This week Larry Gifford (@giffordtweet) and Paul Varga (@pvarga) dive into Breaking News. Big breaking news like wild fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, and mudslides. What role should radio play in the heat of the moment when news is breaking? KOGO AM Program Director Brian Long talks about how they covered last week's wildfires in San Diego. Jay Fink at RIP radio discusses his small station's reaction to Tropical Storm Irene. (00:00 - 15:24)
NPR's long time news anchor and announcer for Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me, Carl Kassell, turns off his microphone. This was his final week on the air. The Simpsons, Tom Hanks, Katie Couric, Stephen Colbert, President Obama and colleagues all pay tribute to his career. (15:24 - 28:00)
In the UK, XFM and X-MEN joined forces for a daylong promotion that had mutants hosting the new X-MEN FM radio station. Wolverine Hugh Jackman help to host the breakfast show - and didn't do too bad. (28:00 - 35:33)
Ever feel like radio is less fun than it used to be? Larry Gifford has some thoughts on that...and how to refind the fun. (35:33 - 41:45)