Mary Walter (radio)

Last updated
Mary Walter
Born
New Jersey
Alma mater Villanova University
Awards2018 Gracie Award Honoree, 2020 Gracie Award Honoree
Career
Show"Mornings on the Mall"
Station WMAL-FM
Network Fox News Channel
Time slot5-9am EST
Show"Mary Walter Show"
Station WHAS
Time slot6-8pm EST
Country United States
Website marywalter.com

Mary Walter is an American radio show host, political commentator, and voiceover artist.

Contents

Early

Mary Walter was born and raised in New Jersey. She graduated from Villanova University with a degree in communications. [1]

Career

Walter got her start in radio after winning a contest. She was listening to WKXW (NJ 101.5) out of Trenton, New Jersey when she heard they were holding a contest to determine who would "take over" the relationship show, "The Passion Phones". She called in "on a whim" and a week later had the job. She was there five years before being "summarily fired", three weeks after being congratulated on her ratings and being presented a performance bonus. [1]

After collecting unemployment for "a couple of months", Walter was hired to host the morning show on WCTC (1450 AM) [2] in New Brunswick, New Jersey, which she did for four years as “Mary in the Morning” — the first female anchor of a morning show in the state.[ citation needed ] She then joined a "short-lived" syndicated show. When WKXW sold, the new owners asked her to return as host of the relationship show. Walter did both shows for "a couple of months" until she "finally got tired of working for the syndicated show for free." [1]

Walter was back at WKXW for five more years until they fired her again.[ citation needed ] From 2008 to 2014 she was a commentator on the Fox News Channel (television), and from 2006 she has guest hosted on Fox News Talk (radio) for Brian Kilmeade, [3] John Gibson. [1] and others. She is still guest hosting the Brian Kilmeade Show & the Guy Benson Show.

In 2013 Longport Media asked her to join their KOOL 98.3 team [2] to redux her relationship show, this time rebranded as “Life! with Mary Walter”, [4] which she hosted until June 2015. After guest hosting at WHAS for seven years, she applied for a full-time opening. They hired her as host of the “Mary Walter Show” [5] on iHeartMedia’s 840AM WHAS out of Louisville, Kentucky. [1] [6] Kelly Carls, Director of AM Programming, iHeartMedia Louisville, commented: “We’ve had the pleasure of working with Mary as a fill-in host. She’s always prepared, keeps her finger on the pulse of the news, and does a great job connecting with our listeners. We’re delighted she’ll be offering her unique perspectives every day.” [7]

WMAL-FM named Walter as the new co-host of its “Mornings on the Mall” [8] in February 2017. She joined incumbent host Brian Wilson after Larry O'Connor moved from mornings to afternoons at the beginning of the year. Walter said of the move: [9]

I am really excited about joining "Mornings on the Mall". Bill Hess has built WMAL into a powerhouse and this is an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up. I am honored to be working alongside Brian Wilson, and to be on the same station as Chris Plante and Larry O'Connor – it’s an incredible line-up!

Walter and co-host Vince Coglianese are known for their interviews with prominent figures in the news. [10] Walter's favorites have been Carson Kressley and John Edward "on the entertainment side". "The audience LOVED them both," she remembers. "I was shocked to find out that Carson is crazy smart — I'm talking Mensa smart! And John is just the nicest, most down to earth guy." Political favorites "would have to be either Dr. Ben Carson or Vice President Pence. Both men were just so kind and sincere; I could have spoken to both of those men for hours," she says. [2] Her comments on illegal immigration have been noted by Media Matters. [11] She now says that former President Donald Trump is her favorite political interview.

Walter was "a little surprised" at the negative reaction the show received for having a regular woman co-host at first — after having guest-hosted on WMAL for years and always having got "a positive response from the audience". [2]

What's interesting is that the majority of blowback comes from other women! Hearing a woman voice strong political opinions is just hard for some people. Talk radio audiences are used to hearing men, and when you bring a woman in to a role that has been held by a man for 50+ years on a station, you can expect a lot of whining and complaining.

She was a regular guest commentator on “The Sean Hannity Show” and “America Live with Megyn Kelly.”, [12] "Red Eye" and other shows on the Fox News Channel from 2008 - 2014.

Walter had "a brief stint" on NewsMax TV in 2014 and is now back on the Channel as a regular commentator on the Chris Salcedo Show, the Wendy Bell Show and the Sean Spicer Show.

She also provides voice over services for a variety of clients. [1]

Walter left the "Mornings on the Mall" co-hosting position on May 13, 2021 due to family considerations. [13]

Awards, honors, and distinctions

Walter was a 2018, [14] 2020 & 2022 Gracie Award Honoree [15] for Breaking News Coverage Large/Major Market, Co-host (Talk/Personality) Large/Major – Morning [Radio – Local] and Interview Feature in a Large/Major Market. [16] Gracies are awarded by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation to recognize and inspire women across the media industry. [17]

In 2019 Walter helped WMAL-FM earn the honor of placing a trio of its show hosts in the Top 100 TALKERS Magazine "Heavy Hundred" awards along with Vince Coglianese, [18] Larry O’Connor, and Chris Plante. [19] Mary Walter and Vince Coglianese were ranked 54th in The Talkers Magazine 2020 Heavy Hundred as a team broadcasting from WMAL-FM. [20]

Related Research Articles

Kimberly Ann Komando is the host of two daily radio shows and one weekend radio show about consumer technology. On her weekly call-in show, she provides advice about technology gadgets, websites, smartphone apps, and internet security.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSBN</span> ESPN Radio affiliate in Washington, D.C.

