Valley Broadcast Legends
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Meetings: 2nd Tuesday even numbered months

Events:
   
2025: 11 Feb, 8 Apr, 10 Jun, 12 Aug, 14 Oct, 9 Dec
  
 
Our venue is The Aviator’s Restaurant inside Sacramento Executive Airport, 6151 Freeport Blvd. Doors open at 11:00 a.m. with buffet service beginning at 11:30.
  

 

  
11 February: What's Going on at CapRadio?
  
     

Ishani Desai
Sacramento Bee reporter

Capital Public Radio—better known as CapRadio—has been much in the news lately as allegations continue to swirl as to financial mismanagement. What’s really going on behind the doors at our public radio stations? Our guest at the February 11 meeting of Valley Broadcast Legends will be Ishani Desai, the reporter who has been covering the story for the Sacramento Bee. In her presentation for us, she plans to focus on the problems facing CapRadio and how it got to this point.

Ishani Desai has worked as a breaking news reporter at the Bee since September of 2023. She caught the journalism bug after joining the UCLA college newspaper, The Daily Bruin, as a copy editor and reporter. She began working at The Bakersfield Californian as a crime and courts reporter, where she tracked down every homicide and covered highprofile trials riveting the county.


In a story that broke in the Bee on January 21, Ms. Desai interviewed several CapRadio DJs who were laid off back in 2023, when CapRadio cancelled all of its local music programs, citing lack of funds. They finally broke their silence over the latest scandal to hit CapRadio, accusations that former General Manager Jun Reina used station money to support a lavish lifestyle.

Mick Martin had hosted a popular blues program going back to 1991, and often raised the most money of any host during pledge drives. “I cannot tell you how depressing it was,” Martin said, referring to the allegations of station money being used for golf memberships and tropical vacations. “There’s no words for it.”

Dennis Newhall, who hosted a jazz program, said Reina was likeable and seemed trustworthy. “To see this downfall is quite a shock.”

CapRadio is, indeed, a hot topic in the local broadcast community and beyond. This promises to be an intriguing program that you won’t want to miss. That’s Tuesday, February 11, at noon at Aviator’s at Executive Airport. RSVPs must be made one week in advance, no later than Tuesday, February 4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

last edited
29 Jan. 2025
--Copy Joyce Kreig