McVay Media News/Talk Specialist Holland Cooke offers a timely reminder as the “swine flu” story dominates headlines across the world. “At best, this will be top-of-mind-topic #1,” says Cooke. “At worst, tens of millions could die.” Cooke notes that “few radio stations have worked out pandemic plans” while other industries are already in motion. “Microsoft has enabled employee telecommuting capacity and dispenses hand sanitizer,” he says. “Marriott stocks respiratory masks.” Although there’s no certainty that the current crisis will become an actual pandemic, Cooke says that any degree of this event offers AM and FM broadcasters a major opportunity to remind listeners of radio’s relevance. “A global story like this can be told on satellite radio, shortwave radio and the Internet,” he says. “But should pandemic strike, the only kind of radio that can tell people what to do — right here, right now — will be local AM and FM stations that have a staff and a plan in place.” Finally the Talk radio veteran offers this solid piece of advice. “Sound like you are on this story … and wash your hands!”

For the first time in 30 years the United States Supreme Court has issued a ruling on indecency, voting 5-4 that that the FCC can fine broadcasters for airing fleeting expletives, However the Court did not specifically rule on whether or not the agency’s policy violates the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court ruling effectively threw out a previous ruling by a Federal Appeals Court in a case brought forth by FOX Television which had challenged the FCC’s authority to cite the network for violation of indecency rules over fleeting expletives that were uttered by Cher and Nicole Richie during live broadcasts of the Billboard Music Awards in 2002 and 2003. Writing for the majority, Justice Antonin Scalia said the FCC policy was “neither arbitrary or capricious.” But Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg noted in a dissenting opinion that in any case that involves government restriction on spoken words, “there is no way to hide the long shadow that the First Amendment casts over what the Commission has done.” Bottom line? This issue ain’t over yet.

That was the rallying cry of a reported two-dozen Talk radio hosts who gathered in Washington, DC last weekend to brainstorm strategies against what they believe are government plans to squelch First Amendment rights and silence Talk radio. Organized by Brad O’Leary, former Talk radio host and author of the book Shut Up, America! The End of Free Speech, and World Net Daily CEO Joseph Farah, the group chose Radio America and KOGO/San Diego host Roger Hedgecock as its chairman and chief spokesperson. In its first official action the coalition has created Don’t Touch My Dial, a public awareness campaign and educational initiative designed to inform Americans about attacks on First Amendment rights on all media. “This issue, and the urgent need for a broad-based, aggressive coalition to fight back, is much bigger than just Talk radio and much more dangerous than an effort to simply silence a few voices that the current administration doesn’t like,” said Hedgecock. “This fight is a First Amendment fight and one that every American must get involved with.” Find out more at www.donttouchmydial.com.

While the only name mentioned in official accounts of last weekend’s aforementioned meeting of talk hosts in DC was Radio America host Roger Hedgecock, NTS MediaOnline Today has confirmed the names of several other attendees. In the room were Compass Media and KXL/Portland host Lars Larson, WLAC/Nashville-based Radio America host Steve Gill, Talk Radio Network syndicated host Rusty Humphries, KVI/Seattle talker Kirby Wilbur, WDUN/Gainesville, GA host Martha Zoller, KION/Salinas, CA morning co-host Mark Carbonaro, WFTL/West Palm Beach host Joyce Kaufman and independently syndicated talker Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson. Asked why he thought more hosts hadn’t either attended or acknowledged their participation in the event, Larson told NTS MediaOnline Today he believes that’s actually part of the story. “There is a concern by some about being identified by either your company, or the government, as opposing this ‘diversity and localism’ movement, because of the backlash that could come from that,” he said.

Louise Burke, EVP and Publisher of Simon & Schuster Threshold Editions, announced today that after eighteen printings, Citadel Media syndicated Talk radio host Mark Levin’s latest book, Liberty And Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto, has now reached one million copies in print. Published on March 24, Levin’s latest book debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list and has remained in that slot for four consecutive weeks. “Mark’s message has obviously struck a chord beyond his substantial fan base,” said Burke. “He’s now reaching an even wider audience of citizens across the political spectrum.” Levin has authored two previous bestselling books, Men In Black: How The Supreme Court Is Destroying America, and Rescuing Sprite, his loving tribute to a fallen canine companion.

Longtime newsman and syndicated radio personality Mort Crim (pictured) is now delivering a weekly column aimed at Detroit-area communities. Look for it at www.YourNews.com … Veteran San Diego Talk radio host Joe Bauer returns to the airwaves in America’s Finest City alongside Neil Senturia, CEO of local website San Diego News Network. The pair’s A Conversation With San Diego now airs weekday mornings on Broadcast Company of the Americas talker ”AM 1700″ (XEPE/San Diego-Tijuana) and at www.sdnn.com … Border Media News/Talker KURV/McAllen-Brownsville, TX – just sneezing distance from the Mexican border — will hold a “Swine Flu Roundtable” tonight at 6pm (CT) hosted by morning man Sergio Sanchez … Former Pennsylvania Republican Senator Rick Santorum guest hosts tomorrow morning (4/29) on Salem Radio Network’s Bill Bennett’s Morning In America. Expect Santorum to have a lot to say on today’s announcement by U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) that he’ll switch to the Democratic Party.