Mitch's Media Musings - August 2024

Mitch's Media Musings

July 16 - August 15, 2024

General

An ex-Kansas police officer who led a raid on a newspaper in charged with obstruction of justice. Link to the full story.

Thanks to the journalists who participated in PRSA Georgia's 2024 Pitch-A-Palooza event on Aug 8! Marylynn Ryan from Georgia Public Broadcasting, Mirtha Donestorg and Scott Trubey from the AJC, Brandolyn Hellams from WAGA TV, Martel Sharpe from The Atlanta Voice, and Abby Kousouris from WANF TV. More than 60 PR professionals got the chance to stand in front of the crowd, live pitch their story ideas, and get constructive feedback.

ArtsATL

Cinque Hicks joins at Editor in Chief
We also added Gillian Renault who edits music and dance coverage

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The paper seems to be staffing up for some enhanced coverage on the weekends. Our crack research team (ok, we saw it on LinkedIn) found a post that noted they're taking "a new approach on the weekends" and growing their video programming efforts. The post notes openings for two "Trending Reporter" positions, a Writer/Editor, and several producer positions.
Culture Reporter DeAsia Paige has launched "Heat Check," a biweekly music column that "explores the temperature of Georgia's buzzing, expansive music scene. It includes music news, trends, and any Georgia-related music that DeAsia is listening to."
Added Housing Reporter Matt Reynolds to the database

Atlanta Press Club

The APC has announced its 2024 inductees into the Hall of Fame. They include Valerie Boyd, Clark Howard, Tony Light, and Maria Saporta. The event is Oct. 28. Click here to get your tickets.

Axios - Wilborn Nobles departs as Axios lays off staff nationwide. Details here.

Champion Newspaper

Reginald Fuller joins as a sports writer
Christine Fonville is now Local News Editor
Jay Phillips is now Executive Managing Editor

Eater - We've added Atlanta editor Henna Bakshi to the database

Fulton Neighbor - We've added Alex Amos who's covering the South Fulton area

HealthBeat - Rebecca Grapevine returns to Atlanta, writing for this new newsroom in Georgia. Healthbeat is a a new nonprofit news platform from Civic News Company and KFF. Here's some background on the job.

Marietta Daily Journal

The MDJ recognized Senior Editor Jon Gillooly with a nice write up in the paper this month as he marked 20 years. JK Murphy noted a few of Jon's bigger stories, including the Braves' move to Cobb, interviews with Dolly Parton, KSU President Betty Siegel, Kevin Costner, and Theodore Van Kirk (navigator of the Enola Gay), and many stories covering local government.

Rough Draft

Rough Draft's daily newsletter won the 2024 Publisher Newsletter Award for “Best Local & Community Newsletter." Their Sketchbook and Side Dish newsletters were also finalists in their respective categories.
Check out their recently launched Tucker Reporter
Cathy Cobbs is now a full-time staff writer (wait, she wasn't full-time before?!)

Social Atlanta - We've added this online publication and its editor into the database. This online site if focused on Atlanta's social event scene.

WABE - Lots of program shifting at the station this month as shows are moved around, added, and deleted. Click the link for all the details. City Lights and Closer Look are both moving and they're adding a new health-focused program that is locally produced. https://www.wabe.org/new-schedule/

WANF TV

Sarah Hammond joins as a general assignment reporter. She joins from WVEC TV in Norfolk,VA, WMAZ TV in Macon, and is a UGA Grady College of Journalism graduate.

WSB TV

Former anchor John Bachman, who been working in Jacksonville at Action News Jax, has left TV to start his own PR agency, Bachman Galnor Communications.

WXIA

Ciara Frisbie promoted to Senior Investigative Producer
Marcus Greaves joins as sports reporter / anchor. He was most recently with KFMB TV in San Diego.
Jerry Carnes has announced his retirement from TV news after 42 years in the business, 35 of them at 11Alive. He joined 11Alive about six months after I started working in PR in Atlanta, so we've walked this road together for a long time. We'll miss his cheery voice on the phone!

News from the PR Dept.

Trevelino Keller acquires Marsden Marketing. Details.
Jamie Cwalinkski is PRSA Georgia's Chapter Champion for July. He's a Corporate Communications Manager for IHG Hotels & Resorts.
Julie Bryant Fisher has taken on a new role as Managing Director with Paramount Consulting Group
M-Squared Public Relations now has a new focus, Crisis Communications.