Radio Remembers 9/11

NYC's Ground Zero

TODAY is the 7th anniversary of the SEPTEMBER 11th, 2001 attacks on the UNITED STATES, and radio is remembering the tragic event in many different ways. 

In New York

* CBS Sports WFAN-A/NEW YORK's radiothon on THURSDAY and FRIDAY has ties to 9/11, with THURSDAY's live broadcasts of BOOMER ESIASON and CRAIG CARTON's morning show, JOE BENIGNO and EVAN ROBERTS' midday show, and MIKE FRANCESA's afternoon show coming from the headquarters of BGC, the brokerage firm that merged with CANTOR FITZGERALD, the firm housed at the WORLD TRADE CENTER that handled ESIASON's charity foundation and which lost several employees in the tragedy. 

* At EMMIS Top 40/Rhythmic WQHT (HOT 97)/NEW YORK, PD EBRO DARDEN said their air staff, who lived through the 9/11 attack in NEW YORK, will be remembering those lost, plus HOT 97’s news reports will talk about the progress made locally in rebuilding. 

* EMMIS AAA WRXP/NEW YORK PD/morning co-host LESLIE FRAM said, "We played 'The Rising' from BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN at 8:46a and had listeners share their experiences with us from that day. MATT PINFIELD talked about how his daughter was up all night with an earache and ended up not going to the daycare at BATTERY PARK that day."

She explains, "None of the children at the daycare were hurt that day because the teacher took them on a boat to JERSEY CITY to be safe. The parents of those children didn't realize any of this and thought their kids were part of the debris. MATT and his wife would have been walking through the TWIN TOWERS to take her to daycare that day. When he evacuated that night to a hotel in JERSEY, he said that miraculously his daughter's earache went away."

* CLEAR CHANNEL Top 40 WHTZ (Z100)/NEW YORK and syndicated morning man ELVIS DURAN said, "We simply observed a moment of silence at 8:46a and also talked about lessons learned from what we witnessed seven years ago."

* PRESS COMMUNICATIONS Alternative WHTG (GROCK)/MONMOUTH-OCEAN, NJ MD/morning co-host MATT MURRAY, who was asleep during the attacks seven years ago (then nights at GREATER MEDIA Rocker WDHA/MORRISTOWN, NJ), told ALL ACCESS, "We wanted to keep things on the lighter side today since people get bombarded everywhere else they go. We touched upon it, but didn't dwell on it. We gave out local information and the memorials on every single newscast."

GROCK had listeners call-in or text the song they wanted to hear after airing a moment of silence at 8:46a. MURRAY said, "We picked a girl from MIDDLETOWN since that was the town that lost the most amount of people. She lost her brother and wanted to hear OASIS 'Wonderwall', and we followed it up with G-text request for THE ALARM 'Strength'."

In Pennsylvania

* In PENNSYLVANIA, where Flight 93 crashed near SHANKSVILLE, BEASLEY Country WXTU/PHILADELPHIA APD ROY LAND told ALL ACCESS, "Our policy is to remember 9/11 without reliving it. We will do a moment of silence at the times each plane hit followed by a patriotic song, coupled with a patriotic music montage at noon and special remembrance IDs spaced throughout the day."

In Washington, D.C.

At CLEAR CHANNEL Alternative WWDC (DC101)/WASHINGTON, DC morning man ELLIOT SEGAL adds, "We stopped the show down four times this morning for a minute of silence at the time of each impact, giving a brief synopsis of each flight and casualties. This morning was also the dedication of the MEMORIAL at the PENTAGON. So, we talked to a few family members and service members who were attending the private event today." 

CITADEL Hot AC WRQX (MIX 107.3)/WASHINGTON DC's JACK DIAMOND MORNING SHOW honored the lives of those lost and once again, thanked those who rushed to help that morning and in the days after. JACK DIAMOND shared calls and e-mails from people who lost family, friends, and others who were impacted by the events. 

WRQX OM/PD KENNY KING told ALL ACCESS, "I can still remember seeing smoke from the PENTAGON that morning. Like most people, I can remember very clearly what I was doing at the moment I found out what was happening ... It's amazing how it seems like it was just yesterday. Over the years, time has certainly erased some of the emotion, but we haven't, and never will forget that day."

* CLEAR CHANNEL Country WMZQ/WASHINGTON D.C. played artist remembrances of the events throughout the day along with patriotic songs. The phones were opened so that listeners could call in with their thoughts, tributes and memories.

Across The Country...

WILKS BROADCASTING Alternative KFRR/FRESNO held its "104.1 9/11 ROCKDRIVE" and collected tons of CDs to send to soldiers still in active duty overseas. The station gave those who donated a commemorative white ribbon for their car antennas, provided breakfast, and had several U.S. ARMY members there.

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