C+F staffers celebrating the Small Agency Award from Ad Age are, from left, Tonya Murphy, Mike Hayward, Betti Fujikado and Chris Copacino.
Copacino+Fujikado was named one of the top two advertising agencies in the Northwest Region in Ad Age’s 10th annual Small Agency Awards that “recognize the work that works.”
In the 2019 competition, Portland-based Borders Perrin Norrander was named Northwest Agency of the Year and the Gold award winner, and Copacino+Fujikado was given the Silver award. The first paragraph of the Ad Age write-up sounded like it might have been crafted by C+F’s witty co-founder and chief creative officer, Jim Copacino:
“‘We know. It’s a lot of syllables,’” says Seattle advertising firm Copacino+Fujikado in its awards submission. ‘But we may just be the best agency you’ve never heard of.’
“Co-owned by Betti Fujikdao, the granddaughter of Japanese immigrants, the agency has demonstrated a commitment to diversity and equality. Fujikado, along with chief creative officer Jim Copacino, has strived to attract women and people of color to leadership roles within the advertising world and offers internships year-round, reserving at least one for a first-generation college student.
“The shop is turning out colorful work, too. For Intrinsic Wine, it created an app that animates wine labels and outdoor ads.
“Partnering with the Seattle Mariners, C+F created ‘True to the Blue.’ Prior to the start of the 2019 baseball season, the Mariners traded some of their most well-known stars, leaving the agency with a challenge: How to get fans to connect with and embrace new faces. Calling True to the Blue ‘part rallying cry, part badge of honor,’ C+F produced a series of lighthearted spots highlighting the Mariners’ newest personalities, all while increasing the team’s net sentiment by 55 percent.”
Jim sent this message: “This is the second time in six years we’ve been recognized by Ad Age in the Small Agency of the Year awards. It’s a real tribute to the emerging leadership team here that continues to up the agency’s game strategically, creatively and culturally. Betti and I are very proud of their accomplishments.”
Pub. Note: Have you read Don Riggs’ column lately? If not, you’re in the minority because it consistently gets the most clicks of anything we post, even though sits down there on the second deck and never has been featured in one of these top blocks. A big part of the appeal is that Don posts fresh items frequently—written in a wry style designed to elicit a chuckle or two—which they do.
We feel fortunate to have the witty and wiley veteran of more than 50 years behind the mic as a regular contributor here. Some may remember his halcyon period, when he was the Don in the (anchor) Phil (Harper), (newsman) Don & (traffic lady) Patti (Par) Show, when Country KMPS was topping the charts in the ’80s. Enjoy…
By Don Riggs
What did you look at? That’s a question younger folks will ask of the more ripe among us when the subject of “old radio” of the late ’40s and ’50s comes up. Look for the answer in the title of my forthcoming book, Radio: Creator of the Blank Stare. (A book that so far consists of nothing beyond what you’ve just read, so don’t rush to Amazon.com quite yet).
Occasionally we’d look at the radio, maybe look at each other, but mostly just stare blankly, not using our eyes, but our ears, and our imagination. Writers, actors, and— especially important—sound-effects folks, would create images in our mind…eyes open or shut. The late genius ad-man, Tony Schwartz, said those who work in radio were fortunate that people don’t have earlids. We could almost feel the dampness as Jack Benny went into his dungeon to count his money. There was a bit of a shiver from hearing the squeaking door in “Inner Sanctum.” And just how much stuff was there in Fibber McGee’s closet? It filled the room each time the door was opened…at least in our imagination. Another thing about radio then: You could turn your back on it, go to the kitchen to grab a beer and not miss a thing.
Then television began its encroachment into our lives. It was a give-and-take situation, giving us something to look at instead of staring blankly, and taking away much of the need for our imagination. And network radio found many of its entertainment programs— the music shows, the soap operas, the comedies—migrating to the newer medium. Network radio would end up with little more than news and sports programming. Local radio would grow—even the network affiliates. The music shows wouldn’t be live musicians, but recordings of live musicians. The comedy wouldn’t be from standup comedians, but sit-down disc jockeys. The soap operas…again, sometimes, the disc jockeys.
There’s a different answer today to that question: What do you look at? For many, it’s the road ahead. After television moved in as the main form of home entertainment, radio didn’t die, but moved onto the road. At a meeting once with the state transportation secretary, he thanked radio for doing a good job of making life easier and commuting quicker, through traffic reports. I suggested that’s a double-edged sword for radio—nice to be doing some good, but, really, the longer that captive audience is on the road, the better for us. Radio could keep them entertained and informed with useful information, news, and, of course, traffic reports. And, the growth in cell phone use helped radio keep in closer touch with those road-bound listeners, who became traffic reporters themselves.
Not that radio is nowhere except on the road. It’s in the office, in stores, out of doors and still very much in the home, especially the busy home where there isn’t time to devote eyeballs to the tube.
It’s not going away.
P.S. The above is from a radio commentary awhile back. I’ll claim the “old man” card in saying I don’t remember exactly when. At most radio stations where I’ve worked, I’ve been allowed to air such thoughts, either daily, weekly or whenever the mood struck. Okay, so sometimes I never got around to actually asking to do it, but I was able to opine on Army meals, idling buses, spanking kids, car dealers, anything. Hardly any partisan politics, however, which I see as a plus. Now, I can sorta continue, thanks to an understanding editor/publisher.
