7-1-14
Leon Clark has been named Vice President and General Manager of Journal Broadcast Group?s Tucson radio operations, which include KMXZ-FM, KQTH-FM, KTGV-FM and KFFN-AM. Clark will start next Monday. Most recently, Clark was sales manager at Tunein. He has also served as sales manager for CBS in Atlanta, Emmis in New York and CBS in San Diego. He was station manager for Radio One in Boston in 2000. Clark starts next Monday.
10-15-13
Former St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols (pictured) filed a lawsuit against Jack Clark after he made comments during ?The King and The Ripper? show on WGNU-AM. Clark said he knew for a fact that Pujols ?was a juicer.? He also claimed that former Pujols trainer Chris Mihlfeld confided in him about shooting up Pujols with performance-enhancing drugs in 2000. The radio show was canceled. According to The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Clark has proposed settling the lawsuit by both sides submitting to polygraph tests.
In the article, written by Todd Frankel, a resolution would be for one side or the other to apologize. Pujols would be asked if he is being deceptive when he asserts that he has never used steroids or performance-enhancing drugs while in the minor and major leagues. Clark would be asked if he is being deceptive about Mihlfeld telling him that Pujols "juiced." READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE
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8-13-13
After being fired from Sports-Talker WGNU in St. Louis, both Jack Clark and Kevin Slaten said they plan to take action against the station. Clark said former St. Louis Cardinals player Albert Pujols (pictured) had used performance enhancing drugs. Pujols responded with a strong denial and said he would sue the radio station and Clark. Slaten told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, ?I don?t know what Albert Pujols? damages are, but there are a lot of damages for me. Albert Pujols didn?t even mention my name. Why does this fall on me??
Clark said, ?I stand by what I said. I?m not sure what I?m going to do, but I?m doing something for sure.? Slaten tells the paper he got the termination call from insideSTL President Tim McKernan. ?I said ?What?'," Slaten said. ?He said, ?We have to do what?s in the best interest of the company.? I said, ?You tell me how firing me is in the best interest of the company when you and [WGNU boss Burt Kaufman] said [earlier] that I did nothing wrong.? Slaten said McKernan told him, ?I know that, but everybody associated with the show has to go." ?I said, ?Did you fire the producer? Did you fire yourself, you?re the one who paired us, did you fire yourself???
8-12-13
Jack Clark and co-host Kevin Slaten are off the air at WGNU/St. Louis after Clark said Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols -- who played much of his career for the Cardinals -- has used performance-enhancing drugs. Pujols denies using PEDs, and he is now threatening to sue, the St. Louis Post Dispatch reports.
Clark and Slaten just debuted on the station on August 1, and Clark reportedly alleged that a former Pujols trainer told him years ago that he was administering steroids to the ballplayer.
In a statement released Friday, Pujols said, in part, "I know people are tired of athletes saying they are innocent, asking for the public to believe in them, only to have their sins exposed later down the road. But I am not one of those athletes, and I will not stand to have my name and my family's name, dragged through the mud. I am currently in the process of taking legal action against Jack Clark and his employers at WGNU."
Read the story here: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/pujols-says-he-ll-sue-clark-slaten-lose-radio-jobs/article_f5220a8b-891d-599a-a265-45b449399a90.html
WGNU is programmed on weekdays by InsideSTL Enterprises, which said Saturday, "Mr. Clark was never employed by insideSTL but rather was an independent contractor. Any opinions, views or statements made by him strictly reflect his own personal views and do not reflect the views of insideSTL. InsideSTL Enterprises, LLC and any related companies have never asserted and do not assert that Albert Pujols has ever used steroids or any other type of performing enhancing drug."
Read the complete InsideSTL statement here: http://www.insidestl.com/insideSTLcom/McKernan/tabid/61/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10778/insideSTL-Statement.aspx
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5-29-13
(by Buzz Knight) In our second installment of ?Experts in the Wings? we highlight a gentlemen who has passionately followed and been the midst of the radio business for over five decades: Clark Smidt. According to Smidt, ?My passion for media was always present from growing up in Manhattan, In our business, we?re always ?waiting in the Wings? for something new to happen on stage, in the spotlight and setting a new box office record. That opportunity can be at any moment, as the injury to Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe suddenly sent in Tom Brady from the sidelines. 5 plays later nobody looked back. Practice makes perfect, adding skills from experience and being ready to make it work.?
Highlights of Clark Smidt?s illustrious career include:
- Building WWUH-FM at the University of Hartford, TV directing, being hired as WBZ ops director at 22, starting WBZ/FM(The first version), WCOZ, and creating the original Softrock for CBS/FM(still remembered as a success: ?the Eagles without the turkeys, and ?Joni without the baloni?)
- Clark has had the opportunity to work with a large number of stations, broadcasters and business clients, independent advisor and station builder and in his words ?have dodged most of the mean spirited folks out there.?
- Clark?s work has also taken him to establishing college internships, helping good folks advance, building ?WNNH New Hampshire Oldies 99? from docket 80-90 and creating local services .
- He is most proud of his family. By avoiding multiple career moves(Boston since 70) his children had a very good home life and now excel in completing post graduate degrees in business and clinical psych.
