Radio Broadcasting History
Captain Mel Berman
THUMBNAIL INFO:
Native of Philadelphia, PA
Florida resident
Wife - Ginny
Daughter - Debbie Arkin: Runs office for Husband Dr. Steve Arkin
Son - Ron Berman, Vice President, Brunswick Corp., Saltwater Boat Group
Veteran U.S. Navy Air Corps & Navy Air Reserves
Education to Temple University (Psychology Major - not completed)
Broadcast career includes employment as disc jockey, voice-over announcer and narrator, talk show host, TV news anchor, radio & TV news reporter, operations manager, program director, producer, writer
970-WFLA: Host of the Capt. Mel Berman Show since 1985
Winner - Freedoms Foundation George Washington Medal, Peabody Award
Magazine & newspaper writer/columnist)
Licensed Coast Guard Charter Captain
Writer for the Tampa Tribune and Florida Fishing Weekly
On the air at WFLA since 1985, the Capt. Mel Berman Show has been the most popular radio fishing talk show in Florida. All along the extensive coverage area of 970-WFLA Radio, this unique Saturday morning 6 to 9 am program has been established as a sort of weekly 'Town Meeting of Fishing', becoming a strong listening habit with a large segment of Suncoast residents.The Capt. Mel Berman Show has become the prototype for a new genre of fishing shows. One of the main reasons for the show's success is the highly professional voice and delivery of Capt. Mel Berman. His broadcast background includes all phases of radio, TV broadccast and production, as a voice-over announcer, disc jockey and talk show host.
The Capt. Mel Berman Show spotlights a variety of the most eminent fishing and conservation experts guests. Even those who have only a casual interest in fishing have become avid listeners to this highly engaging talk show. Not simply a "what's biting and where show," the program covers techniques, tackle, baits, plus what's new in the fishing world... all with a strong emphasis on conservation. It is the latter which seems to attract the additional, non-fishing-enthusiast audience. In recent years, polls have shown a growing interest in the ecology and a popular desire to protect and enhance our natural environment. As protagonist for this point of view, Captain Mel gives voice to what many deeply feel about these vital issues.
The result has been a huge coalition of fishing enthusiasts and environmentally oriented listeners, attaining 'prime-time' numbers in the usually dormant Saturday morning talk station ratings. During several surveys The Captain Mel Show has been placed number one in its time period, beating out many strong FM music operations with top audience numbers in the Tampa Bay market. As a result, stations all over Florida and in other parts of the country have emulated its highly engaging program concept.
Mel has held a U.S. Coast Guard captain's license for many years, with several years as an offshore charter skipper. Growing up in Philadelphia, Mel fished the productive waters off New Jersey for the bruising blues and other species. Then, taking a several years hiatus while pursuing a broadcast career, Mel resumed his first love upon relocating to Florida in 1970. As an outdoor writer, Mel writes a regular Friday fishing column and feature writer for the St. Petersburg Times, is a contributing editor for Gulfcoast Angler, The Fisherman, Suncoast Fisherman's Guide, and Sports Tampa Bay Magazines.
A broadcaster with more than 40 years of radio and television experience, Mel has worked as air talent and behind the scenes with such notable broadcast organizations as NBC, Metromedia, Storz, Rollins, Strauss, and others. One of the original 'Top-40' disc jockeys in the country at WHB in Kansas City, Mel was also one of the "Good-Guys" at WMCA in New York during the '60s. As a beat reporter for Metromedia in the New York City area, Mel covered the United Nations and other major events. He was a recipient of a Freedoms Foundation George Washington medal for a documentary which was aired by Metromedia around the world. Mel was also part of a broadcast team that received a Peabody Award for coverage of the United Nations. Among Mel's other distinctions is production of the first network broadcast segment of the actual birth of a baby for the NBC Radio documentary Second Sunday.
While operations manager for WJAS, an NBC owned and operated station in Pittsburgh, he instituted one of the nation's first news/talk formats, garnering top ratings in the nation's 9th market.
An accomplished photographer, Mel has taught photography, and has been a regular contributor for Popular Photography, US Camera, and Modern Photography magazines.
Captain Mel resides with his wife, Ginny in Tampa. They have two children: Debbie Arkin, who works with her husband Dr. Steve Arkin in Tampa, and Ron Berman, who lives in Port Orange Florida and is Vice President Brunswick Corp., Saltwater Boat Group. Ron is father to granddaughter Melissa, grandson Matthew, and granddaughter Emily
