Highs, lows for radio over the past year

The 2008 radio year is history. Here are some of the highs and lows as I look back on the year:

Best continuing stunts: "Johnson and Johnson" on KUBL, with a Valentine's Day wedding, Green Jell-O dive, pumpkin drop and many more.

Best talk show: Doug Wright, KSL.

Best station for syndicated talk radio: KNRS with Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Dr. Laura and more.

Best newscaster: Dan Bammes, KUER.

Best news station: KSL.

Best overall morning show: Jon Carter and Brett, "The Coach," KRSP.

Best late-morning DJ: Shawn Stevens, KBEE.

Best midday DJ: Dan Jessop, KBZN.

Best afternoon DJ: Rob Boshard, KODJ.

Best afternoon drive time show: "Freak Show," with Mick and Allen, KBER.

Best morning DJ with the least talk: "Country Joe," KKAT.

Best new morning show: "The Breakfast Club," KODJ.

Best male voice: Bob Nelson, KSFI.

Best fill-in host: Tim Hughes, KSL.

Best traffic reporters: "General Gridlock" and "J.T."

Best beat the odds show: Bob Lonsberry, KNRS, who started in 2000 as a S.L. morning host — even though he lives in Rochester, N.Y. — something few thought would work for a year, let alone almost nine years and running.

Best illustrations of the power of radio: 1. KUBL's "Johnson and Johnson" getting Weber High students to send in almost 600,000 text messages for a chance to have Jessica Simpson visit the school. 2. Bob Lonsberry, who asked for more friends on his Facebook page while filling in for Glenn Beck on Christmas Eve. He gained more than a thousand "friends" in a few hours.

Best Web sites: KSL and KZHT.

Best use of telephone: 1. "Z-Morning Zoo," KZHT; 2. "Johnson and Johnson," KUBL. Both stations frequently take listener phone calls.

Biggest milestones: The "Radio From Hell" show celebrating it 5,000th episode; Doug Wright marking 30 years on the air; the Salt Lake radio market becoming the nation's 30th largest.

Biggest losses: The deaths of David B. Smith, Bob Morey and Fred R. Brown.