Former Clear Channel regional VP/Programming Todd Shannon joins Cox Radio as Operations Director for their Jacksonville, Florida stations … Former WINS-AM “1010 WINS” New York City news anchor Jessica Ettinger Gottesman is the new afternoon drive anchor for Seattle’s KIRO-FM (97.3) … Fisher Communications promotes Randa Minkarah to be their new SVP of Business Development … Portland, Oregon’s KXTG-FM (95.5) morning host Gavin Dawson is leaving for Dallas, joining KRLD-FM (105.3) “The Fan” for afternoon drive, starting March 29 – Discuss it … Scott Wilder is back on the air in Dallas, joining KVTT-AM (1110) – Discuss it … The contemporary Christian K-Love Radio Network brings on Ty McFarland as PD. He will take over on April 12 … LARadio.com says KNX-AM (1070) PD Julie Chin and Steve Herbert, the chief engineer for KCRW-FM (89.9) are running in the LA Marathon this weekend.

Marshall is going to jail, sentenced to 7 ½ years in Arkansas for distribution of child pornography. Authorities claim Marshall, who at one time was an executive producer for the 1980’s hit sit-com “Growing Pains,” both sent and received child pornography and participated in online chats “detailing child abduction, bondage, rapes and murders.” Marshall was originally charged with possession and distribution of child porn when he was arrested 11 months ago. The possession charges were dropped when he pleaded guilty to the distribution charges.

Local did worse than national business, says New York-based Kantar, down an estimated 20.3% for the full year and 11.7% for the fourth quarter. National spot shrank nearly 25% (24.6%) for the year and about 17% for Q4. Kantar’s estimate of network radio business is that it dropped about 8-9% for both the full year and Q4. Radio’s estimated total take, therefore, was off about 20.3%. For purposes of comparison, Kantar believes all television media combined dropped about 9.5% last year, outdoor was off about 13%, newspapers fell about 19.7% and Internet display ads improved by about 7%.

The just-filed deal includes the cancellation of BizRadio’s 2008 loan from Salem, now estimated to be worth $1.26 million. Salem is also getting $800,000 in cash. But BizRadio will be allowed “purchase airtime for programming on certain stations” owned by Salem, according to the purchase agreement. BizRadio produces financial talk programming and has been on the air in three Texas markets. As for KTEK, there’s a time brokerage deal that gives Salem the right to program most of the broadcast day prior to the closing. KTEK, Alvin, Texas is a daytime-only station with 2,500 watts. On the Houston Board of Radio-Info.com, there’s been a spirited discussion about BizRadio’s move onto KTEK and off it again.

Both NewsCorp, the parent of the Wall Street Journal, and National Public Radio are working fast to develop apps for the soon-to-be released Apple iPad. MediaMemo is reporting that viewers to the Wall Street Journal website will be able to click on an iPad-specific, Flash-free page. NPR is building a version of their website specifically for iPad users. The iPad is set to debut on April 3.

The latest BBM ratings in Toronto put two AC stations on top, with CHFI-FM (98.1) holding a 13.9 share followed by CHUM-FM (104.5) at 10.4. You can listen to CHFI “Toronto’s Lite Favourites” … In Calgary, the nation’s fifth-largest market, news/talk CHQR-AM (770) was #1 with a 9.6 share, followed closely by country CKRY-FM (105.1) & CHFM (95.9) “Lite 96.” Check the latest ratings from the BBM consortium … Rogers Communications promotes Chuck McCoy from national PD to VP and Cluster Manager for Toronto/Kitchener, Ontario . Taking McCoy’s place as national PD is Julie Adam, promoted from asst. national PD … CKMH-FM (105.3) in Medicine Hat, Alberta names Trapper John as PD, says Milkman UnLimited.

A study by New Zealand’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) found that the acceptance of online advertising is gaining on both radio and magazines. In New Zealand, nine forms of advertising were surveyed, including TV, radio, magazines, billboards, mail, cinema, newspapers, interactive and unaddressed mailings. The study found that only interactive ads online showed any increase from 2008 to 2009. The total advertising market in New Zealand fell 12% to $2.04 billion in 2009. However, during that same period, online advertising increased 10.5% to $193 million. Of the nine forms of advertising, only online has increased yearly since 2006. You can view the report here.

