Mitch's Media Musings January 2025
Mitch's Media Musings
Dec. 16, 2024 - Jan. 16, 2025
General

Atlanta Business Chronicle
Editor in Chief Doug Sams departs for a new role as senior reporter with the San Francisco Business Times, covering economic development and commercial real estate. The SFBT is a sister paper to the ABC and one of the largest papers in the American Cities Business Journal family. Managing Editor Dean Anason is charge until they name a new EIC.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Senior Economics Writer Michael Kanell will be taking a buy out offer and retiring from the paper after decades covering economic topics. I can't express how talented a writer Kanell is and how much readers of the AJC will miss him.
Health reporter Helena Olivero is taking the buyout offer
Jennifer Brett is taking the buyout offer. We've known Jennifer through so many steps in her career, from the Gwinnett Bureau to PeachBuzz to crime reporting.
Others taking the buyout include: Jennifer Brett, Shane Harrison, Susan Potter, Laura Woody, Bill Rankin, Matt Kempner, Chip Towers, Leo Willingham, Shawn McIntosh, Mark Waligore, John Spink, Chris Vivlamore.
Sports columnist Mark Bradley retires after 40+ years with paper. True to form, he writes about it here.
Ernie Suggs writes about Jimmy Carter and his years long experience covering him. If you don't tear up when he writes about Carter asking to call Ernie's mother, then just defriend me now! Link here.
Patricia Murphy launched her first "Cookie and Coal Awards" for Georgia politics
Associated Press - Former Atlanta AP Writer Dan Sewell says he's retiring for good this time. Link to story.
CNN
Jada Furlow has joined as a Content Producer. She was previously with WANF TV
Andy Rose joins as Newsdesk Reporter
CoStar - Tony Wilbert has been elected and installed as 2025 NAREE (National Association of Real Estate Editors) president.
Eater - Henna Bakshi is now Regional Editor, overseeing dining coverage of the American South, including Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, the Carolinas, and Nashville.
Fish 104 is closing down as of Feb. 1. Details from the AJC's Rodney Ho.
Georgia Health News - Andy Miller is retiring from health care reporting after 32 years on the beat. He has reported on health care in Georgia for the AJC, Georgia Health News, and KFF Health News, and has consulted for Healthbeat. He may do some writing in retirement, if he can still put a sentence together.
GPB
Ellen Reinhardt has retired from GPB
KFF Health News - Andy Miller is retiring from healthcare reporting after 32 years on the beat. He has reported on health care in Georgia for the AJC, Georgia Health News, and KFF Health News. He may do some writing in retirement, if he can still put a sentence together (his words!).
WABE - Sherri Daye Scott joins as CMO
WAGA/Fox5 - Ariyl Onstoff joins as host and streaming producer. Details here.
WANF / Atlanta News First
Gary Stilwell promoted to Assignment Manager
New 7 pm newscast launched Jan. 6
Congrats to Ella Dorsey on her engagement!
Chad Burke joins the Assignment Desk
WSB Radio
The Mark Arum Show is ranked #6 Major Market Midday Show and Ken Charles the #1 Major Market Program Director by Barnett Media! Link to details.
Check out this story about anchor/reporter Sabrina Cupit in this months issue of Golf Georgia! Scroll to page 10.
WSB TV
Veronica Griffin departs
Former Investigative Reporter Jim Strickland has died. Jim was an incredible journalist and a pleasure to work with for so many years. More here.
WXIA / 11 Alive
Traffic reporter Crash Clark departs. More details from the AJC's Rodney Ho.
Bill Dobilas has been promoted to Executive Producer
Kelsey Stanger departs for an Executive Producer position at WUSA TV in DC
News from the PR Department
Liana Moran Zabowski has been named president of The Wilbert Group, as well as a partner, 11 years after starting there as an intern. Caroline Wilbert, who co-founded Wilbert in 2009 and has been president since 2016, will remain part of the firm. She will continue to work with clients when it makes sense, lead special projects, tell the Wilbert story in the community and support Liana and the rest of the team. Caroline says she is stepping back from the day-to-day because it’s time for a new generation of leadership
PRecise Communications celebrates its 25th anniversary this month. Congrats to founder Alexis Davis Smith!
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