Here is the news for 1/24/08.

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» Productivity Soars At WTOP: Ever wonder how they get so much done in a day
at Bonneville's market-leading DC all-Newser? The secret is revealed in a new video
posted today on the station's website where staffers demonstrate "the second-most
fun you'll ever have on a rug." WTOP VP/News & Programming Jim Farley says he'll
bet there's "not another all-news station in the country doing this." Check out what
all the buzz is about here.

» Get Well, Al: Best wishes for a speedy recovery to longtime KABC/Los Angeles
host Al Rantel, who reports he has been diagnosed with "a highly treatable form of
lymphoma." Rantel has been off the air at the Citadel News/Talker in recent weeks,
and released a statement late Wednesday (1/23) saying, "I am glad to report that I
am receiving the finest medical treatment available and that my prognosis is
excellent. I am taking important steps to regain my health and have started
chemotherapy. While I must take some time off now to recuperate and focus my
energy on my health, I very much look forward to returning to the air as soon as
possible."

» WGKA/Atlanta Debuts New Early Morning Show The Salem

Communications News/Talker will launch Morning In Atlanta With Joel Aaron on
Monday, January 28. The new daily show will kick off at 4:30am, leading into Salem
Radio Network's syndicated wake-up program, Morning In America With Bill
Bennett. Aaron is already a familiar voice to WGKA listeners as host of the station's
weekly HUB Radio Show. "As a Marietta native, Joel adds a local perspective not
currently offered on Atlanta morning Talk radio," said WGKA PD Jeff Carter about
the new early AM program. "He'll be able to connect with the audience as a neighbor,
not as someone from the outside looking in." The new program will also feature news
and traffic anchored by Chris Monroe and frequent updates from Weather Channel
meteorologist Steve Silverio.

» Rupert Murdoch Says WSJ.com To Remain Paid Site: In recent weeks, many
were speculating that the new owner of the Wall Street Journal would open the
newspaper's subscriber-based website to free access. But at the World Economic
Forum today the News Corp chairman said that, while the company planned to
"greatly expand and improve the free part of the Wall Street Journal online," paid
content will remain a part of the company's digital business plan. "The really special
things will still be a subscription service, and, sorry to tell you, probably more
expensive," Murdoch told executives gathered for the annual business confab in
Davos, Switzerland.

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 Originally Posted On Jan 24, 2008 4:14 PM ET

Aaron Up Early In Atlanta

By Mike Stern

Salem talk WGKA/Atlanta launches its first daily local programming, "Morning in
Atlanta with Joel Aaron" starting on Jan. 28. The show will air from 4:30 - 6:00 a.m.
making it the earliest live, local show in the market. The new show replaces the best
of Mike Gallagher.

Aaron had hosted "The Hub Radio Show," an innovative program with listener
panelists who were voted off by the audience. That show has been put on hold for
the time being.

Program director Jeff Carter calls Aaron “a proven ratings generator in key male
demographics and I’m confident he will do the same in a daily, morning drive, time
slot." Carter also references the fact that Aaron is a native of Marietta, Ga., "He’ll be
able to connect with the audience as a neighbor, not as someone from the outside
looking in.”

The show will include "Town Hall Panel" segments featuring Atlanta residents
discussing local issues.
© 2008 Radio & Records (R&R). All rights reserved.

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 Our 19th Year Friday, January 25, 2008 radioonline.com

FCC OKs Clear Channel Transfer

The FCC has approved the Clear Channel's $27.4 billion bid to go private
and has granted transfer of control from its public shareholders to
Thomas H. Lee Equity Fund and Bain Capital. In its ruling, the
Commission concluded that the deal will actually improve competition.
More Details
Latest Changes & Moves
Salem's News/Talk WGKA-AM in Atlanta will debut its first local
programming since its launch in June, 2004 with Joel Aaron in early
morning drive (4:30-6am), beginning January 28. He replaces "The Best
of Mike Gallagher." Aaron's show, "Morning in Atlanta," will also be one of
the first shows with daily "Townhall Panel" segments and will be followed
by Bill Bennett.

Jason Antebi joins Jones Radio Networks as Executive Producer for the syndicated
Lia Show. No stranger to radio, Antebi began his career in 1998 and comes to JRN
from KFI-AM/Los Angeles where for the past two years he produced several shows.

AAA WDST-FM (Radio Woodstock)/Woodstock-Poughkeepsie, NY, promotes Carmel

Holt to Assistant Music Director.

Longtime WDAI-FM/Myrtle Beach, SC, Program Director and afternoon talent Rod
Smith (aka Mr. Smith) is out.

Hot AC WMEE-FM/Fort Wayne, IN, bring in Shelly K for mornings replacing Craig &
Sam, who exited in December. Shelly most recently worked for WKFR-
FM/Kalamazoo, MI, in mornings.

Christian CHR WAYH-FM (Way FM 88.1)/Huntsville, AL, hires Tina DiMarco as

Promotions Director and morning co-host with Jack Davis, effective March 3.

Former KABC-AM/Los Angeles cooking show host Chef Jamie Gwen joins crosstown
Talker KGIL-AM for Saturdays mornings, effective February 2.

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 1/24: Dave’s Zakk Tyler mornings start 2/4, new WGKA early morning
show
By Rodney Ho | Thursday, January 24, 2008, 12:39 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

….And technically, there’s a fifth new morning show. WGKA-AM, which has relied on
syndicated programming on weekdays since its inception, will debut its first local early
early morning show which starts at 4:30 a.m. and runs through 6 a.m. starring Joel
Aarom. The 27 year old has done their fun weekend “Hub” talk show, with a rotating
crew of opinion makers. Bill Bennett will continue from 6 to 9 a.m. Joel’s show starts
Monday January 28.

ABOVE: I took this shot of Joel last year for a story about the Hub Show.

“Joel hits the target demographics (males 25-54),” said Jeff Carter, WGKA program
director. “We want to give him a daily live program and see what happens.” And if
there’s breaking news, Joel can do cut-ins from 6 to 9 a.m.

WGKA’s strongest shows are Bennett and Laura Ingraham from 9 to noon. It’s good to
see WGKA finally investing in some local weekday talent, even if it’s well before
sunrise.

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