BROADCASTERS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA On The Air Funding provided by the Taishoff Family Foundation Fall /Winter 2014 SLEEPY HOLLOW COUNTRY CLUB SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 SCARBOROUGH, NY The mission of the Broadcasters Foundation of America is to improve the quality of life and maintain the personal dignity of men and women in the radio and television broadcast profession who find themselves in acute need. The foundation reaches out across the country to identify and provide an anonymous safety net in cases of critical illness, advanced age, death of a spouse, accident and other serious misfortune. The Broadcasters Foundation of America is a 501(c)3 Public Charity. On The Air Sol Taishoff Lawrence B. Taishoff 1905-1982 1933-2006 contents Taishoff Family Foundation volume 19 issue 3 fall/winter 2014 4 Chairman’s and President’s Message In addition to their commitment to journalistic causes and 6 The 2014 Celebrity The Taishoff Family Foundation a free press, the Taishoff Family Foundation is also active in Golf Tournament was established by the late Lawrence improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. The Foundation has developed resources to help educate so- 17 Guardian Article B. Taishoff and his son Rob in ciety about the special skills and talents of people with Down honor of their legendary father syndrome, autism and traumatic brain injury, to name a 20 Seen and Heard few. Toward this goal, the Taishoff Family Foundation has and grandfather Sol Taishoff, the established the Lawrence B. Taishoff Center for Inclusive founder and editor-in-chief of Higher Education at Syracuse University. Broadcasting magazine. The Taishoffs also provided critical initial funding for the Library of American Broadcasting, now located at the As journalists and publishers, Sol and Larry Taishoff played University of Maryland. Sol Taishoff himself was one of the a seminal role in the development of the radio and television founders of the Broadcast Pioneers organization which, as industry in America. As champions of a free and unfettered you know, has now become the national charitable endeavor broadcasting profession, Broadcasting magazine was created known as the Broadcasters Foundation of America which as the instrument and manifestation of their devotion to re- you and so many of our colleagues support. semble a “sentinel on the Potomac” to warn against govern- ment intrusion into the creative processes and activities of Today, the Taishoff Family Foundation is administered radio and television broadcasters. by the third generation of family members who support, On The Air is a free news and feature publication, among their many worthwhile endeavors, the National Press offered to the Broadcasters Foundation of America members and friends, and is published three times The Taishoffs devoted their entire lives to extending the Foundation which annually presents the Sol Taishoff Award a year by the: values and protections of the First Amendment to “The for Excellence in Electronic Journalism. Broadcasters Foundation of America Fifth Estate” which was the designation bestowed upon the 125 West 55th Street/3rd Floor broadcasting fraternity by Sol Taishoff so many years ago. New York, NY 10019 Retired Captain Robert Taishoff USN, is the chairman of the www.broadcastersfoundation.org Taishoff Family Foundation. 212-373-8250 The vision and foresight of both Taishoffs often caused them Jim Thompson, Publisher Emily Barratt, Editor to be allied on many of the great issues of the day with the The Broadcasters Foundation of America extends its deep grat- work and example of one of our own founding chairman itude to the Taishoff family for carrying on the legacy of their For feature story contributions or to request another copy of this publication, please call the Broadcasters Ward L. Quaal. In 2009, the Taishoff family was honored illustrious forebears by underwriting On The Air magazine, Foundation of America at: with a Ward L. Quaal Pioneer Award. which is distributed widely throughout the broadcast industry. 212-373-8250, or you may email any questions and/or comments [email protected]. ON THE AIR FALL/WINTER 2014 3 T:7” BROADCASTERS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA Philip J. Lombardo Chairman Richard A. Foreman chairman’s message Vice Chairman James B. Thompson President Over the past five years the amount of assistance the Peter M. Doyle Broadcasters Foundation has provided for colleagues in Vice President need has almost doubled. This year we will give out close to BOARD OF DIRECTORS: David J. Barrett $900,000 in monthly grants. Requests for help continue to Director, Hearst Corporation grow and the demands on our resources are greater than ever. George G. Beasley Please continue to support the foundation. Ready. Set. Go