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Indiana RadioWatch
Serving Hoosier Broadcasters Since 1998
28 September 2020
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Good Evening,
From the Reading Pile: Scott Fybush and I continue our journey through Southern Indiana and Indianapolis.
From the Podcast Playlist: “Chachi Loves Everybody” (president, Benztown) interviews Emmis Communications founder and CEO Jeff Smulyan. (Please click ‘Ep.011’)
Before we get started with radio and TV news by region, I want to mention the SBE hiring a new Executive Director. The SBE is the Society of Broadcast Engineers, and for 28 years, the society has been led by Executive Director John Poray. Mr. Poray said he will retire at the end of this year.
Starting in 2021, the new SBE Executive Director will be James Ragsdale, who last served as VP/Finance at Anderson University. Before working at Anderson University, he was the senior financial analyst at Ascension Technologies.
Mr. Ragsdale earned his Bachelor of Arts in business management and public affairs at (then) Anderson College, and his Master of Business Administration in finance from Indiana University.
Northeast
During the summer, Brian Walsh closed on his purchase of WGL (1250am, Fort Wayne) and the CP for an FM translator. He’s still building the FM translator, but he soft launched his new format on WGL: All-news. His news team includes Gregg Reed, Dave Lyons, Will Lentry, Scott Truxell, Eric Rogers, with Joe Parson (Sports) and Mr. Walsh handles both weather and traffic. WGL becomes a CBS affiliate, which means weekends include live and recorded airings of several CBS News (TV) shows. During the week, When Radio Was airs from 9pm until 11pm.
Nexstar’s CBS affiliate/WANE-TV (Channel 15, Fort Wayne) has their studio and tower both on West State Boulevard in Fort Wayne. WANE installs a new antenna; that replaces the one installed in 2005. The newer (and heavier!) antenna required bracing at the top of the tower. Here is more from their website.
Also, WANE-TV News Director Ted Linn recently retired. Ted led the WANE-TV newsroom for 16 years. Before Fort Wayne, he worked at WISH-TV (Channel 8, Indianapolis) for 21 years, rising to Assistant News Director. Other career stops include Dayton, Lafayette, and he began his broadcasting career in radio in Kokomo.
His successor is Jenna Huff. Ms. Huff arrives from Georgia, where she was News Director for both WFXL-TV in Albany, Georgia, and WGXA-TV in Macon, Georgia.
Federated Media’s CHR/WMEE (97.3fm, Fort Wayne) welcomes Colin and Renee to mornings. Colin Lutz (“Colin Matthews”) arrives in Fort Wayne from morning co-host/executive producer at Cumulus’ Country/WMDH-FM (102.5fm, New Castle), while Renee Cummings moves from nights at WMEE. A few days into their morning show, Renee’s boyfriend proposed to her, live on the air.
Sarkes Tarzian’s AC/WAJI (95.1fm, Fort Wayne) welcomes back Andy Beckman. Mr. Beckman begins in mornings this morning. He previously worked at Majic 95.1 in the mid-2000s (morning co-host/executive producer).
He last did mornings at WMEE before returning to the Majic 95.1 studios on West Berry Street.
Quincy Media has several changes at both their ABC and NBC affiliates in Fort Wayne. WPTA-TV (Channel 21, Fort Wayne) has the ABC affiliation on their .1 channel and the NBC affiliation on their .2 subchannel.
Vince Lovergine joins as a general assignment reporter, and Rachel Berry join as a sports reporter. Mr. Lovergine last worked for Eastern Illinois University’s PBS affiliate/WEIU-TV, before graduating from Eastern Illinois. Ms. Berry last worked for Quincy at their WAOW-TV in Wausau, Wisconsin.
Eric Olson retires after nearly 30 years at WPTA. He’s anchored and reported from the field. More recently, he did “21Country” profiles of interesting northeastern Indiana and northwestern Ohio folks. The local Allen County Public Library started compiling those videos in an online archive.
