La Jolla resident Barry Jagoda, who served as President Jimmy Carter’s TV advisor and debate coach, said he was not sad when he heard the news about Carter’s passing at age 100.
“I don’t feel a sense of sadness because he lived such a very productive life,” Jagoda told Times of San Diego. “At 100 years old, it wasn’t a surprise. He had incredible fortitude, despite being in hospice the past two years.”
On Sunday, Dec. 29, the day Carter passed, Jagoda said he spent time in interviews with local and national news media outlets about his work with the former president. “I’ve been inundated with news media requests,” he said. “I’ve talked with CNN, NewsNation, and local TV.”
In 1976, Jagoda coached former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter for his presidential debates against incumbent U.S. President Gerald Ford. Later, Carter became the 39th U.S. president. Carter won the popular vote (40,831,881 to Ford’s 39,148,634) and garnered 297 electoral votes to Ford’s 240.
“Carter had a lightning-quick mind and immersion in data was most important for the debate so I strongly recommended several days of isolation for study,” Jagoda told Times of San Diego.
“Carter agreed to that recommendation and I knew he could better manage facts than could the incumbent. That was the way it turned out, especially when the voting public could see President Ford stumble over basic geopolitical realities, particularly regarding Eastern Europe.
“A fundamental goal for Carter was to make sure the American public saw the two candidates standing equally on the debate stage with the challenger ready to take on the incumbent in appearance and in substance.”
Jagoda writes about his role as Carter’s campaign TV advisor and later as special assistant in the White House in his memoir book, “Journeys with Jimmy Carter and Other Adventures in Media,” published by Koehler Books. Prior to working in politics, Jagoda worked as a producer for CBS News, winning Emmy Awards for coverage of the first man on the moon and the Watergate scandal.
“The book has sold 4,000 copies, which is pretty good for a memoir,” said Jagoda, 80, who has lived in La Jolla the past 21 years. He has been semi-retired since 2013. He is a contributing writer for Times of San Diego.
Jagoda worked for 53 years in journalism and public relations and marketing communications. After leaving the White House in 1979 (Jagoda did not assist Carter with his 1980 debates against Ronald Reagan), Jagoda worked as director of public relations at George Washington University, director of communications for IMPAC, a productivity consulting firm, and communications director for the University of California, San Diego.
“He (Carter) was a tough boss, demanding and always precise,” Jagoda said. “He asked from us who were working for him to always do our best, which he promised the American people he would do. So many of us have been honored to serve the country under his leadership because we thought he always put the national interest first. I’m in awe of a guy who can live 100 years and have such accomplishments in that life.
“Our nation will miss him.”
San Diego’s One America News Debuts Matt Gaetz’s TV Show on Jan. 2
One America News Network, a San Diego-based, right-wing, cable TV news network operated by Herring Networks, Inc., has announced that Matt Gaetz, former eight-year Republican Florida congressman and recent U.S. attorney general nominee, will host a one-hour, weeknight political TV show starting Thursday, Jan. 2.
Additionally, Gaetz will co-host a weekly video podcast with OAN anchor Dan Ball.
“The Matt Gaetz Show,” scheduled to air on OAN at 6 p.m. Pacific time, or 9 p.m. Eastern time, will feature guests who will provide analysis, prospective and commentary, according to Charles Herring, OAN president.
“Mr. Gaetz will provide extensive insights and analysis of the incoming administration for our viewers,” Herring told Times of San Diego. Herring also confirmed to Times of San Diego the Jan. 2 debut date. It’s expected Gaetz’s show will air from OAN’s studios in Washington, D.C.
“Matt is a remarkable talent and a principled leader,” Herring said in a statement. “His insider access to America’s top policymakers and unwavering dedication to America-first values will bring unparalleled insight and exclusive content to OAN viewers. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the OAN family.”
Herring also told the Associated Press the podcast is an illustration of how OAN is using other media forms, including streaming, podcasts and social media, to increase its visibility.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to join OAN’s forward-thinking team and be part of this revolutionary expansion,” Gaetz said in a statement. “OAN is blazing a trail in media, embracing not just traditional news but the platforms where Americans are going, streaming, apps, podcasts and social media.”
