Every weekday in 2014, I'll be keeping an eye on what's happening in the media. My focus will be on some of my favorite subjects...the moguls, the pundits, the broadcast news biz, show business, and the publishing business. (Read "$everance" if you want a crystallization of my positions on those subjects.) And, of course, I'll also keep tabs on Chicago's media.
Chicago Media
~Christopher Michael
I worked with Chris when he was at WJJD and I was at WJMK. I also interviewed him for Chicago Radio Spotlight a few years ago when he was at WGN. This morning he tells a great old radio story to Tom Taylor's NOW Newsletter...
Christopher Michael, now the morning news anchor at Chicago's WMBI-FM and a reporter at Rivet Radio (the former HearHere), remembers a moment of terror on his first job - "At WKAK Kankakee/99.9, 'The Triple 9 spot in the Tri-K City,' we were automated much of the time, but we did do some occasional live shows. One night, when I closed the studio door to do a newscast, I heard an odd 'click' in the door. I didn't think much of it until I went to leave the room, to tighten up the reels so they'd play in the automation. I couldn't get the door open. And the hinges, I discovered, were on the outside. The only way to get to the automation was to prop the back door open, run around the entire building, put tension back in the large reels, then run back around to the studio. Very time consuming. Not to mention, it was winter. I did what any other self-respecting teenager would do - I called my grandfather. He was great. He came to the station, screwdrivers in hand, entered through the back door, took apart the lock mechanism and voila! Problem solved. The station fixed it the next day, and the automation didn't skip a beat. I loved that guy, my grandfather."
~Rover Update
Remember former WCKG morning man Rover? He is on trial in Cleveland, and the Cleveland papers have an update. His lawyer has just asked the judge to dismiss the charges because he claims the police destroyed the evidence.
~WLS Has To Pay $44,000 FCC Fine
From Radio Ink this morning...
This fine is for violating the FCC rule on identifying a sponsorship. Back in 2009 the station ran ads from Workers Independent News without disclosing that the ads were sponsored by the organization. The ad discussed federal economic stimulus money. The Commission rule is in place so listeners are never confused whether the ad is actually programming
Broadcast News
~Why You Can NEVER Just Phone It In
KTLA entertainment reporter Sam Rubin gets Samuel L. Jackson confused with Lawrence Fishburne, and Sam doesn't respond kindly to it. Pretty darn funny, but Exhibit A for you young reporters out there. Never just phone it in. This is really inexcusable. (Especially in LA)
~Smerconish Moves to CNN
The former Republican is now also a former MSNBC analyst. This is a good hire by CNN. He's articulate and fair.
Showbiz
~Fred Armisen to Lead Seth Meyers Late Night Band
Not many people realize he's also a musician. Great move by Seth. I'm guessing the writers will be thrilled to have Fred on board. It's so much easier writing for people who can actually pull off comedy. The Hollywood Reporter has the details.
~Jimmy Kimmel Snags SI Cover Girl from Letterman
The past six years the cover girl has been revealed on Letterman's show. This year, it will be Jimmy Kimmel's show. Deadline Hollywood has the details.
The Radio Biz
~Misinterpreted Radio Poll
All of the radio trades today are quoting a poll that asked people if they get upset when a radio station they like changes formats. According to the poll (conducted by Mark Kassof), 86% do get upset. Radio people are saying this proves that people still care about radio. Let's get serious here. If you don't get upset at all when your favorite station changes formats, you don't have a favorite radio station. 14% don't care. That's a big number.
Social Media
~How Pervasive is Social Media Today?
According to this piece in the AP, "an offbeat survey finding: 40 percent of adults between the ages of 18 and 24 use social media in the bathroom."
~Upworthy's Traffic Plummets
Facebook made them a monster, but then Facebook changed their algorithms, and just like that, traffic took a dive.
The Publishing Biz
~Impatience Has Its Rewards
The publishing industry is catering to binge readers. From today's New York Times...
While the television industry has begun catering to impatient audiences by releasing entire series at once, the book business is upending its traditional timetable by encouraging a kind of binge reading, releasing new works by a single author at an accelerated pace.
~LinkedIn Creeping Into Publishing
They are now also content brokers. Adweek has the story.
