Indiana RadioWatch: February 16, 2002
Special Note: Lots of employment opportunities in this issue...
Northeast
Shannon Norris trades her MD/midday duties at Rock/WBYR (98.9fm, Van Wert,
Ohio) for PD duties at sister Classic Rock/WFWI (92.3fm, Fort Wayne).
Norris is also looking for air talent - See "Employment Opportunities"
below...
Rick Dees' syndicated morning show is off at Hot AC/WMEE (97.3fm, Fort
Wayne). Former WMEE OM John O'Rourke returns in mornings, 5-9am.
Jack Holiday, OM at Travis Broadcasting's Fort Wayne stations exits. He
also did mornings at their 1980's/WCKZ (94.1fm, Roanoke). J.J. Fabini,
PD/MD at sister Alternative/WXTW (102.3fm, Auburn) is filling in on
mornings until they fill the position.
Alternative/WCYT (91.1fm, Lafayette Township) begins broadcasting 24 hours
a day. Since its sign on, it had been only on the air during the day.
"The Point" debuts a 10pm - 6am music block, "thePoint@twilight", which
averages over 55 minutes of music each hour.
A new co-host for N-T/WOWO's (1190am, Fort Wayne) "Sports Talk" program as
Jim Shovlin recently started alongside Dean McNeil. Shovlin is also a
salesperson for WOWO, while McNeil is OM for WOWO sister stations'
Sports/WONO & Country/WQHK (1380am, Fort Wayne; 105.1fm, Decatur).
A note from the TV site, as Kathy Baugh returns to her native Fort Wayne
as news director of NBC affiliate WKJG (Channel 33, Fort Wayne). Baugh
was last an executive producer at NBC affiliate WTHR (Channel 13,
Indianapolis). She replaces Ray Wilck who left in October, 2001.
Northcentral
WGTC (102.3fm, New Carlisle) switches calls to WZUW.
Rock/WAOR (95.3fm, Niles, Michigan) welcomes Dave "Rye" Ryerson as their
new PD. Ryerson last did mornings at KRRO in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Northwest
Purdue University's Classical/WBAA-FM (101.3fm, West Lafayette) PD Caryl
Matthews retires. Replacing Matthews is Brandi Pairisi. Pairisi joined
WBAA-FM last fall from KSJN in St. Paul, Minnesota.
IRW missed a format change as Hot AC/WGLM (106.7fm, West Lafayette) flips
to Soft AC as "Soft Rock 106.7 WGLM....Soft Rock for a Busy World."
According to Robert Feder's column in The Chicago Sun-Times, Libby Collins
Freiberg returns to the air in mornings at N-T/WIMS & WJOB (1420am,
Michigan City; 1230am, Hammond). Freiberg is the widow of former longtime
northwest Indiana broadcaster Warren Freiberg, who passed away in June,
2000.
Eastcentral
Hot AC/WFMG (101.3fm, Richmond) afternoon guy Eric Matthews exits. In the
interim, Tom Davis, afternoons at sister AC/WZZY (98.3fm, Winchester) will
fill in. Production Director John Rose will fill Davis' afternoon slot on
WZZY.
Central
A shocker in Indianapolis, as Julie Patterson and Steve King, morning
co-hosts at MyStar's CHR/WZPL (99.5fm, Greenfield) exit for crosstown
Emmis' Hot AC/WENS (97.1fm, Shelbyville). A 6 month non-compete prohibits
them from on-air work, but as AllAccess reports, "will be highly visible
in the market until they can go back on the air sometime in August."
Their last day at WZPL was Wednesday. Back at WZPL, PD Scott Sands will
take over mornings in the interim. Over at WENS, Bernie Eagen will
continue doing the morning show until Patterson & King debut.
Fletch, the voice-tracked night jock at Clear Channel's Alternative/WRZX
(103.3fm, Indianapolis) exits. He's based at sister WRLX in West Palm
Beach, Florida. According to Marc Allan's column in The Indianapolis
Star, Fletch's tenure lasted two weeks. While a search for a new
personality continues, Alex B. will take care of the show, live from Indy.
