In October 2023, when Nexstar Media Group finalized its acquisition of McKinnon Broadcasting Co. and San Diego’s KUSI-TV, Steve Cohen’s 20-year run as KUSI’s news director was over. At the time, Cohen was in his 50th year of working in television news.
During his half-century in TV newsroom executive positions, Cohen managed TV newsrooms in some of America’s largest markets, including New York, Detroit, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, as well as stations in Arkansas, Utah and Buffalo, New York. His earned his first news director job in 1973 in Peoria, Ill.
Since leaving KUSI three years ago, Cohen has kept busy as a TV consultant. He has advised Christopher Ruddy, majority owner of Newsmax Media and Newsmax TV.
But, Cohen also has been considering a future in politics.
“I thought about running for San Diego mayor, but I didn’t pursue it,” Cohen told Times of San Diego.
Then, last March, Cohen said he received a phone call from the Republican Party of San Diego County.
“They were looking for candidates to run for Congress against Scott Peters, and they wanted someone who they considered ‘substantial,’ as they put it,” Cohen said. “I thought about it, called them back and said, ‘Let’s give it a shot.’
“So, here I am, giving speeches, asking for votes and campaigning like I was a 20-year-old. Sure, I could be talking walks on the beach, but I would prefer to be in the game. I’m not afraid of swimming in the deep end.”
Cohen, 79, remains a highly-respected legend in San Diego’s TV news industry.
“Nobody is more energetic than me about protecting social security, senior rights, healthcare that works for patients, fiscal accountability, border security, a balanced federal budget and a thriving economy that will make San Diego affordable for working families,” he said.
“I’m not a politician, but I’ve spent my entire career covering politicians. I’ve investigated stories that mattered to working families, not the ones that made politicians comfortable. I’ve reported on grocery prices eating up paychecks and healthcare premiums that force impossible choices. I’ve seen housing costs push families out of neighborhoods they grew up in.
“I’m running for Congress because I’ve watched from behind the camera long enough. It’s obvious to me that Congress is broken. I’ve spent 50 years holding the powerful accountable, and I’m not stopping now.”
Cohen is challenging longtime incumbent Scott Peters in California’s 50th Congressional District. The district boundaries include key San Diego County communities, such as La Jolla, Carmel Valley, Point Loma, Coronado, downtown San Diego, Poway and portions of San Marcos and Escondido.
Peters, who has served in Congress for 13 years, is currently in his seventh term. A former two-term San Diego City Council member and San Diego Unified Port District commissioner, Peters has worked in government and served as an elected official for roughly 30 years.
“If elected, I will be a disruptor. I will represent the voters of the 50th with a passion. I’ve spent 50 years making sure the powerful couldn’t hide behind talking points and press releases. I’m not going to Washington to learn their language. I’m going to make them speak ours,” Cohen said.
Last week, Cohen was endorsed by the California Republican Party. He is the only Republican in a field of six candidates that includes Peters.
According to the California Secretary of State, other certified candidates appearing on the primary ballot include Democrats Tim Arnous and Aishwarya “Sparky” Mitra, Joseph “Joe” Shea of the Libertarian Party and Lucinda Jahn with no party preference.
Of the roughly 760,000 residents who live within the 50th Congressional district boundaries, Cohen said registered Democrats outnumber Republican voters by nearly a 2 to 1 margin. Registered voters total about 475,000, according to the Secretary of State.
“For 50 years, I’ve asked tough questions of politicians from both parties, and I’m not about to stop now just because I’m the one running,” he said.
Voting for the June 2 primary election has been underway since ballots were mailed starting the week of May 4. California’s top-two primary system means all candidates appear on the same ballot. The top two vote-getters in the primary, regardless of party affiliation, will move on to the Nov. 3 general election.
“If I can get past the primary, then I think I’ve got a good chance to win in November,” Cohen said. “I’ve received fantastic response from San Diegans because, for one reason, they love watching KUSI.
“What we did for 20 years at KUSI might never be duplicated. Our newsroom was dedicated to covering stories that mattered most to San Diego families. When I mention KUSI, people say to me, ‘Because of KUSI, I’m voting for you, regardless of politics.'”
LA radio station axes news programming for sports
KNX News, a legendary Los Angeles all-news radio station with more than 1 million weekly listeners on both its 1070-AM and 97.1-FM frequencies, has replaced its FM news simulcast with an all-sports talk format.
The FM station is now branded as 97.1 The Fan. It’s the first-ever all-sports FM radio station in Los Angeles radio history, according to station owner Audacy, Inc. (NYSE: AUD) of Philadelphia.
Weekday talk-show shows debuting Monday, May 18 include “Derek & Decker” (6-10 a.m.) with Derek Fisher and Cody Decker, “Brock & Alex” (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) with Brock Vereen and Alex Curry and “D-Mac and Reiter” (2-6 p.m.) with Doug McKain and Bill Reiter.
