Airwaves: October 23, 2009
Ken Jeffries Jeff-Cast
Ken Jeffries spent 20 years at KFWB (980 AM) reporting the news
and covering major events. In many ways his name was synonymous with the all
news station ... until a format change a month ago put him out on the streets,
so to speak.
It didnt take long for him to get back on the air, this time
via the Los Angeles Daily News and a technology called podcasts, --
recordings you can hear or download off of the internet. Jeffries daily
podcasts of important news, features and interviews can be found right on the
front page of www.dailynews.com. Archives are also available, at www.insidesocal.com/dailynewspodcast.
It is not Jeffries first encounter with the Daily News; he had been working
out of the papers newsroom in Woodland Hills for the last few years interviewing
reporters on stories and filing reports for KFWB as part of a news-sharing
agreement.
The podcasts have no advertising, and because there is no time constraint they
actually are more conversational and informative than the news bite sound
that was KFWBs identity. For his part, Jeffries hopes to make the podcasts
a popular part of the Daily News website as well as keep his name and voice
familiar to the public ... and to radio programmers, as he definitely still
wants to be on the local radio airwaves.
Fallout
I mentioned last week that I had received some emails regarding changes at KABC (790
AM), and that for the most part people either hated the changes or loved them.
little was in between.
That opened a floodgate of emails, most of them negative, most showing just
how dedicated fans of former morning man Doug McIntyre were ... something
competing programmers might want to note.
My radio was set to listen to Doug every morning. I was shocked the day
he told listeners that Peter Tilden would replace him. Tilden is boring. -- Linda
Tonkins
I would like to comment on Heidi, Frosty and Frank ... I love them! -- Stacie
Donnell
I am very angry at KABC for canning Doug. He was great. Peter Tilden is enjoyable
... but should not have replaced him. -- Marilyn Griedberg
I dont know whats going on there, but its not good. -- Phil
Rooney
I now listen to KFI. -- Betty F.
Now I start my day happy instead of down from hearing Doug scream all morning. -- unsigned
Some fans of McIntyre suggest that politics did him in, perhaps due to pressure
from the Mayor of Los Angeles or other politicians whom the morning host often
spared with. I dont actually believe this, as I dont necessarily
believe politicians are smart enough to put pressure on a talk host even if
they wanted. Im just saying ...
Best Hosts
KFI afternoon hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou earned the honor of Best On-Air
Los Angeles Radio People by readers of LARadio.com for the second year in a
row. Quite an honor, as subscribers to the site are generally industry insiders
and radio fans ... people of discriminating radio taste. Good job, John and
Ken.
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Copyright © 2009 Richard Wagoner and Los Angeles Newspaper Group.
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