Two notes from TV down here, both concerning ABC affiliate WRTV (Channel
6, Indianapolis): First, Ray Cortopassi has signed a two year deal to
co-anchor the 6pm and 10pm/11pm newscasts (depending on season) on WRTV
and the 9pm/10pm newscasts on WB4 (WTTV, Bloomington). According to Marc
Allan's article in The Indianapolis Star, he'll co-anchor alongside Martha
Weaver. He joined WRTV in June, 1999. Second, Dave Furst is now Sports
Director at WRTV. He joined WRTV in October, 1997.
Westcentral
Oldies/WCVL (1550am, Crawfordsville) flips formats to sports talk, using
ESPN Radio Networks. WCVL Sports Director Harvey Keller does a local
sports talk show from 10am - noon.
AC/WIMC (103.9fm, Crawfordsville) shifts formats to more of a hybrid
AC-classic hits format. A new lineup also:
Mornings: Dick Munroe
Middays: Ken Michaels
Early Afternoons: Kelly Shay
Afternoons/PM Drive: RC
Evenings: Randy Allen
Phil Johnson is the new GM at Oldies-Sports/WPRS & Country/WACF (1440am,
98.5fm, both Paris, Illinois). According to an article in The Terre Haute
Tribune Star, Johnson spent the past 31 years at WTHI-TV, the last 15
years at GSM.
Country/WTHI-FM (99.9fm, Terre Haute) News Director/morning co-host Mark
Jaynes and night guy Brian Thomas exit. According to the WTHI website,
Steve Hall replaces Thomas and OM/PD Barry Kent & Frank Rush continue in
mornings.
Rose Hulman Institute's WMHD (90.5fm, Terre Haute) gains a CP to change
from 160 watts at 79 feet to 1400 watts at 230 feet. Along with this
comes a transmitter move from campus to a northwest Terre Haute tower
that holds WCRT, W217AS, and the silent WZZQ.
A new lineup at CHR/WVXI (106.3fm, Crawfordsville):
Mornings: Cole Thomas
Middays: Kitti Booher (from afternoons)
Afternoons: Mark Woolwine (from nights)
Nights: Justin Stinger
Southeast
Mark Gunn, afternoons at Urban/WGZB (96.5fm, Corydon) adds PD duties at
WGZB and sister Urban/WBLO (104.3fm, Charleston).
Southcentral
Mike Patrick departs PD/mornings at Country/WKKG (101.5fm, Columbus) for
mornings at WWFY near Montpelier, Vermont. His last day will be 22
February.
Southwest
20 Years as a Top 40...doesn't happen very often. CHR/WSTO (96.1fm,
Owensboro, Kentucky) signed on as a Top 40 on May 1st, 1982 with "65 Love
Affair" by Paul Davis. May 3rd, 4th and 5th, 2002, 96 STO wants to get
everyone back for a big ol' Par-Tay! Both on air and off! If you were a
part of history, and want to come and reminisce with old friends (and
new), and also want a little Mic time (what jock doesn't), let us know!
Plans are being made now! E-mail PD Dave Michaels at
drdave@wsto.com or Rob Calhoun at
radiorob@bellsouth.net and let
them know you're interested.
Also from WSTO, Imaging Director/PM Drive guy Craig Jackson exits. PD
Dave Michaels moves to afternoons and night jock Cat Michaels is now
APD/MD.
A note from the TV side as Michael Valentine, News Director at ABC
affiliate WEHT-TV (Channel 25, Evansville) exits for similar duties at
WVEG-TV in Norfolk, Virginia. He had been ND there since April, 1998.
Otherness
Congratulations to Len Clark, GM/play-by-play announcer at WUEV (91.5fm,
Evansville) and Jason Samuel, Sports Director at AC/WAWC (103.5fm,
Syracuse) on being named co-Indiana Sportscaster of the Year by the
National of Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.
