• May 2012 Agility Updates by Region
• April 2012 Agility by Region
• March 2012 Agility Updates by Region .

MEDIAware May 2012 Media Briefs

You can follow all of the latest media moves and news from PR Newswire's Audience Research Department on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/PRNmedia

CBS Television Network and the entire news community is mourning the loss of CBS Reporter Mike Wallace. The 60 Minutes Correspondent passed away at the age of 93. Wallace has won 21 Emmy Awards throughout his career, his last when he was 89. He was known for his inquisitiveness and his tough, probing questions. He retired from the show as a regular Correspondent in 2006 but occasionally contributed to the show. Wallace started his career in the 1940s as a Radio News Writer for the Chicago Sun. He began working at CBS in 1951. CBS President and CEO Leslie Moonves said in a statement “His extraordinary contribution as a broadcaster is immeasurable and he has been a force within the television industry throughout its existence. His loss will be felt by all of us at CBS.”

NBC Miami Reporter Jeff Burnside was fired after WTVJ-TV discovered that Burnside deliberately edited a tape of George Zimmerman’s 911 call before he shot Trayvon Martin. Burnside has been with the NBC station for over 13 years.

The Philadelphia Inquirer won their 19th Pulitzer Prize for a series that explored violence in the public schools of Philadelphia. The team of writers included Susan Snyder, Kristen A. Graham, Dylan Purcell, Jeff Gammage and ex-Inquirer Reporter John Sullivan (who is now a Professor at Medill University). They wrote the series entitled "Assault on Learning" and you can read the seven-part series here: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/special_packages/inquirer/school-violence/118812644.html

The Wall Street Journal has produced a new, online title. CIO Journal is written for chief information officers and any executive interested in technology. While CIO Journal acts as an aggregator, it also contains original articles for subscribers. It also includes a daily email blast. Editing the Journal is Michael Hickins. Senior Editor is Darren McDermott. They can be contacted at michael.hickins@wsj.com and darren.mcdermott@wsj.com, respectively.

Michael J. Berens and Ken Armstrong of The Seattle Times (http://www.seattletimes.com) won a Pulitzer for Investigative Reporting. Their report is on the state of Washington's healthcare program which prescribes the questionable drug methadone. You can read the entire piece here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/flatpages/specialreports/methadone/methadoneandthepoliticsofpain.html

Associated Press Reporters Eileen Sullivan, Chris Hawley, Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman also won a 2012 Pulitzer for Investigative Reporting. They wrote a series on NYPD's investigations and profiling of Muslim neighborhoods since 9/11. Check out the series of stories here: http://www.ap.org/Index/AP-In-The-News/NYPD

Lisa Murphy has left Bloomberg TV. The "Street Smart" Anchor and Bloomberg TV made a mutual decision to part ways. The network is transitioning to a digital newsroom and has recently let go 30 of its staff members, including Morning Anchor Margaret Brennan. However, a spokesperson says the layoffs are not related to Murphy's exit. Different Anchors from Bloomberg TV will fill-in her spot on "Street Smart."

WLNY-TV in Melville, NY has merged with WCBS-TV in Manhattan. WLNY has ceased its newscasts until this summer. Before the merger, it was an independent station reaching New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Approximately 30 people have been hurt by the merger. Anchor Richard Rose is the only WLNY news personnel retained by CBS. Former WPIX-TV employee Betty Ellen Berlamino has been chosen as Station Manager.

So many readers missed Domino Magazine that publisher Conde Nast has decided to create two special issues. One was just produced in April with another planned for September. Subtitled, "Quick Fixes" the website can be found at http://www.dominomag.com. The do-it-yourself magazine went out of print in 2009.

Reporter Sara Ganim won a Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting for her coverage on Penn State University's football coach Jerry Sandusky's alleged child sex abuse scandal for The Patriot-News. Sara's Pulitzer story coverage can be read here: http://www.pennlive.com/jerry-sandusky/pulitzer/

No, the new magazine launching this month entitled "WAX" is not about surfing in the Pacific. It's actually about surfing, art and culture in New York City. Yes, the Big Apple. Editors David Yun, Aeriel Brown (aeriel@readwax.com) and Zak Klauck have created this bi-annual to explore the history of surfing, beaches and artists in NYC. The first issue has the theme, "Dialogues in Spring." More details can be found on http://www.readwax.com or by emailing info@readwax.com. 

