With today being Thanksgiving, we present just a very small sampling of the Kansas City media things that BroadcastKC gives thanks for...

Since we're (admittedly) ripping off his annual Thanksgiving column idea, gotta start with Joe Posnanski. Thankful not only for his work here, but also to see him get his dream job at SI this year. It's always great to see folks in KC media take on new and bigger challenges - not just JoPo either. Others come to mind like Rhiannon Ally, Kirk Black, Jeff Vaughn, former Mix night guy Mat Mitchell doing national fill-ins for Billy Bush, and a pair of KC radio alumni now out east - Damon Amendolara (ex KCSP, now in Beantown) & Mo Bounce (formerly KCHZ, now doing nights in MARKET #1, NYC). There's just something about knowing that KC was part of the journey, and where so many honed their craft.  Incredibly thankful for the successes of our KC alumni.

We're thankful for the pioneers of KC media - those who were a part of local radio and television in the early days, defining and refining each medium, and passing along the knowledge and legacy to those who followed. At BKC, one of our core reasons for being is to honor those early contributors. The media landscape literally would not be the same without you. To that end, we're so honored and thankful to be a part of the KC Media Legends group. When you love this stuff like we do, it'll blow your mind to sit down for lunch and a chat with folks like Joe Vaughan, Jack Poessiger, Dan Henry, and so many others. We're especially thankful for Pat Paton, who got us started in the group, and Richard Fatherley, who has shared a wealth of information with us. Plus, Media Legend Ed Autry, an Armed Forces Radio veteran (and all the other people who have served or are serving this great country). To all the Media Legends, thanks so much for letting BroadcastKC be a part of the group!

At BroadcastKC, we're thankful for the legendary broadcasters who still grace our screens and airwaves. Folks like the Dean of Kansas City Broadcasters, KCUR's Walt Bodine. KMBC's Larry Moore. Dick Wilson at 94-9 KCMO. The heritage parts of local media are important to us too -- WDAF-TV's 60th anniversary... The new Wolf legal IDs that don't bury the legendary WDAF calls (not to mention other historic call letters like KUDL, WHB, KXTR, etc)... Those rare times we hear a jock do the legal ID - always will love that, for some reason... We're also thankful for others who enjoy the heritage stuff and the old jocks. Nothing like talking about KY-102 or 97.3 the Planet, B-95, WHB, and all the other old KC stations (it's kinda our thing, ya know?) :-) And we've got nothing but thanks for the folks who enjoy chatting with us about names like David Lawrence, Mike Murphy, Randy Miller, Just Plain Dave, and so many others. Good times.

We're equally thankful though, for the new voices and new endevours that are making their mark on KC media. Folks like KSHB's Peggy Philip, Dave-O on Mix 93.3, and all the others who've joined us this year, with their unique perspectives & visions for local broadcasting. And the new stations... So far in 2009 we've had multiple web stations launch - Black Sky Radio, KCRadio.com, and Sports Radio KC. We're thankful to have them, and people like Joel Roberts, Nightmare & The Jenna, Scott Rhodes, and Ian, who give each station its unique voice. We're thankful too, for all of those who have left local radio the past few years and shown that such a departure doesn't have to be an ending, but instead can serve as a beginning for new and exciting projects. People like Karen Carson, Dan Hurst, Darren Marlar, and George Woods come to mind, among others.

And it goes without saying that we're thankful for ALL of the hardworking folks who make KC media what it is today. Despite all of radio & television's current shortcomings and issues, these people bust their butts to serve their listeners and their community. You folks, both on and off air - far too many for me to name here - are what's RIGHT with media. THANK YOU ALL for what you do!! We're thankful for the remaining LIVE night shifts on local radio... For the weekend personalities who do the #liveradiorules thing for us each weekend - people like Kyle Kristofer, Ryan Scott, Ty James, Taminator, and all the rest... For great specialty programs, like The Country Legends Show with Hall of Famer Ted Cramer & Debbie Erikson, J.D. Jackson's Retro Saturday Night, Robert Moore & Sonic Spectrum, and more others than we can name here...

Something else we're thankful for: The little things, like those slogans & phrases we've heard so often, for so long, that they're burned into our minds. Things like: "I'm Channel 9 Weatherman Joel Nichols," "KQRC Rock Weather," "Working for You," "Q-104's 1,000 Song Weekend," "Live. Latebreaking. Investigative." "It's me, Lazlo," "Coverage You Can Count On," and "I'm Jon Anthony."

How cool is it that KC has a jock so big he can BUMP RYAN SEACREST?? We're thankful for that guy, Kelly Urich, his five o'clock whistle, his Kelly Urich grunts, and his free concert that'll bring a BKC favorite (Better Than Ezra) to town next month. And some other random ones: The hilarious (and in her words) irrelevant Tweets that KCTV's Dana Wright shares, and the boundless enthusiasm of KPRS's Brian B Shynin' on Twitter (especially around Chiefs games!)... Jack Harry... Local owners like Carter Broadcasting, Union Broadcasting, and Pete Schartel, among others... Jeanne Ashley, and the insight she's shared this year at ACRadio.com...

As a UCM alum, and a fan of the Triple-A format, I'm definitely thankful for Jon Hart and his work at 90.9 the Bridge. Everything about the station, from the music and the airstaff to the imaging and the interviews, is deserving of the national recognition KTBG has received. As big of a pain as it can be to live as far east as I do, I'm thankful that here I can also pick up childhood favorite Ken Dillon on KDKD/Clinton (and Larry Moffitt too!), plus mid-MO legend in his own right Radio Don Sibley overnights on KMZU.