Together again. In recounting my career at KMPS, I mention the last three (of many) owners as CBS, then Viacom, which bought CBS, then CBS, spun off by Viacom. Eventually, my head stopped spinning, but those two…one?…kept talking. Now, after all these years, they’re reunited. It’s a win for Shari Redstone, daughter of Sumner Redstone, who owns most of it but is 96 years old. Media watchers say now the company can invest more in streaming, which is seen by many as the future of entertainment. The new company is named Viacom-CBS. No creative juices were wasted there.
Many zeroes. In the wake of the CBS-Viacom merger, it looks like Joe Ianniello is the big loser. We all should be losers like this. Prior to the remarriage, he and Bob Bakish were duking It out to head the company, Ianniello being head of CBS and Bakish running Viacom. Bakish got the nod, and Ianniello got the boot. With a parting gift of seven-ty mill-ion doll-ars. Yeah, that’s seven—with seven zeroes. The published story in Inside Radio shows him understandably smiling. I guess they couldn’t get a pic of him laughing up his sleeve.
Quick out and in. It didn’t take long for Florangela Davila to find work, after being given the boot as managing editor at KCTS. She was popular with the staff, and some saw this as a retaliation for efforts to unionize. Anyway, about a minute after she walked out the door, she hired on as news director at KNKX-FM. She replaces Erin Hennessey, who moves on to another position at the station. Davila has a long history around here, including writing for the Times and teaching at the UW.
Out of the sky. It always seemed to many of us that Clark Stahl had a bad last name for a helicopter pilot. When he lived across Lake Sammamish from me, I remember watching the long-time KIRO-TV Chopper 7 pilot land on his front lawn. He was the station’s man in the air for more than 30 years. Stahl retired in 2012, and died in mid-August at age 72.
Read all about it. The newspaper world is buzzing (listen, although it may sound like crying) over the buyout by GateHouse Media of Gannett. The Gannett name will survive. It’s an effort to “bring efficiencies” to the operations. And to figure out how to dive deeper into digital. The new company will run more than 260 dailies and 300 weeklies, with a circulation of around 8.7 million. More big numbers: It’s a $1.4 billion deal. GateHouse borrowed $1.8 billion from Apollo Global Management. Yes, we’ve heard than name before. That’s the company that’s buying KIRO-TV and the rest of the Cox Media TV stations for an undisclosed amount that guessers figure around $3 billion. Gotta be some kind of fire burning a hole in those deep pockets.
Growing Gripes. A couple of items to put on my ever-growing list of gripes: this has to do with TV and radio stations discovering the world of the internet, and trying to get us listeners and viewers to check out more of their stuff on their websites. Nothing wrong with that, unless and until you decide that’s more important than the broadcasting. Case in point comes from a local TV station that shall remain nameless (but somewhere between channels six and eight) and their coverage of a crime story, in which the police were asking for public help to keep an eye out for a particular car. The reporter described it as a white Honda. Okay so far, but then she said she put the license number of the car on her version of the story on their website. Hold on a minute. That’s a pretty important part of the story. Too important to be held hostage to clicks. If you want to call yourself a news broadcaster, don’t withhold that kind of information. By the way, this is not just a broadcast issue. In a very related item, the Seattle Times is no longer publishing its TV Picks feature, telling us what’s good, maybe, on the tube tonight. Such information will still be available…on their website.
And number two: news teases. I understand the idea is to get you so excited about some story that you won’t get up out of the Barcalounger. But some of us would rather you just spent that time actually telling us the news. A compromise? How about no more than one tease…fewer would be fine…about a particular story in a single newscast, and a limit of one tease…fewer would be fine…going into a commercial break.
And number three: (I know…I know. I just thought of it.) I may have to change my dinner time, since I tend to watch the network newscasts then. And the commercials. For fighting bloody stool. And diarrhea. And sometimes singing about it. Bon apetit indeed.
Now, back to reality.
Out the door. KIRO-FM’s news and programming director, Ryan Maguire, has left the building. No “it was a great run” or “we wish him well,” so I don’t know whose idea it was. He identifies himself as a brand manager, broadcast and digital-content specialist. His wanderings have included endeavors in three stations in Michigan, and Milwaukee, Kansas City, Pittsburg (at the nation’s first commercial radio station, KDKA) and Miami, before his year-and-a-half here. Could get into the truck-rental HOF.
New in town. The new weekend sports anchor at KOMO-TV is Femi Abebefe. (His real name, not something created by a high-ranking government official. C’mon. You were thinking that.) He’s been doing sports reporting, producing and play-by-play at KHQ in Spokane for the past three years.
Out of town. KNKX news producer and Saturday host Ariel Van Cleave winds up her nearly four years at the station, moving to an editor position at WBEZ-FM in Chicago.
Another loss. Worthy of note is the passing of Bob Hawkins. He had the great wisdom to hire me at KVI back when it was an exceptional place to work. He’d come up from KEX, Portland, when it was owned by Gene Autry’s Golden West Broadcasters. But Hawkins touched many other areas in a wide-ranging career that included radio engineering, magic (as far as I’m concerned, they’re the same), writing for papers, magazines, and children’s TV shows, ending up as a communications veep for a bank. He died in Mesa, Arizona, at age 87.
Also gone. Former KISW disc jockey Bob Hovanes has died. He had been released from a hospital after being diagnosed with acute congestive heart failure.
