The Stanwich CLUB | September 21, 2015 | Greenwich, CT Sol Taishoff Lawrence B

BROADCASTERS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA On The Air Funding provided by the Taishoff Family Foundation

Fall /Winter 2015

The Stanwich CLUB | September 21, 2015 | Greenwich, CT Sol Taishoff Lawrence B. Taishoff 1905-1982 1933-2006 Taishoff Family Foundation

In addition to their commitment to journalistic causes and The Taishoff Family Foundation a free press, the Taishoff Family Foundation is also active in was established by the late Lawrence improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. The Foundation has developed resources to help educate so- 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 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, among their many worthwhile endeavors, the National Press The Taishoffs devoted their entire lives to extending the Foundation which annually presents the Sol Taishoff Award values and protections of the First Amendment to “The for Excellence in Electronic Journalism. Fifth Estate” which was the designation bestowed upon the broadcasting fraternity by Sol Taishoff so many years ago. Retired Captain Robert Taishoff USN, is the chairman of the Taishoff Family Foundation. The vision and foresight of both Taishoffs often caused them 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 Ward L. Quaal. In 2009, the Taishoff family was honored illustrious forebears by underwriting On The Air magazine, with a Ward L. Quaal Pioneer Award. which is distributed widely throughout the broadcast industry. 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

contents volume 20 issue 3 fall/winter 2015

4 Chairman’s and President’s Messages

6 The 2015 Celebrity Golf Tournament

16 Guardian Article

20 Seen and Heard

On The Air is a free news and feature publication, offered to the Broadcasters Foundation of America members and friends, and is published three times a year by the: Broadcasters Foundation of America 125 West 55th Street/4th Floor New York, NY 10019 www.broadcastersfoundation.org 212-373-8250 Jim Thompson, Publisher Emily Barratt, Editor

For feature story contributions or to request another copy of this publication, please call the Broadcasters Foundation of America at: 212-373-8250, or you may email any questions and/or comments [email protected].

