Podcast Summary

Podcast: All Of It
Host: Alison Stewart (WNYC)
Episode: WCBS Newsradio Signs Off For Good
Date: August 19, 2024

Episode Overview

This episode of All Of It is a heartfelt, community-driven reflection on the forthcoming shutdown of WCBS Newsradio 880 AM, a station synonymous with New York City’s news, identity, and daily life for nearly six decades. Host Alison Stewart and her guest, veteran New York broadcaster and author Jerry Barmash, explore the station’s cultural impact, legacy of trusted journalism, and the emotional response from listeners and staff as it prepares to sign off forever. The show features personal stories, historical context, and vibrant listener calls, encapsulating the void WCBS’s absence will leave for New Yorkers and the broader media landscape.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Emotional and Historical Significance of WCBS Newsradio (01:29–05:35)

• Initial Reaction to Closing
  • Jerry Barmash expressed both sadness and resignation upon hearing the news, noting the bankruptcy and change in station management as precursors.
    • “It was, as I wrote, sad but not unexpected... You could see the handwriting on the wall over the last two, three years.” (03:30 - Jerry Barmash)
• Personal and Public Connections
  • Listeners and professionals alike share deep attachments to the station’s personalities and consistent presence, differentiating it from other news sources (notably WINS).
    • “They provided more of not just as a family, as a stability, but they were giving audiences this personality that you didn’t get from WINS.” (04:28 - Jerry Barmash)

2. Listener Reflections: Generational and Personal Memories (05:35–09:56)

• Lifelong Companionship
  • Caller Jacqueline described WCBS as the "soundtrack" of her life, always present in her home and her connection to New York during pivotal moments.
    • “Made me feel so made me feel like home. And I am so sad, so sad that these voices… will no longer be there.” (05:46 - Jacqueline)
• Archiving and Community
  • Jerry from Kings Point highlighted the need for preserving WCBS’s history and tracking the future paths of its anchors, echoing concern found across the community.

3. The Impact on Local Journalism and News Industry Economics (09:56–11:03)

• Business Decisions and Industry Waning
  • Jerry Barmash detailed how cost-cutting measures and changes in corporate ownership (CBS → Intercom → Audacy) spelled the end for sustaining two all-news stations.
    • “It’s a cost cutting measure... It was a path that was not going to continue having the two stations.” (10:06 - Jerry Barmash)

4. Iconic Broadcasters and Their Stories (11:03–14:26)

• The People Behind the Microphone
  • Caller Frank shared a personal history with famed anchor Wayne Cabot, noting his friend's early ambition and long tenure.
    • “He used to tell me again and again, I will be on that station one day... it was his dream to be on that station.” (11:10 - Frank)
  • Deborah (caller) emphasized the trust New Yorkers had in WCBS for traffic, weather, and familiar voices, tying it to family rituals.

5. Local News’s Unique Value and Loss to Suburbs (14:26–15:45)

• Irreplaceable Loss for Suburban Coverage
  • Jerry Barmash warned that the gap left, especially for Long Island, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Westchester, cannot be filled by WINS or mainstream local papers alone.
    • “You don’t get that in the way that CBS covered… I don’t think they’re going to be able to pick up the slack.” (14:26 - Jerry Barmash)

6. WCBS as the City’s Voice in Crisis (19:36–21:41)

• Role During Historical Moments
  • Archival audio from the morning of 9/11 (20:03–20:33) recalls how WCBS kept New Yorkers calmly informed during chaos.
    • “There was calmness, there was no panic in those anchors’ voices… the credibility… and their experience just on display.” (20:42 - Jerry Barmash)

7. Technical and Cultural Isolates (22:19–26:55)

• Commuter Culture & Traffic Routine
  • Listeners detailed the station’s utility—information for commutes, habitually toggling between WCBS and WINS for “traffic on the eights.”
  • Concerns that WINS’s limited signal coverage won’t serve all suburbs—“Their power isn’t enough to get you to hear it out in Riverhead or Poughkeepsie.” (24:22 - Kara)
• Difference in Broadcast Style
  • Jerry Barmash explained format and stylistic contrasts between WCBS (more personality, two anchors) and WINS (“You give us 22 minutes, we’ll give you the world”).
    • “Personality driven where again, they had two anchors… they could banter a bit... I just preferred the way CBS delivered the news.” (24:36 - Jerry Barmash)
  • Praises long-time weather anchor Craig Allen’s reassurance during storms.