Making the grade. The Princeton Review is out with its list of the best college radio stations in the land. Best the northwest could do was No. 8, Reed College. WSU ranked 10th, and UPS 15th. This comes from a polling of students at the schools. In what could be a saving grace for the University of Washington, the stations were rated on popularity, not quality. Although, check the audience ratings here. KUOW does pretty well in both categories. Grain of salt, anyone?
Love Liner loss. I had the pleasure of working with Jack Allen at both KVI and KMPS. And indeed it was a pleasure. He always was supportive and a joy to work with. His Love Line broadcasts probably brought a lot of people together. He sort of stayed with that, becoming a preacher in later years, so he could perform marriages. He’d had a bad health year, and his daughter points out that’s why he was so quiet, which most certainly had not been his nature. Jack died in mid-July, just a month after the passing of his wife of 35 years.
He’s back. Sports reporter Chris Francis returns to KIRO-TV. He was sports anchor from 2009 to 2016, before heading south. He’s been doing freelance work in San Francisco. His wife, former KIRO-TV traffic reporter Alexis Smith, is back, too, but will be staying at home with the family. Don’t be shocked if her face shows up on your TV screen at some point. That’s the lure of the business.
So early. Q13-TV news personality Travis Mayfield has been “promoted” to anchor of the 4:30-5am portion of the morning news. Many might not see that as a promotion but, in the strange world of broadcasting, it is. He’ll continue his reporting throughout the 5-1/2-hour morning newscast. Although his style may not be universally loved, I’ve enjoyed the material he manages to dig up and get excited about.
To the end. KNDD “The End’ 107.7 FM has a new assistant program director and afternoon host. Walter Flakus comes from five years with similar titles at WKQX, Chicago.
Greenberg
Hailing Kalie. Joining the KING-TV reporter corps is Kalie Greenberg. She comes from two years of reporting for WMTV, the NBC affiliate in Madison, Wisconsin.
That’s the spirit. Christa Media has brought Sara Willy on board as marketing and promotions director for its two stations, KCMS-FM, with religious music, and KCIS, with religious information and news. She’s been out of the biz for a while, working in theater, and running several neighborhood blogs around town.
How many. I’m sure you’ve noticed KIRO-TV’s promoting its news coverage with “three important words. Live. Local. In•depth.” There are countless comments that could be made.
Awards await. Nominations are out for the 2019 NAB Marconi Awards. They’ve added a couple of categories, for a total of 23. Three nominees are from Seattle. Hubbard’s got a couple of them, KQMV for large market station of the year, and KRWM for AC format station of the year. Bonneville’s KIRO-FM is up for news/talk format SOY. The feathers in the caps will be handed out in Dallas in September at the Radio Show.
Staying away. KGY-FM personality Stephen Schlenker, air name Steven B., took leave from the Olympia station a while back for medical reasons. Now, he’s decided to retire from the station, after 39 years in the business, and concentrate on his health.
Going, going, gone. The “out” door at Q13 is getting a lot of use. Reporter/anchor Alexandra Lewis is leaving the end of July for another job. Scott Jones of FTLive reports it may be at KUSA, Denver. Anchor Nadia Romero is leaving for another job, possibly at CNN. And reporter Tatevik Aprikyan, who’s been on medical leave, won’t be returning. All this may be connected to the possible sale of the station to Fox. And, Jones reports former KOMO anchor Peggy Bunker has been seen around the building, maybe auditioning for one of those openings.
They’re back. If you want to be a radio station, you gotta have your stuff. The Yakama Nation in central Washington has its own radio station, KYNR 1490 AM, but it’s been off the air for more than eight months because somebody broke into their studios and stole all their “stuff”—20,000 bucks worth. The Tribal Council came up with the money, and, after delays in shipping equipment, they’re back, with high school sports, birthday mentions and whatever else tickles their fancy. (Insert your own corny line about tickled fancies here.)
More unionizing. Workers at local public radio stations KUOW and KNKX have unionized under SAG-AFTRA. Now, the journalists at KCTS TV have noticed, and let it be known they’d like to get organized, under the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild. (All duly reported by Joel Connelly, who works at a former print newspaper, the P.I.) A big part of the reason for this, as at the radio stations, is the rising cost of living around here. The “process” of all this is underway.
More awards. Added material for the trophy case at KNKX. The Tacoma public station has three first-place awards from the Society of Professional Journalists Western Washington. Stories involved older women (FYI: that’s over 50…I didn’t say that, somebody else did) in sports, education technology, and reporter Will James’ story on African-Americans and homelessness. News director Erin Hennessey says “it’s gratifying to have these in-depth stories recognized by our peers.”
Bob wins. Keeping up with the CBS-Viacom merger, then split, then re-merger: It was going to be a pretty close race for the man to head the newly together company, Viacom’s Bob Bakish or CBS’ Les Moonves. But, Moonves’ life has since gone awry (yeah, #him, too) and he has left the building. His “acting” replacement, Joe Ianniello, is being offered the job of running all CBS-branded assets, but the Wall Street Journal reports it looks that Bakish will be the big kahuna.
