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Chris Little Has Been in the Thick Of Breaking News Stories

“They said, ‘Do what you want, but you’re in the kill zone.’ After a moment of reflection, I got out of there.”
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Published

3 weeks ago

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You always remember your first media credential. The pass was carte blanche to walk past security, sit in the press box, and interview the sole remaining honest politician in the world. For a young journalist, the credential is the ultimate hall pass. Chris Little is KFI’s news director and he remembers when he got his as a cub reporter.

Little was assigned to cover some of the California wildfires. With his credential around his neck, he was determined he wasn’t going to be denied access. It was his right as a reporter.

“The California Highway Patrol told me I shouldn’t go past their lines for my own safety,” Little explained. Little was fresh on the job and still felt the First Amendment coursing through his veins.

“I told them by law they couldn’t prevent me.”

It turns out the highway patrol officers were not preventing Little from going closer to the fire. They were just trying to talk some sense to the kid. Let him know he was on his own if he proceeded. Nobody was coming in to save him.

A similar thing happened to Little when he covered a shooting in Lincoln Heights, California where some lunatic blasted off .223 rounds of high-powered ammunition into a neighborhood.

“The police told me I should get out of there,” Little said, “just like the highway patrol officer did with the fires. Once again I reminded them they couldn’t tell me to leave and I had a right to be there as a member of the press. They said, ‘Do what you want, but you’re in the kill zone.’ After a moment of reflection, I got out of there.”

As great as the First Amendment may be, it’s not bulletproof.

Little attended high school in Hacienda Heights, California, and was born in Pasadena. As a pre-teen and teenager Little said he did a lot of hiking and bike riding.

“Generally a lot of screwing around,” he said. “My parents were divorced when I was eight and to a large extent I was on my own.”

His mother worked and they had a housekeeper, Anna, who was from Tijuana.

“I learned to speak Spanish from Anna,” Little said. “I still get a lot of compliments on my pronunciation.” 

Tu dialet es bueno.

He and Anna listened to KHD and a lot of Spanish radio.

“All the time,” Little explained. “I called in to the stations a lot. One night, Anna walked into the room and asked me if I was calling radio stations. I said I was. She told me they said on the air that a kid kept calling, and they wanted me to stop.”

When he was a second semester sophomore, he moved to Indianapolis.

He didn’t know what he wanted to do after he graduated from North Central High School.

“My school counselor asked me what I was hoping to do, and I told her I wanted to pump gas,” Little said. “She told me that was one of the stupidest responses she’d ever heard and suggested the military, the Air Force.”

Little figured it was as good an idea as any. And he wouldn’t come home smelling like gasoline every day. After two years in the Air Force, Little was discharged and went back to Indy. That’s where he met a girl at a party who said she was moving to Atlanta. Little figured he had nothing to lose and moved to Atlanta as well.

“I may have been a late bloomer,” he said. “I remember calling the Air Force asking about my VA benefits. I asked if there was a heating and air conditioning school in Atlanta. It wasn’t because I loved heating and air conditioning. It was just something I came up with.”

The HVAC thing never panned out.

Little credits the Air Force for teaching him how to respect authority. He discovered when a person made a mistake, he had to own up to it.

“I learned to say, ‘I’m sorry sir, it won’t happen again.’ I don’t make excuses. If I screw up, I own it. I’m pretty sure the Air Force got me on the straight and narrow.”

Like many professionals in the business, he began as a DJ. First in Atlanta, then at WFBQ and WNAP, Indianapolis. Little created and hosted The Middle of the Damn Night Show, a one-man morning show from midnight to 6 AM on 95.9 KEZY, Anaheim.

He once worked on the television show Hot Seat hosted by Wally George. George was a conservative talk show guy who expounded extreme right-wing political views. The demographic was mostly males who came out to watch the show, studio audiences averaged 30-40 people.

“They used to bring people on they were sure Wally would disagree with,” Little said. “A lot of it was set up. Rick Dees would come on, who was an L.A. bigshot at the time. Dees would carry a pie in his briefcase.” One time, Rick Dees came out in an Elvis costume and smashed a pie in Wally’s face.”

Cal Ripken has the longest string of consecutive MLB game appearances. Little is the longest-serving news director of all time in the LA radio market.

That came about when Little got a call from David Hall at KFI who told Little he’d listened to his demo and liked it. He asked Little to start the following weekend.

“I told David I was grateful for the offer, but I had a vacation planned with my wife to go to the Colorado River,” Little said.