Gaetz, 42, joins a list of former members of Congress who currently host cable TV news programs. They include: Fox News Channel’s Trey Gowdy, who represented South Carolina from 2011 to 2019; FNC’s Jason Chaffetz, who represented Utah from 2009 to 2017; FNC’s Devin Nunes, who represented California’s San Joaquin Valley from 2002 to 2021; MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, who represented Florida’s 1st District (the same district Gaetz’s previously represented) from 1995 to 2001.
Gaetz is no stranger to hosting primetime TV shows. He has guest-hosted for FNC’s Sean Hannity on several occasions, discussing border security, Second Amendment rights and tax reform, among other topics.
On Nov. 13, President-elect Donald Trump announced that Gaetz, who won reelection on Election Day, was his nominee for attorney general. On that same day, Gaetz resigned from Congress, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson.
However, eight days later, Gaetz withdrew his name from attorney general consideration over sex-trafficking allegations that raised doubts for his Senate confirmation possibility.
On Dec. 23, the House Ethics Committee released a 37-page report that accused Gaetz of “regularly” paying for sex, including once with a 17-year-old girl, and purchasing and using illicit drugs as a member of Congress from 2017 to 2020, while representing Florida’s western Panhandle. Before the report came out, Gaetz denied any wrongdoing and criticized the committee’s process.
Longtime television host and best-selling author Bill O’Reilly also knows well about the effects of sexual harassment allegations.
In 2016, O’Reilly lost his job at Fox News Channel amid news reports of $13 million in payouts to five women over sexual harassment allegations. After several dozen FNC advertisers reportedly dropped buying commercial airtime, FNC fired O’Reilly. His show had been Fox’s top-rated show for the previous 16 years.
“All accusations are convictions,” O’Reilly told cable TV news anchor Rob Finnerty during a Dec. 9 interview on Newsmax. “People are numb to it now, they know what the industry is, there’s an extortion industry.
“Every American now understands that accusations will now be used to destroy people and their families. And the witch-hunter who participate in this, to me, are despicable human beings.”
Finnerty asked O’Reilly about Gaetz’s new gig on OAN. O’Reilly responded, “Look, Gaetz (has) got to make a living. If he gets a good deal from whomever, then he should go and do it if he thinks it will be fun.”
San Diego’s BIG-FM Sold to L.A. Radio Station Owner
San Diego radio station KFBG-FM, which calls itself 100.7 BIG-FM, is set to be acquired by Lotus Communications Corp., based in Los Angeles.
As reported by Inside Radio, a radio industry trade publication, an application for the sale has been filed with the Federal Communications Commission. The purchase price has been reported as $3.5 million. The transaction was brokered by Kalil & Company of Tucson, Arizona.
In San Diego’s radio history, the 100.7-FM frequency, with KFMB as its call letters, has been known as B100 and Star 100.7. In January 2020, radio station operator Local Media San Diego acquired the 100.7-FM frequency from Tegna, Inc.
Then, in April 2020, the FCC approved a call-letter change for the FM radio station from KFMB to KFBG and LMSD officials selected the BIG-FM name.
A statement said the decision to sell KFBG-FM comes as part of a strategic realignment of LMSD’s assets. LMSD, operated by Gregg Wolfson and Norm McKee, will continue to operate three Mexican-licensed FM radio stations in San Diego, including XHRM-FM Magic 92.5, XHTZ-FM Z-90.3, and XTRA-FM 91X.
Lotus Communications, founded by Howard Kalmenson, is one of the largest privately-owned radio station groups in the U.S. It was founded in 1962 with the purchase of KWKW, one of Los Angeles’ first Spanish-language stations. Today, Lotus owns and operates 46 stations and a digital agency. The stations currently serve the Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Boise, Fresno, Las Vegas, Reno, Sacramento, Seattle and Tucson radio markets.
The KFBG-FM purchase marks Lotus’ reentry into the San Diego market after previously owning 94.1 KFSD in the 1990s. Today, Lotus is operated by James Kalmenson, son of Howard Kalmenson.
Rick Griffin is a San Diego-based public relations and marketing consultant. His MarketInk column appears weekly on Mondays in Times of San Diego.
