AN LABF PRESENTATION

100 Years of Broadcast News: Challenges Met, Challenges Anew

On Nov. 2, 1920, Westinghouse Electric’s newly christened KDKA in Pittsburgh touched off the Big Bang in electronic mass media, heralding the advent of commercial AM radio and leading to FM, TV, cable TV, satelllite TV and radio, social media and streaming. To celebrate the anniversary, the LABF, in association with the National Association of Broadcasters, produced this one-hour special on the past and present of electronic news featuring celebrated journalists Ted Koppel, Robert Siegel, Soledad O’Brien and Carol Marin. The program also includes a visit to the site of the inaugural KDKA broadcast in Pittsburgh hosted by KDKA newsman Larry Richert.

The program originally streamed on Oct. 22, 2020, as part of the NAB’s fall virtual conference. In addition to the featured journalists, the LABF extends thanks to the National Museum of Broadcasting in Pittsburgh, Make Roots Film Studio, the Regional Industrial Development Corp. and Westinghouse SURE.

AN LABF PRESENTATION

LABF Radio & Podcast Power Sessions

Created by LABF Board Member and Benztown President Dave “Chachi” Denes, the three-part educational webinar series covers programming, marketing, sales and entrepreneurship in radio and podcasting.

The wide-ranging series, which is available to students everywhere on YouTube, was produced with the support of the LABF, the Broadcast Education Association and the Library of American Broadcasting.

Topics and presenters included in the series:

  • Programming with legendary programming consultant Mike McVay

  • Syndication with Creator and Host of Sunday Night Slow Jams, R Dub!

  • Promotion and marketing with Benztown Marketing Director Susan Aksu-Magarian

  • Sales with Beasley Media Group Chief Revenue Officer Tina Murley

  • Branding with the founder of Yamanair, Yaman Coskun

  • Commercial production with Benztown West Coast Director of Commercial Production Darren Silva and East Coast Director of Commercial Production MJ Bloch

  • Podcasting with Spotify’s Head of Podcast Production Ron Shapiro

  • Imaging with Thomas Green

  • Composition with Shane Drasin

  • Radio station ownership with Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan.

 In addition, University of Maryland’s Mass Media & Culture/Special Collection Reference Specialist Mike Henry shares historic broadcasting moments that are featured in the Library of American Broadcasting.