AP kudos. The Associated Press handed out radio and TV awards for the best work at affiliated stations in the 13 western states. KING and Chris Daniels won a sports award for the story on the National Hockey League coming to Seattle. Daniels also picked up best news reporter honors for an interview with a homeless woman. KOMO’s Gaard Swanson picked up hardware for best sportscast, and Bill Swartz was honored for sports reporting. KOMO radio’s reporting of a tornado got best weather reporting honors. Biggest winner was KCBS in San Francisco, hauling in nine awards.
Walker walks. KING-TV’s assistant news director, Russ Walker, has headed east to be the first executive editor of PA Post a non-partisan nonprofit statewide news organization, based in Harrisburg, PA. He joined KING in 2011, following editorial positions at Politico and washingtonpost.com. On his mantle are a couple of Peabodys and a couple of Emmy and Murrow awards, including the “Back of the Class” Emmy noted next.
Honorable. The Radio Television Digital News Association Edward R. Murrow awards have been handed out. A couple of them came Seattle’s way. KING-TV got a large-market TV award for its “Back of the Class” series, and the Seattle Times won the overall excellence prize in the digital category. The hardware will be handed out in October in New York City.
Bye bye CC. A Seattle disc jockey using the name C. C. has been working Saturdays at KISW, but has picked up the morning shift at KFMW in Waterloo, Iowa. It’s not unusual for a person to thank the folks she’s been working for. It’s also not mandatory, Quoting her: “I can’t freakin’ pack my stuff fast enough. I’m so ready to rock eastern Iowa. Hell yeah, baby, it’s on.” Consider her a gift from the 14th market to the 243rd market.
Up and out. Keeping track:Eric Rosado, afternoon jock at KUBE, has been upped to program director. And KING-TV anchor-reporter Jenna Hanchard has left the station, heading for a “new venture” somewhere locally. Often that has meant going to a government operation, or a Bezos or Gates-related effort. We await word on this one.
New digs. KING-FM, one of the longer-lasting classical music stations around, has a new home, at Seattle Center, sharing space with Seattle Opera. The two organizations have a history of working together. This should make it easier. Back when KING Broadcasting was parted out, the FM station was “gifted” to the community, and has been plugging along since with a small but loyal listenership. The move also will help Seattle Opera, since the station will help pay the rent at the building.
Bob Simmons, 88. He had opinions, and was more than willing to share them. He liked to tell a story, and was given time to do it. Bob Simmons spent 14 years at KING-TV, toward the end of the Bullitt family ownership. Writing about Simmons, the PI’s Joel Connelly ranks him with the Royer brothers and “columnist” Don McGaffin in those “good ol’ days.”. Simmons spent retirement freelancing and deeply involving himself in matters in Bellingham. He died on his 62nd wedding anniversary. Bob Simmons was 88.
Two more. The growing list of those we’ve lost now includes longtime Seattle and Spokane personality JJ Hemingway, at 65. He was at KJR-FM for five years, and most recently at KEEH-FM in Spokane. He also ran a mobile DJ service. And Selborne “Suds” Coleman, at 74. He teamed with Rick Riley at KHIT in Spokane, and in Seattle at KZOK and KJET in the early ’80s.
And yet another loss. TV anchors and reporters get their faces on the tube all the time, but they will admit, with a little humility (rare) or a lot of booze (less rare) that the people who do a lot of their work are the producers, writers and editors. Those people get the interviews, go through all the research, do the grunt work, without the nuisance of being famous. One of those people-you’ve-never-heard-of has died. Katherine Textor was born and raised in Seattle before heading East for a career, including at ABC-TV, and, the last 16 years, at “60 Minutes,” the CBS News juggernaut. She continued working the past 2-1/2 years while waging a battle with cancer. She leaves behind her parents, her husband and two children. Katy Textor was 45.
News news. TEGNA has named Peter Saiers as news director for KING5 and KONG-TV. His career has been centered in San Francisco and Sacramento, most recently at KGO-TV. He is “truly honored to become part of a legacy broadcaster.”
Hey, Mr. Robinson. It’s sorta back home for KING-TV reporter Sebastian Robinson. He spent those fun-loving middle-school years in Kirkland, before moving to Spokane, finding out there really is a Gonzaga University. His career began in Medford, then moved to Austin, then WFAA in Dallas. When a TEGNA transfer came up, he was all over that—and now here he is.
Workin’ it. Awhile back, KNUC “The Bull” announced with considerable hoopla its new morning team brought in from Savannah, GA. Tim Leary headed that trio…for a while (like everything in broadcasting). He got squeezed out when local fave Fitz was brought back to the Seattle morning radio. Now, Leary has landed about as far away as he can get, at WIRK in West Palm Beach, FL, joining Chelsea Taylor doing mornings. She’s been mid-day host there. Both stations are owned by Hubbard.
Going national. It’s been onward and upward for Tonya Mosley. She was a reporter for KING-TV from 2005 to 2012, then spent a couple of years at KUOW-FM before heading to public radio in San Francisco. Now she’ll be heard around the country as the third co-host on NPR’s Here & Now. She’ll be based in Los Angeles, to add a west coast voice to the broadcast.
Coming to gripes. Additions to our occasional series on things that annoy me, partly because they both came up within seconds on an evening newscast: anchors who say “welcome back” when coming out of a spot break. I didn’t go anywhere! I sat there and watched through those darned commercials, including gripe number two: ads with doorbells that sound just like mine.