What? After they hung up Little’s wife was aghast. She asked, ‘What’s wrong with you? She knew he always wanted to work there. Realizing his mistake, Little called Hall back and took the job.

He said the mind-boggling events of 9/11 were taxing and a wonderful learning experience.

“I really wasn’t sure how to handle the magnitude of 9/11,” Little explained.  “I got a lot of direction from David Hall. We called in the troops, and everyone showed up. We went around the clock for a week or two. KFI was in Korea Town, and I stayed in a hotel for three days to be close to the station. I’d go to the station, get on the air, go back to sleep, do it again.”

Little said with that experience he was indoctrinated in the news business.

“It was such an emotional story,” he said. “I remember people running around with big posters which asked if you’d seen their mom. Their brother. It brought tears to my eyes and it took a while to get over.”

Little has taken improv classes and his son teaches improvisation classes.

“I quickly learned I’m not as funny as I think I am,” he jokes. “I don’t try to be funny, but never thought I’d be the straight guy. I’m told I’m funny, but my wife is really funny. I’ll steal her lines when I can.”

The line-stealing Little said he has a sign in his office that reads, ‘If you’re first and right, nobody remembers. If you’re first and wrong, nobody forgets.”

It’s all about accuracy for Little. When a new pope was being selected in the Vatican, media outlets were waiting for smoke from the chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel to signal the change. Black smoke meant no pope had been selected, white smoke meant they had a new guy.

KFI was on top of the story but Little didn’t feel comfortable without further confirmation.

“When Fox reported the selection had been made, Bill Handel wanted to go with the story,” Little said. “I urged him to be cautious and wait a bit.” Handel didn’t listen. “It was a special extension of the show to cover the Vatican. We were wrong.”

Surprisingly to some, Little said TMZ is often on target, journalistically sound. When TMZ reported Michael Jackson died, Little said they debated about going with the news based on TMZ’s reporting.

“There was a big disagreement in the newsroom about whether we should go with what TMZ reported on Jackson,” Little said. “We will use TMZ information if we verify the facts. They pay for news, but that doesn’t mean it’s inaccurate.”

According to Little, journalists are sometimes too quick to repeat news without being confirmed. Little thinks the verification is missing in a lot of stories.

“Some of these new professionals may be a bit naive,” he explained. “Out of the same crop may come exceptional young editors. They are into it. It’s like they’re excited to come to work and tear into the news every day.  I just make sure their stories are correct.”

As far as motivation for a young person to aspire to become a journalist, Little said in addition to being cool, they understand the power of audio.

Little said they know they can affect things in the world by stories they tell.

“If they think they want to be a reporter or an editor, I ask them to pick the top five stories of the day and write them up. I can tell by the stories they select if they should be in the business.”

If a guy with Little’s experience believes you don’t belong in the business, it might time to turn in that credential.

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BNM Writers

Trump vs DeSantis Talk in 2023? You’re Wasting Your Listener’s Time

“I could scan local TV stations, newspaper websites and blogs and find more compelling stories with a more immediate and local impact in less than five minutes.”

Published

1 day ago

on

March 24, 2023

By

I’m already tired.

No, not because I’m a morning show host who’s about to wrap up the week. I’m tired because it’s only March of 2023 and half of what I see on Twitter is Trump vs. DeSantis trolls going after each other.

Make. It. Stop.

OK, I can’t do that.

Although I guess I could stop following certain people on the platform, but that’s an option for another day.

But as it pertains to talk radio, before thinking this is a great Topic A or B for a show, let’s actually dissect whether or not this makes any sense to discuss at length.

First off, conservatives are usually the ones more likely to rightly point out that Twitter, and the rest of social media, is not real life. But for too many on Twitter, and elsewhere, they aren’t taking their own advice on this issue. It’s wildly hypocritical. 

Granted, some of them are employed by either side, but most are not, and it’s exhausting to open up a social media app and see this back and forth with still one year to go until most primaries take place. 

However, more importantly, as it pertains to local talk radio, there’s very little value in bringing any of this to your talk show in March of 2023. Walk around your community, do you really think the water cooler conversations are about Donald Trump vs. Ron DeSantis? I would guess that’s highly unlikely unless you work at the RNC or you’re a landscaper at Mar-A-Lago. 

I could scan local TV stations, newspaper websites and blogs and find more compelling stories with a more immediate and local impact in less than five minutes. It might be more work from a topic development standpoint, but it’s doing the service that your audience expects of you as a local host. Plus, who wants to spend the next 12 months debating this nonsense?

