“NewsRadio 1020″ KDKA/Pittsburgh morning host Larry Richert helped sister station KDKA-TV find Pittsburgh-area contestants for long-running game show The Price is Right during a recent event. Pictured with Larry (left) is Dan Braddock from the television station’s promotions department.

GOT PHOTOS? We love to share photos of your station or company events, personalities, live broadcasts, etc., in both our daily and weekly NTS MediaOnline e-publications. You’re invited to “hit us with your best shot” by emailing your pics to us HERE.

As Hurricane Earl threatens cities and towns up and down the Atlantic Coast of the U.S., radio stations across the region are gearing up to cover the storm and provide listeners with needed emergency information. WTOP/Washington reporter Neal Augenstein has already been dispatched to Virginia Beach, where the governor has already declared a state of emergency in advance of Earl’s arrival. WBAL/Baltimore reporter John Patti is on the ground in Ocean City, MD, where officials are advising those who are planning a trip to the seashore community this holiday weekend to delay their departure until Friday. Meanwhile, KYW/Philadelphia reporter David Madden says New Jersey shore communities are bracing for a possible brush with Earl on what is usually the final, big weekend of summer for businesses and hotels up and down the “Jersey Shore.” Citadel Gotham City News/Talker WABC/New York is prepping listeners for the “increasing likelihood” that the storm could have an impact on the city this weekend, putting a big damper on those hoping to get away to the Hamptons and other NY area beaches for the long Labor Day weekend. The New York region hasn’t taken a direct hit from a hurricane since Gloria paid a visit to the Big Apple in 1985. And in Boston, WRKO remains “on watch” as Earl carves a path up the coast, with the potential of hurricane force winds hitting Cape Cod’s popular beaches this weekend, depending on the track the storm ultimately takes. As usual in emergency situations, News/Talk radio is ready to go with important, life-saving emergency information and around-the-clock weather updates for listeners, as the now Category 3 storm churns northward along the eastern seaboard. (Hurricane Earl storm track illustration from WSJ.com)

San Diego Union-Tribune sports writer Jay Posner reports that Premiere Radio Networks syndicated Jim Rome Show is moving from its current home in the market, “Double X Sports Radio 1090,” to crosstown Clear Channel-owned Sports/Talker “XTRA Sports 1360″ (KLSD). Rome (pictured) has aired on the Broadcast Company of the America’s operated south-of-the-border Sports radio outlet since 2005. BCA President/CEO John Lynch has a long history with Rome, dating back to the Sports/Talk host’s earliest days when he debuted on then “XTRA Sports 690,” the former legendary SoCal Sports station that was then operated by Lynch’s Noble Broadcasting (In 1996, Lynch sold Noble to Jacor Communications, which was later purchased by Clear Channel). The U-T reports the departure of Rome’s show from the Double X Sports Radio lineup — set to take place at the end of September — is somewhat less than an amicable one. Read more details HERE.

WWBA/Tampa adjusts its weekday lineup, expanding Dial-Global syndicated talker Michael Smerconish to a full three hours (noon-3pm), and moving up the start time for Chris Markowski’s local program, which now airs 3-6pm daily. Markowski (pictured) also hosts the weekend Watchdog On Wall Street show syndicated by Talk Radio Network … Kudos to the crew at WSB-AM & FM as the Cox News/Talker’s recently held 9th annual Care-A-Thon raised more than $1.4 million in donations for the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children’s Healthcare Atlanta. Since the yearly fundraiser began in 2002, the station has raised some $8.4 million for the research and treatment facility.

Regular readers know that we feature job openings every Friday in the “Gig Alerts” section of our expanded feature publication, NTS MediaOnline Weekly. But now and then we hear of one that just can’t wait until the end of the week. We’re sworn to secrecy on this one, but trust us — it’s a primo major market gig for the right local talk host. Here are some details: “Do you have a GREAT RADIO SHOW? A rare opportunity for your show to  be on a west coast powerhouse News/Talker is coming soon! This is a GREAT DAYPART on a GREAT RADIO STATION in a GREAT CITY! So again, do you have a GREAT RADIO SHOW? Show must contain the following qualities: Conversational in presentation, conservative in nature, controversial at times, curious all the time, and preferably wrapped up in a comedic perspective — or at least a good sense of humor!” Email your resume and audio now HERE. Look for more Talk media “Gig Alerts” on page two of this Friday’s edition of NTS MediaOnline Weekly.

No, jovial MC Gene Rayburn and Charles Nelson Reilly won’t be at the upcoming Talk Media Conference & Talk Show Boot Camp, but veteran Talk radio programmer, manager and talent development specialist David Bernstein will be there to host “The Match Game.” It’s an exclusive presentation for TMC/TSBC 2010 attendees that will help you learn how your show matches up against some of the best and most successful shows in Talk radio today. An all-star panel of talents will be on hand, including Talk Radio Network syndicated talker Phil Hendrie, Citadel Media’s Red Eye Radio host Doug McIntyre, KSTE/Sacramento and KNEW/San Francisco talk duo Armstrong & Getty, and KISW/Seattle morning host B.J. Shea. You’ll go home smarter and better prepared for the future after attending this exclusive session … but ONLY if you register for TMC/TSBC 2010 HERE.

