Kevin Donovan began his career at the Toronto Sun as an intern in 1985 and has since built a 38-year career in investigative journalism, currently serving as the Chief Investigative Reporter for The Star. He studied political science at the University of Western, Ontario, but discovered a passion for journalism through his involvement with the school newspaper. 

In 2015, Kevin Donovan was recognized as one of the 50 most influential people in Toronto, ranking at #39. He has also received numerous awards for his work throughout his career.

In this episode of The Pressrow, Jonah talks with Kevin about:

Why are people so angry on social media/the angry media?

Did The Sopranos movie suck? Is it okay to admit that?

Does the MLB season start too early?

Was the latest MLB deal step one, or does more need to come?

Is banning the shift a good idea?

What can be done to speed up the game?

Are specialty pitchers ruining the game?

Can the Blue Jays sign all their young talent, and should they?

Maverick vs. Top Gun

WSJ podcast on how Hollywood edits to the foreign market (WSJ link is here: https://t.co/r6DEpv3j2V )

What's currently binge-worthy right now?

How to avoid the latest on Better Call Saul when your are not current

for more visit : Yyzsportsmedia.com

Adam Seaborn joins Jonah Sigel for part two of the focus on ratings this time on radio ratings specifically. The rating world was evolving pre-Covid and the decrease of audience due to audience behavior, i.e. staying at home vs. commuting has accelerated that change. What that means for ratings and ad sales is critically important to the industry.

Who are the winners, and losers and where is this all headed?  Tune in to learn more.

An in-depth historical look at the rating system in Canada, where it is now, and where it is going with Adam Seaborn. Adam has been a media seller for Bell (TSN) and a buyer. While he is no longer in the media sales "game" he is well suited to talk about the players, the system, and what goes on inside.  This is the first look, focusing on radio and listening.

For over 22 years Barb Digiulio was a prominent voice at The Fan 590. First handling news and traffic when the station was 1430 and then handling hosting and co-hosting duties when Rogers purchased the station. Name the personality, over the years Barb has worked with them in sports. Elliotte Friedman, Dan Shulman, Bob McCown, George Stroumboulopoulos, and many, many more.

After that Barb moved over to the news side of the business hosting her own The Night Side and over 1046 episodes, including a few with Jonah Sigel in Seattle. One after Jonah's son Jordan successfully battled off the flu after a borrowing 7 day stay in the ICU thanks to the incredible staff at Seattle Children's Hospital and a few more as Seattle was several weeks ahead of Toronto on the Covid journey.

This time, Barb joins Jonah to talk about:

Her background

Growing up at The Fan

Working and teaching sports media

The transition over to the news

The craziness that is the Will Smith/Chris Rock Story

For many, no Sunday is complete without a glance at the Toronto Sun, website or physical paper to read the weekly column from Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons. Many in the business have quipped that the only thing seeing your name in the column is NOT seeing your name in the column.

In this episode of The Pressrow Steve and Jonah discuss:

The developing story of Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker's arrest for impaired driving

and much more.

Prime Time Sports, Canada’s longest-running sports talk radio show appeared originally on the old CJCL 1430 and then on The Fan 590, hosted by Bob McCown. While several broadcasters and journalists co-hosted with Bob, it is long-time TV hockey executive John Shannon who sat in the number two seat most often. Today, McCown and Shannon co-host a streaming show that's uber-successful and simulcast on Sirius XM radio.

In this episode of The Pressrow, Jonah talks with Bob and John about:

You can call Leah Hextall a lot of things, but lazy is not one of them. Determined to make a career in broadcasting, Leah has constantly rolled up her sleeves, worked hard in pursuit of her dream. While she found success along the way, it was setbacks that set the stage for the climb to the next rung in her amazing journey. From Brandon Manitoba to Boston and Toronto (with stops along the way) she aids her dues in each job that she took. However, it was the cutback from Sportsnet that lead her to consider life in the play-by-play booth.

Calling junior games on nights and weekends for free, she followed the advice of Doc Emrick and simply called games wherever she could. Where did that lead? Leah became the first woman to call an NCAA championship game and then the first woman to call an NHL game!

Most recently, she was named as one of the new voices of the NHL on ESPN.

This is Leah Hextall in The Pressrow

Looking for an advantage. We hear the term all the time in sports (and in life). Parents in man facets of raising their kids do all sorts of things (some legal, some not) trying to ensure the success (whatever that may mean) of their children.

Personally, I know parents who paid serious money to have their kids play way above their skill level, knowing their child would rarely play in games to be a member of a higher level hockey team with hopes that in just practicing and being around higher talent kids would rub off on their child. I know parents who put their kids in programs like Kumon at a very, very young age to try to get them a leg up on school. Famously, some are currently serving time for cheating their kid's way into US colleges.

Freakenomics, several years back studied birth month as an indicator of success in pro sports in "football" aka soccer. Others examined birth month and age as a factor in the NHL.

You can bet, would-be parents out there definitely planned their kid's "arrival" accordingly.

I'm sure you know parents who have moved from one place or another trying to help get their kids a better chance.

Well, one former European athlete turned football executive has looked at location as a factor of success. Rasmus Ankersen has written numerous books and now created a movie about a town in Europe of 50,000 people that has produced 5 NHL players, outranking several North American cities in the same time frame.

Ankersen looks at the factors the size of a town may play in the likelihood of success in making it in sports.

This is my discussion with Rasums.

Howard Behar's career in business spans over 50 years, all in consumer-oriented businesses, and most recently as a speaker, advisor, mentor, and bestselling author. His wisdom, generosity, and level of integrity have had a profound impact on thousands of people who have been touched by his example, books, and speaking.

Howard is known for such memorable lessons as “The Person Who Sweeps the Floor Should Choose the Broom” and “Only the Truth Sounds Like the Truth.” For 21 years Behar led Starbuck’s domestic business as President of North America, and was the founding President of Starbucks International, opening the first store outside of North America in Japan. He served on the Starbucks Board of Directors for twelve years before retiring.

Howard shares many important stories and his advice but really focuses on his roots, learning from his parents the importance of charity, the critical element of purpose in both people and companies, and why it is so important for us to get back to a society focused less on "me" and more on "we".