1057.com.
THOM HARTMANN Why I Love Radio...
I remember sitting in my bed at age 6 listening to the radio stations around Lansing, Michigan. I loved to hear the music and the DJs. When I was 10 I built a radio station using a 100 milliwatt transmitter, which would reach about two houses nearby. My friends and I loved to play music and have live conversations over the air. In the early days of my career, no matter which market, the DJs were local stars! It was fun! I’m a very auditory person. Radio is such a personal connection to me. I feel talent does their job when a listener feels connected. When I’m on the air, I try to think about the one person I am talking with – that personal connection just can’t be duplicated by voice tracking. Content and personalities are vital to the future of radio – Personality radio is what will keep this industry going for many years. — Thom Hartmann, www.thomhartmann.com
CHRIS KROK Why I Love Radio...
I love the immediacy of radio; the fact that we can talk about important things and get reaction from listeners right away. You can't do that with newspaper and with television...Listeners have a place to talk about things going on in their backyard. Here in Dallas, we talk about illegal immigration, compelling and controversial local stories, local politics, budget cuts, government corruption, things that really make a difference in your life.Growing up, when other teenagers were drifting off to sleep, I was listening to Eddie Schwartz on WGN and TalkNet with Sally Jesse Raphael and Bruce Williams. I learned about the industry listening to the great Chicago hosts like Steve Dahl, Garry Meier, Johnny B, Kevin Matthews and Roe Conn.To think I get to do what I always wanted is unbelievable. It's hard to fully grasp that I'm the guy on the radio now. — Chris Krok, KLIF/Dallas, www.kroktalk.com
NEAL BOORTZ Why I love Radio... My family lived in Hawaii when there was no TV on the island – not a single station, so I bonded with radio as a youngster. Later, the military took my family to Morehead NC, and I remember sneaking a radio to bed almost every night.... My first radio job was right after high school at an FM station in Pensacola, Florida. Then, while in college at Texas A&M, I landed an on-air spot at a station in Bryan-College Station, Texas. It was my first real job, playing country music as "Randy Neal." I’m proud to be on that station today as a talk host; It’s one of my 225 affiliates... Radio was always my first love. I don’t have a face for TV, and was never enamored by it, so my focus has always been radio.....How long do I want to do this job? It’s not a job anymore — I’m doing this for fun. I retire every day at noon! We have some great affiliates and as long as the listeners and the stations are happy, I plan to hang around for a long time. —Neal Boortz, Dial Global Media. You won’t believe how Neal got his first talk host job. Listen.
LESLIE MARSHALL Why I love Radio... I did an internship at a radio station near Boston while I was in college got addicted to the medium. While working in Miami, a full time talk host at my station got sick. The boss asked me to take over, but I didn’t know how to do a talk show. He said ‘you just talk!’ but I still didn’t want to do it. I was making $10 an hour and he offered me $30 an hour…so I quickly became a talk host. I’ve worked for stations in major markets, and now in syndication, and my passion for radio is still strong. I learn something new from the listeners every day. When you read a book, you create the visual in your head. TV gives you the words and the picture... with radio it’s my job to paint the picture for the listener. Radio is my career and my passion. — Leslie Marshall hosts The Leslie Marshall Show live 7-10 pm/et
SCOTT SHANNON Why I Love Radio...
There’s always been something magical about radio. Growing up I use to have my mom drive me by the radio station so I could see the DJ: I’d watch the guy work, picking out the records, and talking on the phone. I’d ride home talking along with the DJ on the car radio, and I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I always knew there was something magical about speaking into the mic and how that affected the people who hear it in their car and their home. I still feel the same way. Many people like to romanticize radio in the ‘old days’ because they only remember the good things. But technology has made so many things better today. Once I was lucky enough to have a pretty good career, the only thing I still wanted was to be in multiple markets. And now I have that with the True Oldies Channel. Being in radio was and still is the greatest job in the world! — Hall of Fame DJ Scott Shannon is the founder of the True Oldies Channel, heard on over 100 stations, co-host of morning drive on 95.5 WPLJ in New York City, and the voice of the Sean Hannity Show.
KIM KOMANDO: Why I Love Radio... I’ve always had a love for technology, and for broadcasting. But my first gig was on TV, talking about computer products and software. I didn’t like TV very much, and I called a Phoenix radio station for six months before they finally gave me a shot with a 10 pm nighttime show. Once I got the radio ‘bug’, it stayed with me. After some success on radio I knew there was a need for computer talk nationally, and created a radio network - WestStar, with my husband, Barry Young, who really taught me the radio business. I love radio because its fast paced and you live by the seat of your pants. You never know what direction a caller will take, and I really do love the one-on-one relationship I have with a caller. And I enjoy helping people. The show is new and different every week, and I’m still in love with radio and the listeners. — Kim Komando’s weekly three-hour call-in talk radio show is heard on over 450 stations. In addition, she does a Digital Minute radio feature five days a week. www.komando.com