Indiana RadioWatch: July 22, 2013
Northeast
After nearly 30 years at Hot AC/WAJI (95.1fm, Fort Wayne) (and WFWQ before that!), last Friday was Barb Richards last midday shift. Hear her last break.
With LIN Media CBS affiliate WANE-TV (Channel 15, Fort Wayne) looking for a Chief Meteorologist (please see "Employment Opportunities" below), we surmise that Jonathan Conder will soon exit. Mr. Conder debuted on WANE-TV in late
October 2010.
Jill Johnston exits as Promotions Director for WBCL (90.3fm, Fort Wayne) for the same role at WAFJ in Augusta, Georgia. Ms. Johnston will begin at WAFJ on 12 August (please see "Employment Opportunities" below).
Tri-State Christian TV's Religious/WINM-TV (Channel 63, Angola) raises their antenna 30 feet (from 433 feet to 463 feet) from the same tower on State Line Road, just north of US-6. WINM-TV remains at 16,500 watts, horizontally
polarized.
Northcentral
Weigel Broadcasting ABC affiliate WBND (Channel 57, South Bend) weekend meteorologist Monica Ott exits and becomes the weekday morning meteorologist at WEAU in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Former Schurz Communications' CBS affiliate WSBT-TV (Channel 22, South Bend) Director of Sales Tom Labuzienski returns to the media world as a Business Underwriting Advisor for Elkhart Community Schools' NPR affiliate WVPE (88.1fm,
Elkhart).
Northwest
We have some shocking and sad news from Lakeshore Public Media, as their assignment editor Rick Richards died on Saturday after finishing the three-mile Northwest Indiana Mudathlon. Before joining Lakeshore, Mr. Richards worked for
The Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana (editorial and column writer, 1986 until 2002) and The Michigan City News-Dispatch (City Editor, 2002 until 2008). The wake for Mr. Richards will be from 4pm until 8pm (Central
Time) on Thursday, at The Root Funeral Home, 312 East 7th Street, in Michigan City, with a Funeral Mass on Friday at 10am (Central Time) at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, also in Michigan City.
Eastcentral
The FCC denies an application by Indiana Community Radio Corp. for a booster of WJCF-FM (88.1fm, Morristown) licensed to Carthage (northeast of Morristown), because the application shows the booster's 60 dBu contour not entirely
within the 60 dBu contour of WJCF-FM.
Cedarville, Ohio-based The Cedarville University sells its CP for translator W288CM (105.5fm, Connersville) for $10,000 to Educational Media Foundation.
Central
The FCC finds and busts an Indianapolis pirate operating on 104.3fm. In late June, FCC agents tracked down the signal to a structure at 3560 Lafayette Road, just north of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The FCC sent a letter to
Monte de Dios Ministry, Inc. and its pastor Eddy Arismendy.
On Sunday August 4 at 11pm, Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Broadcasting's NPR affiliate WFYI-FM (90.1fm, Indianapolis) adds "Wits." Also, several other shows shift around the schedule.
Executive Producer Olivia Dangler exits Tribune Broadcasting's FOX affiliate WXIN-TV (Channel 59, Indianapolis) and becomes morning executive producer for WFAA-TV in Dallas, Texas.
After a fifteen year career at E.W. Scripps' ABC affiliate WRTV-TV (Channel 6, Indianapolis), Special Products Executive Producer Susan Batt exits and moves to Dispatch Broadcasting's NBC affiliate WTHR-TV (Channel 13,
Indianapolis), where she becomes the Investigative and Special Projects Producer.
Southeast
Charlie Jenkins announces his retirement from broadcasting. The 73 year old legendary broadcaster (high school basketball and football play by play for over fifty years) and owner (WXVW 1450am) and worked at WXVW for 33 years.
