Hot Seat: Media Monday 100 Years of WIBX with John Stemen and John Swann, Nabil Khan’s Superman review, and Hospice’s Butterfly Release event 7-14-25
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This week’s Hot Seat: Media Monday explores the intersection of community, culture, and media through three compelling segments: a moving report on a New Hartford butterfly release honoring loved ones, a thoughtful review of the new Superman film that reframes the hero as an immigrant symbol of kindness and identity, and a deep conversation with former WIBX journalists John Steman and John Swan about the evolution of local radio news. The butterfly event showcases how symbolic rituals help communities heal, while the Superman discussion highlights director James Gunn’s fresh take on heroism rooted in empathy and social relevance. Meanwhile, the journalists reflect on the golden age of local reporting, lamenting the decline of in-depth coverage and warning of the dangers posed by shrinking attention spans and media consolidation. Together, these stories illustrate how modern storytelling—whether through film, ritual, or journalism—shapes our understanding of grief, heroism, and the role of citizens in staying informed.
Click here to win a $50 Fandango Gift Card from 95.5 FM & Hot Seat: Media Monday!
Click here to win a $50 Fandango Gift Card from 95.5 FM & Hot Seat: Media Monday!
Jonathan Brooks/ DJ J-Easy is the sound engineer. He is online at Facebook.com/easyatm315, Instagram.com/j_easy315/, and https://on.soundcloud.com/XGKd3e4AZeNtrD2X9
Jim Hale is the photographer and records the show for video and podcast streaming. He is online at Jim Hale (@instanteon) • Instagram photos and videos
Nabil Khan is the entertainment correspondent for Hot Seat: Media Monday. Nabil is online at Letterboxd.com/1andonlynabk/and Instagram.com/instanab.k/.
Brian Lazore and Lazore Photography are online at lazorephotography.smugmug.com, Facebook.com/LazorePhotography, https://www.threads.net/@lazorephotography and YouTube.com/@LazorePhotography. The Off The Record with Lazore Photography podcast is online at Spotify and Amazon Music
Ron Klopfanstein is an award-winning multimedia investigative journalist, news and producer for 95.5 FM “The Heat” broadcast and streaming. He hosts Hot Seat: Media Monday every Monday at 5 pm, broadcast on 95.5 FM and streaming at 955TheHeat.com. Podcasts at: https://open.spotify.com/show/4nbrIF49K56OxbPljuw1Lv?si=7e000e7279f54c2a Like him at Facebook.com/ReadRonKlopfanstein, Follow him at Bsky.app/profile/ronklopfanstein.bsky.social, Threads.net/@RonKlopfanstein, Instagram.com/RonKlopfanstein, Tiktok.com/@ronklopfanstein, and subscribe to his channel at YouTube.com/@RonKlopfanstein. Read all his work at Muckrack.com/ron-klopfanstein.
