Who Will be the Next Progressive Talk Radio Star?

Join us for the national finals

November 16, 2006, 10:00am – 12:00pm

About This Event

It all comes down to this. Over the past month, contestants across the country have been vying against their local competition to compete in the national search for the next Progressive Talk Radio Star. On Thursday, November 16, the two finalists will battle it out in front of a live studio audience to see who will reign supreme. The winner walks away with a one-year contract for a weekend talk radio show to be syndicated by Jones Radio Networks on Clear Channel Radio and other progressive talk stations around the country. Join our finalists and a panel of judges to see who will be the next Progressive Talk Radio Star! Judges:
Ed Schultz, Host, The Ed Schultz Show
Melody Barnes, Executive Vice President for Policy, Center for American Progress Action Fund
Michael Dirkx, Operations Manager, KPOJ, Portland, OR
Gary Schonfeld, Co-Founder & President, Media America
Paul Woodhull, Founder & President, Media Syndication Services

Moderator:
Bill Press, Host, The Bill Press Show

Location

Center for American Progress Action Fund
1333 H St. NW
10th Floor
Washington, DC 20005

Biographies

Ed Schultz’s “Straight Talk from the Heartland” makes him a 21st Century Teddy Roosevelt who believes the salvation of the American people lies in their voices, not in the parties. He represents the thousands of Americans whose collective beliefs are the foundation of the United States. A Virginia native, Ed was lured to the Plains on a football scholarship at Moorhead State in Moorhead, Minnesota. He became a high-profile athlete and an All-American quarterback. After taking a shot at playing professional football, he returned to Fargo, North Dakota, where he put his talents to work as a sportscaster. He spent nearly 15 years providing play-by-play and color commentary for local teams, and serving as Sports Director and Anchor for WDAY-TV (ABC), prepping him for his natural transition to talk radio host on KFGO 790-AM in Fargo. Ed launched “News and Views,” a regional talk show in 1992. His fearless approach to topics, and innate ability on radio, quickly catapulted him to the top of the ratings chart. Ed was the lead talent for KFGO AM, which won numerous awards including The Marconi (News/Talk/Sports Station of the Year), The Peabody in 1997, and two individual Eric Sevareid Awards (First place Talk/Large Market) in 2002 and 2003. Ed’s views started shifting left-of-center upon meeting Wendy, a psychiatric nurse, who is now Ed’s wife and Assistant Producer. For one of their first dates, Wendy invited Ed to join her for lunch at the Salvation Army shelter where she worked so that he could witness the “bums” he so often chastised on his show. Ed’s epiphany was found in the faces and stories of the people he met, and his views began to change. As he questioned his dyed-in-the-wool beliefs, he and Wendy took “News and Views” on the road in the Big Eddie Cruiser, a customized motor home, to connect with the people of the Dakotas and Minnesota. They met families and farmers. People losing their farms, struggling to make ends meet and keep their way of life. Ed determined that America could do better, and it was on that trek that Ed found his true, progressive voice. In an industry where the conservative voice is king, Schultz’s popularity, talent, and progressive political bent has helped him become the dominant progressive radio voice of the nation. “The Ed Schultz Show” made its debut on January 5, 2004, and is now heard on over 100 affiliate stations across the nation, including nine of the top ten largest markets.

Melody Barnes is the Executive Vice President for Policy at the Center for American Progress Action Fund where she coordinates and helps to integrate all of the Center’s policy work, from the policy departments, fellows, and the Center’s network of outside policy experts. From December 1995 until March 2003, Ms. Barnes served as Chief Counsel to Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the Senate Judiciary Committee. As Senator Kennedy’s Chief Counsel, she shaped civil rights, women’s health and reproductive rights, commercial law, and religious liberties laws, as well as executive branch and judicial appointments. Ms. Barnes’ experience also includes an appointment as Director of Legislative Affairs for the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and serving as Assistant Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights. During her tenure with the Subcommittee, she worked closely with members of Congress and their staffs to pass the Voting Rights Improvement Act of 1992, which was signed into law. Ms. Barnes began her career as an attorney with Shearman & Sterling in New York City and is a member of both the New York State Bar Association and the District of Columbia Bar Association. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of The Constitution Project, EMILY’s List, The Maya Angelou Public Charter School, and The Moriah Fund. She received her law degree from the University of Michigan and her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she graduated with honors in history.

Mike Dirkx is the Operations Manager for AM 620 KPOJ—"Portland’s Progressive Talk Station." He is also the OM for NewsRadio 1190 KEX in Portland, Oregon. AM 620 KPOJ launched its progressive talk format on March 31, 2004, and has been a leading talk radio station in Portland for the past two and a half years. A 30+ year veteran of radio, Mike has been the Program Director for several radio stations featuring different news, talk, and music formats in Chicago, Illinois, Seattle, Washington, and Portland. In addition, Mike served as Vice President/iQradio for Qsent, Inc., as well as International Programming Consultant for The Research Group.

Gary Schonfeld co-founded MediaAmerica and has served as its President since its formation in 1987. Mr. Schonfeld has been a director of Jones Media Networks since July 2004. He was the Chief Executive Officer of Jones MediaAmerica upon the consummation of the MediaAmerica acquisition in July 1998 to July 2004. In August 2004, Mr. Schonfeld was elected President of Jones MediaAmerica. Mr. Schonfeld has over 20 years of experience in the sales arena, including Vice-President Eastern Sales Region for Westwood One. Mr. Schonfeld previously served as an account executive with CBS Radio Networks and in various positions with Fairchild Publications, Y&R Advertising, and ABC Radio. Mr. Schonfeld has a B.A. from the University of Vermont and an M.A. from the University of Michigan.

