National Radio Hall of Fame

The National Radio Hall of Fame (NRHOF) was created by the Emerson Radio Corporation in 1988. Three years later Bruce DuMont, founder, president, and CEO of the Museum of Broadcast Communications, assumed control of the Hall, moved its base of operations to Chicago, and incorporated it into the MBC.[1] The NRHOF gallery is located on the second floor of the MBC, at 360 N. State St., and is described as being dedicated to recognizing those who have contributed to the development of the radio medium throughout its history in the United States.

Selection process

Inductees to the Hall of Fame have traditionally been nominated by the National Radio Hall of Fame & Museum Steering Committee (NRHOFSC), the members of which were appointed by Bruce DuMont until he handed over chairmanship of the NRHOF to committee member Kraig Kitchin in 2014, the first year in which the induction ceremony took place in Los Angeles instead of Chicago.[2] The NRHOFSC recommends nominations in the following categories:

It has the option of selecting a fifth inductee each year for non-air contributions as well as selecting posthumous inductees. The non-air recognition can be for distinguished lifetime achievement in production, management, manufacturing, or technology. The NRHOFSC may also make additional inductions that they deem appropriate and in the best interests of the National Radio Hall of Fame.[3]

Voting was open to the public from 2008[4] to 2010, then closed again from 2011[5] until 2015.[6]

Nomination criteria

See footnote[3]

National Pioneer: A broadcaster who has given no less than 10 years of service to the radio industry and has been recognized as a leader in developing or improving radio programming at the national level.

National Active: An active broadcaster who has made no less than 10 years of significant contributions to the industry on a national level.

Local or Regional Pioneer: A broadcaster who has made no less than a 20-year contribution to the radio industry and has distinguished him or herself at the local and/or regional level.

Local or Regional Active: An active broadcaster who has made no less than a 20-year contribution to the radio industry and has distinguished him or herself at the local and/or regional level.

Controversies

The online public selection of Focus on the Family's radio program for induction in the NRHOF caused gay-rights activists to protest the induction ceremony in Chicago on November 8, 2008.[4]

"Since 2011 the public has been shut out of the Radio Hall of Fame voting process despite requirements that the steering committee consider recommendations from the public, announce multiple nominees in four categories, and conduct public voting online. Instead, the steering committee announced each year's inductees as a fait accompli," wrote Chicago media critic Robert Feder in June 2015 as NRHOF chairman Kraig Kitchin announced the return of public voting.[6] In 2011 the NRHOF made headlines by inducting former U.S. president Ronald Reagan, "whose radio career spanned only five years as a sportscaster in Iowa in the 1930s," Feder reported.[5]

Howard Stern, one of the most highly rated and visible figures in radio in the last 30 years, has been vocally critical of the NRHOF, and has regularly made it a focus of his jokes. He lampoons the fact that the entire nomination and selection process appears to be controlled by one man, Bruce DuMont, who is also the sole authority appointing the selection panel for the selection process. Stern has stated he would reject any offer to join, and further said "There is no Radio Hall of Fame. It's just a guy in his basement giving out awards. His name is Bruce DuMont, and he has nothing to do with radio other than the fact that his family made radios years ago."[7] On June 28, 2012, Robert Feder reported that the "most conspicuous and embarrassing omission to the Radio Hall of Fame finally will be corrected this fall when Howard Stern" is inducted.[8]

Inductees

Individuals

For list of inductees by induction year, see footnote[9]
For list of inductees by category, see footnote[10]

Programs

See also

References

  1. ↑ Danilov, Victor. "Hall of Fame Museums: A Reference Guide". Greenwood Press. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  2. ↑ Feder, Robert. "DuMont turns over Radio Hall of Fame chairmanship". RobertFeder.com. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  3. 1 2 Selection Process. National Radio Hall of Fame official website. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  4. 1 2 Isaacs, Deanna. "Anyone but Him". ChicagoReader.com. Sun-Times Media, LLC. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  5. 1 2 Feder, Robert. "Radio Hall of Fame suspends public voting to admit Reagan". TimeOut.com. Time Out. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  6. 1 2 Feder, Robert. "Radio Hall of Fame to bring back public balloting". RobertFeder.com. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "Howard Stern comments on Radio Hall of Fame". 14 June 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  8. ↑ Feder, Robert (28 June 2012). "Radio Hall of Fame finally bows to Howard Stern". Time Out Chicago. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  9. ↑ Inductees by Year. National Radio Hall of Fame official website. Retrieved 2015-11-03
  10. ↑ Inductees by Category. National Radio Hall of Fame official website. Retrieved 2015-11-03.

External links

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