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee launched a new radio show in April. "The Mike Huckabee Show" is heard on 180 stations nationwide and airs from noon to 3:00 p.m. EST. Huckabee will continue to host his weekend television show, "HUCKABEE" on Fox News Channel.

The New York Times Business Reporter David Kocieniewski won a Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting which covered the intricacies of the Federal Tax Law.(http://topics.nytimes.com/top/features/timestopics/series/but_nobody_pays_that/index.html)

Photojournalist Craig F. Walker of The Denver Post won a Pulitzer for his photographic essay of an Iraq war veteran dealing with post-traumatic stress. You can view the slide show of photos here: http://photos.denverpost.com/mediacenter/2011/12/special-project-welcome-home/26786/

The Politico's Editorial Cartoonist Matt Wuerker won a Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning. His winning cartoon collection is here: http://www.politico.com/wuerker/2012/04/matt-wuerkers-pulitzer-prize-winning-cartoons/000072-000758.html

John Derbyshire, longtime columnist at the National Review, was let go by them after a racially insensitive piece was published on Taki's Magazine.

The 2012 Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame will induct 14 local broadcasters and television reporters. This year Broadcaster Hall of Fame honorees will include: Dick Albert, Jim Boyd, Jack Williams, Matt Siegel, George Capalbo, Jane Christo, Joseph Ryan and others to be announced.

The Boston Globe has launched a new online archive called "From The Archives". The Archives will include photographs throughout the paper's 140 year history. The Archives will be updated every Thursday with three to five photos from when the paper first started to the present. “From The Archives” is available for print and digital subscribers only.

Dallas-based Belo Corp. reported a slight increase in total revenue for the first quarter of 2012. The company made $156 million in the first quarter, up 3% from the same period last year. Belo owns 20 TV stations across the country.

KGO-TV in San Francisco will be canceling its local talk program, “7Live.”

KTVA-TV in Anchorage, AK is canceling its weekday morning and weekend newscasts, effective immediately. Several departments are likely to experience layoffs, according to the station’s statement on the matter.

A former KOB-TV reporter in Albuquerque is suing a local police officer in federal court. Cristina Rodda claims that the officer in question destroyed a video shot by the station while covering a story about a rave at an Albuquerque nightclub. According to Rodda the officer pushed a club-goer to the ground as she caught the incident on tape.

The publisher of Portland, Oregon's bilingual monthly newspaper El Hispanic News, Melanie Davis, has launched PQ Monthly, an alternative lifestyle publication serving Oregon.

Chicago Tribune Columnist Mary Schmich (MSchmich@tribune.com) (http://twitter.com/MarySchmich) was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for her collective columnist work for the Chicago daily last year.

WMAQ-TV Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern (maryann.ahern@nbc.com) and Chicago Sun-Times Columnist Mary Mitchell (marym@suntimes.com) are recipients of the Chicago Headline Club’s Lifetime Achievement Awards.

WWMT-TV launched the premiere of Grand Rapids, Michigan’s first 4:30 a.m. newscast. The morning team consists of Josh Roe, Marcie Kobriger and Jeff Porter.

The joint services agreement between WTOL-TV (CBS) and WUPW-TV (Fox) in Toledo has reached mutual terms of the agreement. WTOL will handle the news programming for WUPW. The merging of six evening newscasts will be a blend of on-air talent from both stations.

Chicago-based media content provider Journatic has joined forces with the Tribune Company, taking over production of TribLocal, the network of community web sites and print editions for the Chicago Tribune. The joint venture includes the outsourcing of all hyperlocal editorial content to reporters and editors at Journatic. Approximately half of TribLocal’s 40 staffers, including copy editors, designers and web producers, will see their jobs phased out during the switch, with 11 of 18 reporters being reassigned to provide substantial coverage for the Chicago Tribune's suburban bureaus.

Kerry Collins, New England longtime radio personality, is set to retire. Collins had been on several stations including Program Director at WKCI-FM in New Haven,  WBLI-FM in Nassau Suffolk and WPRO-FM in Providence, RI.