Southwest
Last November, Cromwell President Bud Walters filed an application with the FCC to have his WTCJ (1230am, Tell City) rebroadcast on W218CR (Central City, Kentucky), after moving the translator from Central City, Kentucky to Tell
City. As it stands now, Cromwell can't move the translator from Kentucky to Tell City, because that's too far to move a translator. In prior documents, Mr. Walters even indicated the little AM station was failing, bringing in
less than $24,000 a year in revenue. Earlier this month, Mr. Walters worked with NAB Executive VP/General Counsel Jane Mago and sent another letter to the FCC. Ms. Mago also found an FCC case from 1945 involving Ashbacker Radio
Corp. Nobody has filed a competing application, nor has anyone petitioned to deny WTCJ's application.
South Central Communications' Country/WLFW (93.5fm, Chandler) adds Liberty Hill in middays and promotions.
Owensboro remembers John Hager, former president of Owensboro Broadcasting Company (WOMI(AM) and WBKR-FM). Mr. Hager also was the third-generation publisher of The Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer. Mr. Hager died on Thursday at
age 86. Services will be today at 11am (Central Time) at The Settle Memorial United Methodist Church, 201 East 4th Street in Owensboro. Visitation will be from 10am until 11am at the church.
Where Are They Now? Former WSTO PD Keith Allen most recently programmed three radio stations for Clear Channel in Birmingham, Alabama. Starting 5 August, Mr. Allen will program WMKS and WVBZ for Clear Channel in Greensboro, North
Carolina.
Today in Indiana Radio History
In 1968, WIBC-FM (93.1fm, Indianapolis) became WNAP, but Naptown listeners didn't feel The Wrath of the Buzzard for a few more years.
Radio Spotlight
Name: Mark Howell
Job Title(s): Weekend/fill-in air personality; jazz DJ/advisor
Station(s): WQLK, WECI
Market: Richmond
Owner(s): Brewer Broadcasting (WQLK), Earlham College (WECI)
Who were your early DJ or radio station influences? (Perhaps what lead you to "catch the radio bug."?)
Great Baltimore jocks in the 60's -- especially Jack Gale and Paul "Fat Daddy" Johnson
Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without?
Coffee
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Giving folks something to smile about
What has been your biggest career accomplishment?
Being inducted into the Associated Press Television/Radio Association (13 Western states) Hall of Fame
What has been your most memorable moment on the air?
Anchoring coverage of the 9/11 attacks at KUZZ, Bakersfield while suffering from a very bad upper respiratory infection.
Since you work with WECI, what is the best thing about noncommercial radio?
Creative freedom
What makes Mark Howell unique on the air?
There's probably a spirit of rock'n'roll in everything I do.
What makes the Richmond radio market unique?
None of the stations is owned by any of the big consolidators.
What's been your most memorable news story?
The story that got me into journalism was the 1968 downtown Richmond explosion.
What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?
I love animals -- especially my cat!
What's the best advice you'd give to those wanting to get into radio?
Be a good writer, and understand technology.
What's the most important issue in radio today?
There are far too many radio stations for the economy to support.
What's your biggest pet peeve in radio?
The shabby way in which large consolidators treat employees.
What's your favorite out-of-market radio station, and why?
KUZZ, Bakersfield, where I worked for 25 years as news director. Local ownership that insists on top quality in every aspect of the business.
What's your philosophy about radio ratings?
In a hyper-fragmented media landscape they are largely meaningless. What's the difference between a 2 share and a 2.1? Who knows?
Where do you see the radio industry five years from now?
I hope for more local ownership as the private-equity boys cash out.
Who are your mentor(s)?
Jaye Albright, Valerie Geller
Who's the best DJ ever (past or present)?
Jack Gale
Who's your favorite air personality that isn't working with you?
Shotgun Tom Kelly, KRTH, Los Angeles
What book have you read that has taught you the most about the radio business?
"Beyond Powerful Radio" by Valerie Geller
Why do you think radio is still important?
It is still the most efficient way to communicate with a local community.
