Indiana RadioWatch: January 13, 2013

Northeast

We begin with very sad news from Kendallville as WAWK (1140am, Kendallville) owner Don Moore had a heart attack last night, and died at 8:30pm this evening. Mr. Moore purchased WAWK in 1991 and added an FM translator in April 2010. He was only 60 years old.

At Federated Media's N-T/WOWO and WOWO-FM (1190am, 92.3fm; both Fort Wayne), Kayla Blakeslee is now the News Director. She was promoted from news anchor. Also at WOWO, former PD John Picano passed away in Florida at age sixty. He briefly programmed WOWO at the dawn of its talk format in the mid-1990s.

Northeast Indiana Public Radio sells its Roanoke tower to Florida Tower Partners. The tower holds both NIPR's Classical/WBNI (94.1fm, Roanoke) and Homestead High School's Alternative/WCYT (91.1fm, Lafayette Township). Bob Heymann of Media Services Group brokered this deal.

Oasis Radio Group (WBTU, WHPP, WJFX) adds Paddy O'Brien as National Sales Manager. Also, Dave B. Goode (WBTU morning host), Lenny Diana (WBTU PD) and John Buckley (Director of Sales) all exit Oasis Radio Group. Ms. O'Brien's advertising background includes work at several national rep firms (Clear Channel, Eastman, Interep, Katz and McGavern Guild) and in radio (KRTH and KPWR, both in Los Angeles, California).

Northcentral

After ten years, Mary Pruess resigns as president and GM at WNIT-TV (Channel 34, South Bend).

At Kankakee Valley Broadcasting's Country/WKVI and Hot AC/WKVI-FM (1520am, 99.3fm, both Knox) GM Pat Dunn passed away on New Year's Day. As a result, WKVI PD Lenny Dessauer adds another hat (Hats: GM, GSM, PD, MD and News Director).

Early last year, Mid-West Family Broadcasting silenced its WCSY (940am, South Haven, Michigan) and dismantled the towers. Recently, the company donated the eleven acres that comprised the WCSY transmitter site to the City of South Haven. The city already owns eight additional acres adjoining the transmitter site (Celery Pond) and will keep the area undeveloped.

At Federated Media, both GSM Shannon Allen and GSM Kevin Mussellman exit.

IU South Bend associate political science professor Dr. Elizabeth Bennion is the new moderator of WNIT-TV's "Politically Speaking" program, beginning today. Former host James Wensits retires from the show. Dr. Bennion joined the IUSB faculty in 1999. "Politically Speaking" launched in 1988 and is WNIT's longest-running public affairs program.A bit of breaking news: Artistic Media Partners will sell its WDND (1620am, South Bend) to the Fort Wayne Catholic Radio Group, Inc. for $175,000. FWCRG owns WLYV (1450am, Fort Wayne).

Northwest

Thomas Carroll exits as president and CEO of Lakeshore Public's PBS affiliate WYIN-TV (Channel 56, Gary) and News-Talk-NPR/WLPR (89.1fm, Lowell). Carroll resigned at the request of Lakeshore's Board of Directors. Board chair Bonita Neff and board member Cal Bellamy will both handle the interim CEO duties. Mr. Carroll began with Lakeshore in 2002.

Olivet Nazarene University sells its Shine.FM translator W240BJ (95.9fm, Crown Point) for $50,000 to Calvary Radio Network, Inc. Calvary will rebroadcast its WHLP (89.9fm, Hanna), which was the same station-to-translator simulcast that WHLP former owner CSN International used, when CSN owned WHLP and W240BJ.

Where Are They Now? Former WBAA(AM)/WBAA-FM GM Dan Skinner now is the GM at the WKSU network of radio stations, based at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.

Eastcentral

Rodgers Broadcasting Oldies/WIFE(AM) (1580am, Connersville) and Country/WIFE-FM (94.3fm, Rushville) welcomes Michelle Bottomly to the GM chair. Ms. Bottomly was promoted from sales.

