Mitch's Media Musings

Dec. 16, 2022 - Jan. 15, 2023

General

Dan Blankowski died in a car crash in Cherokee County on Dec. 15. He was 66. Many in the radio industry in Atlanta worked with him and remember him from this work at Star94, where he was executive producer of the Steve & Vikki Show. More details from 11alive.

Gary McKillips received the Schneider Award from the AP for his work as an Atlanta correspondent.

Atlanta Film Chat - the podcast is back in production!

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Taylor Croft has joined as the Small Cities reporter, covering Marietta, Smyrna, Decatur, and Mableton.
Riley Bunch joins the paper (from GPB) where she'll be covering Atlanta City Hall.

(The) Atlanta Voice - Check out the Voice's web and print for more business and real estate news.

Decaturish - The site has absorbed the content from sister site, the Tucker Observer. They're continuing to cover Tucker, Clarkston, and Stone Mountain, but it'll all be under the Decaturish site.

Georgia News Network - Tyrik Wynn joins as a News Anchor

Georgia Public Broadcasting - Riley Bunch departs for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Rough Draft / Reporter Newspapers

"Scene by Rough Draft" newsletter launches, edited by Sammie Purcell. It's all about Georgia's entertainment industry.
"Rough Draft" will now be the company's corporate brand and digital home. The papers will still be Atlanta Intown and all the Reporter papers (Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody).
Collin Kelley will now be the editor of all their papers.
Sammie Purcell is promoted to Associate Editor, focusing on their newsletters, the entertainment industry, and feature writing.
Atlanta Senior Life gets a new name: Silver Streak Atlanta.
Look for everything at their new URL, https://roughdraftatlanta.com/.

WABE Radio - Tiffany Griffith joins as Supervising Producer for Rose Scott's "Closer Look" show

WAGA / Fox5 - Paul Milliken is out with another original Christmas song, this year Alyse Eady on vocals. Link.

WANF TV

Bridgett Spencer joins as general assignment reporter. She's a Marietta native and has worked at TV stations in Dothan, AL, and Austin, TX.
Andy Pierrrotti joins as an investigative reporter. He'll also contribute to Gray's national investigative team.
Gary Stilwell moves to Nightside Assignment Editor, Monday - Thursdays.

WSB TV

Brad Stone retires in February after 44 years in the business.
Ashley Kramlich joins as meteorologist. She's worked in Tyler, TX, Baltimore, and Charlotte.

WXIA / 11Alive

A new indoor track was unveiled recently in Gainesville. The "Jimmy Carnes Track" honors the father of 11Alive's own Jerry Carnes. Details here.
A fun post from anchor Ron Jones. He talks about their 5 p.m. producer, Tiffany, and how she works full-time for 11Alive News … but "also has a side hustle as an amazing cheerleader for the Atlanta Falcons." Now, that's impressive time management!
Reporter Hope Ford departs

News from the PR Dept.