JOSEPH BENTI TURNS TO RADIO--KJOI-FM

Joseph Benti is moving to radio. Beginning May 5, the veteran television newsman will deliver two daily commentaries on life style and current events for KJOI-FM (98.7). The 90-second spots will air weekdays at 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Benti said that Bob Griffith, general manager of the high-rated Muzak station, made an “intriguing” offer, allowing him to say “just about anything” he wants to about virtually any subject.

He described his deal as a loose, 13-week agreement with the station. If it works well, he will stay on, he said.

The 53-year-old broadcaster, who began his career as a reporter for KTLA Channel 5 in 1963, worked for CBS from 1964 to 1979, including stints as co-host of “CBS Morning News” and news anchor at KCBS-TV. He has been a frequent critic of the news media.

“I listen to the news and I read the papers, and the gist of the media is to scare the hell out of you,” he said in a telephone interview, “but I want to tell people that the world is not going to hell in a wheel basket . . . or barrow.”