anywhere. Chairman/CEO, Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. Philip R. Beuth Capital Cities, ret. Joseph M. Bilotta We are currently embarking on our critically important year- Introducing the all-new GLA. President/CEO, Buckley Broadcasting Corp. end fundraising campaign. Your support has never been more Richard J. Bodorff Partner, Wiley Rein LLP important. You will soon be receiving a letter appealing to your Rebecca S. Campbell generous spirit. A self-addressed envelope will be enclosed to President, ABC Owned Television Stations Group Brian Cobb simplify the act of giving to the Foundation’s noble mission. President, CobbCorp You will also find the same envelope in this issue of On the Air magazine. Please consider Peter Dunn President, CBS Television Stations increasing your gift, which will allow our circle of assistance to widen. On behalf of our Erica Farber grateful grantees, we wish to express our deep appreciation for your continued help. President/CEO,Radio Advertising Bureau Richard Ferguson Cox Radio, ret. The Broadcasters Foundation of America is an organization you may never need, but with Joseph M. Field Chairman, Entercom your help, we will always be there for you or someone you may know. Skip Finley Managing Partner, Noepe Communications, LLC Michael J. Fiorile Thank you, Vice Chairman/CEO, Dispatch Broadcast Group Alan W. Frank Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc., ret. Mark Gray President, Katz Radio Group Philip J. Lombardo Wade Hargrove, Esq. Partner, Brooks Pierce McLendon Humphrey & Leonard LLP Chairman Louis Hillelson Vice President/Group Publisher, New Bay Media Bill Hoffman President, Cox Media Group president’s message T:9.5” Paul Karpowicz President/CEO, Meredith Broadcasting Group N. Scott Knight With the recent addition of Frank Pesce as our new business President/CEO, Knight Media Group manager, we are at full staff, which includes Peter Doyle as Brian Lawlor SVP/Television, E.W. Scripps TV Station Group Vice President and Emily Barratt as Office Administrator. Jerry Lee We are now well positioned to continue the important President, WBEB-FM Jerry Levy mission of the Broadcasters Foundation. President, JL Media Inc. David T. Lougee President, Gannett Broadcasting We just concluded the most successful Celebrity Golf Make every trip an adventure with the muscular, versatile, all-new GLA. Its power liftgate Dan Mason Tournament in our history. We raised over $265,000 and opens to an expansive cargo space and split-folding rear seats, making it the perfect President/CEO, CBS Radio THE 2015 GLA Elizabeth Neuhoff had a perfect day at Sleepy Hollow Country Club. Our companion for any excursion. With advanced aerodynamics, striking design details and President & CEO, Neuhoff Communications sincere thanks to this year’s co-chairs, Leo MacCourtney, STARTING AT Deborah Norville an exceptional starting price, it’s everything you could want and more in a compact SUV. Inside Edition president of Katz-TV and Scott Herman, EVP Operations $ * Michael O’Neill & NY Market manager CBS Radio, who led us in this record setting fundraiser. We 33,300 The 2015 GLA. An entirely new automotive experience from the company that’s always President & CEO, BMI William O’Shaughnessy are grateful to our title sponsors, Mercedes-Benz Tri-State Dealers and Evercore Wealth been known for pioneering them. Visit MBUSA.com/GLA Chairman, WVOX/WVIP-Whitney Media Management for helping to make this event possible. You can read more about the Martin Pompadur Global Vice Chair, Media & Entertainment, Macquaire Capital Celebrity Golf Tournament on page 6. Joseph Reilly NYS Broadcasters Association, ret. Gordon H. Smith We are currently soliciting year end donations and organizing our next fundraiser, the President/CEO, NAB Golden Mike Award Gala, being held on February 23rd at the Plaza Hotel in New Jeffrey H. Smulyan Chairman/CEO, Emmis Communications York City. I hope we can count on your financial assistance and look forward to seeing George Stephanopoulos you at the Golden Mike dinner. Good Morning America Dennis Swanson President, Station Operations, Fox Television Stations Inc. Thank you, Nicholas J. Verbitsky Chairman, United Stations Radio Networks Diana Wilkin CHAIRMAN EMERITUS: Visit your Mercedes-Benz Tri-State Dealer today. Edward F. McLaughlin OFFICERS: Jim Thompson Colleen Liebre, Asst. Treasurer/CFO, President MBUSA.com Citadel Communications Co, L.P. Jeff Haley, President/CEO ® Marketron 2015 GLA250 4MATIC shown in Cirrus White metallic paint with optional equipment. *MSRP excludes all options, taxes, title, registration, transportation charge and dealer prep. Options, model availability and actual dealer price may vary. See dealer for details. ©2014 Authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealers For more information, call 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES, or visit