Salem Ends Bill Bennett Show

Salem Media Group Inc. has ended a morning interview series featuring broadcast personality Bill Bennett, the company announced Wednesday. “The Bill Bennett Interview” has aired on weekday mornings since last April, when the Camarillo media company replaced Bennett’s long-running “Morning in America” talk show with a similar program starring former KCET-TV host Hugh Hewitt. Bennett’s interview series featured discussions with well-known businessmen and entrepreneurs, including Koch Industries Chief Executive Officer Charles Koch and Las Vegas real estate mogul Steve Wynn. “I have thoroughly enjoyed and have learned so much in these past 11 years with Salem,” Bennett said in a prepared statement. “I will now refocus my time and energy on public policy … and offer my advice to the new administration in Washington.” Prior to his media career, Bennett served one year under President George H.W. Bush as the first director of the Office of National Drug Policy. He was Secretary of Education with the Reagan administration from 1985 until 1988. Shares of Salem (SALM) fell 10 cents, or 1.5 percent, on Wednesday to close at $6.40 on the Nasdaq.