» News/Talk Radio Opportunity? On the heels of this week's news that Tribune Company, the parent of Windy City newspaper the Chicago Tribune, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, a report by newspaper industry trade Editor & Publisher says several cities could soon have no daily newspaper. A recent analysis of the outlook for all media by Fitch Ratings, reported by E&P says, "More newspapers and newspaper groups will default, be shut down and be liquidated in 2009 and several cities could go without a daily print newspaper by 2010." While Fitch is generally pessimistic across the board about the outlook for all media -- including radio and TV -- the credit rater believes that, "the newspaper industry is the most at risk of defaulting." Perhaps an opportunity for News/Talk radio to position local and national news coverage as, "Your 24/7 on-air and online local 'newspaper?'" Your comments are always welcome HERE.

» "Turtle" Joins FOX Sports Radio: Beginning this Friday Jerry Ferrara -- co-star of the HBO Emmy Award-winning series Entourage and big time sports fan -- will join the network's FOX GameTime Live with Andrew Siciliano and Krystal Fernandez as a regular weekly contributor to the daily show. Ferrara, who plays "Turtle" on the popular HBO series, is also currently making news as the on-show and real life love interest of former Sopranos co-star Jamie Lynn Sigler. A "die-hard" New York Knicks fan, Ferrara will talk all things sports with Siciliano and Fernandez every Friday night from 9-10pm (ET).

» Mike And Mike Spearhead Toys For Tots: It'll be the ESPN Radio morning duo's fifth annual holiday event tomorrow morning (12/11) to benefit the U.S. Marines Toys For Tots Foundation. From 6-10am (ET) Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic will broadcast live from the Times Square location of Toys "R" Us, urging listeners to donate new, unwrapped toys to be distributed to underprivileged kids throughout NYC. Mike And Mike Show flagship WEPN (1050 ESPN)/New York has also given away four $1050 shopping sprees to listeners in conjunction with the broadcast. "Of all the live road shows that our station does during the year, this has become our favorite," said WEPN Program Director Aaron Spielberg. "In these difficult economic times, we are so pleased that our listeners have embraced this important effort to benefit Toys For Tots and we are grateful for their generosity."

» AM On FM: Steel City News/Talker KDKA/Pittsburgh will simulcast its programming on the HD3 channels of its CBS Radio FM clustermates WBZW, WDSY and WZPT. The move is similar to those made by the company for its New York City all-newsers WCBS-AM and WINS, and at All-News KYW/Philadelphia. CBS Radio/Pittsburgh Market Manager Michael Young says the move will, "provide our audience with additional ways to listen to KDKA," while station PD Marshall Adams adds, "This is radio the way it was meant to be heard. The sound is fuller and more brilliant. Our News and Talk have never sounded better!"

» Lucas & Lepay Join WTSO/Madison: Two of the Wisconsin capital city's most recognizable Sports voices -- Matt Lepay and Mike Lucas -- will join the Clear Channel Sports/Talker to host mornings beginning January 5. The pair are joining a newly revised lineup for the New Year at WTSO that also includes the return of Premiere Radio Networks Jim Rome Show and The Content Factory's Dan Patrick Show. "Lucas and Lepay are a brand themselves and we knew that if we were going to go local we had to get the best," said Ops Manager Tim Scott. "We feel that with Lucas and Lepay, Dan Patrick, Jim Rome, and [afternoon hosts] Heller and Murphy we have assembled the strongest Sports/Talk lineup in Madison, if not the entire state!”

In Case You Missed It: The folks at Coleman Insights will offer a free webinar presentation of the company's recent NAB Radio Show presentation of their session, "PPM Panelists Tell All," on Tuesday, December 16 at noon (ET). The 75-minute online session will include the original presentation of interviews with PPM panelists, as well as Q&A with the Coleman Insights management team. "We got such a tremendous, positive response to our initial presentation of this study that we wanted to make sure it was available to a wider audience," said company President/COO Warren Kurtzman. "Now everyone will have a chance to see and hear the results of our exclusive, no-holds-barred one-on-one interviews with real PPM panelists." The webinar is free to the radio industry and members of the media, but you must pre-register in advance HERE.