WSBN is a commercial AM sports radio station licensed to Washington, D.C., and serving the Washington metro area. It operates with 10,000 watts in the daytime and 2,700 watts at night using a directional antenna around the clock. WSBN's studios are on Jenifer Street in Northwest Washington. The transmitter is located off Black Rock Road in Germantown, Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Graham (radio personality)</span>

Michael Graham is an American conservative media personality and commentator based in Boston. He is a political editor for NH Journal, a columnist for the Boston Herald and a CBS News analyst.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kennedy (commentator)</span> American political satirist, media personality

Lisa Kennedy Montgomery, referred to mononymously as Kennedy, is an American libertarian political commentator, radio personality, author, and former MTV VJ. She is a commentator on Fox News Channel, a primary guest host of Fox's Outnumbered and The Five, host of the Podcast Kennedy Saves The World on Fox News Radio and a columnist for The Daily Mail. Kennedy was the host of MTV's now-defunct daily late-night alternative-rock program Alternative Nation throughout much of the 1990s. She hosted Kennedy on the Fox Business Network from 2015 to 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KLOS</span> Rock radio station in Los Angeles

KLOS is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Los Angeles, California, and serves the Greater Los Angeles area. The station is owned by Meruelo Media. KLOS airs a mainstream rock radio format and has broadcast rock music in some form since 1969. The studios are on West Olive Avenue in Burbank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKXW</span> News/talk radio station in Trenton, New Jersey

WKXW is a commercial FM radio station licensed to serve Trenton, New Jersey. The station is owned by Townsquare Media with studios and offices located in Ewing and its transmitter facility, which is shared with WPRB, located near the Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrence Township in Mercer County, New Jersey.

Chris Core is an American radio and television personality. Formerly on Washington, D.C.'s 630 WMAL and host of The Chris Core Show from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. EST, Marc Fisher of The Washington Post calls Core "a rare talker who gets the complexities of this region." The program was one of the highest rated shows in the competitive drive time slot prior to being moved, mostly unchanged, to its morning slot. The show covered a wide variety of topics ranging from politics, the Global War on Terrorism, local and current affairs, show business, and others, until its cancellation on February 29, 2008. It was a "call in" type show where listeners were encouraged to call the show with their opinions. Core has maintained that he is neither a Democrat nor a Republican. The show often featured prominent local and national politicians who frequently called the show unsolicited. Core treated callers with respect regardless of their political stance. His show allowed people on both sides of an issue to express their opinions and allowed listeners to form their own opinions. Core also from time to time kept a caller on the line to discuss the topic at hand with other callers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLVW</span> K-Love radio station in Washington, D.C.

WLVW – branded as K-Love – is a non-commercial Christian adult contemporary radio station licensed to serve Washington, D.C. Owned and operated by the Educational Media Foundation, WLVW does not broadcast any local programming, functioning as the Washington metropolitan area network affiliate for K-Love. The station's transmitter resides in the district's northwest quadrant. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WLVW is available online; the station also broadcasts in the HD Radio format.

WMAL-FM – branded 105.9 FM WMAL – is a radio station licensed to Woodbridge, Virginia, serving the Washington, D.C. Metro area. WMAL-FM airs a talk radio format and is owned and operated by Cumulus Media. The station's studios are located at 4400 Jenifer Street NW in Washington, two blocks from the city's border with Maryland, and the transmitter site is in Falls Church, Virginia, off Lee Highway. WMAL-FM is co-owned with sports radio station WSBN at 630 kHz; the WMAL call sign and talk format originated on that station, and the two stations simulcast from 2011 to 2019.

Brian Glenn Wilson is an American former anchor reporter for Fox News. He is a past chairman of the Capitol Hill Radio/TV Correspondents' Association. He currently hosts The Drive with Brian Wilson on SuperTalk 99.7 WTN, a talk radio station in Nashville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTEM</span> Sports radio station in Washington, D.C.

