Patty Aguilar, AE, Uniradio, EAR Award committee member; Marshall Dirks, director of marketing for Proven Winners; Karin Oster, vice president of Oster and Associates; Bobby Salvato, GSM , Star 94.1; Delana, on-air personality, Star 94.1; Geri Tovar, AE, Star 94.1

According to Clear Channel Radio account executive Katy Bennett, her client Proven Winners, the number one plant brand in the United States, was looking to extend its brand awareness to the general market by targeting women 25 to 54 years old when it launched a radio campaign in January 2009.  And by all accounts, it was a success.

The radio messages that were produced by Oster and Associates and ran on KMYI-FM and on KOGO’s Dr. Laura show were simple but compelling:  “Improving the look of your home is easy with Proven Winners” and “Everyone can be a successful gardener with Proven Winners’ beautiful, healthy and hearty plants.”   Not only was the campaign successful in getting customers to buy the plants in stores, but it encouraged others to log on to the company’s web site and receive a free gardening book, while Proven Winners expanded its database.

Marshall Dirks, Director of Marketing for Proven Winners says that the company documented strong sales figures from their retail partners, including The Home Depot, as a result of the campaign.  Additionally, he says, “we received 20,763 unique sessions to a designated link to our web site.  This was 10 to 50 times more effective than leading magazines with similar links in print ads.” (The results varied based on the circulation of the publication in comparison.)

Star 94.1 personality endorsements helped too. The morning show’s Delana shared “before and after” photos of her home on the radio station’s website.  Karin Oster, Vice President of Oster and Associates believes “the use of traditional broadcast media with non-traditional media really helped impact the audience to its fullest potential.  It allowed us to communicate with the audience on all levels and really stand out from the crowd.  The overall promotion was so successful that we are now taking it to 13 markets in 2010.”

Just as Proven Winners would want, radio is helping the plant business to grow.

Posted under EAR Award Winners

Chip Franklin and Cal Walker broadcasting live from El Cajon

AM 600 KOGO Radio supported the East County Toy & Food Drive in December with a live morning broadcast from the Target store parking lot in El Cajon. The event included the Firefighter’s Parade and a call for a toy or monetary donation to one of the oldest and largest charitable drives in San Diego County.

Cliff Albert interviewing representative from Salvation Army

Chip Franklin, Cal Walker and Cliff Albert hosted the annual broadcast that raised more than $30,000 for toys and food for East County kids and families.

A generous listener brings toys

Posted under Community Cuts

More than 370 supporters attended the 36th Annual Excellence in Journalism Awards on October 20th at the San Diego Hall of Champions in Balboa Park.  They enjoyed tastings from 22 stellar restaurants, wines from Temecula Valley, beer from Karl Strauss and Tika Water.

They also saw an impressive group of winners receive their plaques and certificates, including staffers at SDRBA member stations:
 
RADIO – Breaking News
1st Cliff Albert, KOGO News Team – “F-18 Crash” KOGO Judge comment: Great blend of first person reports and professional reporting provided a comprehensive view of an unfolding story, beginning just seconds after impact

RADIO – Series
1st Phil Farrar  – “Black America: San Diego Style” KOGO Judge comment: High energy and entertaining. Especially appreciate the multilayered documentary style.
 
RADIO – Feature
1st Phil Farrar  – “Moody’s Mood for Music” KOGO Judge comment: Loved the engaging VO, nice documentary-style editing and writing in this story that showed the influence of Moody’s music through the years.

RADIO – Use of Sound
1st Kevin Finnerty  – “Paul Newman Remembered” KOGO Judge comment: Good use of clips from Newman’s movies and interviews support the narrative nicely, creating a nice package.

RADIO – Talk/Interview/Call-in Programs
2nd Jon Elliott, Norman Ellis-Flint, Mike Von der Kret  – “This is America with Jon Elliott:Epilepsy” San Diego 1700 AM Judge comment: Well done with good production values and pace. Lots of valuable information is packed into the show

RADIO – Reviews
1st Pat Launer – “Killer Joe/Threepenny Opera” KSDS 88.3 FM Judge comment: Launer’s engaging, high-energy voice, the well-paced script and excellently chosen sound clips made these reviews a pleasure to listen to.
3rd Pat Launer -  “Yank!” KSDS 88.3 FM Judge comment: See above. I want to see this show!

Posted under Behind the Mic

Golf enthusiasts and KOGO Radio fans lined up and ready to play.

The San Diego Chapter of the of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America sent a big thank you to AM 600 KOGO Radio following the station’s annual KOGO Golf Classic held at the Morgan Run Golf Course.  Raffle tickets sold at the June 8th event raised more than $2-thousand for the organization – money that will be used toward the research and education for individuals with Huntington’s Disease and their families.

Lots of skill and fun demonstrated at AM 600’s Golf Classic fundraiser

Posted under Community Cuts

More than 166 caring listeners showed up on August 28th, to donate at the annual Padres-Themed Blood Drive co-hosted by the San Diego Blood Bank, AM 600 KOGO Radio and Fry’s Electronics.  At the same event, 14 generous people qualified as bone marrow donors.

Donors had their choice of receiving a pair of tickets to a future Padres game or a commemorative Padres 40th Anniversary jersey.  In exchange for their gift of life, all donors received a Padres beach towel as well as pizza, breadsticks and salad provided by Pat and Oscar’s – that was in addition to knowing they made a difference in the life of a San Diegan in need of blood.

Posted under Community Cuts

Bob Bolinger is named SVP/Market Manager of CBS Radio's San Diego stations KyXy and Sophie@103.7. Bob managed the CBS San Diego properties from 1998 to 2005. A graduate of Duke, Bob is on the boards of Make a Wish and the San Diego YMCA.

KOGO program director Cliff Albert celebrated 30 years in San Diego Radio on July 30. Cliff has won several Golden Mics for his work and has been the recipient of local and national awards for journalism excellence from the San Diego Press Club, the Associated Press and United Press International.

New dad Cordell (Sophie 103.7) welcomes little Margo Ireland Giesen into the world on June 7th

Fred Rico joins Finest City Broadcasting as program director of Z90.3 and Magic 92.5

Veteran AE Monica Gallardo joins the sales team at Finest City Broadcasting

Jeff Dotseth returns to The Drive on XTRA Sports 1360 weekdays 3-7pm

Mark Larson returns to morning drive radio on KCBQ-AM 1170 from 7a-9a Monday-Friday. Mark can also be heard as a guest host on nationally syndicated Michael Reagan talk show and on the Hugh Hewill SRN Radio talk show

KSON talent Greg Cook has been promoted to production director for all three Lincoln Financial Media stations, replacing Jeff Prentice, who retired in July

Adelle Ridlon (KBZT) and Josh Danson were married on April 25 and enjoyed a honeymoon in Bali

Posted under Behind the Mic