february 11, 2011 “your career, or your kids” pick things up …€¦ ·  · 2011-02-10“your...

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(continued on page 3) ©2011 NTS MediaOnline ™ — All rights reserved. To subscribe visit www.ntsmediaonline.com February 11, 2011 “YOUR CAREER, OR YOUR KIDS” JEFF DEMINSKI & BILL DOYLE Pick things up for us at the point where you left WCSX in early 2010. That’s when the personal turmoil in my life first started. I don’t really want to talk about the whole divorce, but the filing had to take place in Michigan. Anyone who has been through that proceeding knows the term ‘change of domicile,’ meaning you can’t move more than 100 miles away when there are kids involved, unless you don’t care about being with your kids. The three things I loved most in my world was my job, my son and my daughter -- for me that was my life. Long story short, things turned into a pretty ugly custody fight and one day my lawyer sat across the table and said, “Jeff there is no way you are going to get a change of domicile unless you’ve first won primary custody. So you’ve got to decide right now, it’s your career or your kids.” Wow, talk about getting a ton of bricks dropped on you. Between radio and stand-up comedy, I have been doing what I do pretty much since I was a teenager. I always knew this is what I was meant to do. But once I had kids, I knew being a dad was the other thing I was meant to do, so this was truly ‘gut check’ time. My lawyer said I could take the weekend to think about it, but I told him there was nothing to think about -- there was no way I was ever going to leave my kids. I figured I chose the career I had, but they didn’t choose to be my son and daughter. They needed me, so it really didn’t matter what else I wanted at that point. So the story has a pretty happy ending, right? Yes, I was awarded custody of my children and the settlement we reached allows me to look for work anywhere. With all of that behind me, I’m now more passionate than ever about getting back on the radio. The toughest part of making that decision was that I honestly didn’t know how it would all end. I didn’t know if I’d get my kids and I didn’t know if I’d ever be Although they’ve not been away long enough to warrant one of those proverbial “Where Are They Now?” features, it has been awhile since we’ve heard any news about former Detroit Talk duo Deminski & Doyle. Following a decade of individual solo on-air work, Jeff Deminski and Bill Doyle first hooked up as a team at New Jersey 101.5 (WKXW/Trenton) in 1994, where they spent the next five years hosting afternoon drive at the pioneering FM talker before making a move to The Motor City. There they spent just over eight years generating dominant numbers in afternoons at then “Hot Talk” WKRK-FM, opting to not renew their deal with the station when CBS Radio flipped it from Talk to Sports in 2007. After sitting out a 12-month non-compete, Deminski & Doyle resurfaced at crosstown Greater Media Classic Rocker WCSX where they hosted mornings for a year before all parties concluded that perhaps the duo’s show was not the best ‘fit” with the music-intensive radio station. Following an amicable parting, before long the pair got set for a move back to afternoons at a station in a major East Coast market. That’s when fate stepped in by way of an unexpected divorce for Jeff. Nevertheless, the duo continued moving forward on finalizing a deal with their soon-to-be-new radio home when Deminski received this ultimatum from his lawyer: “Make a choice, your career or your kids.” I caught up with Jeff this week to talk about the impact of that day, and to find out what’s next for the veteran Talk team.

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Page 1: February 11, 2011 “Your Career, or Your Kids” Pick things up …€¦ ·  · 2011-02-10“Your Career, or Your Kids ... The three things I loved most in my world was my job,

(continued on page 3)©2011 NTS MediaOnline ™ — All rights reserved. To subscribe visit www.ntsmediaonline.com

February 11, 2011

“Your Career, or Your Kids”

JEFF DEMINSKI & BILL DOYLE

What attracted you to that line of work to begin with?

Pick things up for us at the point where you left WCSX in early 2010.That’s when the personal turmoil in my life first started. I don’t really want to talk about the whole divorce, but the filing had to take place in Michigan. Anyone who has been through that proceeding knows the term ‘change of domicile,’ meaning you can’t move more than 100 miles away when there are kids involved, unless you don’t care about being with your kids. The three things I loved most in my world was my job, my son and my daughter -- for me that was my life. Long story short, things turned into a pretty ugly custody fight and one day my lawyer sat across the table and said, “Jeff there is no way you are going to get a change of domicile unless you’ve first won primary custody. So you’ve got to decide right now, it’s your career or your kids.”