8. WCBS as a Regional Media Lifeline (27:28–31:28)

• Station as an East Coast Anchor
  • Recollections of picking up WCBS as far away as North Carolina, providing news and a sense of home in a pre-internet world.
• Listeners’ Friday Rituals
  • Listener Robert described timing tunnel decisions by listening to “traffic on the eights” and “traffic on the ones” in tandem.

9. Reflections on the Future of Local Broadcast News (31:28–33:51)

• Hope and Uncertainty for Local News
  • Jerry Barmash underscored the enduring need for local news, even as methods and markets change. He shared a personal note about the emotional significance of even interviewing for WCBS.
    • “That was my own personal gut punch... just the fact that I got the interview, I’ll never forget.” (31:28 - Jerry Barmash)
  • Concerns for the displaced talent and the importance of finding new ways for communities to access trustworthy reporting.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Station’s Closing:
  • "Sad but not unexpected... you could see the handwriting on the wall over the last two, three years." (03:30 – Jerry Barmash)
• On WCBS as a Family:
  • "It was the soundtrack that I grew up in... It made me feel like home." (05:46 – Jacqueline, caller)
• On Journalism’s Loss:
  • “These people are not getting replaced... it’s gone.” (14:26 – Jerry Barmash)
• On 9/11 Coverage:
  • “There was calmness, there was no panic in those anchors’ voices and that is the credibility…” (20:42 – Jerry Barmash)
• On Community Rituals:
  • “Friday afternoons I have the dilemma, gee, do I take the Holland Tunnel or the Lincoln Tunnel?... So at 4:08pm I could tune into CBS 880 and catch the traffic on the eights and then three minutes later I catch the traffic on WINS 10:10...” (27:56 – Robert, caller)
• On Personal Aspirations:
  • “That was my own personal gut punch because I, I wanted to be on WCBS just to feel that I was with some of the all time greats.” (31:28 – Jerry Barmash)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Main Episode Opening, Theme Setup: 01:29–03:21
• Jerry Barmash’s Initial Reactions & Industry Insight: 03:21–04:21
• Caller Jacqueline – Personal Connection: 05:42–06:41
• Archiving, Community Loss (Jerry, Kings Point): 06:47–07:31
• Discussion: Staff Reactions to Closure: 08:27–09:56
• Business Realities Behind Shutdown: 09:56–11:03
• Notable Anchor Wayne Cabot’s Origin Story (Frank, caller): 11:10–12:54
• Emotional Calls, Family Listening Traditions (Deborah): 13:01–14:03
• Impact on Suburban Coverage: 14:26–15:45
• Peter Haskell, 30-Year WCBS Veteran Calls In: 16:35–19:27
• 9/11 Archival Clip & Its Impact: 19:36–21:41
• Commuter Routine and Technical Reach: 22:19–23:16
• Broadcast Style Comparison: WCBS vs. WINS: 24:36–26:55
• Regional, Multi-State Impact: 27:28–29:21
• Future of Local News: 31:05–33:40

Tone and Language

The episode maintained a tone of bittersweet nostalgia, community pride, and journalistic reverence. Stewart’s questions and Barmash’s insights were respectful and empathetic. Listener calls, often emotionally charged, conveyed the depth of WCBS’s presence in the fabric of New Yorkers’ lives—punctuated by personal anecdotes and gratitude.

Conclusion

This episode of All Of It was a moving tribute to WCBS 880 AM—a pillar of New York City culture, news, and daily life for nearly 60 years. With insights from media professionals and heartfelt stories from listeners, the show explored not just the why and how of the station’s closure, but the profound sense of loss and the unique community WCBS created. It ultimately underscored the irreplaceable value of local news and real human connection amid turbulent times for media and democracy.