Mitch's Media Musings - July 2020
Mitch's Media Musings
June 16 - July 15, 2020
General
Atlanta Business Chronicle - The paper's June 26 edition was a black cover with the text "We've got work to do." Publisher David Rubinger talks about why and how the paper has shifted its reporting.
Around the Rings - Gerard Farek has been promoted to Managing Editor. Around The Rings (ATR) Editor and Founder Ed Hula announced the promotion of Farek from content editor to managing editor, earlier this month -- in effect, passing the torch of daily operations to a trusted colleague with deep Olympic reporting experience.
Hula says: “Since joining our team in 2016, Gerard has been an integral part of our daily operation. He has represented ATR at events around the world from the Rio Olympics to the Pan Am Games. His knowledge of international sports across two decades of journalism is the kind of experience that bolsters the quality of the Around the Rings.”
Farek will oversee daily operations for ATR. This includes a team in Atlanta as well as correspondents based in Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada, and South America. Both Ed Hula and Publisher Sheila S. Hula cited Farek’s deep knowledge of the Olympic Movement, sports federations, athletes, sponsors and media as part of their decision to pass the torch.
Atlanta Press Club - The Press Club is hosting a series of debates for the primary runoffs for Congressional Districts 1, 9 and 14. The series takes place July 19. Details: https://atlantapressclub.org/atlanta-press-club-loudermilk-young-debate-series-hosts-primary-election-debates/.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Shannon Dominy takes over the business section Newsmaker duties from Bill Hendrick.
Raisa Habersham departs.
A new development in a story that reporter Josh Sharpe has been working on as a part of a series, "The Imperfect Alibi" ... a judge has overturned the convictions of Dennis Perry for the murders of two people in 1985. Read more at https://www.ajc.com/alibi/.
Business Radio X Gwinnett - We've added Amanda Pearch to the database. She hosts a show called "Celebrating Powerhouse Women."
Champion - Education reporter Taylor Robins has departed for a position at CNN.
Clayton Crescent - Congrats to Robin Kemp, who won several awards in the 2020 Georgia Press Association Contest! Weekly Division Photo Portfolio: 2nd PlaceDivision F Enterprise Story: 2nd PlaceBreaking News Writing: 3rd Place. As these were awards won with her former employer, the Clayton News, she sent a shout-out to former coworkers Joe Adgie, who won first place for an *amazing* shot that won Weekly Division Best Web Photo, and to Heather Middleton, who won Weekly Division Best Photo Gallery on a Newspaper Website.
CNN - Various reports say that CNN Center is going to be sold.
Covington News
Taylor Beck has been named editor, publisher. He'd previously served as managing editor of the Sand Mountain Reporter in Albertville, AL.
Madison Graham moves to advertising director of the Walton Tribune.
The paper is owned by Patrick Graham, who also owns The Walton Tribune, The Sand Mountain Reporter, Jackson County Sentinel (Scottsboro, AL), Time-Journal (Fort Payne, AL).
Georgia News Network
John Clark's Georgia Focus segments are back on their air! Check out some recent segments via their Twitter feed @GANewsNetwork.
Matt McClure posted that they're looking for a part-time reporter/anchor.
Georgia Public Broadcasting
Check out their new podcast, "Shots in the Back: Exhuming the 1970 Augusta Riot." Reporter Sea Stachura tells the story of one of the first major Civil Rights era riots in the South. Link: https://www.gpbnews.org/programs/shots-back-exhuming-1970-augusta-riot.
An award win from the Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA), second place in the "short documentary" category for a piece on the story of Richard Jewell. The winning team included Virginia Prescott, Pria Mahadevan, Jesse Nighswonger, Grant Blackenship, and Marylynn Ryan. Listen: https://tinyurl.com/ydfxapo9.
Kiss 104.1 - Twanda Black is no longer with the station. Details from the AJC's Rodney Ho: https://tinyurl.com/y82a9g5e
Radio Tucker - Jason Becknell, a former 11Alive producer who's now at The Weather Channel, has a new side hobby. He's launched Radio Tucker. He says "After having this idea for many years, I finally acted in creating a “local” radio station for Tucker and the surrounding communities. Radiotucker.com signed on [July 4]."
Radio Tucker’s mission is to be “locally programmed, globally enjoyed” - While it can be heard around the world via the internet the content will be hyper-local focused as if it was a traditional FM radio station on Main Street.
Content includes music, weather and local specialty programs.
You can find the station at www.radiotucker.com, on Facebook at Radio Tucker, and on Instagram at @radiotucker.
WABE - Candace Wheeler departs for a position with the CDC.
WGCL TV/CBS46
Good news from reporter Melissa Stern. She's completed her last round of chemo to treat her breast cancer.
WGST - The station will be changing its format. It'll now be part of the Black Information Network.
A press release says BIN will be "the first and only 24/7 national and local all news audio service dedicated to providing an objective, accurate and trusted source of continual news coverage with a Black voice and perspective.
BIN is focused on service to the Black community and providing an information window for those outside the community to help foster communication, accountability and a deeper understanding.
WXIA/11Alive
Atlanta & Company is back on the air. It's currently a 30-minute show airing from 11 - 11:30 a.m.
We were sad to hear news about the death of Bruce Mason. Watch this tribute from his colleagues: https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/beloved-11alive-photographer-bruce-mason-dies/85-e0feab17-6a37-4222-9a03-d9efe0c8db74.
Reporter Chenue Her shares his personal battle with COVID-19: https://www.11alive.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/chenue-her-battle-with-covid19/85-bd45d448-9653-4d10-b2ec-47d24f3816c7.
Freelancers
Lauren Leathers says she's starting graduate school and so won't be doing any freelance writing or reporting for the foreseeable future. (insert sad emoji here)
News from the PR Dept
Amanda Brown Olmstead told me that she recently celebrated 48 years in business. Her firm is the New Amanda Brown Olmstead Agency.
Alicia Young, is the recipient of the July 2020 Chapter Champion Award for her dedicated volunteer work with PRSA Georgia. Since joining the Chapter in 2014, Alicia has served on several committees, including roles planning the Real World and Annual Conference events. She currently co-chairs the Membership Committee.
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