Jeff McHugh

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood hit theatres this month with Tom Hanks as beloved children’s TV icon Fred Rogers. (I gave the film an A+.) Did you know that Mister Rogers hated television? Mister Rogers hated that kids were being negatively influenced by violent content and commercials. He created Mister Rogers Neighborhood as a … Read more

Listeners bond with their favorite radio and podcast personalities like a friend or family member. Like any relationship, a first step in their bonding is knowing your name. Name recall is especially important in Nielsen and Numeris diary markets, and when your new show enters a market already crowded with established, popular shows. Here are … Read more

You applied, they responded and you nailed the interview. And then… nothing. Broadcast media job searching can be exasperating. Consider these tips to keep yourself in a state of zen until you land that gig. Ask every future question now. Imagine it is 30 days after the interview. You have heard nothing. What questions will … Read more

Coaching is not one size fits all. As a news director, program director or operations manager, consider how to give just the right amount of feedback for each performer, show and situation.

Audiences find newscasts more engaging when there is interaction between on-air hosts. But how much conversation is too much? What stories should hosts discuss and how do you know when to move on? On an information-oriented TV or radio show, it is important to remember that the audience is there for the news. If the … Read more

When a radio show comes to us for advice about syndication, we share lessons from coaching The Bert Show, Tino Cochino Radio, Two Guys Named Chris, the talent at K-Love and others. First, you should know that syndication as a cost-cutting tactic alone is not effective. Stop right now if that is your driving motivation. … Read more

Audiences see more than what is on-camera and hear more than microphones pick up. Here is one experience in local TV news that taught me about an important but invisible principle. The heritage station – we’ll call them Channel 7 — was ratings dominant with a full shelf of Emmys, but watching the newscast the … Read more

And you know what is better than any production? You! Provide companionship while identifying the station with your familiar voice.

Imagine that you are weeding through a stack of content ideas for your newscast, podcast or radio show. Aside from newsworthiness and relevance, what content filter do you use in determining what is A, B or C material? Go with stories involving action. If someone is doing something interesting, that gets priority over content involving … Read more

The Lyft driver noticed my WKQX hat and asked if I was in broadcasting. I said I was and noted that he was listening to Bryan, Ali and Justin, a Chicago show that we coach. The driver then began talking about his own radio career. On the drive from the Loop to O’Hare airport I … Read more