Count me out.

That day will come as the 2024 election draws near, the storylines build and it becomes of more interest to the audience. But this week we just hit the first day of spring… in 2023! 

On top of that, this topic is very likely to divide much of your audience earlier than you need to. What’s the benefit of that? Once again, that day may come, although who really knows what the next several months could bring?

If there’s anything we should know living through and covering the last few years of news, it’s to expect the unexpected. What we think will happen 12 months from now is almost guaranteed to not actually be the case. 

So let’s go down the three-point check-list here: 

  1. It’s not local or incredibly topical for most people right now
  2. It’s an audience divider
  3. The landscape isn’t guaranteed to look the same in 12 months

In this case, we can check off all three of those items with confidence. 

So while national politics will likely always be blended into a multi-hour show, when appropriate, there’s absolutely no point in doing deep dives or taking multiple segments of callers on this topic at this point and time. It’s going to be a tune-out for most.

Plus, spare yourself the pain this early. And trust me, it will be painful when the time comes. At some point, you’ll be longing for the simpler days of March 2023.

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BNM Writers

Make Your AM Radio Content Necessary And Don’t Hope For A Government Bailout

If there is something so crucial to the mix, why have and why do AM signals regularly cross their content over to an FM signal?
Bill Zito

Published

2 days ago

on

March 23, 2023

By

Radio

Let us venture back to the business of radio. The fate of AM radio in cars is once again creating a buzz, a buzz electric car makers say is one of the reasons they’re not putting the AM band in their new EVs.

Apparently, the electric components in the EVs create static interference, making the AM signal unintelligible and useless.

On its face, that makes some sense to me. Plus, I know nothing of frequencies or signals and not much more about intricate technology.

So, I don’t see what the big deal really is if some cars don’t have AM radios. Some boats don’t, most tractors either, haven’t seen one on a horse lately.

I do not want nor do I advocate the elimination, disappearance, reduction of services or personnel connected to AM radio. I currently work in AM and FM radio, why would I support the demise of the AM signal? But can we be real, can we be accurate here?

Look around, it’s already begun. Volkswagen, Audi, Tesla, and Porsche have already pulled or will be pulling AM radio from their electric vehicles. Ford’s F150 Lightning and next year’s Mustang will also be minus the AM band.

From a business standpoint, I would assume the market for cars — as for many things — is largely directed towards the emerging as well as the current consumer. What do they want and what do they make use of? I think it’s fair to assume that a lot of people are or will be looking for EVs.

How many will be looking for or want AM radios in those cars?

The broadcast industry would be better served if they looked for the answer to that question.

Besides, what does AM have to offer at this point that FM does not? What is it that AM can do under these conditions that FM cannot?

The broadcast pharaohs and their political fronts say we must maintain the presence of AM radio in cars, even electric cars, because when it comes down to it, AM radio will be the source of moment by moment information when disaster strikes.

This week, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) announced his multi-pronged plan aimed at keeping AM in all vehicles. Along with urging automakers to go along, Gottheimer has called on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to add AM radio to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.”

According to his website, that move would “require all automakers, EV included, to have AM radio as a stock feature in their vehicles.”

Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) launched similar measures last year.

Let’s go back to the question: what can AM do that the FM cannot? And if there is something so crucial to the mix, why have and why do AM signals regularly cross their content over to an FM signal? More news, talk, sports, whatever pops up on the FM all the time. It’s already a haven for spoken word broadcast (I just love working in the term spoken word wherever I can).

In case of emergency and disaster, would an FM station not do what an AM brand would? If the tornado or missiles are heading our way would the FM just keep playing Lizzo and Dua Lipa? Will the Giants game go on uninterrupted while we drive along in ignorance?

If emergency information is on the AM only and not on the FM there’s only one reason that can be; the people in charge are not putting it there.

Listen to 1010 WINS in New York City at 1010 AM and then 92.3 FM, notice a difference? Where are you finding WTOP or KNX these days? Why? Maybe it all sounds better.

This is an old argument with an evergreen answer, these were studied, calculated business moves.

The idea? To find and attract as many listeners as possible.

Where do you put your best people, your best content? Where they are accessible, yes? Where an audience is likely to look for and find them, right? It’s hard to make them go looking for it.

For a radio, AM/FM or otherwise to be of any use, to do any good at all, it has to be on.

