The Radio World editorial team is sharing stories that we found particularly newsworthy, meaningful or fun to cover.
As I near my fourth year at Radio World (time flies!), I can’t help but reminisce about my favorite aspects of the job. The answer, as corny as it may be, is rather simple: It’s all of you, our wonderful readers. Our readers are some of the most passionate people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.
Like myself and the rest of the RW team, you LOVE radio, with many of you having devoted your lives to the medium. That is a thread that ties us all together, no matter our differences. So, thank you for sticking with us during what was a tumultuous year for broadcast.
CPB Ceases Operations After Funding Cuts
There is no doubt that the shuttering of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting after the rescission of public media funding in late July hit our broadcast community hard this year. The Trump administration’s decision to rollback funds continues to affect stations across the country. Aside from the hot politics surrounding this issue, the change stands to be one of the most impactful for U.S. radio for years to come. Radio World will continue to explore its consequences.
A North Carolina AM Recovers After Flooding
As Tropical Depression Chantal swept through the Carolinas in early July, WCHL in Chapel Hill, N.C., experienced severe flooding to its transmitter site, wracking up $150,000 in damages and taking out two 5,000-watt transmitters. This was a personal story for me to write, having gone to school at Chapel Hill and worked at WCHL. At the end of the day, this is a story about resilience, resourcefulness and radio’s mission to serve the community above all else.
House Committee Advances AM Radio Bill
Radio World and the rest of the industry continued to watch the progression of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. The bill gained impressive, bipartisan support in 2025 but still awaits a vote in the full House. The 118th Congress had advanced the bill too, but it adjourned a year ago without acting. The 119th Congress has another year to do so before starting over. Meanwhile. the National Association of Broadcasters released a podcast about what comes next.
Radio Seizes the Moment to Push for FCC Reforms
The FCC’s inbox overflowed with suggestions from broadcasters this year on ways it can improve regulatory practices as part of its “Delete, Delete, Delete” initiative. Ever since the initiative was introduced in March, the commission has actively been tossing out what it calls outdated rules and “unnecessary regulatory burdens.” Deregulation has been a big topic of discussion since Brendan Carr became FCC chairman in January.
FMs Get Geotargeting Green Light
A couple years back, Radio World’s coverage of the geotargeting debate seemed all-consuming. It felt like I was writing about the desire (or lack thereof) to make use of FM boosters to originate unique, targeted programming nearly every day. Though these rules were approved last November, the effective date was not published in the Federal Register until this July.
NOAA Weather Radio Disruptions Highlight Need for EAS Backups
Earlier in the year, broadcasters across the U.S. learned about a series of rolling software updates that caused NOAA Weather Radio stations to experience periods of downtime. While these updates were scheduled in advance, the disruption in service caused some broadcasters to question whether adequate failsafes are in place should severe weather arise while NWR is down in any given area. The conversation soon shifted to the need for national resources amid government-wide restructuring. NOAA faced significant workforce reductions in 2025, including mass firings of probationary employees and planned cuts of roughly 17% (around 2,000 staff).
Show Us Your Mic Collection: Martin Biniasz
This has been my favorite, recurring feature that Radio World kicked off in October of this year. I love a healthy dose of radio nostalgia, and these stories by contributor Dan Slentz provide just that. In this particular story, we got to see a Buffalo broadcasting historian’s collection of vintage radio microphones and flags from stations like KDKA, WOR and WGN. It all started from a little dumpster diving, Biniasz tells us.
Women in Engineering: Michele Grove of Bonneville Denver
Of course, my roundup of favorite stories from 2025 would not be complete without the addition of one of my Women in Engineering stories. This year, I had the privilege of spotlighting three wonderful women who are contributing to the engineering field. I particularly enjoyed writing this story because I was able to speak with Grove in person at the Bonneville studios here in Denver. With more than 30 years of engineering under her toolbelt, Grove is a well-known figure in Denver’s radio scene.