ON THE AIR FALL/WINTER 2015 3 BROADCASTERS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA Philip J. Lombardo Chairman Richard A. Foreman chairman’s message Vice Chairman Dan Mason Vice Chairman More and more, our broadcasting colleagues are reaching James B. Thompson out for assistance. This year the Broadcasters Foundation of President Peter M. Doyle America will give out a record amount in financial assistance to Vice President radio and television broadcasters across the country. Requests BOARD OF DIRECTORS: for help continue to come in and demands on our resources are David J. Barrett Director, Hearst Corporation high. Please continue to support the Foundation. George G. Beasley Chairman/CEO, Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. Philip R. Beuth We are currently gearing up for our year-end fundraising Capital Cities, ret. campaign. You may have already received a letter appealing to Richard J. Bodorff Partner, Wiley Rein LLP your generous spirit with a self-addressed envelope to simplify Rebecca S. Campbell the act of giving. That same remittance envelope is included President, ABC Owned Television Stations Group Brian Cobb with this edition of On the Air magazine, or you can donate President, CobbCorp online at www.broadcastersfoundation.org or by calling 212-373-8250. Please consider Raymond H. Cole President/COO, Citadel Communications Co, LP increasing your gift to help us be sure that no call ever goes unanswered. Peter Dunn President, CBS Television Stations Erica Farber On behalf of our Board of Directors and grateful grantees, we thank you for your President/CEO,Radio Advertising Bureau continued support. Joseph M. Field Chairman, Entercom Skip Finley Thank you, Managing Partner, Noepe Communications, LLC Michael J. Fiorile Vice Chairman/CEO, Dispatch Broadcast Group Mark Gray President, Katz Radio Group Wade Hargrove, Esq. Philip J. Lombardo Partner, Brooks Pierce McLendon Humphrey & Leonard LLP Chairman Scott Herman COO, CBS Radio Louis Hillelson Vice President/Group Publisher, New Bay Media Bill Hoffman President, Cox Media Group president’s message Paul Karpowicz President/CEO, Meredith Broadcasting Group N. Scott Knight It has been a busy season for the Broadcasters Foundation of President/CEO, Knight Media Group America. We just launched a Spanish version of our website, Brian Lawlor SVP/Television, E.W. Scripps TV Station Group thanks to the efforts of our in house staff, Peter Doyle and David T. Lougee Emily Barratt, and our translator, Helena Escalante. You can President, TEGNA Broadcasting Elizabeth Neuhoff visit the site at www.broadcastersfoundation.org, using the President & CEO, Neuhoff Communications language toggle in the header. We also launched an outreach Deborah Norville Inside Edition campaign for those affected by the devastating flooding in Michael O’Neill South Carolina. For more information about getting help, President & CEO, BMI William O’Shaughnessy please visit our website. Chairman, WVOX/WVIP-Whitney Media Martin Pompadur Consultant, Macquaire Capital In September, we held a very successful Celebrity Golf Joseph Reilly Tournament at The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, CT, Connecticut’s #1 golf course. President, Empire State Broadcasting Corp. Gordon H. Smith We raised over $240,000 thanks to this year’s co-chairs, Paul Karpowicz, President President/CEO, NAB & CEO of Meredith Broadcasting Group, and Nick Verbitsky, Chairman of United Jeffrey H. Smulyan Chairman/CEO, Emmis Communications Stations Radio Networks. We are grateful to our title sponsors, Mercedes-Benz Tri- Valari Staab State Dealers and Evercore Wealth Management for helping make this event possible. President NBC Owned TV Stations & Telemundo Stations Group George Stephanopoulos You can read more about the tournament on page 6. Good Morning America Dennis Swanson President, Station Operations, Fox Television Stations Inc. We are currently soliciting year end donations and organizing our next fundraiser, the Nicholas J. Verbitsky Golden Mike Award Gala, being held on February 29th at the Plaza Hotel in New Chairman, United Stations Radio Networks Jeffrey Warshaw York City. I hope we can count on your financial assistance and look forward to seeing CEO, Connoisseur Media you at the Golden Mike dinner. Diana Wilkin Managing Partner, Twelve 24 Media CHAIRMAN EMERITUS: Thank you, Edward F. McLaughlin OFFICERS: Joseph M. Bilotta, President/CEO, Buckley Broadcasting Corp. Colleen Liebre, Asst. Treasurer/CFO, Citadel Communications Co, L.P. Jim Thompson Jeff Haley, President/CEO, Marketron Steve Lanzano, President, Television Bureau of Advertising President Leo MacCourtney, President & CEO, Katz TV Group T:7”

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SPECS TEAM MEDIA / PRINT INFO COLORS L/S: None Creative: Simon Nickson Drummond Pubs: On the Air Magazine Cyan Magenta DOC SIZE: 7” x 9.5” Berman Media: Magazine Yellow FONTS B: None Acct: Beth Liss Line Screen: None Black M-B BLACK CMYK Corporate S Light, Bold, Regular 40/30/30/100 Minion Pro Regular G: None Prod/Traf: Stephen Brady Lynn Mathis Printed: 11-20-2015 1:38 PM @ None Corporate A Condensed T Regular IMAGES Studio: bd TT Slug OTF Bold, Regular MB-star_M_n_4C.eps (24%; SuperStudio:Logos:Mercedes:2015 Mercedes-Benz Brand Marks:M-B Starmark EPS:MB-star_M_n_4C.eps) MB-wm_claim1EN_la_ML_n_1C.eps (24%; SuperStudio:Logos:Mercedes:2015 Mercedes-Benz Brand Marks:M-B Wordmark Best or Nothing Claim:MB-wm_claim1EN_la_ML_n_1C.eps) MB_2016GLC_Reinvented_CS_300_V3_Dark.tif (CMYK; 28.09%; 1423 ppi; SuperStudio:ART:MNH:MERCEDES:2015:2015 CORP:Reinvented_2016 GLC:MB_2016GLC_Reinvented_CS_300_V3_Dark.tif) MB_2016GLC_Reinvented_Interior_CS_400_V2b_Dark.tif (CMYK; 56.87%; 703 ppi; SuperStudio:ART:MNH:MERCEDES:2015:2015 CORP:Reinvented_2016 GLC:MB_2016GLC_Reinvented_Interior_CS_400_V2b_Dark.tif) $240,000 Raised to help broadcasters in need ore than 150 broadcasters and celebrities turned out to support the mission of the Broadcasters Foundation at the 2015 Celebrity Golf MTournament at The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, CT. Celebrity golfers included Bruce Beck, WNBC-TV; Dick Brennan, CBS; Rick Cerone, NY Yankees; Tina Cervasio, MSG Network; Maurice DuBois, WCBS-TV; Don Herrmann, NY Giants; Jay Harris, ESPN; Ann Liguori, WFAN/CBS Radio; Otis Livingston, WCBS-TV; Sean McDonough, ESPN; Karl Nelson, NY Giants; Lonnie Quinn, WCBS-TV; Lee Saltz, New England Patriots; actor Bill Smitrovich and more.

