Mitch's Media Musings - Jan 2020
Mitch's Media Musings
Dec. 16, 2019 - Jan. 15, 2020
General
Atlanta Press Club - Nominations are now open for the APC's 2019 Awards of Excellence. Click: https://atlantapressclub.org/2019-awards-of-excellence-submission/.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tyler Estep moves to the DeKalb beat
Ben Brasch moves to the Fulton beat
Arielle Kass moves the Gwinnett beat
Brightside Newspapers - Allan Lipscott, publisher, died this month following heart complications. He was 69. He started in journalism when he purchased the Southeast Georgian newspaper when he was only 26. His job history includes editing at the Marietta Daily Journal, working for Newt Gingrich and operating his own PR firm, Lipsett & Associates. More about him at https://tinyurl.com/vjm5fyh.
Atlanta Loop - This online publication closed down effective the end of the year. Editor Dan Whisenhunt said ""This wasn’t an easy decision and there are numerous reasons we have decided to move on. While the site generated a modest profit, it ultimately wasn’t enough to justify continuing to spend resources on it. While this site never quite took off like we had hoped, it provided us valuable lessons that will help us as we continue to operate Decaturish.com. And for fans of that site, please note: Decaturish isn’t going anywhere. Shutting down Atlanta Loop will mean we have more time and energy to devote to making Decaturish an awesome experience for everyone, including Loop’s readers."
Cox Enterprises has completed the sale of its radio and television stations to Apollo Global Management. They maintain a minority stake in the new comany. Yeah, there are a of moving pieces here but this article covers it all well: https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2019/12/18/cox-enterprises-completes-sale-of-stations-assets.html.
Girls on Film - We added host/producer Sarah Smith to our database. Check it out at http//girlsonfilm.biz/.
GPB Radio - A number of changes this month.
"On Second Thought" will now be broadcast only on Mondays.
"Political Rewind" adds a broadcast on Thursdays.
Ross Terrell was laid off.
Robert Jimison departs. He'll be relocating to New York to be a producer on The Daily, the Peabody award winning news podcast hosted by Michael Barbaro. He says "I’ll be bringing my expertise of politics in the south - especially Georgia - to the team as we barrel towards November 2020."
(The) Local Lense - We've added this film industry focused podcast to our database. Beth Keener and Greer Howard are the hosts. Check it out at http://www.thelocallense.com/.
Los Angeles Times - Jenny Jarvie is now a national reporter for the paper, based in Atlanta. She covers a range of stories on immigration, identity, culture and politics. She has lived in the South for more than 15 years, writing for publications including The Times, the New Republic, Atlantic’s CityLab, ArtsATL and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Raised in England and Italy, Jarvie studied English literature and philosophy at the University of Glasgow in Scotland and began her journalism career at the Daily Telegraph in London.
Simply Buckhead - Jill Becker departs. Jennifer Franklin and Karina Antenucci have been named Senior Contributing Editors. Helen Cauley is the new Managing Editor.
WABE
If you're watching "Watchmen" on HBO, look for Susanna Capelouto in episode two as a German typist!
Congrats to Rose Scott and her "Closer Look" show, with colleagues Candace Wheeler, Grace Walker, and newly named producer LaShawn Hudson, celebrating five years on the air this month. Rose says "“One neat aspect of hosting WABE's Closer Look is how much I’ve developed and learned as a journalist. To be in embedded in the community is truly the best way to cover issues directly impacting diverse communities. We’re not here to tell folks how to think about a particular topic, but we make every effort to ensure voices that matter are given an opportunity to express themselves beyond sound bites. That’s something I’m really proud of about my team.”
Congrats to Lois Reitzes and her "City Lights" team, Claire Reynolds and Summer Evans, for five years on the air as well!
WAGA/Fox5
George Franco retires after 15 years with the station. He notes on his Facebook page "The time has come to follow my bliss in the direction of helping others as a professional benefit fundraising auctioneer. George Franco, the 'Good News' Auctioneer, www.redcloudauctions.com. My life as a tv news reporter has been exciting, heart breaking, rewarding, sad, stressful, joyful and crazy, all wrapped up in the daily drum beat at Fox 5 News."
Randy Travis marks 30 years with the I-Team.
WGCL/CBS46
Kayla Rivera hired as full time reporter. She'll be working nightside 3pm-midnight Thurs-Mon.
The AJC's Rodney Ho reports News Director Steve Doerr has departed for a GM position in New England. Details: https://tinyurl.com/ygxb5u4b.
WSB Radio - Walter Reeves has announced that he'll be retiring from the "Lawn & Garden Show" after 26 years. Ashley Frasca takes over the hosting role. Frasca has been the show's producer for eight years.
WSB TV
Investigative reporter Aaron Diamant is leaving the station. He'll be the Vice Chancellor of Communications for the University System of Georgia. More from the AJC's Rodney Ho: https://tinyurl.com/yejrgr5y.
Rodney also reports that with the arrival of Jorge Estevez, the station is rearranging some of its anchor slots. Estevez will be anchoring at 5 and 11 p.m. and Justin Farmer will anchor at 4 and 6 p.m.
Traffic reporter Jason Durden departs.
WXIA-TV/11Alive
Neima Abdulahi has departed the station.
Producer Ashley Pulliam departs for Dallas TV station WFAA.
Former reporter Paul Crawley (now retired) ignored repeated emails, texts, and calls from the assignment desk this month.
News from the PR Dept.
Gabrielle Braswell has been named Vice President, Corporate Communications at Serta Simmons Bedding.
Congrats to Melissa Mittelbronn, Chapter Champion for PRSA Georgia for December. The chapter also launched a new website in January and named Elizabeth McMillan, APR, as its new president.
This is a cool item. Chad David Shearer with Caren West PR says he's the PR Director behind 4 of Arizona's 7 best music festivals this Spring. Love that it's an Atlanta PR person doing it!
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