As 2024 comes to a close, the Radio World editorial team is reflecting on their coverage from the past year, noting stories that were particularly news-worthy, meaningful or simply fun to write. The author is assistant editor and senior content producer.
As always, it has been quite the busy year here at Radio World. Professionally — having been promoted to assistant editor a year ago — it was wonderful stepping into new duties, spending more time writing and engaging with even more members of our radio family (of which there are numerous!).
Personally, I also experienced some rather big (and wonderful) changes — getting engaged to my fiancé Matt in July and moving across the country to Denver, Colo., in November.
The biggest adventure of all was probably taking our cat Lionel on his first plane ride … which I wouldn’t necessarily recommend.
As we reflect on radio happenings in 2024, it might take a little effort to clear our minds and dig past the abundance of stories about the rise and prevalence of artificial intelligence in broadcast applications, or the ongoing effort to keep AM radio in vehicles (which sadly didn’t find resolution this session of Congress).
However, if we dig a little deeper, we will find some feature stories that highlight the tradition, resilience and history of this amazing industry.
I am pleased to share my selection of top stories below.
Baseball, Radio and Generations of Tuning In
Some of my favorite stories from the year arose from the opportunity to mix news with personal commentary. If you’re reading this, you’re probably well-aware of the storied history between baseball and radio, with our beloved sportscasters often spending decades of their lives calling games. Having attended a Dodgers v. Braves matchup in September, I used the experience to share some of my family’s own history.
When the Dodgers won the World Series in late October, I wrote a follow-up about Dodgers Radio after learning that the iconic station’s coverage was disrupted in the lead-up to the big game. The “technical difficulties” experienced involved a curious break-in at the station’s transmitter site; and a collective effort to restore the station to full-power after all the antenna’s phasor controls were tampered with.
Radio’s Resilience During Hurricane Helene Is Nothing New
On a more subdued note, it was a tough year for many following extensive damage from natural disasters. In early October, my heart was heavy as I reported on the hard-hit communities in western North Carolina, sharing my personal ties to the state. In general, I was very proud of Radio World’s ongoing coverage of disaster recovery efforts and radio stations’ steadfast commitment to being a lifeline for their communities in times of crisis.
In this column, I drew parallels between Helene and Hurricane Ian, which wreaked havoc in Florida in 2022, and recalled my time on Guam surviving various typhoons.
FCC Approves “Missing and Endangered” Alert Code
In August, the FCC approved the creation of a new emergency alert code for radio, television and wireless phones to help find missing and endangered persons who aren’t covered by AMBER Alerts. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the new, three-character code MEP will be particularly important in helping locate missing Native and indigenous women.
“While only one-third of those who go missing are adults, they account for 70 percent of people who are never found,” said Rosenworcel.
This was a story I found particularly impactful.
Ham Radio Operators Assemble Ahead of Hurricane Milton
As large radio broadcasters like Beasley Media Group united with local television stations to provide round-the-clock storm coverage, they were not the only ones. Amateur radio operators across the country signed on to assist with emergency communications. It was niche stories like this that really captured our readers’ attention.
Women in Engineering: Maria Laing of Mr. Master
In March, I kicked off my “Women in Engineering” series which features women in broadcast engineering roles and other technical positions (and highlights their work and growing careers in a male-dominated field).
This is a feature that we’ve long wanted to do at Radio World, and I’m glad I was able to get it off the ground this year. I am keenly aware of what it feels like to be the sole woman in my professional life, and it has been wonderful to connect with other women who share my love for radio.
I particularly enjoyed writing this feature on Maria, whom I had the chance to interview while attending the NAB Show in April.
Be on the lookout for a special Women in Engineering feature in our print publication in 2025!
My Radio Collection Stands the Test of Time
In 2024, I was pleased by how many of our readers sent in comments, thought pieces, letters to the editor or other kind little notes just to say hi. I enjoyed fostering reader engagement and sharing your thoughts with fellow engineers and radio fans.
Here was one of my favorite letters to the editor … which was in response to my story “Hey Radio World, How Are You Tuning In?”
Jon Wolfert on 50 Years of JAM Jingles
I love a fun radio history feature (and I know our readers do too). In 1974 a young man named Jon Wolfert and his wife Mary Lyn started their own jingle company in the second bedroom of their Dallas apartment. Within a couple of years, JAM Creative Productions — named for Jon and Mary Lyn — would be producing jingles for powerhouse radio outlets like WABC(AM) New York, WLS(AM) Chicago and the BBC in the United Kingdom.
This story was a wonderful recollection of JAM’s history. If you haven’t already, I’d encourage you to read it!
Thank you for being an active member of our Radio World community. Happy holidays!