Cumulus' Country/WMDH (102.5fm, Muncie) PD Chris Carter adds morning co-host duties. Mr. Carter also adds former WMDH DJ Mike Lees and welcomes former Radio One CHR/WNOU (100.9fm, Speedway) overnighter Zach McCoy to cover middays (Lees) and afternoons (McCoy). Morning co-host Michelle Cook, middayer Cayla McLeland and afternoon host Bill Murphy all exit WMDH. Mr. Murphy recently resurfaced at Cumulus/Indianapolis for weekend work.

Ever wanted to take a peek inside Classic Hits/WKPW (90.7fm, Knightstown)? Radio World has the details.

Hoosier Public Radio Corp. changes the call letters of its WSDM-FM (89.7fm, Liberty) to WENS.

Central

Entercom Talk/WXNT (1430am, Indianapolis) flips format to Sports on Wednesday 2 January, as Indianapolis' CBS Sports Radio affiliate. With the format flip, Glenn Beck, Alan Colmes, Phil Hendrie, Dennis Miller and Michael Smerconish all lose Indiana capital city affiliates.

Emmis' Talk/WIBC (93.1fm, Indianapolis) PD Alan Furst exits for the PD chair at Radio One's News/KROI-FM in Houston, Texas. WIBC News Director Stacy Conrad is the interim PD.

E.W. Scripps' ABC affiliate WRTV (Channel 6, Indianapolis) names Terri Cope-Walton as News Director and the anchor team of Marc Mullins and Beth Vaughn as the morning news team for "Good Morning Indiana." WRTV promotes Ms. Cope-Walton from Assistant News Director. As for the anchors, Ms. Vaughn arrives from anchor and reporter duties at Kansas City's KHSB-TV, while Mr. Mullins was an anchor and reporter at KMTR-TV in Eugene, Oregon.

Westcentral

DLC Media, Inc now owns Oldies/WAXI-FM in Rockville. Among the new staff there: OM Doc Long and Local Sales Manager Kandee Cook. The WAXI studios are back at the transmitter site.

The Innovation Center, Inc. changes the call letters of its WENS-FM (90.1fm, Wadesville) to WSDM.

Southeast

White River Broadcasting Company sells WRBI (103.9, Batesville) to Leeson Media, LLC (Randy Lawson and Brent Lee) for $350,000. Mr. Lawson is the former OM at Kaspar Broadcasting's WSHW-FM. Brent Lee is at the helm of the morning show on Country/WYGB-FM (100.3fm). Patrick Communications (Greg Guy) brokered this sale for White River, while Ed Roehling's Roehling Broadcast Services Ltd. brokered this sale for Leeson Media, LLC.

Southwest

At Cromwell's Rock/WXCM (97.1fm, Whitesville, Kentucky) afternoon host "Spiff" (Melissa Goodall) exits. Also, at sister Classic Hits/WTCJ-FM (105.7fm, Cannelton), "Mike Chaney" (Micah Cox) exits as morning host.

GEM Communications LLP sells its Country/WQKZ (98.5fm, Ferdinand) for $45,000 to Jasper On the Air, Inc., owners of WITZ (990am, 104.7fm; both Jasper). Jasper On the Air operated WQKZ since its 1997 sign on. After WITZ GM G. Earl Metzger died, his initialed namesake GEM Communications will become part of a family trust and the trust will maintain a minority interest in Jasper on the Air.

Where Are They Now? Former WEHT-TV news producer Jason Pumo now is an executive producer at KPTV-TV in Portland, Oregon.

This week in Indiana Radio History

Monday 14 January: In 1951, 1440am, Portland (WPGW) signs on. Also in 1961, 1520am, Shelbyville (WSVX) signs on.

Tuesday 15 January: In 2008, WIBC's Lou Palmer passed away.

Wednesday 16 January: In 1986, 104.9fm, Muncie (WERK) signs on.

Thursday 17 January. In 1977, 97.7fm, Goshen (WSSM) signs on.