Just a few more: "Young" Bobby Day... The familiar voice of Taylor Scott on KUDL when bedtime comes in the wee hours of the morning... One syndicated host: Dave Ramsey, because for me, his plan just flat works... Kris Ketz... Hearing Jason Nivens call KQRC "Kansas City's Rock MONSTER"... Thankful that when Michael Jackson died, we could say THIS was a market that served listeners with live tributes, and countered the prevailing example of radio's shortcomings... Long-time KC voice (and KCFX weekender) Steve Garrett on the PA at Mavericks hockey games... A pair we've enjoyed since the Planet days, Kenny & Ozone on KCTE... And so incredibly thankful to have Nycki Pace & Bryan Truta back on the radio together again, where they BELONG!

We're thankful for the others who cover & promote local media - Aaron Barnhart, John Landsberg, The Rob, Hearne, Greg, & Jack, and KC Media Watch. And of course, we're so thankful for those of you who've discovered BroadcastKC, become a member, and contributed information, audio, tips, or news. We greatly appreciate everyone who's spread the word about what we do here - whether you've told a friend, posted a Tweet, or plugged us over a 100,000 watt FM signal. And of course, all the media consumers we've gotten to talk with, and all the local media personalities (who we won't name, since we're confidentiality fanatics around here) who've proven they're more than just great on-air talents, but also great PEOPLE too!

There's a lot to be thankful for in local media, and that's just a small part of our list here at BKC. Feel free to share what YOU'RE thankful for in local media in the comments below. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Saturday from your friends here at BroadcastKC, and we thank you for stopping by. This week, we have new programs, new stations, new honors, and new positions to share, but we begin with a sad story out of Atlanta...

DENE HALLAM PASSES -- As we first reported last night via Twitter, former KCPW, KCMO-FM, and WDAF-FM Program Director Dene Hallam has died at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. Hallam, a respected country programmer, first gained notoriety for his work in other formats, and was one of two PDs to ever receive Billboard's Program Director of the Year award in two different formats. His radio career began in the mid-1970s playing country music at Fairleigh Dickinson University's WFDU in Teaneck, New Jersey. While still in college, he would begin taking airshifts at a progressive rocker (WRNW-Westchester County, NY), before working his way up and eventually programming stations including WWWW-Detroit.

Hallam's first tour in Kansas City began in 1986, when he took the reins at Gannett Top 40 KCPW (Power 95). He would remain the station's Program Director until its end in 1989, when he would oversee the launch of the longrunning "Oldies 95" format. In 1991, Hallam would leave Kansas City and make his name in the country format at stations like KKBQ-Houston, KYCY-San Francisco, and WYAY/WKHX-Atlanta. The radio veteran would return to Kansas City in 2003, as Entercom was moving legendary 61 Country to the FM band as "Country 106.5." During this second stint in KC, he would work as Operations Manager alongside Hall of Fame programmer Ted Cramer (then WDAF PD) while seeking the goal of, as he put it, "leaving the Country competition in Kansas City in obfuscatory ruins!" Most recently, Hallam had served as PD of the "Moby in the Morning" network in Atlanta. He was 55.

POWERS JOINS THE WOLF -- New WDAF morning personality Blake Powers began his duties at 106-5 the Wolf on Monday. As we previously noted, Powers joins The Wolf from Denver, and his uniquely named "Blake and YOU in the Mornings" program can be heard from 5AM to 9AM weekdays.

KCUR HONORED BY KCABJ -- Just today (Saturday 11/21) UMKC non-comm KCUR was thrice honored by the Kansas City Association of Black Journalists. At the group's 18th annual Media Awards, KCUR was honored in the following categories: News Magazine (for KC Currents), Talk Show (for The Walt Bodine Show), and Feature (Laura Spencer).

BSR OPENS "METAL SHOP" -- Metal lovers have a new place to get a fix on weeknights, as Black Sky Radio launches "Metal Shop." The new program, airing Monday - Friday from 10PM to Midnight, features "all your favorite guitar grinding, drum pounding, head banging favorites!" and can be found at www.BlackSkyRadio.com.

RADIO DAN STREAM BEGINS -- Last week we told you about MorningDan.com, the new website featuring longtime KC radio personality Dan Hurst. Already we have an update for you, as the site has added a streaming radio feed. The jockless station features artists like Dave Koz & George Benson, without "all the annoying stuff that drives you crazy on FM." You can hear the stream on Hurst's website at www.MorningDan.com.

NEW RADIO GEORGE CHANNELS -- RadioGeorge.com, the KC-based internet radio site owned & operated by former KCMO-A morning host George Woods, has added new channels to both its Smooth Jazz & Oldies offerings. To check out the Smooth Jazz, Oldies, and Variety stations at Radio George, CLICK HERE.

KC LIMITS MAY EXPAND -- According to a recent status update on the Facebook page of WDAF's "Kansas City Limits," the show may soon add a third hour. The "red dirt country" program, hosted by Justin Neighbor & Wes Poe, is currently heard from 6PM to 8PM Sundays, and apparently could be extended to 9PM. No word yet on what would happen to the 8PM - 10PM "All Access" program, should that move occur.

KEOLA BOY HEADS TO PORTLAND -- Former KCHZ night host Keola Boy (aka Keola Lui-Kwan) is on the move. This week it was announced he will leave his APD/MD/Afternoon Drive role for Entercom country KBFW-San Francisco. On December 14th, he will reunite with former KBWF Program Director Scott Mahalick at Alpha Broadcasting country KUPL-Portland, where he will host afternoons and serve as Digital APD.

ST. JOHN JOINS DIAL GLOBAL -- John St. John, longtime country programmer, and afternoon host at KFKF in the mid 1980s, has joined Dial Global, where he will program their mainstream country format.

Thanks again for reading, and have a great Thanksgiving week!