On The Air - Broadcasters Foundation of America

On The Air
BROADCASTERS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
Funding provided by the Taishoff Family Foundation
Spring 2012
2012 Golden Mike Recipient
Dennis Swanson
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.
Sol Taishoff
1905-1982
On The Air
Lawrence B. Taishoff
1933-2006
Taishoff Family Foundation
contents
volume 17 issue 1
The Taishoff Family Foundation
was established by the late Lawrence B. Taishoff and his son Rob
in honor of their legendary father and grandfather Sol Taishoff,
the founder and editor-in-chief of
Broadcasting magazine.
As journalists and publishers, Sol and Larry Taishoff played
a seminal role in the development of the radio and television
industry in America. As champions of a free and unfettered
broadcasting profession, Broadcasting magazine was created
as the instrument and manifestation of their devotion to resemble a “sentinel on the Potomac” to warn against government intrusion into the creative processes and activities of
radio and television broadcasters.
The Taishoffs devoted their entire lives to extending the
values and protections of the First Amendment to “The
Fifth Estate” which was the designation bestowed upon the
broadcasting fraternity by Sol Taishoff so many years ago.
The vision and foresight of both Taishoffs often caused them
to be allied on many of the great issues of the day with the
work and example of one of our own founding chairman
Ward L. Quaal. In 2009, the Taishoff family was honored
with a Ward L. Quaal Pioneer Award.
In addition to their commitment to journalistic causes and
a free press, the Taishoff Family Foundation is also active in
improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.
The Foundation has developed resources to help educate society about the special skills and talents of people with Down
syndrome, autism and traumatic brain injury, to name a
few. Toward this goal, the Taishoff Family Foundation has
established the Lawrence B. Taishoff Center for Inclusive
Higher Education at Syracuse University.
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Spring 2012
Chairman’s & President’s
Message
Guardian Fund
Golden Mike Award
Broadcasters Foundation
Awards Honorees
Statesmen - Jim Delmonico
The Taishoffs also provided critical initial funding for the
Library of American Broadcasting, now located at the
University of Maryland. Sol Taishoff himself was one of the
founders of the Broadcast Pioneers organization which, as
you know, has now become the national charitable endeavor
known as the Broadcasters Foundation of America which
you and so many of our colleagues support.
Today, the Taishoff Family Foundation is administered
by the third generation of family members who support,
among their many worthwhile endeavors, the National Press
Foundation which annually presents the Sol Taishoff Award
for Excellence in Electronic Journalism.
Retired Captain Robert Taishoff
USN, is the chairman of the Taishoff Family Foundation.
The Broadcasters Foundation of
America extends its deep gratitude to the Taishoff family for
carrying on the legacy of their illustrious forebears by underwriting On The Air magazine, which is distributed widely
throughout the broadcast industry.
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/21st Floor
New York, NY 10019
www.broadcastersfoundation.org
212-373-8250
Publisher: Jim Thompson
Editor: Renee Cassis
Design: Katz Media Group, Creative Services
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 info@thebfoa.org.
ON THE AIR SPRING 2012
3
BROADCASTERS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
Philip J. Lombardo
Chairman
Richard A. Foreman
Vice Chairman
James B. Thompson
President
Carl Butrum
Vice President
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Edward F. McLaughlin
Chairman, Emeritus
Joseph C. Amaturo
The Amaturo Family Foundation, Inc.
David J. Barrett
President/CEO, Hearst Television Inc.
George G. Beasley
Chairman/CEO, Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc.
Philip R. Beuth
Capital Cities, ret.
Joseph M. Bilotta
President/CEO, Buckley Broadcasting Corp.
Richard J. Bodorff
Partner, Wiley Rein LLP
Del R. Bryant
President/CEO, BMI
Rebecca S. Campbell
President, ABC Owned Television Stations Group
Gary R. Chapman
LIN TV Corp., ret.
Erica Farber
President, Radio Advertising Bureau
Richard Ferguson
Cox Radio, ret.
