Monday Memo: Unmet Needs?
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
Last week’s column previewed “CeaseFire,” C-SPAN’s antidote to the caricature cable news shouting match. Thanks to all who offered feedback when we wondered “WHAT IF…?” for talk radio.
Recent report from Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: People are disabling news alerts, “either because they feel they get too many or because they are not useful.”
People are anxious. Even a robot can read-the-room, as I learned by asking ChatGPT: “In USA society generally, list unmet needs.” Among them:
Belonging Without Division
— People crave community but are tired of being forced to choose sides.
— Unmet need: A way to feel connected and purposeful without being tribalized by politics, race, class, or ideology.
Trusted, Nuanced Information
— There’s information overload, but trust is at an all-time low.
— Unmet need: Sources that feel both credible and fair-minded, without sensationalism, bias, or agenda-chasing.
Civility in Public Discourse
— Public conversation often feels like a battleground.
— Unmet need: Spaces — digital or real-world — where disagreement is safe, not destructive or humiliating.
Mental & Emotional Support
— Rising anxiety, loneliness, and burnout affect people across all ages.
— Unmet need: Accessible, non-stigmatized mental health support, including community-based emotional infrastructure (not just therapy apps).
Work That Feels Worthwhile
— Many jobs pay the bills but feel meaningless.
— Unmet need: Opportunities to do work that’s valued, not just productive — where dignity and contribution matter as much as output.
Financial Security That Isn’t Fragile
— Even middle-class households feel one emergency away from disaster.
— Unmet need: Stability and predictability — not just income, but housing, healthcare, and retirement that won’t evaporate with one bad break.
Intergenerational Connection
— Older and younger generations increasingly live in separate realities.
— Unmet need: Meaningful contact across age lines, where wisdom flows both directions — not just tech tutoring and nursing homes.
Shared Purpose
— Many feel like they’re drifting — or living someone else’s script.
— Unmet need: A sense of contribution to something bigger than self, not through ideology but through everyday roles, responsibilities, and relationships.
Consider as you pose call-in topics and choose interview guests.
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke
have ever consumed a podcast, 55% have consumed a podcast in the last month, and 40% have consumed a podcast in the last week, each measure being an all-time high; 2) Video podcast consumption has redefined the podcast landscape: Over half (51%) of the U.S. 12+ population has ever watched a video podcast; 37% have watched a video podcast in the last month and 26% have watched a video podcast in the last week. Those who actively watch video podcasts are younger and more diverse than those who only listen to audio-only podcasts; and 3) Podcasts offer high engagement and trust from listeners: 88% of weekly podcast consumers agree that hearing ads is a fair price to pay for free content; 68% say they don’t mind hearing ads on podcasts. You can see 
advertising, where consumers express greater comfort with audio ads crafted by humans compared to those produced by AI. This trust in human voices isn’t just a preference; it’s a critical factor in advertising and content consumption.” Further, the data shows that radio hosts are valued 2.5 times more than social media influencers for delivering news (56% vs. 22%) and twice as much for sports commentary (40% vs. 21%). Similarly, podcast hosts are preferred over social media figures when discussing social issues (43% vs. 34%). Audacy concludes, “These statistics underscore the profound impact of human voices in fostering meaningful connections and reliable information dissemination.”
“Most registered voters avoid the news at least some of the time. Of those who disengage, over half avoid national politics coverage,” according to the “