Wow, talk about getting a ton of bricks dropped on you.Between radio and stand-up comedy, I have been doing what I do pretty much since I was a teenager. I always knew this is what I was meant to do. But once I had kids, I knew being a dad was the other thing I was meant to do, so this was truly ‘gut check’ time. My lawyer said I could take the weekend to think about it, but I told him there was nothing to think about -- there was no way I was ever going to leave my kids. I figured I chose the career I had, but they didn’t choose to be my son and daughter. They needed me, so it really didn’t matter what else I wanted at that point.

So the story has a pretty happy ending, right?Yes, I was awarded custody of my children and the settlement we reached allows me to look for work anywhere. With all of that behind me, I’m now more passionate than ever about getting back on the radio. The toughest part of making that decision was that I honestly didn’t know how it would all end. I didn’t know if I’d get my kids and I didn’t know if I’d ever be

Although they’ve not been away long enough to warrant one of those proverbial “Where Are They Now?” features, it has been awhile since we’ve heard any news about former Detroit Talk duo Deminski & Doyle. Following a decade of individual solo on-air work, Jeff Deminski and Bill Doyle first hooked up as a team at New Jersey 101.5 (WKXW/Trenton) in 1994, where they spent the next five years hosting afternoon drive at the pioneering FM talker before making a move to The Motor City. There they spent just over eight years generating dominant numbers in afternoons at then “Hot Talk” WKRK-FM, opting to not renew their deal with the station when CBS Radio flipped it from Talk to Sports in 2007. After sitting out a 12-month non-compete, Deminski & Doyle resurfaced at crosstown Greater Media Classic Rocker WCSX where they hosted mornings for a year before all parties concluded that perhaps the duo’s show was not the best ‘fit” with the music-intensive radio station. Following an amicable parting, before long the pair got set for a move back to afternoons at a station in a major East Coast market. That’s when fate stepped in by way of an unexpected divorce for Jeff. Nevertheless, the duo continued moving forward on finalizing a deal with their soon-to-be-new radio home when Deminski received this ultimatum from his lawyer: “Make a choice, your career or your kids.” I caught up with Jeff this week to talk about the impact of that day, and to find out what’s next for the veteran Talk team.

Page 2: February 11, 2011 “Your Career, or Your Kids” Pick things up …€¦ ·  · 2011-02-10“Your Career, or Your Kids ... The three things I loved most in my world was my job,

NTs Mediaonline Weekly

©2011 NTS MediaOnline ™ — All rights reserved. To subscribe visit www.ntsmediaonline.com

NETWORK /SYNDICATION NOTESDial Global syndicated talker Michael Smerconish picks up KTIL/Tillamook, OR as the latest affiliate of his daily show. DG’s Stephanie Miller gets added at WXTL-FM/Syracuse, while the network’s Neal Boortz joins the lineup at KBKW/Aberdeen, WA … The Wall Street Journal Radio Network is offering affiliates a 10-part series of 60-second tax Tips written by WSJ columnist Tom Herman, a regular contributor on tax issues to The Wall Street Journal Sunday … FoxRock Syndication Services public affairs program, Positive Parenting, is added to the lineup at American Forces Radio Network. The 30-minute weekly show is hosted by bestselling author and fathering expert, Armin Brott … Randy Cohen, a four-time Emmy Award winning comedy writer and longtime author of the New York Times Sunday Magazine column, The Ethicist, partners with Media Syndication Services (MSS) to create a new nationally syndicated show for public radio entitled, A Question Of Ethics. A daily short-form companion feature for both public and commercial radio is also planned as part of the new venture … The weekly Motley Fool Money -- which was just added to the weekend lineup at WGAC/Augusta -- gets a shout-out from USA Today’s “Watch, Listen & Read” feature HERE

NJ 101.5 (WKXW/Trenton) Program Director Eric Johnson presents Red Bank Catholic High School choir director Shawn Mack with a check for $1,000 -- part of the choir’s grand prize for winning the Millennium Radio FM talker’s recent Christmas Choir Contest. The chorale group also received a brand new piano for their school.

HAllElujAH!