Joseph M. Field
Chairman, Entercom
Skip Finley
Noepe Communications LLC
Michael J. Fiorile
Vice-Chairman/CEO, Dispatch Broadcast Group
Alan W. Frank
President, Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc.
Mark Gray
President, Katz Radio Group
Ralph Guild
President, Guild Media LLC
Wade Hargrove, Esq.
Partner, Brooks Pierce
McLendon Humphrey & Leonard LLP
Louis Hillelson
Vice-President, Group Publisher New Bay Media
Paul Karpowicz
President/CEO, Meredith Broadcasting Group
N. Scott Knight
President/CEO, KQS
Jerry Lee
President, WBEB-FM
Jerry Levy
President, JL Media Inc.
Deborah Norville
Inside Edition
William O’Shaughnessy
Chairman, WVOX/WVIP-Whitney Media
I. Martin Pompadur
President, IMP Media Management, LLC
Joseph Reilly
NYSBA, ret.
Sandy Schwartz
President, Manheim
Gordon H. Smith
President/CEO, National Association of Broadcasters
Jeffrey H. Smulyan
Chairman/CEO, Emmis Communications
George Stephanopoulos
Good Morning America
Dennis Swanson
President, Fox Television Stations Group
Nicholas J. Verbitsky
Chairman, United Stations Radio Networks
Diana Wilkin
President, CBS Television Affiliate Relations
Ed Wilson
Dream Catcher Media LLC
OFFICERS:
Colleen Gally, Asst. Treasurer/CFO,
Citadel Communications Co, Ltd.
Jeff Haley, President/CEO,
Marketron
Steve Lanzano, President,
Television Advertising Bureau
chairman’s message
The hope of the Board of the Broadcasters Foundation is that
no call for help from a broadcaster will ever go unanswered.
In 2012, we anticipate that the Foundation will disburse more
than $700,000 in assistance. The requests for aid are coming
in at a faster pace than the donations. Our goal is to close that
gap and we need every broadcaster to help us do it.
In tribute to Jim Delmonico, the former Chairman whose
leadership and vision had a dramatic influence on the growth
of our organization, I ask you to help us answer these cries
from help from our colleagues. Jim passed away earlier this
year, but his legacy for resurrecting the Broadcasters Foundation lives on. You can read more about Jim in the Statesmen
column of this issue of On the Air. I hope you will be inspired
by his commitment to giving back with your membership or a personal or corporate donation today. The Broadcasters Foundation is an organization that you may never need, but
with your help, we will always be there for you or someone you may know.
Thank you,
Philip J. Lombardo
Chairman
president’s message
Every year, our spring edition of On the Air celebrates the accomplishments of our most recent Golden Mike Award recipient. This year, we honored Fox-TV’s Dennis Swanson, a broadcaster who has profoundly impacted the broadcast industry.
From hiring an unknown young woman named Oprah Winfrey
in Chicago, to persuading the International Olympic Committee to stagger its winter and summer games, Dennis is a leader
whose influence has been industry-wide.
The black-tie Golden Mike dinner on February 27th at the Plaza hotel in New York City raised more than $250,000 to help
the mission of the Broadcasters Foundation to provide aid to
broadcasters in desperate need.
To further help raise funds for our mission, we held the annual Philip J. Lombardo Charity
Golf Tournament at the Wynn on Sunday, April 15 during the recent National Association
of Broadcasters (NAB) Show in Las Vegas.
The annual Broadcasters Foundation Breakfast was held at the Wynn on Wednesday, April
18, also in conjunction with the NAB Show. The Ward L. Quaal Leadership Awards were
presented to, Carl Brazell, Brian Cobb, John Dimling ,Ralph Guild, Jack Sander and Larry
Wilson. The Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award was given posthumously to
Rick Buckley, former CEO of Buckley Broadcasting who passed away last July. The Foundation also honored Jim Delmonico with the Chairman’s Award. We’ll have more details
and photographs from both NAB events in our next issue of On the Air.