Look, there is no shame in wanting to keep AM radio from going away. It’s perfectly understandable. I have a 1941 Zenith upright in my living room. I love the way it looks plus it gets AM, FM and occasionally the drive thru at Arby’s.

But I also have an Alexa, a Bose, and I don’t know how many channels to watch and stream on my TV. I mean, unless you’re driving the overnight long-haul route to Butte, how many of us have CB radios in our cars? Or 8-track, cassette or CD players?

Try and buy a new car with a standard transmission. Most things in life have a generational shelf life. For now, the AM listeners are still in their cars, they’re certainly not at home.

But that will continue to change, at minimum it will evolve.

So how much effort and expense are we going to put forth to try and convince people they want something they obviously do not or prove to them they need something they don’t think they do?

Convince me. Convince them.

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BNM Writers

Cable News Channels Saw Massive Spikes During Alex Murdaugh Verdict

Even the prime time lineup of nascent news outlet NewsNation got a sizable bounce, especially for “Cuomo”, which achieved its most-watched edition in total viewers, to-date.
Doug Pucci

Published

3 days ago

on

March 22, 2023

By

The Alex Murdaugh double-murder trial came to a conclusion on the evening of Thursday Mar. 2, Murdaugh, a member of a prominent South Carolina family and former attorney, was found guilty of shooting and killing both his wife Maggie and their youngest son Paul at their residence, and cable news outlets benefited greatly.

The court case that riveted the nation throughout the month of February was, of course, covered by many news outlets including broadcast and cable news as well as the various syndicated newsmagazines like Inside Edition and TMZ.

Leading the pack in cable news coverage was Fox News Channel. Normally topping the 7-8 p.m. hour with Jesse Watters Primetime on this night that hour delivered 3.51 million total viewers including 443,000 within the key 25-64 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research. A far distant runner-up in total audience was MSNBC with 1.37 million; in adults 25-54, CNN (243,000) was closest to FNC among cable networks.

All three outlets drew at well above-average levels within the 7 p.m. hour and the few hours afterwards due to the verdict, as the following percentage increases show in comparison to their prior week (Feb. 20-24, 2023) returns:

Fox News Channel

  • Jesse Watters Primetime (7-8 p.m.): 3.511 million viewers (+32%); 443,000 adults 25-54 (+65%)
  • Tucker Carlson Tonight (8-9 p.m.): 3.346 million viewers (+9%); 449,000 adults 25-54 (+15%)
  • Hannity (9-10 p.m.): 2.852 million viewers (+18%); 404,000 adults 25-54 (+37%)

MSNBC

  • The Reidout (7-8 p.m.): 1.373 million viewers (+24%); 156,000 adults 25-54 (+42%)
  • All In with Chris Hayes (8-9 p.m.): 1.515 million viewers (+39%); 153,000 adults 25-54 (+53%) (for Feb. 20-24, MSNBC aired nightly hourlong specials in the 8-9 p.m.slot marking the one-year anniversary of Russian’s invasion of Ukraine)
  • Alex Wagner Tonight (9-10 p.m.): 1.317 million viewers (+6%); 145,000 adults 25-54 (+26%)
  • Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (10-11 p.m.): 1.544 viewers (+15%) viewers; 118,000 adults 25-54 (-9%)

CNN

  • Erin Burnett Outfront (7-8 p.m.): 1.130 million viewers (+89%); 243,000 adults 25-54 (+91%)
  • Anderson Cooper 360 (8-9 p.m.): 1.183 million viewers (+79%); 191,000 adults 25-54 (+48%)

Even the prime time lineup of nascent news outlet NewsNation got a sizable bounce, especially for “Cuomo”, which achieved its most-watched edition in total viewers, to-date.

  • On Balance with Leland Vittert (7-8 p.m.): 123,000 viewers (+146%); 44,000 adults 25-54 (+389%)
  • Cuomo (8-9 p.m.): 231,000 viewers (+116%); 49,000 adults 25-54 (+227%)
  • Dan Abrams Live (9-10 p.m.): 160,000 viewers (+44%); 29,000 adults 25-54 (+32%)
  • Banfield (10-11 p.m.): 180,000 viewers (+82%); 40,000 adults 25-54 (+135%)

CBS was the lone broadcast network whose breaking news coverage of the Murdaugh verdict was published by Nielsen. It delivered 3.824 million viewers from 7:04-7:14 p.m. Eastern; that night’s edition of the CBS Evening News which preceded the special report on many CBS affiliates in the Eastern and Central time zones had drawn 5.11 million.

