S24:Talking the Talk-40 Years behind the Radio Microphone

Ed Walsh was bitten by the radio bug in high school and in college worked on-air delivering the news while getting a degree in economics. But he would have to wait until after serving in combat as a naval officer in Vietnam to pursue his career in broadcasting. Working in major markets like New York City, Boston and Phoenix, Walsh focused on news casting, reporting and hosting talk radio. From the earliest days, news was a crucial part of radio broadcasting. It was soon followed by live entertainment, recorded music and then eventually all talk formats for politics, sports and lifestyles. In his 40 plus years on some of the country's most popular and powerful stations, Walsh has reported major news events across America and from Moscow, Rome and London. He was on-the-air on New York's WOR when hijacked planes slammed into the World Trade towers on 9/11. An award-winning journalist and named one of America's top 100 talk show hosts, Walsh will explain how stories are chosen and presented, how media bias can threaten news trustworthiness.

Purpose: Learn about the now 100-year-old world of commercial broadcasting and hear stories from more than 40 of those years on the airwaves

Facilitator: Ed Walsh