Co-Chairs for this year’s event were Paul Karpowicz, President & CEO, Meredith Broadcasting Group, and Nick Verbitsky, Chairman, United Stations Radio Networks. Title sponsors of the 2015 event were the Mercedes-Benz Tri-States Dealers and Evercore Wealth Management. Additional sponsors included ABC, CBS, NBC, EPSN Radio, Marketron, Nielsen, Flexjet, the Connors Family Foundation and the Norman Knight Charitable Foundation, among others.

Event Photographer: Wendy Moger-Bross Team Photo Photographer: Dan McKean 2015 Celebrity Golf Tournament

6 1. Perry Sook, Leo MacCourtney, Rachel Grant, Phil Swartz, Brad Mont 2. Seema Sadekar and Jonathan Coachman 3. Evan Tracey, Jeff Brown, Seema Sadekar, Rick Cerone, Ray Karczewski, Jordan Wertlieb 4. Shasta Averyhardt and Bruce Beck 5. Scott Herman, Tim McCarthy, Scott Shannon 6. Rick McGuire, Bob Lindsay, Otis Livingston, Jorge Baraque, Mike Whittman

8 FALL/WINTER 2015 ON THE AIR 1 2

4 3

1. Scott Knight, Steve Brackett, Scott Vallary, Karl Ravech, Patrick Delahunty 2. Jeff Martindale, Tim McCarthy, Jeff Juden, Traug Keller, Mike Connolly 3. Jay Harris, Seema Sadekar, Ray Cole 4. Matt Cowper, Chad Brown, Paul Blake, John Fullman 5. Bill Strauss, Alexa Hartnett, Ann Liguori, Larry Bellorado 6. Jonathan Coachman and Tina Cervasio 7. Jerry Crowley, Ray Cole, Jay Harris, Phil Lombardo, Richard Bodorff

ON THE AIR FALL/WINTER 2015 9 2015 Celebrity Golf Tournament

1 2

7 1. Matthew Gabelli, Jim Scanlon, Dick Brennan, CV McGinity, Mark Gabelli 2. Jen Buckley, Joe Bilotta, Connie Buckley, Jerry Crowley 3. Mark Zurzola, Bill Whittle, Klarn DePalma, Bob O’Neill 4. Mark Lefkowitz, Scott Herman, Seema Sadekar, Don Bouloukos, Dom Camera 5. Bill Norberg, Jeff Swanson, Bobby Carpenter, Paul Murphy, Chris Knight 6. Jordan Wertlieb and Phil Lombardo 7. Scott Shannon, Bill Hogan, Bonnie Verbitsky, Nick Verbitsky

10 FALL/WINTER 2015 ON THE AIR 1

1. Lonnie Quinn, Maurice DuBois, Alice Gainer, Dick Brennan, Dana Tyler, Otis Livingston 2. Mark Gabelli, Shasta Averyhardt, Phil Lombardo, Seema Sadekar 3. Tucker Flood, Mark Gray, Seema Sadekar, Chad Cascadden, Matt Kluft, Mike Pallad 4. Alex Capano, John Schriffen, Anthony Madonna, Shasta Averyhardt, Gerry McGavick, Charlie Lizzo

5. Bonnie Verbitsky

6. Jose Gonzalez and Mike Steinberg

7. Gordon Smith, Jim Thompson, Dennis Wharton, Chris Ornelas, Dan Mason, Bill McGorry, Sean McDonough

ON THE AIR FALL/WINTER 2015 11 2015 Celebrity Golf Tournament

1 2

1. Nick Verbitsky and Bill Hogan 2. Sean McDonough announcing Celebrity Players 3. Scott Knight, Scott Vallary, Karl Ravech, Patrick Delahunty, Steve Brackett 4. Nisha Sadekar and Seema Sadekar with the Stanwich caddies 5. Ed McLaughlin and Bill O’Shaughnessy 6. Tim McCarthy and Jonathan Coachman 7. Jim Thompson, Dan Mason, Scott Knight