Cable news averages for February 27-March 5, 2023:

Total Day (Feb. 27-Mar. 5 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)

  • Fox News Channel: 1.375 million viewers; 177,000 adults 25-54
  • MSNBC: 0.693 million viewers; 76,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 0.446 million viewers; 84,000 adults 25-54
  • HLN: 0.148 million viewers; 38,000 adults 25-54
  • CNBC: 0.114 million viewers; 26,000 adults 25-54
  • Fox Business Network: 0.114 million viewers; 12,000 adults 25-54
  • The Weather Channel: 0.109 million viewers; 19,000 adults 25-54
  • Newsmax: 0.092 million viewers; 9,000 adults 25-54

Prime Time (Feb. 27-Mar. 4 @ 8-11 p.m.; Mar. 5 @ 7-11 p.m.)

  • Fox News Channel: 2.087 million viewers; 253,000 adults 25-54
  • MSNBC: 1.130 million viewers; 106,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 0.530 million viewers; 105,000 adults 25-54
  • HLN: 0.203 million viewers; 48,000 adults 25-54
  • CNBC: 0.159 million viewers; 43,000 adults 25-54
  • The Weather Channel: 0.134 million viewers; 21,000 adults 25-54
  • NewsNation: 0.115 million viewers; 22,000 adults 25-54
  • Newsmax: 0.099 million viewers; 14,000 adults 25-54
  • Fox Business Network: 0.061 million viewers; 12,000 adults 25-54

Top 10 most-watched cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) in total viewers:

1. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Thu. 3/2/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.511 million viewers

2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 3/2/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.346 million viewers

3. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 2/27/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.313 million viewers

4. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 3/2/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.189 million viewers

5. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 3/1/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.133 million viewers

6. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 2/28/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.087 million viewers

7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 2/27/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.076 million viewers

8. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 2/28/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.009 million viewers

9. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 3/1/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.943 million viewers

10. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 3/3/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.899 million viewers

21. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 2/27/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.383 million viewers

120. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Thu. 3/2/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.183 million viewers

181. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 626” (HBO, Fri. 3/3/2023 10:00 PM, 57 min.) 0.738 million viewers

360. The Daily Show “Mar 1, 23 – Hasan Minhaj” (CMDY, Wed. 3/1/2023 11:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.378 million viewers

375. Varney & Company (FBN, Thu. 3/2/2023 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.344 million viewers

379. Highway Thru Hell “(1108) Deep Freeze” (TWC, Sun. 3/5/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.335 million viewers

424. Forensic Files (HLN, late Sat. 3/4/2023 12:30 AM, 30 min.) 0.269 million viewers

425. Fast Money Halftime Report (CNBC, Tue. 2/28/2023 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.268 million viewers

460. Cuomo “Alex Murdaugh Verdict” (NWSN, Thu. 3/2/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.231 million viewers

Top 10 cable news programs (and the top  programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54:

1. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 3/1/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.459 million adults 25-54

2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 3/2/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.449 million adults 25-54

3. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Thu. 3/2/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.443 million adults 25-54

4. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 2/27/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.417 million adults 25-54

5. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 3/2/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.404 million adults 25-54

6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 2/28/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.403 million adults 25-54

7. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 3/2/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.362 million adults 25-54

8. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Mon. 2/27/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.359 million adults 25-54

9. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 2/27/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.351 million adults 25-54

10. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 3/1/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.340 million adults 25-54

29. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 2/27/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.263 million adults 25-54

32. Erin Burnett Outfront (CNN, Thu. 3/2/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.243 million adults 25-54

105. The Daily Show “Mar 1, 23 – Hasan Minhaj” (CMDY, Wed. 3/1/2023 11:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.154 million adults 25-54

145. Real Time With Bill Maher “Episode 626” (HBO, Fri. 3/3/2023 10:00 PM, 57 min.) 0.124 million adults 25-54

241. Forensic Files (HLN, late Wed. 3/1/2023 2:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.094 million adults 25-54

342. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 713” (CNBC, Thu. 3/2/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.072 million adults 25-54

385. Weather Underground (TWC, Fri. 3/3/2023 2:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.064 million adults 25-54

487. Cuomo “Alex Murdaugh Verdict” (NWSN, Thu. 3/2/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.049 million adults 25-54

609. Mornings with Maria Bartiromo (FBN, Mon. 2/27/2023 8:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.034 million adults 25-54

Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research

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