Broadcasters Foundation of America Celebrity Golf Tournament
Springfield, New Jersey
Monday, September 17, 2012
Co-Chairs:
Mark Lund/E.V. P., Sales
NBC Owned Television Stations
Spencer Brown/CEO, Dial Global
During this past holiday season, you may have noticed our Giving Campaign ads in radio
and television trade publications. Our heartfelt gratitude to all of the industry trades for
their support and for providing us with a means of getting our message to the thousands of
radio and television professionals across the country. These messages help us raise money
and also alert those who need us that we are here to help.
Thank you,
President
Broadcasters Foundation of America
For more information and to reserve your spot, please visit www.broadcastersfoundation.org
or contact The Broadcasters Foundation of America at 212-373-8250 or info@thebfa.org
The Broadcasters Foundation of America is a 501(c)3 Public Charity
the guardian fund
A Commitment
We Share Together,
Let’s Support the
Guardian Fund.
By Dan Mason
Each day, we all face tests of the commitments we hold.
Whether it’s a personal commitment or a professional one,
our character is often determined by how well we adhere
to our values and honor the promises we’ve made to those
around us. As fellow broadcasters, I believe there’s one
commitment that has the potential to bind our community
together—to support our colleagues in need.
Regardless of your company or job title, we all share a passion
for radio and television, and a desire to further our industry
and honor those who paved the way.
Many of our fellow broadcasters in need, through no fault
of their own, face enormous medical costs, a devastating diagnosis or personal loss. Some are simply trying to get back
on their feet after encountering horrific natural disasters
that have destroyed their homes and communities. Many
are at the end of long and dedicated broadcasting careers,
while others are young and only just beginning.
Together, we have the capacity to provide dignity, encouragement and especially hope to those who are suffering
among us. Please consider donating to the Guardian Fund
created by the Broadcasters Foundation of America. This
fund was created to ensure those in need will receive
assistance in perpetuity.
It is not surprising that this year, the Foundation is
receiving more requests for aid than ever before. Each
one is carefully reviewed and grants are awarded based
on the needs of each individual case. Some recipients
receive one-time emergency grants, while others need
monthly assistance. The Foundation’s mission is to
serve as many as possible.
I encourage you to join me and make a commitment
to this worthy and invaluable cause. I see the work that
they do and more importantly the results for those who
need a helping hand. Your support will make a world of
difference to a fellow broadcaster in need.
ON THE AIR
SPRING 2012 7
the 2o12
Golden MIke Award
Honors FOX-TV’s
Radio and Television Celebrities Raise
$25o,ooo to Help Broadcasters in Need
ore than 250 radio and television celebrities and broadcasters
gathered to honor Dennis Swanson, President of Station
Operations for FOX Television Stations, at the black-tie gala at the
Plaza Hotel in New York City on February 27th.
Inside Edition’s Deborah Norville hosted the event. She was joined by presenters Roger Ailes of
Fox News, Dr. Mehmet Oz, the syndicated TV show host and cardiac surgeon, Elsie McCabe
Thompson of the Museum for African Art, and Larry Wert of NBC-TV.
Celebrity attendees included Gianni Russo, the actor who played Carlo in The Godfather, Fox
5 News Anchors Ernie Anastos and Dari Alexander, Fox News Political Commentator Dana
Perino, Mayor David Dinkins, TV and radio sportscaster CJ Papa, WABC-TV News Anchor
Sade Baderinwa, and WABC-TV News Meteorologist Lee Goldberg.
Songwriter and former American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi regaled the audience with a stirring
performance of popular hits she co-wrote for some of today’s biggest artists.