- A guy like Clark has encountered his share of cool people over the years and he enjoyed most the moments when he could meet a broadcast hero like Walter Cronkite as he was waiting in line to buy a Sunday New York Times on Martha?s Vineyard.
According to Clark what?s missing today is an understanding to coordinate, motivate and deliver compelling content and attract new business. ?it?s attention to TEAMWORK, programming, personality, being local, knowing and connecting with an audience.?
Clark Smidt?s elevator pitch is: ?I learn about your priorities and what keeps you up at night.. then prepare a practical plan to add positive presence?more audience and most importantly added income. It?s a combination of compelling content, excellent presentation and local service that sells. Timely suggestions save money and make money.?
Smidt says ?regardless of the communications channel. To gain positioning, politics, positive presence, new customers, more audience and sustained sponsorship ?it?s all about EFFECTIVE MESSAGING?
Reach out to Clark Smidt at clarkfsmidt@gmail.com. If you know an ?Expert in the Wings? to recommend, reach out to Buzz Knight at bknight@greatermediaboston.com.
Buzz Knight is the Vice President of Program Development for Greater Media. Knight was named among ?Best Programmers? by Radio Ink Magazine in 2007 and 2010. He has served on the programming subcommittee of the National Association of Broadcasters(NAB) and is currently a member of the Arbitron Radio Advisory Council and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) COLRAM Committee.
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April 18, 2012
Facebook and Twitter were overloaded yesterday with reaction and news about the passing of Dick Clark. The music and television legend made such a positive impression on so many people and they were all quick to get their feelings out through social media. This picture was posted on Facebook by former WABC Program Director Joe McCoy as the two of them waited for Fats Domino to go on stage at a radio convention in New Orleans. With the passing of Clark yesterday, not too long after the death of Don Cornelius in February, arguably, the two most important men who brought young people together through music and dancing are now gone. Clark died of a heart attack Wednesday morning at age 82. Nick Verbitsky was in business with Dick Clark for 33 years. They co-founded United Stations Radio Networks in 1994. Verbitsky says, "His name was magic. He was encouraging, nurturing, and never abused his celebrity. When people hit hard times, he would leave money for them. He always took care of people.
Verbitsky tells Radio Ink he last saw Dick Clark in December; they always had dinner a week before the New Year's Rockin' Eve show, while Clark was in New York. "We would get interrupted 20 times by people wanting a photo," Verbitsky says. "Dick was very gracious. He's an icon."
Premiere Radio Networks personality and co-host of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve Ryan Seacrest said in a statement, "I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend Dick Clark. He has truly been one of the greatest influences in my life. I idolized him from the start, and I was graced early on in my career with his generous advice and counsel. When I joined his show in 2006, it was a dream come true to work with him every New Year's Eve for the last six years. He was smart, charming, funny, and always a true gentleman. I learned a great deal from him, and I'll always be indebted to him for his faith and support of me. He was a remarkable host and businessman and left a rich legacy to television audiences around the world. We will all miss him."
Clark began his career in radio at his college station at Syracuse University and his pro career at WFIL-AM/Philadelphia. He suffered a stroke in 2004 and had seldom appeared in public since, though he did make appearances on the annual editions of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. Ryan Seacrest began co-hosting the show in 2006, and it's now known as Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest. Clark also of course co-founded United Stations Radio Networks in 1994 with then-Mutual Radio COO Verbitsky.
Dick Clark was perhaps best known as the host of American Bandstand, which began as a local program on WFIL-TV/Philadelphia and went national in 1957. The show moved to Los Angeles in 1963.
Clark also hosted the Pyramid game shows in several incarnations, and his Dick Clark Productions produces the American Music Awards, the Golden Globes, So You Think You Can Dance, and of course Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. The New Year's Rockin' Eve programs began their remarkable run with Clark as host in 1972.
(4/18/2012 11:25:02 PM)
Dick Clark was such a nice guy, he could have been a Canadian. But, he wasn't. He was a terrific American broadcaster.
(4/18/2012 10:25:23 PM)
Dick Clark was a true American success story. He was able to perform behind the mike, in front of the camera and also in the corporate office. Clark inspired me and his contributions to our industry will never be forgotten. He was a lifelong inspiration to me.
(4/18/2012 10:00:53 PM)
I was watching American Bandstand in 1956 while in junior high school. Dick Clark was one of my inspirations to become a radio DJ in 1959. I had the opportunity to meet and work with Dick Clark when I was running the ABC Owned FM Radio Stations in 1975. ABC TV executive Bob Shanks pioneered live rock concerts on ABC-TV's "In Concert" on saturday nights. Dick Clark produced the program and I was asked by Bob to work with Dick on promoting and simulcasting the TV audio on the 7 ABC Owned FM Radio Stations. I met with Dick Clark several times at his office on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood and my office at ABC in New York. I was amazed at how hard Dick worked as a producer. He was tough and set high expectations for the program. He was very nice to me, but could be rough when his staff screwed up. He is a giant in the industry and will be missed by many.
(4/18/2012 6:37:16 PM)
I first met Dick Clark while working for Art Laboe - what a wonderful, supportive man who really loved listeners and viewers, and our business.
He will be missed.
Mark Shander,
Executive Producer, NBC 1260/96.1FM
Contributing Editor, The Broadcasters' Desktop Resource
www.shander.com