KABC-TV in Los Angeles is leading the country in the number of Facebook likes and Twitter followers. This is the first time a TV station has led in both categories. http://www.lostremote.com/2012/04/09/kabc-in-los-angeles-leads-tv-stations-in-social-followers

Entertainment outlet TMZ releases its first iPad APP, http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlla/tmz-releases-ipad-app_b58711

NBC4 Los Angeles has launched a new weekly news series called "Life Connected", http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlla/nbc4-launching-new-weekly-news-franchise_b58991

Tom Kelly has been named Senior Vice President of the Los Angeles News Group. LANG publishes nine newspapers, including Los Angeles Daily News, Daily Breeze and Long Beach Press-Telegram.http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/business/ci_20419348/tom-kelly-named-los-angeles-news-group-senior

NBC4 Los Angeles has launched a Twitter account called @RealTimeLARiots that chronicle events leading up to the 1992 LA Riots, http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2012/04/la_riots_92_live_tweet.php

The Hollywood Reporter has launched Social Reader, a free Facebook app allowing followers to read and share entertainment news, http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-reporter-social-reader-314899 

The bad news? With the exception of Editor-in-Chief Aaron Hicklin, the entire staff of Out Magazine was let go. The good news? Hicklin hopes to hire back almost the entire staff to work on a contract basis. Hicklin is in the process of forming his own company, Grand Editorial, which will then produce the magazine for owners, Here Media. He plans on keeping the title as a monthly.

MEDIAware April 2012 MediaBriefs

You can follow all of the latest media moves and news from PR Newswire's Audience Research Department on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/PRNmedia

Philadelphia Media Network (The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News and Philly.com) has been sold for $55 million to a group of six investors. Greg Osberg will continue in his role of Publisher. These assets were worth $139 million when they were sold two years ago but the loss of advertising revenue has dropped the worth of the properties in half. And the properties were purchased back in 2006 from McClatchy Co. for $515 million. The new investors are also investing an additional $10 million in improvements to the products to re-grow the brands and bring back advertisers.

The Chicago Tribune (http://twitter.com/ChiTribBooks) has an addition to the daily. Printers Row is a new literary publication that offers interviews, book reviews, author profiles and reports on Chicago and Midwest writers. Literary Editor Elizabeth Taylor (etaylor@tribune.com) (http://twitter.com/etayloretayor) will oversee its content. Also at The Chicago Tribune, they have cut approximately 15 editorial staffers. Among those dismissed are Associate Photo Managing Editor Torry Bruno; Digital News Editor Zoe Galland; Reporter Eric Gwinn; Education Editor Susan Keaton; Assistant Metro Editor John Kerke; Metro Photo Editor Rob Kozloff; and Reporter Sandra M. Jones.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has closed its Austin bureau. Like most newspapers it has been going through tough financial times. Editor Jim Witt said, “We’ve decided that for right now it doesn’t make sense for us to have a full-time Reporter in Austin when the Legislature isn’t in session." Bureau Chief Dave Montgomery was offered a buyout and will more than likely freelance for the Star-Telegram.

After a hiatus of more than two years, Time Style & Design is again being published. The fashion magazine of Time will produce two magazines per year: one in March and one in September. The expected circulation is expected to be about 500,000. The Managing Editor is Richard Stengel, who can be contacted at: richard_stengel@timemagazine.com. Check it out at
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,2108496,00.html

With the recent hiring of Assistant News Director Denise Killian, KDAF-TV in Dallas makes the fifth station in the market with a female News Director. KDFW-TV, WFAA-TV, KXAS-TV and KTVT-TV all have women in the role. WFAA-TV made history last month when it hired its first female ND Carolyn Mungo.

The Denver Post reports KUSA-TV Morning Anchor Kyle Dyer will return to her post. She was out the past eight weeks from a dog bite, she received, during an interview.

Iowa's Oldest Newspaper, The Telegraph Herald, in Dubuque, celebrated 175 years in business! The daily may be traced back to 1836.

The Toronta Star readership peaks to one million. It is reported readership is up four percent; the highest it has been since 2004.