12 FALL/WINTER 2015 ON THE AIR 1 2

1. Chad Cascadden, Leo MacCourtney, Perry Sook 2. Diana Wilkin 3. Bonnie Verbitsky, Pat McLaughlin, Connie Buckley 4. Brett Adamczyk, Stephan Posnack, Susan Tremblay, Brad Smith, CJ Papa 5. Nick Verbitsky, Ed McLaughlin, Bill Hogan, Phil Lombardo, Richard Foremanlanc 6. Bruce Beck, Lee Kurtz, 6. Bruce Kallner, Tony Chiulli, Erik Wiener, Bill LeBlanc 7. Ann Liguori and Alexa Hartnett 8. (clockwise from top) Tim Welsh, Pete Doherty, Joe Bilotta, Jen Buckley, Jamie Russo

ON THE AIR FALL/WINTER 2015 13 Claws for celebration. Here’s to the Broadcast Foundation.

2015 Celebrity Golf Tournament

1 2

6 5 7

1. Ann Liguori, Rick Cerone, Rachel Grant 2. John Schriffen, Ray Cole, Tina Cervasio, Jonathan Coachman 3. The Stingers 4. Peter Doyle, Charlie Ryan, Jim Thompson, Sean McDonough 5. Emily Barratt, Colleen Liebre, Renee Cassis, Meghan Buonocore 6. Jen Buckley and Connie Buckley 7. Don Bouloukos, Joe Bilotta, Scott Herman

14 FALL/WINTER 2015 ON THE AIR Claws for celebration. Here’s to the Broadcast Foundation. Claws for celebration. Here’s to the Broadcast Foundation. the guardian fund Letter from a grantee

Giving back to an industry that has given us so much. By Beth Neuhoff.

You never think it will happen to you: unspeakable tragedy, devastating illness, the sudden death of a loved one, a reversal of fortune. And yet daily, as broadcasters, we hear and tell stories of tremendous loss, never imagining it could be our own.

WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME, I was 42. My husband, Geoff, chaos. Without the Broadcasters Foundation of America, died suddenly leaving me lost, devastated and too young the sole charitable organization dedicated to radio and to be what I was – a widow. And I was lucky. I had a job, television, these nameless, faceless colleagues would have a safety net and people there to help me navigate through nowhere to turn. my darkest hour. I learned very quickly that many, many people aren’t as fortunate. I met other young widows on my The grants received by fellow broadcasters in their time of journey, women who not only lost a spouse and children’s need are not given without thorough consideration. These father, but their source of income. All at once, bad luck are not handouts. These grants are truly a “hand up” to snowballed into losing a home, choosing which child eats friends who, until now, feel forgotten by the industry they dinner or wondering where the family will sleep that night. helped to build. Don’t we have an obligation to pay our own good fortune forward? Perhaps this year’s senseless shooting of reporters in Roanoke was as close as we’ve come as an industry to Won’t you join me in supporting this incredibly worthy collectively experiencing such loss. As much good fortune cause? Please consider making a donation to the Guardian as we all have to be in this fantastic industry, nothing Fund and count your blessings to be on the giving end. Your insulates us from calamity. I hope in reading this letter you help and concern will mean more than you could ever know. realize if you have a safety net, you are lucky, too. So many of our fellow broadcasters do not have such luck. They are I promise. just a disaster and one missed paycheck away from total

16 FALL/WINTER 2015 ON THE AIR Save the Date February 29, 2016 The Plaza Hotel New York City

ON THE AIR SUMMER 2015 17 Your Help Literally Saves Lives Scared and Alone It's hard to imagine the one/two punch the family of this broadcaster was dealt. An announcer and program director in radio for more than 15 years, he was diagnosed with

Even with his wife’s income, the couple was desperate to support themselves and their four

them a monthly grant to help make ends meet.

