Jacobs Media Honors 'Dr. Ruth' As 'Most Innovative'

Honors Dr. Ruth

Each week, JACOBS MEDIA honors an "innovative" member of our business. This week, they've chosen DR. RUTH WESTHEIMER, writing, "We’ve been showcasing innovators here in this space since last AUGUST, without a single sexual reference -- until now. Sexually Speaking, featuring the most unlikely radio talent of all time -- DR. RUTH WESTHEIMER -- took on historic mores and standards in radio broadcasting -- and turned them on their side. The story behind this innovative concept is an amazing example of risk-taking and being in-sync with a changing America.

"It was the dawn of the ‘80s -- and a new era in American sexual freedom. And of course none of that was on the radio. In SEPTEMBER of 1980, WYNY, an AC station in NEW YORK CITY made the move, launching a 15-minute pre-recorded segment that aired on SUNDAY nights after midnight.

"They called it 'Sexually Speaking' featuring a GERMAN immigrant who had lived in SWITZERLAND, ISRAEL and FRANCE before coming to the U.S. in 1956. DR. RUTH WESTHEIMER did not have a classic radio voice, but she had the expertise, the candor, and a disarming personality that made her a radio star. In a truthful, direct, and entertaining way, she truthfully answered blunt and honest questions about sex and sexuality that WYNY listeners called in. It was compelling radio. I remember being in a bar in NEW YORK CITY one night when Sexually Speaking came on. The bartender tuned in WYNY and patrons listened to DR. RUTH like it was an important YANKEES game."

Read the full blog post here.

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