Sports Anchor Bob Wolff has set a Guinness World Record for "Longest Career as a Sports Broadcaster." And the News 12 Long Island personality just signed on for two more years. Wolff started his broadcasting career in 1939. Seventy-three years later and he is still going strong. He started with his current position when News 12 launched in 1986. Wolff is 91 years young.

Fox & Friends is evidently so popular that the network is expanding the show. It will now air "Fox & Friends First" which will be broadcast Live at 5:00 a.m. This takes the place of re-broadcasts of existing shows that had been airing. The show will be anchored by Anna Koiman and Ainsely Earhardt. Along with the new program is a new set being used by a number of Fox programs. Tune in at http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/fox-friends/index.html

Connoisseur Media has purchased four radio stations from Barnstable Broadcasting. All four stations broadcast off Long Island. The stations include: WHLI-AM 1100, WBZO-FM 103.1, WKJY-FM 98.3 and WIGX-FM 94.3. The reported price tag is $23 million.

Like father, like son. Brian Rooney is now working for CBS. Son of the late newsman Andy Rooney signed on with the same network his father worked at for 62 years. Brian arrives from rival ABC where he was laid off along with about 300 personnel. Rooney is based in Los Angeles and will continue to work for KCET-TV as well. You can follow his reports on Twitter at http://twitter.com/rooneyreport

The Center for Investigative Reporting and The Bay Area News Project, which operates The Bay Citizen, have agreed to merge operations. The move is pending a review by the California Attorney General before it becomes official. This merger will create the nation’s largest non-profit investigative and accountability reporting organization, as well as one of the largest data and technology teams in journalism.

The Oregonian falsely reported that their former Pulitzer Prize-winning Editor Bob Caldwell had died in his car, and later had to correct this inaccuracy when it was learned he actually had gone into cardiac arrest at a woman's apartment. You can read more on this at Romenesko's blog: http://jimromenesko.com/2012/03/13/oregonian-editor-was-with-woman-23-before-he-died/

A new magazine in the Cottages & Gardens series has been launched. New York Cottages & Gardens joins the already existing Hamptons Cottages & Gardens and Connecticut Cottages & Gardens. The former Westchester Cottages & Gardens has been folded into the new publication. Five issues are planned for NYC&G magazine. Hamptons Editor-in-Chief Kendell Cronstrom (kendell.cronstrom@candgpublications.com) has been named Editor of the New York edition as well. All the magazines can be viewed at http://www.cottages-gardens.com.

OWN, The Oprah Winfrey Network, has canceled “The Rosie Show,” hosted by Rosie O’Donnell. The show lasted five months. In addition, 30 staffers have been laid off due to poor ratings for the network.

CNN’s documentary unit experiences several layoffs in an attempt to transition to an acquisition model for documentary production. The network has stated that while it will still produce in-house documentaries, such as the "In America" series, most of the docs will be produced by external production companies.  CNN released a statement, “By working with leading documentarians throughout the world, we will be able to expand the scope of documentaries on CNN and create an even greater impact."

No hope to see the Pope. While many journalists were granted visas to witness Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Cuba, the Cuban government virtually denied granting access to South Florida reporters and photographers. Virtually all local Spanish-language television stations were denied access into Cuba. Only one of the English-language broadcasters - WPLG-TV - was issued a visa, which sent reporters Calvin Hughes and Jen Herrera to report on the Pope‘s visit into Cuba.

Revamped Look for The News & Observer. The daily is set to get a new and improved look starting this month. The paper, which has maintained the same look for 10 years, will now feature a section that documents what people are saying online and in social media sites. These changes will appear in the "A" and "Sports" sections of the paper. The paper has stated that the new changes will help reflect how information is now reported, distributed and received.

Politico Fact Florida teams up with WTSP-TV. Readers who enjoy reading Florida Truth-O-Meter, published in Tampa Bay Times and online at politifact.com/florida, can now enjoy seeing it on TV at WTSP - 10 News. “We are excited to broaden our reach so that now readers – and viewers – will be able to sort out the truth in politics,” stated Tampa Bay Times Editor Neil Brown, “With the upcoming presidential election, the Republican National Convention in Tampa and dozens of other state legislative elections; this is the perfect time to expand our award-winning fact checking.” Excited about the new agreement Ken Tonning, WTSP President and General Manager, sees this exclusive partnership that PolitiFact® Florida has formed with WTSP - 10 News as something entertaining and informative to all viewers.