Liberty Media, through a subsidiary, had bought up the debt of bankrupt WorldSpace last year. Negotiations had proceeding between the two satellite owners, but on Tuesday, they broke down. Radio-Info previously reported that Liberty, which owns a 40% stake in Sirius XM, might be interested in WorldSpace’s satellite radio operations in Asia and Africa to complement Sirius XM. Now that Liberty Media has ended negotiations, WorldSpace says it may de-commission some satellites and explore alternatives as it remains in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Country KMPS (94.1) has a new morning team in Candy and Potter, who join the station March 22. They replace longtime morning host Ichabod Caine and his wife, Scallops, who signed off on Dec. 18. Candy and Potter are also a married couple, as well as Seattle-area natives. They started working together at KBKS Seattle in 2000, and moved on to stints at WFLY Albany. N.Y., and WLNK Charlotte, N.C. Married for eight years, they are expecting their first child in May.

April looks to be up 17%, May 23% and June 21%, says Katz executive Stu Olds, who says “Every region and market segment” shows strong pacing in national business. Every region of the U.S. is up double digits in the first quarter and second quarter. By market size, the anecdotal evidence of a strong rebound in the largest markets finds statistical support from Katz, with an estimated 26% first-quarter gain for the top 10 markets. That’s stronger than in any other grouping, though the next tier (markets 11-25) did about 20% better in national business. Finally, Katz looks forward to political spending in the 2010 election cycle, especially from the new corporate advertising that was cleared by the Supreme Court in January.

Emmis-owned WFNI-AM (1070) “The Fan” in Indianapolis drops Indy Star sports writer Bob Kravitz from afternoon drive., calling it a “business decision.” Eddie White remains in afternoons solo … Mike Romigh is officially named as morning host for Youngstown, Ohio talker WKBN-AM (570), replacing Robert Mangino, who left for Pittsburgh’s KDKA-AM (1020) … Radio-Info confirms Tim Satterfield is out as OM for Clear Channel’s Greensboro, North Carolina cluster. No replacement named … WXCL-FM (104.9) in Peoria, Illinois adds Jaymie Gordon for mornings as the co-host with John Young … Chicago’s WSCR-AM (670) will pair brothers Ozzie Guillen, Jr. & Oney Guillen to host Latino Baseball Chicago on Sunday evenings. They're the sons of Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen … National Geographic Entertainment says United Stations Radio Networks (USRN) will be the distributor of National Geographic’s radio programming, beginning April 3, 2010 … WWSJ-AM (1580) in Saint Johns, Michigan can now be heard on the FM dial, thanks to a new FM translator, W262BD at 100.3.

The tax-exempt bonds sold in cooperation with the District of Columbia will help fund the construction of their new Washington, DC headquarters, converting and old warehouse into a seven-story office building. NPR announced that $10 million in reserve funds and $58 million from the debt sale will go toward construction expenses. Moody’s assigned NPR’s debt a rating of Aa3, while Standard & Poor’s gave it a AA- rating. Both debt ratings are among the four highest in their investment grades.

Even though Sirius XM stock (SIRI) breached the $1 barrier for one eight-day period (February 18-26), it did not stay above the $1 mark long enough to avoid the threat of being de-listed from the Nasdaq exchange. Reuters reports that Siriux XM will likely appeal any de-listing notice and seek a six-month extension. Sirius XM did receive some positive news from the analysts tracking its stock. BGB Securities analyst Murray Arenson keeps his “Buy” rating on Sirius, with a stock price target of $1.15, while Barrington Research analysts James Goss and John Hain have a $1.25 12-month price target on it. Sirius XM stock has climbed 50% over the last 12 months. You can track Sirius XM stock here.

He spent 28 years with CBS Radio, holding down positions including anchoring CBS Radio Network’s “News-on-the-Hour” in the 1970’s – something he helped create. When Bill Paley decided to make New York City’s WCBS-AM (880) into an all-news outlet, which followed the move by WINS-AM (1010) a few years prior, Paley chose Joseph Dembo to be the station’s first program director. Dembo later became VP/GM of CBS Radio, putting together a legendary staff that included anchor Charles Osgood, street reporter Ed Bradley and sportscaster Pat Summerall. Dembo’s choice for news director, Ed Joyce, would later become president of CBS News. After leaving CBS in 1988, he joined New York’s Fordham University as a professor of media studies. Dembo passed away in Manhattan. He was 83. Read more about the career of Joseph Dembo here.

After 15 years of sales in the Windy City, WGN-AM, Chicago (720) Director of Sales Wendi Power moves south to Tampa, taking over as GM of three FMs for Cox. In Chicago, Vocalo.org reports that WGN swiftly promotes Jeff Hill from LSM to Director of Sales, replacing Power, while Matt Munro is promoted to Local Sales Manager, replacing Hill. The Tampa Board of Radio-Info notices the news about the incoming GM.