February 11, 2011 Page 2

KGO/San Francisco has partnered with The Bay Citizen -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan member-supported news organization that provides in-depth original reporting on Bay Area issues -- to enhance both newsrooms’ local reporting and expand coverage of civic and community news on radio, in print and online … Longtime media guru Lee Abrams joins broadcast veteran and Shortform.com co-founder Denise Oliver for The Innovative Imperative, a SobelMedia/Brite Innovator’s Series event. Billed as “a discussion about how to create cultures that re-write the 80s playbook and propel media companies into the 21st Century mindset,” the February 16th event will take place at The Samsung Experience at New York City’s Time Warner Center. More details and online registration is available HERE … Congrats to Eddie Fritts as the former President/CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters gets a well-deserved nod from the organization he headed for nearly a quarter of a century. Fritts will receive the NAB Distinguished Service Award during the upcoming annual NAB Show in Las Vegas in April.

PERSON-TO-PERSON

GIG AlERTNashville-based GSF Media is seeking a Radio Events Director to help develop and implement fundraising events for the company’s radio clients. Travel is a must and a minimum five years broadcast experience is required. Learn more details at www.gsfmedia.com, then e-mail your cover letter, resume and references to [email protected] … Got a gig open? Looking for a new challenge? Just e-mail the details and contact info to [email protected] and we’ll post it here, free of charge, as a service to industry professionals.

ESPN Radio has debuted ESPN Radio 3.0, the network’s newest iPhone app. The new release adds searchable audio, integration of ‘my favorite teams’ and geo-location-based functionality. Users can access streams from more than 20 ESPN Radio stations nationwide, SportsCenter updates, and select play-by-play broadcasts, including the college football Bowl Championship Series … The PBS News Hour can now be heard on Sirius XM satellite radio’s P.O.T.U.S. channel, weeknights at 6pm (ET). Meanwhile, the satcaster also launches Digital Living, a new Monday night call-in show hosted by tech guru Shelly Palmer from 6-8pm (ET) … GET BREAKING NEWSalerts by following us on TWITTER, or “friend” us on FACEBOOK.Find one-click links to both at www.NTSMediaOnline.com.

EMERGING TAlK MEDIA

STRAIGHT UP. NO TWIST.(Year-To-Year, Men 25-54, AQH Share.)

+350%WOR New York+50%

WGST Atlanta800.61 1 .5663www.d ia l - g loba l . com Source: Arbitron, Metro, July 2009-July 2010; Exact times.

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February 11, 2011 Page 3NTs Mediaonline Weekly

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’’‘‘ The three things I loved most in my world was my job, my son and my daughter.

able to get back on the radio after a year or so off. But now that I have my five-year old son, Jack and my four year old daughter, Nina, I know it was all worth it.

You have a partner, Bill Doyle, whose life and career have also been impacted by your situation, right?I love that guy and his wife and kids, too. The hardest conversation I think I’ve ever had to have with anybody was the day I had to call Bill and tell him I couldn’t move to the new job we’d lined up, I had to stay in Detroit and fight for my kids. This is the guy who I’ve done great stuff with on the radio and have had wonderful chemistry with for over 15 years. Honestly, Bill’s the longest relationship I’ve ever had in my life. I told him I’d understand if he chose to move on without me, but he said he understood what I was doing and supported my decision. He said he would wait as long as he possibly could because his first priority was for us to work together again.

Any regrets, anything you’d change about the decisions you’ve made this past year?No. I do wish I could’ve known more about the problems in my marriage before I did, and that I could’ve given my partner more warning. But for myself -- no I don’t regret anything. Even if things don’t turn out the way we hope they will, as long as I can take care of my kids -- whatever I have to do -- it’ll all have been worth it. My son brought home one of those arts and crafts projects from school the other day, a poster that says, ‘My hero is my daddy because he helps me and my sister and keeps us happy.’ If there were a fire in my house today, the one material thing I would grab on my way out would be that.

So, what’s next?Well we’re hooked up with Gabe Hobbs who represents us. Gabe’s a great guy and he knows everybody, so I’m really optimistic about finding the right situation at the right company. We’re already talking to a few folks, but nothing concrete to tell you about right now. But having the legal ‘noose’ off my neck and knowing that we can relocate anywhere sure is a huge relief. No matter what, I know I did the right thing. We’re ready and charged up for a whole new challenge -- wherever that may be.

(You can reach Jeff Deminski at [email protected])