WTEM is a commercial sports radio station licensed to serve Washington, D.C. Owned by Audacy, Inc., the station services the Washington metropolitan area as the flagship station of the Washington Wizards. WTEM is also the co-flagship station of the Maryland Terrapins, and is the Washington affiliate of Fox Sports Radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGOW-FM</span> Radio station in Chattanooga, Tennessee

WGOW-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee, and serving the Chattanooga metropolitan area. It is owned by Cumulus Media, and broadcasts a talk radio format. Its radio studios and offices are on Pineville Drive in Chattanooga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDFD</span> Radio station in Colorado, United States

KDFD is a commercial radio station licensed to Thornton, Colorado, and serving the Denver-Boulder metropolitan area. Owned by iHeartMedia, it broadcasts a conservative talk radio format. Its studios and offices are in Southeast Denver, while the transmitter site is off Colorado Boulevard in Brighton. Weekdays begin with This Morning, America's First News with Gordon Deal followed by Glenn Beck, Clay Travis & Buck Sexton, Sean Hannity, Jesse Kelly, Dave Ramsey and Coast to Coast AM with George Noory. Most hours begin with Fox News Radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHP (AM)</span> Radio station in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

WHP is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, serving the Harrisburg metropolitan area of South Central Pennsylvania. It broadcasts a talk radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios are on Corporate Circle in Harrisburg, off North Progress Avenue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heidi Harris</span> American talk radio host and author

Heidi Harris is an American talk radio host and author. Her show was a two-time winner of the Electronic Media Award (EMA) for Best Local Radio Talk Show. Harris was AM 840 KXNT Las Vegas station's morning host from 2015 to 2017, heard weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., where she also spent 1999 to 2005 as one of Las Vegas’s predominant conservative broadcasters. She also hosts and produces the podcast "Vegas Characters" that features Las Vegas personalities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry O'Connor (radio host)</span>

Lawrence O'Connor is an American talk radio host on the Cumulus-owned heritage radio station WMAL-FM in Washington, D.C., and frequent television guest on the Fox News early morning show Fox & Friends as well as Fox News Channel's Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld. In 2015 he married Meredith Dake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pavlina Osta</span>

Pavlina Osta is an American news anchor, radio personality, former Executive Producer for Salem Media Group, and former radio host of Pavlina's Kidz Place. As of March 2022, Osta was made evening news anchor for the Upper Peninsula TV6 WLUC NBC Fox affiliate station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Plante</span> American radio personality (born 1959)

Christopher Plante is an American talk radio host and journalist currently hosting a syndicated radio program heard on Westwood One and a nightly TV talk show on Newsmax TV.

Ken Matthews is an American talk radio show host, professional speaker, and event host. He had been hosting a national show syndicated by Talk Media Network until his show was terminated in July 2022. His flagship station was WHP (AM) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was a regular rotating host for The Rush Limbaugh Show, and hosted the last two episodes of the program, after Limbaugh's passing. Matthews has repeatedly been named one of the 100 most important talk radio show hosts in America, the "Heavy Hundred", by TALKERS Magazine.

Todd Herman is an American radio show host, digital political strategist, and public speaker. He hosted The Todd Herman Show on KTTH in Seattle and was a regular rotating host on The Rush Limbaugh Show. He was co-chief digital strategist for the Republican National Committee 2009 to 2011, and founded several media companies before being a conservative talk radio host.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "BIO". Mary Walter. 2016-07-07. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "10 Questions with ... Mary Walter". All Access. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  3. ↑ "Mary Walter is in for Brian". FOX News Radio. 2013-08-08. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  4. ↑ Walter, Mary. "Mary Walter profile". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  5. ↑ Courier-Journal, The. "Mary Walter to host WHAS-84 talk show". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  6. ↑ "Mary Walter Joins WMAL's Mornings On The Mall". RadioInsight. 2017-02-21. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  7. ↑ "Mary Walter". Insideradio.com. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  8. ↑ "Mornings On The Mall". WMAL-FM. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  9. ↑ "Mary Walter Joins WMAL's Mornings on the Mall". news.radio-online.com. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  10. ↑ Caterina, Peter (2020-01-21). "HHS Secretary Alex Azar On Protecting Americans From The Coronavirus From China". FOX News Radio. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  11. ↑ Media Matters Staff. "Fox Guest Mary Walter: Immigrants May Not Want Citizenship Because They're "Not Paying Taxes And Enjoying All The Benefits"". Media Matters for America. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  12. ↑ LinkedUpRadio, Envisionwise Website Service /. "Welcome MARY WALTER to Kool 98.3!". Kool 98.3. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  13. ↑ "LISTEN: Mary Walter Departs WMAL's Morning Show 05.13.21". WMAL-FM. 2021-05-13. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  14. ↑ "Mary Walter, 2018 Recipient of The Gracie Award". WMAL-FM. 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  15. ↑ "2020 Gracie Winners". Alliance for Women in Media. 2020-05-13. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  16. ↑ "2020 Gracie Award Winners Press Release". Alliance for Women in Media. 2020-05-13. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  17. ↑ "Gracies". Alliance for Women in Media. 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  18. ↑ "Vince Coglianese". Vince Coglianese. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  19. ↑ Lipsky, Mark (2019-06-04). "Radio's Top Talkers for 2019". The Radio Agency | www.radiodirect.com. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  20. ↑ "2020 Talkers Heavy Hundred • 51-75". TALKERS magazine - “The bible of talk media.”. 2020-07-16. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.