Initial effort. CBS, along with most of us, noticed that ABC’s Good Morning America is more popularly known as GMA. With the new rollout of anchors and graphics at the Big Eye, they’d like us to start calling CBS This Morning by its initials, CTM. I’m not ready to do that yet, but these things take time. Like the Columbia Broadcasting System. Or American Broadcasting Company. Or National Broadcasting Company. Yes, not-yet-geezers, they used to actually call themselves by those names.
Weather weekender. Meterologist Grace Lim has joined KCPQ13 as weekend weather anchor. She comes from Lafayette, LA, and has worked at KEZI in Eugene, and in Los Angeles, after graduating from UC Davis.
Popping in. KOMO-TV’s newest reporter is Nick Popham. The SoCal boy graduated magna cum laude in journalism from Cal State-Northridge. He interned at 60 Minutes, made a few other stops before getting to Sioux City, IA. There, he was awarded for his coverage of the Wayne Chicken Show. (No, no, Les Nessman at the Silver Sow award…get out of my head!) He comes to Seattle after a couple of years at KATV, Little Rock.
Signed up. After a year of occasionally testy negotiations (noted elsewhere here), KUOW and SAG-AFTRA have sealed the deal. The bargaining unit covers 43 workers, reporters, producers, announcers, hosts and others, with 94% of those voting in favor of ratifying the contract. Among the goodies in the package, along with more money, is pay for being on call, extra pay for holidays (often a tricky issue in 24/7 operations), security in the field and free public transportation, a possible nod to traffic and parking in the U District. The union already has deals with several other public broadcasters, including KNKX.
Still talking. One of the best-known radio talkers in the northwest, Lars Larson, isn’t going away just yet. He’s signed a contract extension through 2024 with Alpha Media and KXL-FM, where he blabs from noon to four. Alpha’s Portland boss, Lisa Decker, says he’ll continue to be heard on the 21 stations of their Radio Northwest Network, reaching more than 3-1/2 million listeners. He’s been in the business 44 years.
Powered up. KKOL AM 1300’s business news format is back up to full power—50 KW daytimes, along with a barely noticeable 3.2 KW at night. They’re sharing a transmitter site on Bainbridge Island with sister stations KLFE and KNTS. They were off the air for awhile, then allowed temporary use of KBRO”s 1490 frequency. The many hoops they had to jump through included zoning issues, a problem with their Port of Tacoma site being too close to fuel storage tank electronic controls and the FCC signing off on who broadcasts on what frequencies from where. And you thought you were having a tough day.
Speaking of 1490 AM, there’s one of those in Aberdeen. The FCC has granted license to cover for KWOK to Alpha Media, the growing media giant in Portland.
Lori Leaving. Those of us sitting on the big couch at the Broadcasters’ Retirement Lounge* are always happy to slide over and make room for one more. Welcome, Lori Matsukawa. The Stanford and UW grad picked up several trophy cases worth of awards in her 36 years as reporter and anchor at KING-TV. Ask around. There are no unkind words said about her. I’d run across her covering stories or at charity events, and she’s just the kind of person you want to be around. Part two of the story: she’ll be replaced by Joyce Taylor, who has anchored mornings and reported for over 20 years. She now gets to sleep in and bring her smile-that-lights-up-rooms to the evening shift. (*There is no such place outside my mind, but there should be.)
New wake up. Speaking of KING-TV, Brittany Moorer is a new morning reporter. A cross-country move, she comes from WIAT in Birmingham, Alabama. She’s also worked in San Francisco.
Foxed. The best-known of the football-playing brothers, Brock Huard, (remember Damon and Luke?) is heading to Fox Sports as college football commentator alongside play-by-play man Joe Davis. I’ve always had the impression that he thinks he’s being paid by the word and wants a big check. On the other hand, they don’t hire him to sit around and say nothing. He’s spent the past 12 years doing the same sort of thing for ESPN. And, he co-hosts the morning show on KIRO-AM (“please call us ESPN710”). He had a great career as a UW quarterback, and a little less so in the NFL.
Saving Gracie. A pat on the back (if you can do that any more) to Angela Russell. The co-host of KING’s Take Five, and former KIRO anchor has won the Gracie Award from the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation. As you might guess from the name, the group honors programming created by, for and about women in non-print media.
B gone. He was called Mister Smooth, Peter B. Peter Boam was the evening disc jockey on KVI from 1973 to 82. He also worked at KJRB, Spokane, and several stations in California before heading to Madison, Wisconsin, where he won best radio personality awards five times. His unexpected death came at age 73.
No motto. Several more blocks of downtown Tacoma have a new radio station, KTQA, calling itself “KTQA-LP 95.3 FM Tacoma—so new, no motto even.” The LP stands for low power, and programming is still very much a work in progress, currently airing old radio shows until a decision is made on what direction to go. The owner is listed as The Interest Compound. Or maybe that’s one of the old radio shows.
Unsalted. KOMO-TV has added Holly Menino to its anchor-reporter staff. The WSU grad grew up in Waitsburg (that’s that little teeny dot on the map of southeast Washington) and has been morning anchor at KUTV, the CBS affiliate in Salt Lake City. Both stations are owned by Sinclair.
