David Mendel's Radio Daze
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New York, N.Y. – Raised on radio in the 60s and 70s with WOR’s legendary Rambling with Gambling morning program featuring John A. Gambling and company, and the wildly imaginative and often hypnotic late-night musings of Jean Shepherd. Thrived on the signature sounds of Top 40 giant WABC (Musicradio 77), eventually preferring the richer fidelity of the FM band with WXLO (99X) and WYNY (Y-97), and occasional jogs up and down the dial in the late 70s to urban WBLS and WKTU (Disco 92).

 
WEEI 590AMBoston, MA. – As a Boston University undergrad in the early 80s, served as morning news anchor and eventually assistant news director of student-run WTBU, where Howard Stern cut his teeth years earlier. After an internship at then-CBS owned and operated WEEI (Newsradio 590), assumed full-time duties as morning-drive news writer during senior year, continuing after graduation and through the station’s 60th anniversary. Debuted nationally on CBS Radio as a stringer, feeding occasional stories to the network from WEEI’s Prudential Tower studios.
 
WGCH 1490AMGreenwich, CT. – Worked as a spot news reporter at WGCH during college breaks in 1983. This included extensive live reporting, most notably about the investigation into the fatal collapse of the Mianus River Bridge along I-95 and the economic hardships local businesses suffered as a result of re-routed traffic.
 
WARAAttleboro, MA. – Anxious for a full-time on-air opportunity, accepted an anchor-reporter position at WARA, serving about a dozen communities across southeastern Massachusetts and northern Rhode Island. Routinely fed stories to A.P. and would occasionally string for WEEI. Worked a marathon day in the newsroom on January 28, 1986 coordinating coverage of the space shuttle Challenger explosion. Debuted on TV as anchor-reporter for Inland Cable TV, co-owned by radio station management.
 

WLISOld Saybrook, CT. – Was news director and morning-drive anchor at WLIS and first to score an in-person interview with actor Art Carney in June 1987 when news broke about the death of his Honeymooners co-star, Jackie Gleason. Fed the audio to ABC Radio, which used it in newscasts throughout the day.

  
WNLCNew London, CT. – Hired by WNLC-WTYD(FM) in late 1987 as afternoon-drive anchor, evening reporter and host of the popular weekly call-in talk show 1510 Live. Enjoyed frequent opportunities to feed stories to CBS News about General Dynamics’ Electric Boat Shipyard, the historic nuclear submarine manufacturer, particularly coverage of a lengthy and bitter strike by unionized shipbuilders in 1988. Also co-hosted live coverage of presidential addresses during the ‘88 and ’89 Coast Guard Academy commencements with news director Mike Xirinachs, now a veteran WCBS reporter.

KTRHHouston, TX . – Leaped from the 151st broadcast market to top-10 by accepting a general assignment reporter position at KTRH (Newsradio 740) in December 1989. Landed in time for the station’s 60th anniversary celebration. Was quickly promoted to day editor with oversight of midday and afternoon-drive news blocks, and was in the hot seat when the Persian Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm) erupted. After a brief sabbatical to pursue a film project, returned to KTRH in 1992 as Houston City Hall bureau chief. Finally hung up the headphones in December 1993, moving into television as a producer and, after that, a career in public relations.

 
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