Employment Opportunities
Adult Top 40/Modern AC WZPL-FM Indianapolis has an immediate opening in
mornings. Prospective candidates must be compelling, interesting,
opinionated, entertaining, and have the inherent talent for relating to
active Females 21-35. This is a high profile and personality-intensive
opportunity; please, no beginners. If you do a listener oriented show
with lots of phone interaction, public appearances, topical interviews,
captivating stunts, and will share your life with the audience, get your
package to us today. WZPL-FM is owned by MyStar Communications, a
privately held and local company. We offer a full benefits package,
including matching 401k, and a competitive salary. Rush your
CD/Tapes/8-tracks along with resume, photo, and morning show philosophy
to:
Scott Sands, Program Director
ATTN: Morning Opening
WZPL-FM
9245 North Meridian Street, Suite 300
Indianapolis, IN 46260
Internet links to an online package are welcome
(sands@wzpl.com), but please no MP3
file attachments or unsolicited phone calls. Best-of demos are
acceptable, but please also include at least 90-minutes of an unscoped
show. MyStar Communications is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This
opening will close on March 1.
WFWI, 92.3 The Fort "The Classic Rock Station", currently has a rare
opening for on-air talent. Candidate must be motivated, energetic and
prepared to protect our ratings dominance. Strong on-air skills are a
must. Minimum 3-years on-air experience preferred. Rush T&R to Shannon
Norris, Program Director, 92.3 The Fort, 1005 Production Road, Fort Wayne,
IN 46808. Applications are available at 1005 Production Road, Fort Wayne,
IN 46808. Federated Media is an equal opportunity employer.
WKKG/White River Broadcasting is looking for an on-air PD. T&R's to John
Foster, Director of Programming, 3212 Washington St., Columbus, IN 47203.
Federated Media & Planet Radio (WAOR/WBYT/WNIL(AM)/WUBU-FM/WRBR-FM) is
looking for a new production director. Working with Classic Rock,
Country, 45+ A/C-Oldies, Urban Adult Contemporary, and Active Rock
formats. Writing samples, tape, and resume with references to Tom Oakes
WBYT 237 Edison Road, Mishawaka, IN 46545.
WEHT-TV 25 seeks a news director with a solid background in investigative
and enterprise reporting, plus high energy, high content newscast. This is
an award winning news team that needs very good leadership. A minimum of 5
years experience as news director required. Strong hands-on managerial and
administrative skills a must. If you know someone who meets these
requirements or you, yourself, would like to apply, please contact Ginny
Powers <gpowers@abc25.com>
WBYR, Fort Wayne's Rock Station, currently has full & part time on-air
openings including a Music Director opening. All candidates must be
prepared to help protect this station's ratings dominance. We'll provide
all of the tools necessary. Strong on-air skills are a must. Music
Director candidates must have Selector experience. Minimum 3-years worth
of on-air experience preferred. Rush T&R to Jim Fox, Operations Manager,
Federated Media North, 1005 Production Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808.
Applications are available at 1005 Production Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808.
Federated Media is an equal opportunity employer.
There is a rare opening on the largest television reporting staff in
Indiana. WTHR, the NBC affiliate in Indianapolis, seeks an enterprising
reporter who knows how to work the police beat, develop sources, cover
breaking news and not rely solely on a news release or the desk for
stories. This job requires standout production and storytelling skills
along with a competitive nature. Minimum five years reporting experience
required. Ability to work flexible hours a plus. May do some fill-in
anchoring. If you are creative in your approach to live shots, news
packaging and follow-ups, send your resume and non-returnable tape to:
Reporter Opening: WTHR-TV, PO Box 1313, Indianapolis, IN 46206. No phone
calls please. We are a drug-free and smoke-free company. Equal
Opportunity Employer
That's it for this issue. See you in a week!
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