Fisher is a five-time NBA champion and former head coach known for his clutch performances with the Los Angeles Lakers. Decker, a UCLA alumnus drafted by the San Diego Padres, spent nearly a decade in pro baseball.
Vereen is a former NFL safety turned analyst for Fox Sports and the Big Ten Network. Curry, an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster and host for Fox Sports. She first gained national recognition with the Los Angeles Kings.
McKain is a former host of “Dodgers Nation” and “Locked on Rams” shows. Reiter is a national sports columnist for CBS Sports and veteran journalist who has worked at Sports Illustrated and Fox Sports.
“Los Angeles is a sports powerhouse with a deep connection between teams, fans, and culture, and this new lineup brings together championship-level personalities, veteran player perspective and sharp analytical expertise,” said Andrew Williams, brand manager, 97.1 The Fan. “We’re building a full-scale, live and local LA sports network that brings sports to the FM dial and across multiple platforms to meet our audiences where they are. We’re excited to give fans an unparalleled listening and viewing experience that’s as entertaining and authentic as it is insightful.”
Weekend programming and an additional day-part schedule have not yet been announced. Additionally, the station has yet to announce any rights partnerships with local teams.
“Los Angeles is the epicenter of the sports world, and 97.1 The Fan is its new voice,” said Jeff Federman, regional president, Audacy West. “With legendary franchises and global events like the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics on the horizon, the time was right to bring our industry-leading sports programming to this market.
“The Voice of LA Sports will be a 24/7, multiplatform home where fans are part of the conversation every day, building on the same commitment to local connection that has made KNX News a trusted cornerstone in Los Angeles and strengthening our overall offering.”
97.1 The Fan becomes Audacy’s 22nd FM sports station. The company claims FM sports presence across all top 10 U.S. markets. Its portfolio includes more than 40 owned-and-operated radio sports stations and 160 digital sports channels.
In San Diego, Audacy operates radio station KWFN-FM 97.3 The Fan, which is the English-speaking flagship station for San Diego Padres games.
Radio industry observers have questioned Audacy’s strategy behind the decision to axe news programming on the FM dial.
“Audacy isn’t just launching another station. It’s testing whether FM can finally unlock a market that has resisted the format at scale like other large markets,” wrote John Mamola, sports editor and daily sports columnist, Barrett Media.
Also, Mamola said KNX performed well on FM and ranked as a top news outlet in recent Nielsen data. It’s also one of the top billing stations in the country.
According to Mamola, “Los Angeles has always played by different rules. Star power matters. Access matters. And increasingly, convenience matters most. If 97.1 The Fan succeeds, it won’t be because it’s on FM. It will be because it offers something the others don’t. With the management team in place, I fully expect that’s the goal. Be different in a town full of differences.”
Garrett Searight of Barrett Media said, “Generally a sixth-place station isn’t ripe for a format change. Especially in a market like Los Angeles. But, Audacy is making a bold move.”
Brian Gallagher, New York Post, said, “The launch will not be without some challenges since The Fan will not have any rights to broadcast live play-by-play coverage for Los Angeles teams.”
Los Angeles, considered as the nation’s second largest media market, already has two established all-sports radio outlets, including Good Karma Brands’ KSPN, ESPN LA 710-AM and iHeartMedia’s KLAC AM-570.
710-AM has been home of the Los Angeles Lakers since 2009. The station also partners with the Rams, Angels, Kings, LAFC and USC Athletics.
AM-570, co-owned by the Los Angeles Dodgers, also holds rights to the Clippers and Chargers, with some Chargers broadcasts airing on sister station KFI. In addition, AM-570 carries Westwood One NFL and college play-by-play.
Survey: News media blamed for WHCA shooter
A majority of Americans blame the mainstream news media’s coverage of President Donald Trump for inspiring the assassination attempt at last month’s White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) dinner, according to Rasmussen Reports.
Rasmussen’s May 4 survey of 1,076 likely U.S. voters revealed that 60% of them said negative news media coverage of the President contributed to the attempted attack by an armed suspect on April 25, including 41% who said it was “very likely.”
The findings show a significant share of Americans place blame media rhetoric for political violence, said Rasmussen.
In addition, the survey underscores widespread concern about the nation’s political climate.
A striking 71% of respondents said political violence is getting worse, compared to just 8% who believe it is improving.
Nearly three-quarters (73%) of voters said how most news outlets report on politics makes the country more divided, while only 11% said it promotes unity.
The findings cut across party line, with majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents agreeing that media coverage contributes to division, Rasmussen said.
Among those who viewed the media as divisive, the connection to the assassination attempt is even stronger: 77% of that group said negative coverage of Trump likely played a role in inspiring the suspect.
The White House has echoed similar concerns, warning that increasingly heated political rhetoric, particularly from the left, is creating a dangerous environment.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the writings of the alleged attacker mirrored language commonly used by figures within the Democratic Party, calling the incident part of a broader pattern of escalating rhetoric.
Rick Griffin is a San Diego-based public relations and marketing consultant. His MarketInk column appears weekly in Times of San Diego.
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