R and D are back. Former KIRO-FM tag team talkers Ron and Don are hardly the first radio stars to slide into real estate sales, often “for now.” (Right, Pat O’Day?) Now, Eric Lacitis writes in the Times that Ron Upshaw and Don O’Neill are back, with a weekly hour-long podcast at RonAndDonRadio.com. Not forgetting the “for now,” the podcast is also available on ronanddonbrokers.com. When asked about this by Lacitis, KIRO’s director of news and programming, Ryan Maguire, said “we have no comment on Ron and Don.” (Close the door. I felt a little chill in here.) Those in the industry say podcasting is a great way for broadcasters with a following (but without a radio station) to reach their fans. And, possibly, a way to sell a tenement or mansion now and then.
Forks radio is knifed. The city of Forks, as far northwest as you can get in this state, had its moment in the sun (or rain and gloom) in the novel and movie Twilight. Now, it’s officially without an AM radio station. KFBK 1490 has been off the air for more than a year, and now the FCC has cancelled its license. The station is/was owned by Forks Broadcasting Company, with the main office address listed as in Kirkland. There’s no sign of anybody else being interested in filling the gap, so this could be your chance to launch a radio empire.
Re-Marco-ble. KEXP disc jockey Marco Collins is taking some time off to up his battle against cancer. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame DJ and former music director at KNDD The End says doctors are optimistic. He admits to Times writer Michael Reitmulder that he cried when he began losing his hair, as chemotherapy kicked in. There is a GoFundMe campaign underway.
Nutty. Updating changes outlined below in Bullfitz 2, Wingnut is now music director and midday jock at KNUC, The Bull. Corey Dillon has the drive-home shift. The shift schedule isn’t nearly as interesting as the news release quotes. Wingnut: “I get to do radio fast, loud and bigger than life, just like a stampede.” PD Scott Mahalick: “You can have the best strategy, in the best building in the world, but if you don’t have Wingnut in your hallways you’re only half steppin.’ I’m proud to say we have us a Wingnut in OUR hallways.” It’s probably unkind to suggest these two should move their boots out from behind the cow.
Still spending. The Bustos buying binge continues (note below). CEO Amador Bustos has spent $200,000 to buy KRCW-FM, in Royal City, serving the Tri-Cities area. The seller is the Farmworkers Educational Radio Network, run by a grandson of Cesar Chavez, Anthony Chavez. For those keeping track, Bustos now owns 25 stations, nine of them in eastern Washington.
Fallon, not Jimmy. The I-Heart programming merry-go-round rolls on, with Jared Fallon jumping off in Seattle, to become program director at KBKS Kiss FM. He comes from sister station WIOQ in Philadelphia, where he was PD and afternoon host. He’s also worked in Ohio and Wisconsin. Statements from him and the company both use the word “excited”
Keeping track. John LaPorte is KIRO-TV’s new news director. He comes from WITI-TV in Milwaukee… Ali Bradley has joined KCPQ-13 as anchor/reporter. The WSU grad spent the last three years in Pennsylvania at WPMT. Both stations are Fox affiliates owned by Tribune Media…Former KING-TV reporter Amanda Grace has landed one of those cushy non-broadcast PR jobs, at Zillow, with the fancy-sounding title of lifestyle consumer communications manager.
More awards. It’s time again for those TV station staffers who have to keep track of the stories and send them in to competitions to take a breath. KING-TV has won a Peabody award for its series “Back of the Class.” With special mention to reporters Susannah Frame and Taylor Mirfendereski. And the Radio Television Digital News Association has handed out regional Murrow awards to several stations. KING won 10 and KOMO-TV picked up a couple. On radio, KOMO picked up two, including Overall Excellence. KIRO-FM picked up four, two for KUOW, and KNKX won two, with an honor to reporter Will James. National awards will be handed out in New York City in October. So, big to-do about the regionals? Only if you consider your postal carrier to be the emcee. Awards are sent in the mail.
Follow the calls. Whatever happened to KMPS, the station where I spent the last 33 years of my career? When Entercom and CBS merged, the station was killed and moved to a new format with new call letters. The KMPS call letters were “parked” in California. They then became a CBS sports format in the Victor Valley, the nation’s 113th market. Now, to get under market ownership caps, Entercom has sold the station to a local outfit, El Dorado Broadcasters, along with another station, for a million bucks. Don’t know what the new format will be, but for those of us who did what we could to make KMPS a memorable station here, we can completely forget about it. Just as we alums of KFKF, Bellevue, did, since those letters went long ago to Kansas City, curiously at 94.1 FM, like KMPS used to be here. My head is beginning to hurt.
Hall passes. Not many broadcasters stay at one station for 41 years, but David Hall spent that much time at KPUG, Bellingham, as disc jockey, salesman, eventually manager and part owner, and probably swept the floors, too. He retired in 1995, and died in April at 88.
Quatro. Bustos Media is one of those little companies that keeps growing, but we hardly notice. Amador Bustos, the CEO, says after two years of negotiating with I-Heart, he’s paid three million dollars for KFNY 102.9 in Centralia. He already owns two other FMs around here, KDDS 99.3 and KZNW 103.3, along with KMIA AM 1210, all programming Spanish language formats. It should be the company’s best signal around here, with a transmitter south of Olympia. That should cover from south of Longview to maybe as far north as Everett—if the wind’s right. The station had been programming smooth jazz. That’s unlikely to stay. And, again while we weren’t looking, the company also bought three stations in Chico, CA, from Mapleton.