Meteorologist Liz Szewzyk (“Seff-check”) joins Fort Wayne’s NBC for weekend evenings. Also, meteorologist Jon Wilson exits for a role with the National Weather Service forecast office in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Josh Raines joins as Director of Outreach for Star Educational Media Network's Contemporary Christen/WLAB (88.3fm, Fort Wayne) and their network. Mr. Raines also appears in morning drive, alongside Tim Dawson and the syndicated ‘Scott and Sam’ show. Here are the stations and translators that comprise Star:
WJYW (88.9fm, Union City)
WCKZ (91.3, Orland)
W204BF (88.7fm, Fort Wayne)
W209BA (89.7fm, Kendallville)
W215BB (90.9fm, Warsaw)
W260BR (99.9fm, Auburn)
W233AN (94.5fm, Richmond)
W249BG (97.7fm, Richmond)
Former WFWI/WBYR (92.3fm, Fort Wayne; 98.9fm, then-Van Wert, Ohio) OM/PD Darrin Arriens dies from complications due to COVID-19. Most recently, Mr. Arriens was OM for Entercom’s Charlotte, North Carolina cluster, and PD for their WLNK. He was only 52.
Northcentral
Gray Television's NBC affiliate/WNDU-TV (Channel 16, South Bend) photojournalist and courtroom artist Eric Walton retires after 36 years with the station. The station website has more, including videos.
Also, meteorologist Cindi Clawson exits WNDU after over 20 years. New to the weather team is Penn State grad Matt Yarosewick. Mr. Yarosewick becomes a weekend meteorologist. Also, Carly Miller joins as a reporter. Ms. Miller graduated from Purdue and interned at both Lafayette and Indianapolis TV stations.
Weigel Broadcasting's ABC affiliate/WBND (Channel 57, South Bend) promotes Brenda Koopsen to Investigative Reporter. Ms. Koopsen joined WBND last year (IRW 09/02/2019)
Where Are They Now? Former ABC57 Assistant ND Greg DeBrosse becomes the News Director at KPLC-TV in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Northwest
Update: Chris Fleming exits as GM of the Neuhoff Media/Lafayette cluster, and joins El Dorado Broadcasters, as EVP/GM of their Victorville, California radio stations. (reprinted to correct broken link!)
Eastcentral
Jayland Radio closes on their $40,702 purchase of WBSJ (91.7fm, Portland) from Ball State University. Jayland recently changed the 91.7fm call letters to WZJR.
Educational Media Foundation changes the call letters of their 89.3fm, Richmond from WJKL back to WKRT. 89.3fm was WKRT from late 2009 until the summer of 2019. The WJKL call letters now reside on 105.7fm in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Central
Cumulus adds Isaac “Brooks” Wenzel as MD and afternoons at Country/WFMS (95.5fm, Fishers), under PD Christopher “Boomer” Layfield. Mr. Wenzel last did middays at WMAD-FM in Madison, Wisconsin and cluster Promotions Director.
Westcentral
DeWayne Shake closes on his $1.35 million deal to purchase Country/WAMW (1580am, Washington), Classic Hits/WAMW-FM (107.9fm, Washington) and two FM translators from Dave Crooks' DLC Media. Mr. Shake continues in mornings ("The Morning Shake-Up"; 6am until 9am), on WAMW-FM, along with doing sales and play by play. 25 years ago, Mr. Shake got his start in radio from Mr. Crooks.
Southeast
Word Broadcasting Network will pay Ryan Media $310,000 for Sports/WXVW (1450am, Jeffersonville) and W241CK (96.1fm, Jeffersonville). Cumulus sold 1450am to Ryan Media in 2011 for $265,000 (IRW, 01/12/2012) and Charles Anderson sold the translator to Ryan Media in 2018 for $200,000 (IRW 01/29/2018)
Rebecca and Brent Schepman’s Social Butterfly Media close on their $400,000 purchase of WJAA (96.3fm, Austin). They tweaked the format to “rock variety”, including more 1990s and 2000s music.
Southcentral
A former high school sports broadcaster died. Johnny “Big Guy” Henderson was 68. He was an ordained minister, and did high school sports on WSLM (Salem), WBOW (Terre Haute), WBIW (Bedford), WUME (Paoli). Here’s the complete obituary.
Ad-Venture Media’s WQRK (105.5fm, Bedford) drops their “Super Oldies” moniker, and becomes “Southern Indiana’s Classic Hits.”
