#stan brooks

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Season 5, “A Life Earned“

Director: Stan Brooks

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Season 5, “A Life Earned“

Director: Stan Brooks

Now that the intros are finished, let's answer a question I am sure all of you have been asking yourselves. What is all-news radio? All-news radio is a radio format dating back to the 1960s. It mirrors its name. Stations branding themselves as all news or NewsRadio, etc, are basically cable news channels for the ear. The first station to pioneer the All-News radio format is 1010 WINS, a CBS Radio-owned station here in my hometown of New York. 

Back in 1965, then-owners Westinghouse Broadcasting, or Group W as they were known by some, approached Stan Brooks, then news director of the rock and roll station, and, until his recent death, long-time reporter at what is now 1010 WINS, and confided in him that WINS is going all-news. Brooks was surprised and said it would never work. On April 8th, 1965, 1010 WINS (now owned by CBS Radio) signed on as 1010 WINS...you give us 22 minutes...we'll give you the world. The rest is history. Below is a interview with Mr. Stan Brooks.

Perhaps its affiliation with CBS, the network with the richest history in news broadcasting, has contributed to its success through the years. But, the irony of it is that, even though 1010 WINS is owned by CBS Radio, it is not an affiliate of the CBS Radio Network, which means it does not air top of the hour CBS News reports. In fact, they are listed as an affiliate of competitor ABC News Radio.This is because its sister station, WCBS 880 (also in New York), is the flagship station of the CBS Radio Network, and two affiliates in one city wouldn't make sense. But, one would think, since CBS Radio owns and operates two all news stations in one city, they should want to affiliate them both with their network. Even though CBS Radio Network has "CBS" in the title, it isn't completely owned by CBS Corporation. It is actually a partnership between CBS Corporation, who provides the content, and radio network Westwood One (now a subsidiary of competitor radio company Cumulus Media), who provides distribution and advertising sales. 

Now, you might be thinking that I am going on some sort of tangent here talking about networks, but, I promise you, it all relates. All the television networks started as radio networks and, before that, individual stations. There is only one radio network that is still at least partially owned by the network...and that's CBS Radio Network. NBC Radio Network now exists as solely a top of the hour news update provider as part of Westwood One (yes, the same company that also distributes CBS Radio Network). NBC has a similar sort of relationship with Westwood One as CBS, but the only difference is that NBC News reporters provide content to the network, but NBC is not as involved in its network as CBS is in theirs.

ABC Radio Network is now called ABC Radio News because they exist solely as a news provider (mostly at the top of the hour on many of its affiliates). ABC is about as involved (maybe a little less) than CBS. They have a similar agreement with a radio syndicator called Cumulus Media Networks (part of the same company as Westwood One) as CBS and NBC do with Westwood One.

The conflict of interest is that Cumulus owns two radio networks that distribute competitor content providers' programming. This was a major topic of conversation with many folks questioning Cumulus's motives when purchasing Westwood One. But, regulators approved it and now Cumulus owns two networks. 

So, I hope I've educated you about who is providing your local station's top of the hour reports. 

Stan Brooks of 1010 WINS in New York City was the first radio reporter I ever worked with who was always, always a gentleman. When he filed a story you knew it was done by a tried and true journalist who understood Big Apple politics and power brokers like no other. Last week, Mayor Bloomberg named the radio room at City Hall after the veteran newsman, whose wife, Lynn, died from cancer -- the wretched disease which would also take his life.

The airwaves are lessened by your absence, Mr. Brooks. May your colleagues carry on your legacy; your audience will miss your reporting, and your voice.

And I will miss your good humor, your laugh, and your singularly New York kindness that helped a PR noob get his bearings straight.