The Martha Stewart Show is stopping production and will no longer air on The Hallmark Channel. The network will air reruns through the summer. In September, The Hallmark Channel will debut daytime talk show, Marie! Hosted by Marie Osmond, the show will air weekday afternoons and cover topics such as lifestyle tips and trends, celebrity news and social issues.

WNBC-TV has announced that it will be saying goodbye to long-time Evening Anchor Sue Simmons. Simmons has been with the station for 32 years. She was Co-Anchor for the 11:00 p.m. newscast alongside Chuck Scarborough.  Known to viewers as “Chuck ‘n’ Sue”, the pair is the longest-running anchor team in New York TV history. Simmons, 68, is expected to step down in late spring when her contract expires. WNBC has decided to renew Scarborough, also 68, for another two to three years. WNBC’s 5:00 p.m. Anchor Shiba Russell is a potential replacement for Simmons.

E&E Publishing (http://www.eenews.net) has shut down its Land Letter publication and is folding it into Greenwire's Natural Resource section. Part of the transformation includes Editor Daniel Cusick (cusick@eenews.net) joining E&E's ClimateWire as a Reporter. And Reporters Scott Streater (sstreater@eenews.net) and April Reese (areese@eenews.net) will report for Greenwire. E&E Deputy Editor Noelle Straub (nstraub@eenews.net) will head the Land Letter news team in their new roles under Greenwire.

The Los Angeles Times has won the prestigious Worth Bingham prize for the papers' six-part investigative series on the mismanagement of millions of dollars that was allocated to rebuild nine community colleges in Los Angeles. http://niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Showcase.view&showcaseid=00170.

The Los Angeles Times Photojournalist, Barbara Davidson has been awarded the Frank McCulloch Award for Courage in Journalism by the University of Nevada Reno's Reynolds School of Journalism. Davidson is also a former Pulitzer Prize winner. http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/af8a6dad588a4b90ab735d677954c50e/NV--Journalism-Award/

Los Angeles Daily News Columnist, Al Martinez will have 50 years of his work displayed inside the West Hall of the Huntington Library in San Marino, CA. The work of Martinez will include Pulitzer Prize-winning columns, screenplays and books. http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/columnists/ci_20185588/50-years-al-martinezs-work-will-be-display

The Los Angeles Times is doing away with the practice of using the star system for restaurant reviews. Instead, the paper will offer a short summary of the restaurant review. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2012/03/stars-are-out-at-least-for-restaurant-reviews.html

Heavy Duty Trucking Magazine Editor-in-Chief, Deborah Lockridge wins the  Neal Award by American Business Media for her July 2011 article, "9 ways to Keep Cargo Safe & Secure". The article won for Best Instructional Content. Lockridge wrote about the increase in thievery of 18-wheeler and long-haul trailer items. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=76378

Variety Parent company Reed Elsevier is once again putting this film and entertainment publication up for sale. Variety has been serving the entertainment industry for more than 100 years.

As promised, Univision has launched their telenovela network. Dish Network subscribers have 24-hour access to some of the most popular telenovelas that have been previously aired by Univision. For more information, you can go to http://www.univisiontlnovelas.com

Univision Deportes will be launching on April 7th also only on the Dish Network.

Telemundo has tabbed Sylvia Rosabal as Senior Vice President of Network News.

The Hispanic Media world mourned this month the passing of long time contributor Jesus Javier due to cancer.. From Director to Vice President for TV and Radio, Jesus Javier was a man of many skills, who loved his job  so much, that he continued to work while receiving chemotherapy treatment. 

Michael Rodriguez has left his post as Executive Vice President of Development for Telemundo to join team Univision as Vice President and General Manager for Univision23 WLTV-TV & Telefutura 69 WAMI-TV.

Rumors have come to an end. Argentina's La Nacion has official become owners of impreMedia. CEO Monica Lozano remains, and no moves have been at this time.

Entravision's new political show "Perspectiva Nacional" will air Sundays from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. and will be hosted by Armando Guzman.