Mitch's Media Musings Sept 2022
Mitch's Media Musings
Aug 16 - Sept 15, 2022
General
Long-time Atlanta writer, journalist, and editor Scott Henry died with month. Details here.
Long-time attorney and legal commentator Page Pate died this month. The tributes and remembrances were abundant, but here's what WABE said.
Atlanta Press Club - The Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young Debate Series will host General Election debates for U.S. Senate, Governor, Secretary of State, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Agriculture Commissioner, Insurance Commissioner, Labor Commissioner, State School Superintendent and U.S. Congressional Districts One, Two, Six, Seven, Ten, Thirteen and Fourteen. The debate series will take place at Georgia Public Broadcasting on Sunday, Oct. 16, Monday, Oct. 17, and Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022. For media credentials, contact Mitch Leff (mitch@leffassociates.com) or Kim Speece (kim@leffassociates.com).
Also, the APC's Hall of Fame Dinner will be on Nov. 10 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Details. Inductees include Lorenzo Jelks, Mary Louise Kelly, Jovita Moore, Russ Spencer, Dick Williams, and Rebecca Chase Williams.
Appen Media - Amber Perry joins the papers as a reporter.
Athens Banner Herald - Caitlyn Stroh-Page departs the editor position. She'll be the news director for the Tallahassee Democrat.
Atlanta Voice - Donnell Suggs is now editor.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Political writer Shannon McCaffrey recently earned her MFA in narrative nonfiction from The University of Georgia.'
Sports writer Tim Tucker is retiring. Details: https://tinyurl.com/2klljrgz.
Fellow Leff & Associates associate extraordinaire Kim Speece joined me for the AJC's "State of the State" event earlier in the month. Great food, great networking, and some great panels covering sports, education, and politics.
The paper is looking for some freelance help. 1) A writer for their Living and Arts centerpiece stories, 2) an editor. For more details, contact Shane Harrison at Shane.Harrison@ajc.com.
Daily Report
Kathy Tucker announced her retirement. Details: https://tinyurl.com/2k2nsm3c.
Red & Black - Rebecca Burns is departing in early 2023
Reporter Newspaper
Donnell Suggs joins as Senior Reporter
Editor Amy Wenk departs. She's now VP of Content for What Now Media Group
WAGA TV/Fox5
Eric Perry is now the Weekend Anchor, replacing Alex Whittler who moved to a weekday role.
Portia Bruner's new daily show (1 pm M-F) debuted this month. It's got a catchy name, "Portia"! Look for full episodes on foxsoul.com
WGCL/CBS46
WGCL and WPCH are rolling out a new news mission to greater Atlanta. On October 3, all of their newscasts on both stations will be known as Atlanta News First. WGCL will also change its call sign to WANF. Details: https://www.cbs46.com/2022/08/31/atlanta-news-first-coming-north-georgia/
Producer Kelly Corder is changing to a creative services role at the station. I'd incorrectly said in last month's newsletter that she was leaving the station.
Rachel Aragon joins as general assignment reporter. She was previously a reporter and fill-in anchor at WBFF, the FOX affiliate in Baltimore.
Bridget Spencer joins as general assignment reporter. She was previously a reporter with Fox TV in Austin, TX and with WTVY in Dothan, AL
A bit of anchor desk shuffling. Look for Gurvir Dhindsa and Rob Hughes are anchoring at noon Monday - Friday in addition to their morning duties.
WSB TV
Kristen Holloway departs. No announcement yet on what's next.
Karyn Greer made her on-air debut this month after some time off-air working out that typical non-compete clause that hits when you move from one station to another in the same market.
WSB Radio
Tina Douglas has joined the station, anchoring and reporting on the weekends. Her radio history includes work with WYAY Radio Atlanta, iHeartRadio, and CBS Radio. She also worked as an Associate Producer at Fox5 and as an anchor/reporter at WESH TV in Orlando. She also offers voice work at Tina Douglas Productions.
Ken Charles joins as Director of Branding and Programming
WXIA TV / 11Alive
Cody Alcorn joins as a general assignment reporter. He comes to Atlanta from Fox Carolina, WBBJ in Tennessee, and Gray Television.
News from the PR Dept.
Mitch had a great time moderating a media panel for the Small Business Administration's PR team this month. On the panel were WXIA's Joe Ripley, WVEE's Joyce Littel, and WGCL's Erik Schrader.
PRSA Georgia's Chapter Champion for September is Chaundra Luckett. Details.
Rumor has it that PRSA's Annual Phoenix Awards will be Nov. 16
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