Event photographer: Wendy Moger-Bross
2012 golden mike award
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1. Jim Thompson, Dr. Mehmet and Lisa Oz, Dennis Swanson,
Deborah Norville, and Phil Lombardo
2. Dave Davis and Sada Baderinwa
3. Scott Pinker, Kevin Brazil, Maria Dreyer,
Dr. Mehmet and Lisa Oz, and Tina Tung
4. Dick Bodorff and Peter Leibman
5. Dave Widmer, Dick Novik, and Ed Levine
6. Dennis Wharton, Louis Hillelson,
Deborah Norville, and Bill McGorry
10 SPRING 2012 ON THE AIR
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1. Ed Levine, Maire Mason, David Feinblatt, and David Donovan
2. Diana Wilkin and Michael Fiorile
3. David Wisnia, Preston Farr, Mike O’Neill, Dave Comisar, and John Orlando
4. Larry Wert and Deborah Norville
5. Alan Frank, and Roger Ailes
6. Michael Harrison and Deobrah Parenti
7. CJ Papa and Dave Widmer
ON THE AIR
SPRING 2012 11
2012 golden mike award
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1. Deborah Norville, Phil Lombardo, Dr. Mehmet and Lisa Oz,
Jim Thompson, and Jack Abernathy
2. Elsie McCabe Thompson
3. Mike Kinkaid, Julio Marenghi, Dennis Swanson,
John Moczulski, Don Corsini
4. Dave Alpert and Greg Hughes
5. Gianni Russo and Joe Reilly
6. Ray Cole, Lisa and Dr. Mehmet Oz
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1. Dolores Nolan, Jim Thompson, Renee Cassis, and Cindy Sivak (standing) Connie McKiernan
and Janice Garjian (seated)
2. Dennis Swanson, and Dr. Sapna Parikh
3. Scott Knight, Kate Iacocca Hentz, Molly Hentz, CJ Papa, Deidre Lorentz, and Ned Hentz
4. Scott Moody, Jean Dietze, Chris Cornelius, and Randy Bongarten
5. Dennis Swanson, David Dinkins, and Dr. Mehmet Oz
6. Herb and Ann Granath, Kathy and Dennis Swanson
12 SPRING 2012 ON THE AIR
ON THE AIR
SPRING 2012 13
2012 golden mike award
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1. Fred and Sue Schwien, Dennis and Kathy Swanson, Carol and
Ward Glassmeyer, and Erika Vasconcellos
2. Joe Bilotta, Dan Spears, and Greg Bilotta
3. Dari Alexander, Ernie Anastos, and Dr. Mehmet Oz
4. Alan Frank, and Dennis Swanson
5. Ray Cole, Deborah Norville, and Wade Hargrove
6. Kim and Phil Lombardo
7. Michael Fiorile, Jim Yager, Chris Cornelius and Dennis Wharton
14 SPRING 2012 ON THE AIR
1. Ned Hentz, Don Lowery, Spike McClure, Mark Lund, and Scott Knight
2. Denise and Brian Cobb
3. Phil Lombardo, Jim Yager, and Chris Cornelius
4. Al McGowan, Jim Thompson, and Tim Chambers
5. Dick Foreman, Jerry Lee, and Joe Bilotta
6. Wade Hargrove, Deborah Norville, Phil Lombardo, and Ray Cole
ON THE AIR SPRING 2012
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2012 golden mike award
foundation awards
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The 2012 Ward L. Quaal Leadership Awards
The Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award
And the Special Chairman’s Award
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During its annual industry breakfast, the
Broadcasters Foundation of America
continued its tradition of presenting
The 2012 Ward L. Quaal Leadership
Awards and The Lowry Mays
Excellence in Broadcasting Award, plus
the special Chairman’s Award.
Held in conjunction with the National Association of
Broadcasters (NAB) Show in Las Vegas on Wednesday,
April 18th, the complimentary event was made possible
by the National Association of Media Brokers (NAMB),
Arbitron, the Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB),
Frank N. Magid Associates, and the NAB).
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1. Michael Weiss, Leo McCourtney, and Jim Beloyianis
2. PJ Bednarski, Bill McGorry, and Frank Comerford
3. David Barrett, David Dinkins, Lisa and Dr. Mehmet Oz, Bill O’Shaughnessy
4. Matt Applegate, Gary Gannaway, Diane Wilkins, and Mike Malone
5. Jason Greenblatt, Louis Hillelson, Sandy Friedman, and Erica gottlieb
6. Diana Rugolo, Joe Bodan, Colleen Liebre, Susan Monaghan, Ernest Liebre, and
The Ward L. Quaal, Leadership Awards are named
in honor of the iconic broadcaster. The awards are
presented each year to six broadcasters whose careers
have impacted the industry and whose lives have made
a difference in the community at large. The Awards are
underwritten by the Hubbard Broadcasting Foundation.
The Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award
annually honors an individual in broadcasting whose
work exemplifies innovation, community service,
advocacy and entrepreneurship. The Award salutes its
namesake, who is a legend in the broadcasting industry,
and is underwritten by The Clear Channel Foundation,
Wiley Rein, LLP, and Dick Bodorff.
The 2012 Ward L. Quaal Leadership Awards
Recipients are:
Carl Brazell, Chairman & CEO of Metromedia International
Group, Retired;
Brian Cobb, President, Cobb Corporation
John Dimling, Former Chairman, Nielsen Media Research
Ralph Guild, Former Chairman, Interep and President,
Guild Media
Jack Sander, Vice Chairman, Media Operations, Belo
Corporation, Retired
Larry Wilson, Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
Citadel Radio and current radio station owner
The 2012 Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting
Award posthumously honored:
Rick Buckley, Former President and Chief Executive Officer
of Buckley Broadcasting
The 2012 Chairman’s Award posthumously presented to:
Jim Delmonico, Former Chairman of the Broadcasters
Foundation of America
L      
      ON THE AIR.
John Monaghan
7. Mike Kinkaid, John Moczulski, Dennis Swason, Don Corsini, and Larry Wert
16 SPRING 2012 ON THE AIR
ON THE AIR SPRING 2012
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the statesmen
Jim Delmonico:
A Leader For Lean Times.
Jim Delmonico
1920 - 2012
Jim Delmonico was a dear man and a respected
member of our profession all the days of his
life. His remarkable leadership qualities were
recognized early on when he ran some of the
most important stations in our Empire State...
...the legendary heritage station WGY ... and WRGB-TV
... and when the elders of a tired, fading institution known
as The Broadcast Pioneers made him National Chairman.
Legend has it that when Jim Delmonico took over, the
Pioneers organization was $19,000 in the red. He built it
up by improving the quality of the board and by broadening
and extending its outreach.
With an agreeable personality and a strong sense of mission,
Delmonico got things on a firm, solid footing before turning
the reins over to the midwestern broadcasting legend Ward
L. Quaal who succeeded him as chairman.
Ward Quaal brought on board former ABC Radio Network
chief, and Rush Limbaugh discoverer, Ed McLaughlin ...
and current Foundation chairman Phil Lombardo ... when
the organization, which was founded by
H.V. Kaltenborn, grew to be known as
the Broadcasters Foundation of America.
Today, as a respected national charity, the
Foundation provides a safety net for down
and out broadcasters who have fallen on
hard times.
But it all started with the affable, gregarious upstater who
steadied the ship during lean times. As a contemporary
of C. Glover Delaney, E.R. “Curly” Vadebonceur, Rick
Buckley, Tony Malara, Martin Stone, Marty Beck, Les
Arries, Harry Thayer, Paul Sidney, Bob Peebles, John Van
Buren Sullivan, Wally Schwartz, Phil Spencer and Sy
Goldman, he came out of the time when giants walked
the land in our profession. And he outlived all of them.
Jim was 91 when he left us.
Jim Delmonico became a broadcast legend in New York
State over the years and was a member of our Hall of
Fame. But he did some of the best work of his life with
his dynamic charitable efforts in our high councils in New
York City.
He really was a pioneer.
William O’Shaughnessy
Chairman, Guardian Fund
Broadcasters Foundation of America
18 SPRING 2012 ON THE AIR
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125 West 55th Street
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Foundation of America
NewBroadcasters
York , NY 10019
125 West 55th Street
21st Floor
New York , NY 10019
On The Air
Improving the quality of life of the men and women
in the radio and television broadcast industry
212.373.8250
info@thebfoa.org
www.broadcastersfoundation.org
The Broadcasters Foundation of America is a 501(c)3 Public Charity