Paul Woodhull is a 12 year veteran of the talk radio industry and president of Media Syndication Services, Inc. (MSS), an independent radio production and consulting company located in Washington DC. During his tenure at MSS, Mr. Woodhull has been responsible for the successful launch of numerous long- and short-form talk programming, including Walter Cronkite’s Twentieth Century, The Dick Cavett Show, The Loose Leaf Book Company hosted by Tom Bodett, and Joanna Langfield’s Movie Minute. In 1998, Mr. Woodhull worked with Harvard Business School Publishing and acquired the rights to Ideas@Work, a short form radio program that re-purposed content from the pages of The Harvard Business Review. In 2000, Mr. Woodhull was solicited to become a partner in Face-Off with Senators Ted Kennedy and Fred Thompson. Mr. Woodhull secured a new network of affiliates for the program, renewed sponsorships, and signed Senator John McCain as Senator Kennedy’s co-host. Because of Mr. Woodhull’s efforts, Face-Off is now heard every morning, Monday through Friday, on over 270 radio stations across the country by over a million listeners. Mr. Woodhull was a founding member of Big Eddie Radio Productions, LLC (BERP), the producers of the #1 liberal talk show in the country The Ed Schultz Show. Launched on January 5, 2004, The Ed Schultz Show is now heard on over 90 radio stations across the country from Seattle to Miami and from San Diego to Boston. Mr. Woodhull is a founding member of Bill Press Partners, LLC the producers of The Bill Press Show.

Bill Press is a veteran radio and television talk show host, at both the local and national level. For six years, Press was co-host of CNN’s "Crossfire." He also co-anchored "The Spin Room" on CNN, with Tucker Carlson; and "Buchanan and Press" on MSNBC, with Pat Buchanan. For two years, Press was co-host of "The Morning Show," 5-9 a.m., on Washington’s WMAL-AM, with Andy Parks and Jane Norris. Press began his radio and TV career in Los Angeles, where he offered political commentary on the evening news for 12 years – first on KABC-TV, then on KCOP-TV. Bill’s first talk radio experience was at KABC-AM, as political commentator on the morning drive show, "Ken and Bob." He was a frequent guest host for Michael Jackson and Ray Bream. For two years, he was co-host of "The Dueling Bills" with Bill Pearl. Press then moved to KFI-AM, where he hosted the popular "Bill Press True American" show on weekend afternoons. Press continues to appear frequently – as guest host or commentator - on KFBK, Sacramento; KIRO, Seattle; and KGO, San Francisco. For his radio and TV commentary, Bill has won three Emmy’s and one Golden Mike Award. In 1992, Associated Press named him "Best Commentator of the Year." Bill Press writes a weekly, nationally-syndicated newspaper column for Tribune Media Services. He has also written three books: Spin This! (2001); Bush Must Go (2004); and How the Republicans Stole Christmas (2005). His website is www.billpress.com. Bill and his wife, Carol, live on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Clear Channel Radio is a leading radio company focused on serving local communities across the U.S. with more than 110 million listeners choosing Clear Channel Radio programming each week. The company's content can be heard on AM/FM stations, HD digital radio channels, on the Internet, via iPods, through Motorola's iRadio cell-phone service, and via mobile-navigation devices from Cobra, Garmin, Kenwood, and others. The company's operations include radio broadcasting, syndication, and independent media representation. Clear Channel Radio is a division of Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (NYSE:CCU), a leading global media and entertainment company. More information on the company can be found at www.clearchannel.com.

A subsidiary of Jones Media Group®, Ltd. (JMG), Jones Radio Networks, Inc. (JRN) is America’s leading independent radio programming company, with offices and studios in New York, Seattle, Denver and Nashville. JRN’s lineup includes 11 different 24-Hour formats; CMA’s 2005 National Broadcast Personality of the Year Liasm, Danny Wright All Nightsm and Classic Country Weekend with Bill Codysm. JRN also syndicates talk programs, including: Ed Schultz, Stephanie Miller, Neal Boortz; Consumer Champion Clark Howard and The Bill Press Show. JMG also owns Jones Banana Network™, Inc., American Comedy Network™ and Jones MediaAmerica®, Inc., the largest independent ad sales representation company in the U.S and JonesTM. Visit www.jonesradio.com, www.mediaamerica.com and www.americancomedynetwork.com, www.jonestm.com

Media Syndication Services, Inc. (MSS), is an independent radio production and consulting company located in Washington DC and led by President and CEO, Paul Woodhull, a twelve-year veteran of the talk radio industry. MSS has been responsible for the successful launch of numerous talk programs for both commercial and non-commercial radio stations, such as “The Loose Leaf Book Company” hosted by Tom Bodett, and “Ideas@Work” from The Harvard Business Review. MSS is also a partner in “Face-Off” with Senators Ted Kennedy and John McCain, which is heard every morning on over 270 radio stations across the country by over a million listeners. Mr. Woodhull is a founding member of Big Eddie Radio Productions, LLC, the original producers of the #1 liberal talk show in the country, “The Ed Schultz Show,” and is a founding member of Bill Press Partners, LLC, the producers of “The Bill Press Show,” the leading liberal morning drive radio program. In addition, MSS provides radio consulting services to the Center for American Progress, The Girl Scouts of America, and Congressional Quarterly.