Sagging. Chalk up a win for KUOW. In a story detailed far down in this column, two months after the station unionized under SAG-AFTRA, seven positions were eliminated, and seven very similar positions were created, and people whose jobs were lost were welcomed to try out for the new jobs. The union said hold on, there, that looks like retaliation against employees who joined the union, and filed an unfair labor practices complaint against the station. Now, the Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission has dismissed that complaint, telling the union they didn’t prove their gripe, and there’s still the same number of union jobs. Also, perhaps coincidentally, the two sides are negotiating a new contract. Ah, the good old days, when it was a student-run station and we didn’t get paid. Yeah, yeah, and gas was 23 cents a gallon. I guess they were good.
Jon’s end. The music director and afternoon jock at KNDD- FM “The End,” Jon Marley, has left the station after five years. Not much more is being said, but I’m sure there are best wishes for his future endeavors.
Black’s back. You may be seeing Meeghan Black on TV again. She’s been hired as the first civilian public information officer for the Bellevue police department. She spent a career as a reporter and host on KIRO and KING. A good choice for the department. I ran across her now and then covering stories, and should run across her again at a place where I volunteer a few hours a week. She replaces officer Seth Tyler, who returns to keeping the peace on the mean streets of Bellevue.
On the green. You may not have noticed, but KGRG-FM 88.9 has been on the air for 30 years. It’s the station run by Green River College in Auburn. And it has as an instructor former rock jock and funny guy Bob Rivers. Alums include Matt “Slickhawk” Mikolas of KJR, Curtis Rogers of KIRO-AM and “Ryder” of KNUC.
$$$ a-plenty. For the fourth straight year, Hubbard’s WTOP-FM in Washington, D.C., is the highest billing radio station in the country, bringing in $69 million. Number two again is KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, at $61 million. Then a big gap to number three, KBIG in LA, at $46 million. The news/talk format brings in the bucks. Half of the top ten are in that world. I-Heart owns half of the top ten, Entercom has four, Hubbard just one…the big one.
Old news. A new report by the Video Advertising Bureau should be gratifying reading for my friends at KIXI AM 880. And the sales force may want to run off a few copies to share. It shows that those of us enjoying our fogeyhood spend more time listening to radio than those young whippersnappers. (Look that word up if you have to. If you don’t have to, welcome.) There are 114 million adults over 50 in the country, or 45% of the adults. That number is growing. They (we) account for 41% of what’s spent on various stuff. And 77% of the group feels ignored by major advertisers. (The study’s age group tops out at 64, but those of us beyond that still listen to radio, if it’s turned up a little louder.) Enough of the numbers. Just remember the adage about old age and treachery versus youth and skill. And plan your advertising, or selling of advertising, accordingly.
Pod people. Anyone can do a podcast now, and it seems almost everyone trying it. I-Heart may have decided if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. It has turned an entire radio station, 1470 WSAN in Allentown, PA, into nothing but podcasts, 24/7. Hour-long blocks of stuff, titled “Stuff You Should Know,” “Stuff to Blow Your Mind,” “Stuff You Missed in History Class,” and like that. Chosen from 25,000 podcasts on I-Heart’s app. (It’s replacing a Spanish language sports format.) But before they sprain an arm patting themselves on the back, they should know they are not the first to try it. CBS Radio (issuer of my last paycheck) took a crack at it in 2005, on KYCY 1500 in the Bay Area. Listeners provided the content. It lasted a couple of years, before a confluence of decisions led it to formats including Oldies, Southeast Asian, and All Sports. (Not all at the same time.) And a new owner, Entercom. What’s next? Check my not-quite-ready-yet podcast on the future of broadcasting.
From afar. KCPQ13 TV has brought Omar Lewis on board from about as far away as possible, Miami. He’ll join Alexandra Lewis as weekend morning anchor and weekday reporter. As far as they know, the two are not related, but I suspect they’ve checked ancestry sites online. He replaces Brian Flores, who moves to anchoring weekday afternoons
Frosty Fowler, 96. Another of Seattle’s old-time great voices is gone. Frosty Fowler died at his home in Poulsbo. He was KING radio’s morning man for many years. I was envious of his morning broadcasts from the Space Needle during the Seattle World’s Fair. (I was working at Sea-First Bank’s Fair branch at the time.) He’d had some health issues of late. Frosty was 96.
Bullfitz 2. No sleeping in for Fitz. The former morning man at KKWF The Wolf has changed animals, and is the new morning man at KNUC, The Bull. His syndicated weekend show will continue. He replaces Tim Leary, Claire Beverly, and Karen “Red” Daiss. Programming whiz Scott Mahalick is coming on board to try to keep track of all this, as brand/content director. This is where it gets exciting, with staff adjusting to new times, stations, or jobs. Daiss is out, Beverly joins Fitz, and Leary moves to afternoons, replacing Seth Hughes, who moves down the hall to do mornings at KRWM. Corey Dillon moves to bull-riding middays. The dust now settles…temporarily…. Now comes the breeze. Leary has declined the offer to move, and instead moved out the door in search of “new opportunities.” Which means: Dillon will fill in on afternoons, and Wingnut stays on middays while the search is on for a new afternoon host. There may be enough confused people wandering the halls of the Factoria complex to snag one of them. But, the dust settles again…awaiting the next haboob.
