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 and 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,
translator 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 or Rob Calhoun at 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, 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.
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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Blaine Thompson. Articles, photos, corrections, and other contributions should be
e-mailed to the editors.