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” Reinvented from the inside out. Reinvented from the outside in. T:9.5” Introducing the all-new GLC. 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