Don Curtis, the host of Carolina Newsmakers, has a distinguished career spanning over six decades in the media industry. Starting as a boy with a radio show in Bessemer City, North Carolina, Curtis’s early entrepreneurial spirit led him to found Curtis Media Group, the largest single shareholder-owned radio network in the United States, with nearly 60 stations and an audience of 3 million weekly listeners.
Known for his innovative approach, Curtis pioneered independent FM stations and diverse formats, including the first 100,000-watt Hispanic format in the Southeast. His contributions extend beyond broadcasting, with significant involvement in civic and educational initiatives, including substantial support for the UNC School of Journalism. An inductee into the North Carolina Broadcasters Hall of Fame and recipient of numerous accolades, Curtis continues to influence the industry with his passion for radio and commitment to quality broadcasting.
Curtis built a remarkable career in the media industry that spans over six decades. His journey began in 1957 when, at just 15 years old, Curtis walked into the studios of WKMT in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, and applied for a job as a weekend announcer. Although he didn’t get the job, the station owner sold him an hour of airtime each week, which Curtis resold to merchants in his hometown of Bessemer City, marking the start of his broadcast management career.
By his senior year in high school, Curtis had expanded his broadcasting efforts to include a daily one-hour show on WLTC in Gastonia, along with his weekly Saturday show on WKMT. He was responsible for selling, collecting, producing, and often being the air talent for these shows. After graduating from Bessemer City High School, Curtis enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Active in student government, he served twice as President of the Summer School Student Body.
In 1967, Curtis founded Cablevision, Inc., with the backing of local businessmen. The company obtained Cable TV franchises in several North Carolina towns, which were later sold to Jefferson-Carolina. Curtis also obtained a Construction Permit to build his first radio station, WCSL in Cherryville, North Carolina. This 500-watt daytime AM station was the foundation for what would become Curtis Media Group.
Curtis Media Group grew rapidly, acquiring stations in various North Carolina towns, including Laurinburg, Thomasville, Tabor City, Goldsboro, Burlington, Mebane, Morehead City, and Tarboro. In 1991, Curtis Media purchased WPTF and WQDR, two market-leading stations in Raleigh-Durham, which have become the basis for one of the best radio clusters in the top fifty U.S. markets.
I don’t express my opinion on the programs at all. I let the guests have freedom to talk about what they do, to discuss their problems and opportunities. I believe there’s a place for that kind of broadcast.
Don Curtis
Curtis Media Group has always been innovative, pioneering the startup of FM stations independent of their AM counterparts and adopting a 100,000-watt Hispanic format in 2002, a first for a major station between New York and Miami. The company also brought Country and Urban formats to the Triangle and was among the first to computerize traffic and billing systems.
Beyond his professional achievements, Curtis has been highly active in civic and community affairs. He has served on numerous boards, including Peace College, St. Andrews College, UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Visitors, UNC-TV Board of Trustees, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Board of Visitors, the Food Bank of North Carolina, the Lineberger Cancer Center Board of Visitors, the Methodist Children’s Home Board, the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Board, the Tammy Lynn Center Board, and the North Carolina Community Foundation.
Curtis’s contributions to the University of North Carolina are extensive. He currently serves on the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees and is a past Chairman of the General Alumni Association. He has served on the Executive Committee of the UNC Educational Foundation, the UNC School of Journalism Board of Visitors, and the UNC National Development Association. In recognition of his service, UNC presented him with the William R. Davie Award in 2004 and the Distinguished Service Medal in 2014.
Curtis is also President of the Curtis Foundation and serves on the Raleigh Board of Wells Fargo Bank. Active in the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters for over thirty years, he has served as Secretary-treasurer, President, and Director. He received the Distinguished Service Award in 1992 and was inducted into the North Carolina Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2002.
In 2015, the Broadcasters Foundation of America honored Curtis with the Ward L. Quaal Leadership Award, recognizing his excellence in radio and television broadcasting. Despite his numerous accolades, Curtis remains deeply passionate about broadcasting. He still hosts his own programs on WPTF, including a 60-minute weekly public affairs program and a 4-hour weekly oldies program, the WPTF Sunday Night Hall of Fame.
After more than fifty years in broadcasting, Don Curtis continues to look forward to the future with great enthusiasm, embodying the spirit of innovation and dedication that has defined his illustrious career. As the host of Carolina Newsmakers, he brings his wealth of experience and deep understanding of North Carolina’s political and social landscape to listeners every Sunday at 7 AM on WPTF.