Unfortunately, fate had more in store for this family. Unable to win the battle with cancer, this

funeral costs wiped out what little the family had left. When two family emergencies arose in one month, the now single-mother faced an unimaginable dilemma. She felt alone and really scared.

In desperation, she wrote to the Broadcasters Foun- dation which immediately gave her a one-time emergency grant to cover the unexpected costs. Improving the quality of life of the men and women in the radio and television broadcast industry She wrote back: “I can’t tell you the relief that I feel. My heart skipped a beat when I opened your email. I was worried sick trying to ﬁgure out ways to come up with the money.

With your help, this broadcaster’s wife and their children can continue to receive a monthly grant from the Broadcasters Foundation of America.

● ● 212-373-8250 [email protected] www.broadcastersfoundation.org ON THE AIR SUMMER 2015 19 seen & heard 13th ANNUAL GIANTS OF BROADCASTING LUNCHEON he IRTS Foundation presented the Library of American Broadcasting’s 13th Annual Giants of Broadcasting Luncheon in New York City on October T 15th. This year’s honorees were: The Carter Family (accepted by Michael Carter), Herb Granath, Gene Jankowski, Mel Karmazin, Gracia Martore, Don Mischer, Jarl Mohn, Bill Persky, and Don West. All photos:All Wendy Moger-Bross

Richard Ferguson & son, Ernie Anastos, Peter Doyle, Jim Thompson Mel Karmazin and Joyce Tudryn

20 FALL/WINTER 2015 ON THE AIR seen & heard Broadcasters Turn It Up at this year’s Radio Show in Atlanta

Gordon Smith, President and CEO, NAB; Michael O’Reilly, Commissioner, FCC; Gavin DeGraw, Grammy nominated singer and BMI songwriter; Erica Farber, President and CEO, RAB; Jose Valle, President Political & Advocacy Sales, Univision Radio; Mike Steinberg, SVP Licensing, BMI.

Ginny Morris, Chair and CEO, Hubbard Radio; Gavin DeGraw; Beth Neuhoff, President & CEO, Neuhoff Dan Spears, VP Industry Relations, BMI Communications, Inc. and Gavin DeGraw. Steven Tyler rocked out during “Music and Mimosas”

The iconic rocker talked branding, what it takes to make a hit and the importance of radio during the closing event of the 2015 Radio Show.

ON THE AIR SUMMER 2015 21 seen & heard 25th Annual Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame

Pictured (left to right): Dr. Phil McGraw, Don Garber, Chris Geraci, Ed Carroll, Kathie Lee Gifford, Donna Speciale, Mike Fries, Alfred C. Liggins, III, Lou LaTorre and Dave Lougee. Photo Credit:Photo Ekroth Photography Erik roadcasting & Cable welcomed its 25th class of honorees into the Hall of Fame on BOctober 20th, during a sold-out gala at New York’s famed Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. The evening was co-hosted by Regis Philbin, Hoda Kotb, NBC’s “TODAY”, and David Muir, ABC News.

This year, B&C honored: Ed Carroll, COO, AMC Networks; Mike Fries, President & CEO, Liberty Global; Don Garber, Commissioner, Major League Soccer; Chris Geraci, President of the National Broadcast OMD; Kathie Lee Gifford, Co-Host, Fourth Hour of NBC News’ “TODAY”; Robert A. Iger, Chairman & CEO, The Walt Disney Company; Lou LaTorre, former President Advertising Sales, Fox Cable Netork; Alfred C. Liggins III, Chairman & CEO, TV One; Philip J. Lombardo, CEO, Citadel Communications; Dave Lougee, President, TEGNA Media; Dr. Phil McGraw, Host and Executive Producer, “Dr. Phil”; and Donna Speciale, President, Turner Broadcasting Ad Sales. The Lifetime Achievement Award was posthumously awarded to Pictured (left to right): David Muir, Bill McGorry, Frank Gifford. Philip J. Lombardo and Louis Hillelson

22 FALL/WINTER 2015 ON THE AIR

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE On The Air PAID Broadcasters Foundation of America STAMFORD, CT 125 West 55th Street PERMIT No. 102 4th Floor OnNew YorkThe , NY 10019 Air Broadcasters Foundation of America Seven Lincoln Avenue Second Floor Greenwich, CT 06830