Employment Opportunities
WANE, the news leader in Fort Wayne, is accepting applications for a full-time on-air and online Chief Meteorologist. This is a position of station and newsroom leadership over a critical element of what we provide every day,
weather coverage!
The ideal candidate offers: Understanding of the importance weather plays on all delivery platforms, ability to execute on-air, online, and mobile, expertise with the best weather technology available, ability to perform during
severe weather, ability to lead a department of four meteorologists across a 24-hour, seven-day priority including evaluation of the daily product, comprehensive fulfillment of how weather fits into the station brand of "Coverage
you can count on", and positive contributions to the community.
This person must execute all of this with the aim of standing out in a competitive weather environment.
No phone calls please. Send resume and references before July 31st, 2013 to:
WANE News Director
2915 W. State Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46808
WANE is an Equal Opportunity Employer-M/F
WBCL Radio Network is looking for an energetic, organized and creative person to join the ministry team as Promotions Director. This position will be responsible for supervising and overseeing promotional efforts, contests, interns
and volunteers. Person will: work closely with the Development Director to implement strategic promotions that can increase revenue and listenership to WBCL; needs a proven track record in promotions and community involvement;
passion for and experience with social media; on-air experience a plus! Details on responsibilities and qualifications listed at wbcl.org. Send resume to Personnel Director, WBCL Radio Network, 1115 W. Rudisill Blvd. Fort Wayne IN
46807 or email to employment at wbcl dot org No Phone Calls, Please. Taylor University Broadcasting, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Would you like to be a part of a unique newsroom that is all about good television? LIN Media's flagship station in Indianapolis is searching for a photographer to help create that vision. We are looking for a photographer that
understands all of the platforms and is willing to do the work to make us shine on all of them. The person that we're looking for will operate live trucks, news control, edit, shoot, and most of all use all there visual skills
to tell stories. If you are interested in becoming a part of our team of storytellers we'd like to hear from you. Apply here.
Do you like bats, bourbon and basketball?? If so, keep reading. Newly formed Summit Media Group's Louisville cluster is on the hunt for the nation's best talent. We need a morning personality/imaging director for top rated
107-7 The Eagle, Louisville's Classic Hits (WSFR). Prepare to be all live, all local and ready to work - show prep, creative content, production, appearances, social media, concerts and more expected. Main focus on live mornings
and imaging. Must be willing to accept coaching. 3 to 5 years on-air experience preferred. Experience imaging Classic Hits, Classic Rock, Hot AC a plus. Excellent pay, benefits and resources. Summit Media Group is an
Equal Opportunity Employer. Send packages to: loujobs at summitmediacorp dot com.
Emmis Communications' WIBC/Indianapolis is reloading with more live and local talk programming. Our next afternoon host will talk about things that make others talk about them... someone that understands the difference between
displaying/relating conservative sensibilities vs. ideology alone. If you want the job, you'll need to be as comfortable talking about Mark Zuckerberg as Marco Rubio and Ryan Lochte as Paul Ryan. If you can connect the dots on what
commonalities make both "The O'Reilly Factor" and "Chelsea Lately" work you could be ready to pull off the kind of show we are looking for. Insatiable curiosity required. Amaze us with your demo, writing examples, and anything else
that conveys why your skills and talents will keep us relevant through the next decade. Send to dwood at indy dot emmis dot com.
Hoosier AM/FM is seeking an experienced media Account Executive to join the sales team of our four-station cluster in Muncie-Marion, IN. This person will be responsible for prospecting and developing new business as well as
growing and maintaining existing accounts. A positive attitude and excellent verbal and written communications skills are a must. This is a full time position. Hoosier AM/FM offers a competitive compensation package including
Medical, Dental, Paid Vacations. Minimum education level is High School diploma or equivalent. Resume and letter of introduction are to be sent to indianaradiojobs at yahoo dot com. Hoosier AM/FM is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.
Blaine Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch
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