“Sorry, we have no rooms available on those dates.” That’s the phrase you just might hear if you haven’t yet booked your room at the Marina del Rey Marriott for October’s Talk Media Conference & Talk Show Boot Camp. Our special discounted room rate of just $169 is still available, but our friends at the Marriott have warned us that we’re nearing a sell-out of our TMC/TSBC 2010 room block. Don’t delay! Get one-click access to registration and hotel reservations for the industry’s TOTAL Talk media event, October 14th-16th in Los Angeles, by clicking on the banner to the right.

In the wake of his phenomenally successful “Restoring Honor” rally in DC over the weekend, Talk radio and TV host Glenn Beck has launched The Blaze, a new news and opinion site. Citing his frustration with mainstream media outlets that he says “distort facts to fit rigid agendas,” Beck and his team have launched The Blaze, calling it, “A place where you can find breaking news, original reporting, insightful opinions and engaging videos about the stories that matter most.” The Blaze is the latest outgrowth of Beck’s burgeoning media empire that includes his Premiere Radio Networks-syndicated radio show, FOX News Channel TV show, bestselling books, live stage shows, his own GlennBeck.com website and more. Get additional details HERE.

(PS: DON’T MISS GLENN BECK’s KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT TMC/TSBC 2010, OCTOBER 14-16 IN LOS ANGELES. LAST DAY TO SAVE ON EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION HERE!)

Meanwhile, Washington Post reporter Michelle Boorstein pens an article in today’s edition questioning the spiritual “turn back to God” message that was delivered by self acknowledged Catholic-turned-Mormon Glenn Beck at last weekend’s rally in DC. “Politically, everyone’s with it, but theologically the question is: Which God?” Salem Radio Network VP News/Talk Tom Tradup told the Post. “How much is religious revival and how much is snake oil medicine show?” SRN nationally syndicated Christian Talk host Janet Mefford said, “I know he means well and loves this country, but he doesn’t know enough about theology to know what kind of effect he’s having. Christians are hearing something different than what he thinks he’s saying.” Read the full article HERE.

Talk Radio Network syndicated host Rusty Humphries is partnering with JoinTheTeaParty.US, a non-profit national recruiting engine for the Tea Party Movement, and Liberty In America, a non-profit organization encouraging citizens to get involved in the movement to help downsize the federal government. Humphries will help to organize Tea Party rallies in conjunction with his show’s affiliates all across the country. Upcoming rallies include events with KDOX AM & FM/Las Vegas (9/1) and WGST/Atlanta (9/9), along with the planned September 12th Taxpayer March On Washington sponsored by numerous organizations. ”I’m honored to be a part of this movement,” said Humphries. “I believe this is an historic opportunity to join with everyday people of all races, faiths and political stripes to take back our country from a ruling class that has chosen to no longer listen to the people.” More details at Humphries’ website HERE.

Larry Gifford, PD at KSPN/Los Angeles for the past four years, has announced plans to exit ESPN Radio’s west coast flagship, effective September 13th. A 20-year broadcast veteran, Gifford (pictured) began his career as an anchor/reporter in Columbus and Dayton, OH, before moving on to programming gigs at FOX Sports Radio, and the ESPN Radio Network. As a free agent, Gifford says he plans to launch a consulting practice (www.larrygifford.com) to work with stations, groups and individuals. Additionally, he and his wife Rebecca — who are both certified energetic medicine practitioners — plan to open a healing center, Body of Light Healing Arts, in the Los Angeles area. In a memo to the staff, KSPN President/GM Chris Berry thanked Gifford for his work and dedication to the station saying, “From a personal perspective I will miss his insight, strategic thinking and organizational skills. His attention to detail during the station’s move to L.A. Live, and the premiere season of our Los Angeles Lakers partnership, was essential to the success that we’ve had over the past year.” As you can imagine, Berry is already on the hunt for Gifford’s successor to fill one of Sports radio’s hottest gigs. Reach out to him with your best shot HERE.

FNR’s new iPhone application will allow listeners to hear FOX News Radio shows in real time, as well as hourly live news updates. In addition, the app will provide users with encore presentations of FOX News Channel prime time programs, along with a real-time news ticker that appears on your iPhone’s screen. “We wanted to deliver an exceptional experience to our listeners,” said FNR Director/Web Operations William Sanchez. “We were searching for a mobile app development environment that was totally flexible from a design perspective, that could be deployed to multiple platforms quickly, and had built-in monetization and commerce capabilities. But, most importantly, it had to deliver a quality streaming experience. Flycast’s appMobi delivered on all fronts.” Currently available via Apple’s App Store, the network reports that Android and iPad versions of the new FNR app will be released in the coming weeks.