After 50 Years in Radio, Salem's Chuck Gratner Retires

CAMARILLO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/26/14 -- Salem Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: SALM) announced today that long time Pittsburgh General Manager Chuck Gratner is retiring effective July 1st, after 50 years in radio. Chuck has worked for Salem Communications for the last 23 years, managing the company's cluster in Pittsburgh which includes Christian Teaching and Talk formatted WORD 101.5 FM and Christian Teaching and Talk WPIT 73 AM. Chuck will be replaced by the stations' General Sales Manager Tom Lemmon who has been with Salem in Pittsburgh almost 12 years.

"We have been so fortunate to have Chuck's wisdom and expertise all these year's managing our stations in Pittsburgh," said Salem regional Operations VP Linnae Young, who oversees the Pittsburgh market. "While Chuck will be sorely missed we are pleased to have Tom in place in the market who has been working alongside Chuck all these years and is ready to take on this new responsibility."

Chuck has worked at some very big stations during his storied radio career including KRLD, KCBI, and KLTY in Dallas, KCRA TV/Radio and KROY in Sacramento, and was part owner of KCNO in Grass Valley, CA. His first job was on-air at KNJO in Thousand Oaks, CA. During his 50 years in radio, Chuck has been an air talent, seller, program director, GM and part owner of a radio station.

Tom has never worked for another company other than Salem. He originally began as an account executive and moved up to GSM. He left for a time to pastor a church for a few years, but the call of radio brought him back to Salem where he has continued to excel.

"Salem is blessed to have so many outstanding General Managers taking care of business in our markets around the country, and Chuck has been one of our strongest for all these years," said Salem Radio Division President David Santrella. "Chuck has earned his reward for a job well done, and we wish him many more years of success, only this time with a fishing rod instead of a radio tower."

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ABOUT SALEM COMMUNICATIONS:

Salem Communications Corporation is America's leading Christian and conservative multi-media corporation, with media properties comprising radio, digital media and book, magazine and newsletter publishing. Each day Salem serves a loyal and dedicated audience of listeners and readers numbering in the millions nationally. With its unique programming focus, Salem provides compelling content, fresh commentary and relevant information from some of the most respected figures across the media landscape.

The company, through its Salem Radio Group, is the largest commercial U.S. radio broadcasting company providing Christian and conservative programming. Salem owns and operates 104 local radio stations, with 63 stations in the top 25 media markets. Salem Radio Network ("SRN") is a full-service national radio network, with nationally syndicated programs comprising Christian teaching and talk, conservative talk, news, and music. SRN is home to many industry-leading hosts including: Bill Bennett, Mike Gallagher, Hugh Hewitt, Michael Medved, Dennis Prager and Janet Mefferd.

Salem New Media is a powerful source of Christian and conservative themed news, analysis, and commentary. Salem's Christian sites include: Christianity.com®, BibleStudyTools.com, GodTube.com, GodVine.com, WorshipHouseMedia.com and OnePlace.com. Considered by many to be a consolidation of the conservative blogosphere's most influential brands, Salem's conservative sites include Townhall.com®, HotAir.com, Twitchy.com, Human Events.com and Red State.com.

Salem's Regnery Publishing unit, with a 65-year history, remains the nation's leading publisher of conservative books. Having published many of the seminal works of the early conservative movement, Regnery today continues as the dominant publisher in the conservative space, with leading authors including: Ann Coulter, Dinesh D'Souza, Newt Gingrich, David Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin and Mark Steyn. Salem's book publishing business also includes Xulon Press™, a leading provider of self-publishing services for Christian and conservative authors.

Salem Publishing™ publishes Christian and conservative magazines including Homecoming®, YouthWorker Journal™, The Singing News, Preaching and Townhall Magazine™.

Salem Communications also owns Eagle Financial Publications and Eagle Wellness. Eagle Financial Publications provide market analysis and specific investment advice for individual investors from seasoned financial experts Mark Skousen, Nicholas Vardy, Chris Versace and Doug Fabian. Eagle Wellness provides practical health advice and is a trusted source for nutritional supplements from one of the country's leading complementary health physicians.

Company Contact:
Evan D. Masyr
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
(805) 384-4512
Email Contact

Source: Salem Communications Corporation

Released June 26, 2014