Employment Opportunities

WTHR-TV, Indiana's News Leader, is seeking a news director to lead this extraordinary team. We are a dominant station, nationally recognized, award-winning, locally owned station seeking a dynamic visionary leader. Must truly know how to produce compelling and distinctive content on all multi-media platforms. Must have proven skill set to maximize content and customer loyalty on digital and social media platforms. Must demonstrate a passion for the product with strong oversight and consistent communication and feedback. Quality drives our success and we're eager to have a leader join us and lead us on this quest. Looking for long term players who love the quality of the Midwest and who would be proud to call Indiana home. Minimum 7 years' experience in news management and proven track record of major story coverage and ratings success. Please include your news philosophy along with your resume and cover letter when applying online. Apply online. http://www.dispatchbroadcast.com/

Wanted: GSM. Candidate must have track record of mentoring and training new account executives in broadcasting, including hiring and evaluations. Must be focused on new business generation; create, plan and execute sales strategies and incentives; achieve revenue and share of market goals. Candidate must have a proven track record in Internet, digital and NTR development. Three to five years of progressive experience in broadcasting required. Oasis Radio Group provides base salary and bonus incentive plan and benefits. Please submit your qualifications to myfuture at oasisradiogroup dot com. Attn: GSM. Oasis Radio Group is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Eagle Tower Services, Inc., committed to continuing improvement and to being the lowest cost provider of tower services consistent with a high degree of quality, professionalism, and safety, is seeking a BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATIVE to engage in outside sales leading to growth of our business. Our primary market is Indiana and surrounding states, specializing in AM/FM and television, but also serving customers in paging, wireless Internet and 2-way radio including commercial, utilities and government. We are a full service tower company engaged in routine maintenance, component installation and new tower construction. This is a contract commission position with generous commission and superb customer service support. The ideal candidate will have excellent knowledge of the broadcast industry throughout Indiana with excellent people skills in working with and providing excellent service to broadcast engineers and, often, station general managers. We proudly serve some of the finest names in Indiana broadcasting and wireless communications. If this is of interest, please send your resume to Terry Garrity, Eagle Tower Services, Inc., P.O. Box 387, Arcadia, IN 46030; E-MAIL: terry.garrity at eagletowerindiana dot com and feel welcome to visit our website at www.eagletowerindiana.com to learn more about what we do. Eagle Tower Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F.

FOX 59 WXIN, a Tribune Broadcasting station, seeks an experienced Anchor/Reporter who thrives on breaking news, enterprising stories and working under tight deadlines. The successful candidate will also regularly post content to the station's website and social media outlets. Degree in broadcast journalism or related field and at least 3 years anchoring and/or reporting experience in a television newsroom required. Job Description: Presents news and information on news and other station programs and covers news stories when not anchoring. Represents WXIN/WTTV-TV to the public viewing audience. Reads stories on regular scheduled newscasts and other programs produced by the station. Writes and/or proofreads stories on assigned broadcasts. Acts as general assignment reporter when not performing anchor duties. Consistently contributes story ideas for newscasts. Develops and maintains productive relationship with news contacts and sources. Works with producers, reporters and associate producers on assigned news broadcast. Regularly posts content to the station's website and updates social media sites. Monitors news feeds when necessary. Answers viewer phone calls and mail. Performs public speaking engagements and makes other appearance deemed important to the station image by management. Develops community contacts. Other duties as assigned by supervisor. Qualifications Necessary: College degree in broadcast journalism or a related area of study. At least 3 years experience anchoring regularly scheduled news broadcasts on a commercial or public television station and/or reporting for a broadcast news organization. Effective writing skills. Good organizational skills. Must be able to accept constructive feedback and criticism designed to enhance individual's performance. Ability to appear live in a broadcast to deliver reports in a professional and effective manner. Ability to perform duties and make decisions under deadline pressure. Must have a clear understanding of web and social media outlets. Send resume, cover letter stating position desired, and referral source plus a non-returnable DVD with your latest newscast to Human Resources, WXIN-TV, 6910 Network Place, Indianapolis, IN 46278. EOE.

That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.

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