Mitch's Media Musings - March 2022

Mitch's Media Musings

Feb. 16 - March 15, 2022

General

4 Questions Journalist Spotlight - Check out our latest interviews with Capital B Atlanta, the Reporter Newspapers, Gray TV, and KISS Radio. You can watch in video format or listen to audio: https://www.leffsatlantamedia.com/q4-journalists. You can also find our podcasts on just about any podcast platform (Apple, Amazon, Spotify, iHeartRadio, etc.).

WSB TV's Audrey Washington reports on the death of Atlanta radio legend Silas Alexander. She writes: “SiMan Baby” spent decades on the Atlanta radio airwaves working for stations live V-103, Kiss 104.1, Classic Soul 102.5 and Majic 97.5/107.5 through 2018. He also hosted late-night parties and events at clubs throughout the metro area. In addition, he had a syndicated radio show the past few years that aired on several different stations around the southeast."

ArtsATL - Scott Freeman hits ten years at ArtsATL. Read this great piece about his journey.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dylan Jackson joins as a Watchdog Reporter on the investigative team. He was most recently with American Lawyer. More background via this link.
Former arts editor Valerie Boyd has died.
Publisher Donna Hall announced her retirement. Her replacement is yet to be announced.
Scott Trubey has been named Economy Editor. Details.
Reporter Greg Bluestein's new book, Flipped, is out on March 22. As the book jacket notes, the book is about "The untold story of the unlikely heroes, the cutthroat politics, and the cultural forces that turned a Deep South state purple."

CNN - Allison Rampley promoted to Senior Editorial Producer.

Georgia Public Broadcasting

Wayne Drash departs. Josephine Bennett is a good contact for story pitches, or you can always go directly to reporters.

Gray TV - Atlanta-based Gray Television has purchased Capital Media Group, parent company of Telemundo Atlanta | WKTB. The purchase also includes sister company, Surge Digital Media, a full-service, boutique digital agency that excels at multi-cultural, multi-lingual marketing and video production.

NexStar - Atlanta Bureau Chief Archith Seshadri is offering "The Art of Storytelling," a workshop for journalists covering public speaking, story structure format, and more. Details: https://rolecall.tix.page/e/the-art-of-storytelling

Reporter Newspapers

Neal Maziar joins the team as Chief Revenue Officer. He will own all of the company's revenue generation and lead its sales team. Maziar worked for Cox Radio Group for 19 years, later joining Big League Broadcasting as co-owner and general manager. He also served as executive director for the Atlanta Falcons Radio Network. In 2010, the Atlanta Broadcast Advertising Club honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award for his impact on the industry. He has spent 20 years volunteering with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to funding research to treat and ultimately cure Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). Publisher Keith Pepper says they are actively hiring at least one more salesperson.
Dyana Bagby joins as a reporter covering Buckhead and Atlanta for the Reporter papers and Atlanta Intown. She'll write news and feature stories.

WGCL/CBS46

Monica Kaufman's new show debuts on Peachtree TV. It's called "One on One with Monica" and the first show aired on a Sunday at 8 p.m.
Karyn Greer announces she's departing the station for an evening anchor role at WSB TV.
Patrick Quinn joins as general assignment reporter.

WSB TV

Lacey LeCroy departs.
Cobb Bureau Chief Chris Jose will soon depart for a job with NBC's affiliate in NYC.
Karyn Greer joins as evening anchor.
Justin Carter joins as general assignment reporter. He was recently with WCIS TV in Springfield, IL.
Larry Spruill joins as general assignment reporter. He was recently with WDIV in Detroit, MI.

WSB Radio

WSB Radio celebrates its 100th birthday this month. Link to story. Long-time News Director Chris Camp recalls the day he pulled the switch to launch the station.
Green and Growing - Ashley Frasca, host of the Green and Growing Show on WSB Radio, has begun distributing her own bi-weekly emailed gardening newsletter. She takes over from Walter Reeves, who wrote The Georgia Gardener newsletter for 18 years and 560 issues.

WXIA/11Alive

Standard General has purchased TEGNA, the parent company of 11Alive. There's an interesting story behind the purchase if you'd like to click here for more details.
11Alive.com was named the #1 trusted local news site in the country by NewsGuard
I'm a few months behind on this but, Vivian Theriault has joined as Breaking News Manager. She joined from the Cobb County School District, where was and audio video technology and film teacher.

News from the PR Dept.

Aaron Diamant joins Lucie Content. A former WSB TV reporter, Diamant was most recently with UGA in a communications role.
Rahru Arceneaux, founder of Haute Choc'lat public relations, was named to a list of "18 Black Girls Screenwriters You Need to Know." Link: https://tinyurl.com/yck7986o.
Brave PR's Kristin Cowart Pierce is included in Atlanta magazine's "Top 500 Most Powerful Leaders in 2022." Details: https://tinyurl.com/yb3p23oz
Tara Murphy with 360 PR was named to the Titan 100 list, recognizing 100 CEOs and C-Level executives.
Mitch Leff of Leff & Associates and Melissa Sanders of Tadpole Communications were featured in the March issue of Oz magazine, talking about their work with the Georgia Entertainment PR Alliance (www.gepra.net). Link to the story: https://tinyurl.com/yb7hl2jy