Meredith's Paul Karpowicz and Clear Channel's Bill Moll Co-Chair Sold-Out 11Th Annual
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On The Air Table Of Contents Golden Mike Award ...... 3-30 Jeff-TV ....................31-34 Pioneer Awards ........37- 42 NAB Golf ......................46 Offshore Challenge .....49-50 Celebrity Golf Tournament .54 Hurricane Katrina ...........55 Television Tightrope ........58 President’s Message ...59-60 On The Air Volume 10 • Issue 1 • Spring 2006 © On the Air is a free news and feature publication, offered to Broadcasters’ Foundation members and friends and published three times a year by the : Broadcasters’ Foundation, 7 Lincoln Avenue Greenwich, CT 06830 www.broadcastersfoundation.org Gordon H. Hastings, Publisher Jamie Russo, Creative Director For feature story contributions or to request another copy of this publication, please call the Broadcasters’ Foundation at 203-862-8577, or you may email any questions and/or comments to Gordon H. Hastings at [email protected] Jeff and Heather Smulyan at the Golden Mike Award 2006 Golden Mike Award President Clinton, Senator Evan Bayh Join Salute To Jeff Smulyan At 2006 Golden Mike Award Dave Kennedy And Bruce Reese Co-Anchor Jeff-TV 3 On The Air Spring 2006 Only the creative genius of the radio community industry. Saluting Jeff from the Waldorf Grand Ballroom in support of the noble mission of the Broadcasters’ podium were retired Jefferson Pilot Radio President Foundation could bring together, in person and by Clarke Brown, Emmis Communications Radio President video, a cast of players unparallel in the historic halls of Rick Cummings and Federated Media President John the industry. It all happened at the 2006 Golden Mike Dille, Cox Radio President Dick Ferguson introduced a Award, Monday, February 27th at The Waldorf Astoria in special video presentation entitled “Jeff-TV.” New York City. (See separate Jeff-TV story beginning on page 31.) In an evening that raised a record net $425,000 for the In accepting the Golden Mike Award, Jeff made these Broadcasters’ Foundation mission of helping colleagues in remarks. acute need, over 400 guests came to salute Jeff Smulyan, chair and CEO of Emmis Communications. “I really am blown away. Dick Ferguson, Bruce Reese and David Kennedy have not spoken to each other for President Bill Clinton, a friend of Jeff’s from campaign’s years! I am astounded by the fact that they are all on the past participated in a video salute to the honoree, which was part roast part a tribute to Jeff’s contributions to the same video (Jeff-TV) together! industry and community at large. United States Senator Evan Bayh, attending in person, saluted Jeff’s enormous I want to thank Gordon and Phil for the remarkable impact on his home state of Indiana. work that the foundation does. They really do make a difference in people’s lives, I personally want to thank Guest presenters for the evening also included them, and everyone connected with the foundation for individuals who work with Jeff at Emmis and in the your wonderful work. 4 On The Air Spring 2006 It has been mentioned at least a ten times tonight that Moreover, it is so nice to see so many of my friends from I come from Indiana. We have a saying that if you are the industry here tonight. I know you must have better breathing and you are not in prison, you get awards in things to do! I have to be honest with you, I never Indiana! dreamed I would live long enough to be honored at an event that cost $1,200 a plate! In Indiana that can feed an entire county for a year! I have to say there is a surprising relationship between the presenters tonight; you had Evan Bayh, Clarke Brown, Obviously, everybody at Emmis means so much to me. It John Dillie, Dick Ferguson and the Rick Cummings has been a long and successful journey. Then there is my who used to be at Emmis! In addition, if you really think family, my sister, niece and nephew, my daughter Kerri about it you have one person (President Clinton) a lot and son Brad who I love so very much, and of course my people believed could be the leader of the free world brother Jim. Of course, my love Heather and our baby and five people who could not manage a radio station in girl Sam who is now two and by the time she is four will Fargo! have taken over Emmis lock, stock and barrel! Everyone knows I love my mom dearly and unfortunately, she could not be here tonight. I know she would have been very All kidding aside, those people who presented tonight proud. My family means so much to me. Evan ,Rick ,John, Clark and Dick as well as some of the people who were on the video are some of my oldest Tonight has really been humbling to me. No matter dearest friends, who have made this journey so wonderful. how many wonderful highs that you have in life, an I briefly want to thank Robin, Wendy, and Lindy from evening like this is incomparable. The journey in this our office, all of whom make my life easier. I thank you so industry with the friends that I have made together with much. my family and the people in this room have made it all A kiss to build a dream on! Unforgettable Golden Mike moment. Jeff’s wife Heather and his daughter Cari salute their Golden Mike man. 55 OnOn TheThe Air Air FallSpring 2005 2006 worthwhile. The fact that tonight is in support of helping fellow broadcasters makes it even more special. When you think about it, helping others is what broadcasters have done since this business began started 85 years ago. At Emmis, we try to do that every day. Thank you so much for being apart of this wonderful evening. Thank you!” U.S. Senator Evan Bayh was a most gracious guest presenter taking time from a busy Washington schedule to be at the Golden Mike. “Thank you very much, Deborah, (Deborah Roberts) for your gracious introduction and ladies and gentleman for your warm-warm welcome. It is my honor and privilege to be here as we recognize Jeff Smulyan’s lifetime of achievement in the broadcasting industry, but also much more than that. When I think about Jeff, there is so much to admire, his unique combination of youthful enthusiasm but also a deep experience from so many years. I mean how many of your friends know when they go shopping they can look for both diapers and depends on the same trip? Ah, but Jeff can! I particularly am grateful for his willingness to embrace quixotic, uh, somewhat difficult challenges like supporting Democratic candidates in a state like Indiana. Jeff, many of us have benefited from your devotion to principle rather than practicality. You have seen and heard tonight what a wonderful employer Jeff is, sponsoring a real spirit of togetherness in the corporation that makes Emmis among the unique companies in the United States of America. A place where people can go to work each and everyday and think about not only doing well but also doing good. That’s very much a part of Jeff Smulyan’s character. He has been a faithful friend, a devoted family member and stellar member of our community in Indianapolis. Kerri is with us tonight and I cannot tell all of you how many times I have been with Jeff, even in important business settings, where he will interrupt a meeting to take a phone call from either Kerri or Brad. In addition, he has told me that as far as I can remember not a day has gone passed when he has not tried to talk to them at least once during the day. That is the kind of father he is. As the father of 10-year-old boys, I can only say that I hope one day I will have the kind of bond with my sons that you have with both Kerri and Brad. 6 On The Air Spring 2006 Rabbi Saslo mentioned the new vitality and joy that has come into Jeff’s life with his marriage with Heather and birth of Samantha and that has been a wonderful thing to see. There is hardly a worthy cause in Indianapolis or Indiana that has not benefited from Jeff’s philanthropy. When there is a challenge confronting our community and we are making up a list of the leaders to try to deal with the situation, Jeff Smulyan is always at the top of the list and he has never failed to answer the call. Our state and capital city would not be the places they are today without the civic involvement of Jeff Smulyan. As a friend, I know I speak for many in the audience here tonight when I say there is no one better. With the ups and downs of life, with the occasional trials and tribulations, I think each of us are lucky if we can count on the fingers of one hand those friends that we can really depend on when the going gets toughest. For me and for so many others, Jeff, you have always been that kind of friend. Let me conclude by saying this. At a time of uncertainty for our country, at a time when many are asking what the place is for the United States of America in this world, what makes our nation special? I believe what makes America unique cannot be found in the strength of our armaments, or in the size of our GDP, or even in the brilliance of our technology.