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10 Questions with ... Rich DeMuro
January 17, 2023
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Rich DeMuro is host of “Rich On Tech,” a Premiere Networks-syndicated weekend radio show airing on more than 200 stations nationwide. The three-hour program debuted Saturday, January 7, 2023. Each week, DeMuro discusses important consumer technology, trends, helpful tips and gadget reviews, while answering listener questions in this fun and entertaining radio program. “Rich On Tech” broadcasts live on Saturdays from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. PT/ 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. ET and is available to stations to air throughout the weekend.
DeMuro is also the tech reporter for KTLA-TV Channel 5 in Los Angeles and appears on the No. 1-rated KTLA 5 Morning News. Viewers know him as “Rich on Tech” and his segment are seen on various TV stations across the nation. DeMuro also hosts a weekly podcast called “Rich On Tech,” where he talks about important consumer technology news and answers the questions that listeners and viewers send him.
DeMuro has been a TV reporter for over 15 years and has covered technology for a majority of that time. He attends major launch events for Apple, Google, Samsung and more. He’s also the recipient of a Los Angeles Area Emmy Award for his coverage of social issues related to technology. You’ll often see and hear DeMuro lending his tech expertise on other media outlets including KFI AM 640. He has appeared on “Entertainment Tonight,” “Home & Family,” G4TV, CNBC, NBC’s “Today” show, ABC News, Fox News Channel, the BBC and more.
Prior to joining KTLA, DeMuro was a senior editor at the technology website CNET. He also worked as a reporter at Channel One News and local TV stations in Yakima, Washington, and Shreveport, Louisiana.
DeMuro is originally from New Jersey and graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in broadcast journalism. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and sons. Fans can keep up with DeMuro by following @RichOnTech on social media.
1. You've been a reporter on tech for a long time now, and in that time a lot of technology went from rare to commonplace. Do you find that the audience for what you do has become more tech savvy as a result, or is there still a large audience that's befuddled by phones, smart speakers, and computers? Are the questions you field getting more sophisticated or are we still talking about basics?
You’d be surprised how many people just don’t really know technology that well. Sure, many people can use their phones and scroll social media and take pictures, but beyond the basics, it’s still a mystery for many. Which apps, tools and gadgets are the best for the job? How not to get scammed and phished. There is so much to teach, inform and recommend.
2. Leo Laporte is a tough act to follow; how has the transition gone for you so far? What are you doing to make the show your own?
The transition has been smooth. Leo had me on his last few shows to chat about the transition and his retirement from radio. The current audience will slowly but surely realize that things have changed and there’s an entirely new audience waiting to listen, who mostly know me from social media and from my TV appearances on KTLA in Los Angeles. I’m making the show my own by being myself and doing what I did on my podcast: offer up useful information and answer questions that affect a lot of people.
3. How did you get into reporting on tech, anyway? How did you end up specializing in tech reporting?
I was a regular reporter for many years and had my sights set on some sort of consumer/business news reporting for a certain cable channel. I’ve always been a nerd so I was keeping an eye out for an opportunity to fit that interest. When I got a job at the tech website CNET, that was my first look at the world of tech reporting. I haven’t looked back since.
4. You were doing "Rich on Tech" as a podcast before the new radio show; besides taking live calls, what, if any, differences do you find doing a radio show versus a podcast? Do you think the audiences are different, and if so, how?
The radio show is basically the podcast with live callers. People who have listened to my podcast from the early days know every show was spent trying new ways to incorporate live callers into the show. It was really tricky - the technology wouldn’t work right or people would get frustrated because I did the podcast at a different time every week, so they wouldn’t know exactly when to call in. Radio has perfected the live caller situation so I’m going to take advantage of that. Otherwise, the show might be easier to find than the podcast because when 11 AM PST hits on Saturday morning, it’s my voice into a microphone. It was too easy to reschedule the podcast and choose to do it whenever. I like the reliable schedule of a live show. As for the audience, a podcast listener might be slightly more tech savvy given the format, but the show appeals to the tech enthusiast and everyday person equally - everyone can learn something new by listening.
5. Okay, tech expert, so, what tech do you use on a regular basis? What kind of computer, phone, watch, and smart speaker are in your home and why? (No endorsements implied, just looking to see what tools you use...)
My typical setup is a MacBook Pro, which I replace every few years - it’s where I spend a majority of my time. While I spend a lot of time on my iPhone for content creation, I also keep an Android nearby and often use it on weekends so I can best understand both platforms. Apple Watch is still the best wearable tech around. I use it to keep track of all of my workouts and since I’m on TV (and now radio), I’ve always been a stickler for knowing the exact time throughout the day. As for smart speakers, I traditionally favored Google but have been enjoying what Alexa can do lately… but Sonos is how I play music throughout my house every single day.
6. You were just at CES; what among the things you saw there are you most excited about for the future?
CES used to be all about the “one big thing” you saw. Now it’s the sum of a lot of little things you see: trends, gadgets and innovations. My mission there is to see as much as I can to get an understanding of where things are going. Everything is getting connected, TVs are getting bigger and slimmer and clearer, and AI and robots are just beginning to disrupt things. We haven’t seen anything yet.
7. Who are your inspirations, influences, and/or mentors in the business?
I grew up just outside NYC and listened to Z100 religiously. The Z Morning Zoo made a huge impact on my mornings and Love Phones shocked me each and every night. My Dad listened to 1010 WINS as he drove me to school. I loved the mystery, excitement and immediacy of live radio. I delivered newspapers listening to Casey Kasem telling me to reach for the stars, then it was Rick Dees and Dees-grees, Ryan Seacrest and Elvis Duran.
8. Of what are you most proud?
Taking my podcast to the radio and convincing KTLA to let me do it.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without __________.
...Coffee, social media and hugs from my wife and kids.
10. What's the most important lesson you've learned in your career thus far?
Work is never easy. If it is, you’re probably doing something wrong. Also, I spent a lot of time in my younger career days worrying about what’s next… and rarely enjoyed the moment. Keep an eye on the future but also enjoy right now.
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