Southwest
Blake Sandlin becomes a weekend sports anchor and sports reporter for both Nexstar ABC affiliate WEHT-TV (Channel 25, Evansville) and Mission Broadcasting's CW affiliate WTVW (Channel 7, Evansville). Mr. Sandlin last worked in Paducah, Kentucky (sports reporter for WPSD-TV).
Cromwell Media launches a News heavy radio station “K-News 101.3” on both their WXCM-HD4 (97.1fm, Whitesville, Kentucky) and 250 watt FM translator W267BM (101.3fm, Hawesville, Kentucky). “K-News 101.3” has national talkers (Clark Howard, Ben Shapiro, Bill O’Reilly, Brian Kilmeade, Tom Sullivan, et al.), local talkers (Brian Jackson; 11am until 1pm), and ag-business news (Cromwell Ag Network) each morning at 5:30am. Jeff Nalley anchors the Cromwell Ag Network.
Employment Opportunities
Are you direct and convincing when you know it’s right for the client? Do you naturally earn trust with the people you meet? Do you always live up to your commitments, even if it requires going the extra mile? Do you consistently out produce others with whom you work?
Federated Media is looking for bright, resourceful, highly motivated and committed individuals who will generate business by creating customized marketing solutions through Radio and Digital campaigns. This position requires the ability to set appointments, find key marketing challenges, and present solutions that get results to all types of local businesses.
To qualify, candidates must exhibit strong interpersonal skills, problem solving ability, attention to detail, creative thinking skills and credibility. Candidate must also be computer literate and have excellent prospecting and organization abilities.
Federated Media provides extensive marketing and sales training through The Radio Advertising Bureau and The Center for Sales Strategy. Digital Training and Digital Services are provided through Federated Digital Solutions.
REQUIREMENTS:
*Marketing degree or a minimum of 3 years selling experience
*Dependable transportation, valid driver’s license and proof of insurance required.
*Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and Power Point.
*Ability to learn various software systems quickly.
*Knowledge of Digital Marketing preferred.
Send resume & cover letter to: greatjobs@federatedmedia.com or to the General Sales Manager listed below. Federated Media is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Tim Skibbe, GSM, WTRC-FM, WAOR-FM, WTRC(AM) tskibbe@federatedmedia.com
Emily Wideman, GSM, WRBR-FM ewideman@federatedmedia.com
Kathy Uebler, GSM, WBYT-FM kuebler@federatedmedia.com
Stephanie Michel, GSM, WUBU-FM smichel@federatedmedia.com
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A Full time Advertising Sales position is available for Henson Media, in the Henderson, Kentucky and Evansville, Indiana area. Primary job will be helping local companies grow their business through the power of a radio group, primarily WSON AM/FM and ESPN 97.7 The REF. Will possibly include production responsibilities. Knowledge of digital media is helpful. Send resume and salary requirements to darlene@wsonradio.com and to edhenson1@bellsouth.net. Henson Media of Henderson County, LLC is an Equal Employment Employer.
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Are you a salesperson with a positive attitude who hates to lose? Our Kokomo and Marion radio groups both have immediate openings for our next multi-media sales superstars! We’re looking for team players who are a whiz with technology, and previous sales experience, a knack for developing new business and creativity are all a plus. If a competitive salary plus commission, benefits, and extras get your attention, contact us today! Hoosier AM/FM, LLC is an equal opportunity employer and maintains a drug-free workplace. Please send resume to Joel Pyle at jpyle@star1069fm.com.
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Locally-owned and operated WGCL (98.7 and AM 1370) and Rock 96-1 The Quarry are looking for both full-time and part-time account executives to help develop commercial, non-traditional, and digital revenue. Successful candidates:
• Have had success in selling their particular industry
• Possess a solid work ethic and are self-motivated
• Understand what it takes to develop and nurture mutually-beneficial business relationships
In this non-corporate, Bloomington-based position, you’ll help local businesses grow through the power of advertising on WGCL, Rock 96-1 The Quarry, and WTTS (92.3). You’ll also have the opportunity to sell a vast array of digital products through our new ST Digital arm. Whether you’re looking for a full-time career or a part-time opportunity, we will craft and customize the right scenario for the right candidate.
Send an introductory email along with your resume to dmyers@wgclradio.com. Sarkes Tarzian, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.
=============== Indiana RadioWatch ===============
Indiana RadioWatch is (c) 2020, Blaine E. Thompson
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