Gray’s anatomy. Add another station to the Grays Harbor broadcasting giant, Jodesha Broadcasting, run by former KMPS chief engineer Bill Wolfenbarger. The FCC has given the OK for a CP (a construction permit) for a new AM station at 1140 kc. No, there aren’t that many brand new AM stations being built. It’ll be the kind of station many of us started at, with 5,000 watts, 2,500 at night. It joins the company’s half dozen FMs and legacy AM KBKW. (Soft spot in my heart for that last one. Back in the day, many of us UW Radio-TV students “took over” the station for a long weekend of learning and doing radio. And finding all the fun spots in Aberdeen.)
Rolling out Bolling. Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns more TV stations than anybody (191) has been trying to outfox Fox, tipping further to the right, politically. There’s a little more lean with the hiring of former Fox and current Blaze TV talker Eric Bolling to host a once-a-week hour-long gabest called “American this week.” First show guest list: Steve Bannon and Corey Lewandoski. The network offers the show at 7 PM Wednesdays. Local stations schedule when they want to air it, although you can be sure they’ll air it. KOMO-TV, walking the tight rope of keeping the corporate minders out of their face and not losing audience, is airing it at 11:35 PM Sundays, hardly prime time, as of early May.
Speaking of Sinclair… Because it’s become a sideline sport here, watching Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of KOMO: former CBS correspondent Lara Logan is joining Sinclair for a short-term assignment covering the US-Mexico border. She left CBS after airing what turned out to be bad information about Libya on 60 Minutes, and apologizing for it. She says, in taking this job, that she hasn’t had a lot of offers lately. She says Sinclair is getting an independent honest journalist owned by neither the left nor the right. It’s possible Sinclair knows that.
On the street. It can be lonely at the top. Some cops don’t like to be promoted off the streets. Same for some news directors. The streets are where the action…the fun is. Maybe that’s why Erin Hennessey is stepping down from the top news job at KNKX-FM, the public station that used to be KPLU. She wants to return to reporting and special projects. The hunt is on for her replacement.
Believe this story. Those of us who spent more time in radio news than in any other medium can take heart from a new survey by the Hollywood Reporter and Morning Consult. It shows 69% of those questioned found radio the most trustworthy news source. Newspapers were next att 63%, then network TV at 59%, and cable TV at56%. If I had to make a guess, and I don’t, I’d say it’s because more radio news is locally produced for a local audience with less bias in any direction. And I’m guessing locally written columns for formerly-print-now-online regional niche publications are off the charts.
Re-becca. Speaking of KOMO-TV, that’s the one station in town that Rebecca Stevenson hasn’t worked at yet. Her weather forecasts have been on KING, KIRO, Al Jazeera, and KCPQ. Now, I see she’s back at KING, working those ridiculous weekend weather shifts that are common here. Always a pleasure to watch.
Double talk. News-talker KIRO-FM has added Aaron Mason to the 7-10 PM slot, joining Gee Scott. Mason’s filled in on the show now and then, and has been producing podcasts for the station. He replaces Zak Burns, who left the station last September.
An apt move. Aptivada, a Salt Lake provider of marketing for broadcasters, podcasters, and anyone else who comes in the door, has a new chief marketing officer, Randi P’Pool. She’s been marketing veep for Alpha Media in Portland. It’s a return to Salt Lake for her, where she ran marketing for Citadel Communications. Radio Ink magazine put her on their 50 “Most Influential Women in Radio” list last year. A Yakima girl, she did college there and at Western Washington University. Alpha Media has radio stations all over, including Grays Harbor and Wenatchee. And yes, I hope some day to find out the significance of the unusual family name.
Aloha. Who amongst us hasn’t at some time thought about moving to Hawaii, finding work there, and just not leaving? (My wife was one of those, until I came along and loused up those plans.) Among the few of us who actually did that is Lexi Jones. Born in California, she grew up in Las Vegas and Kirkland, and came out of the UW with a degree in Media and Communications in 2016. Next stop, Kauai, where there were relatives. Next stop, KQNG Radio (calling itself KONG but no relation to KING TV’s sister station), selling, promoting, and doing a weekend air shift. And spending non-beach time at the gym, leading to a few bikini-category wins in various body-building competitions. Living her dream…and maybe yours.
Big-ish bucks. So you want to get into radio for the three f’s….fun, fame and fortune. Fun? Definitely. Beats working for a living, Fame? If you consider somebody listens to you that you don’t know as being fame, then yes. Fortune? Hahahaha times many. Entercom has released the median salary for its company. Sit down for this. It’s a whopping $48,794. That went up when the company merged with higher-paying CBS Radio. (That must have happened after I left the company.) Okay, that 48K could have been higher, but the report excludes the salary of CEO David Field. That came in at about $3.5 millionl. Put away your calculator….I’ll do it for you. He made 72 times the plebian median. Ah, but did he have as much fun?
KARRtunes. Puget Sound Media notes a format change for KARR-AM 1460, licensed to Kirkland, and the move of its FM 98.5 tower to Cougar Mountain. The little station with call letters that may be its most valuable asset had been airing a religious format, but has moved to a mashup of oldies, classic hits and classic rock. It’s a venture of Sunnylands Broadcasting, whose world headquarters apparently is in a house in north Bellevue. Which probably puts it within the coverage area of the two signal—unless there’s a hill in the way.
Search ended. You may remember the big hoo-hah (noted in the lower regions of this column) when I-Heart’s KBKS-FM…call them KISS…offered $10,000 to find a good co-host for new morning hosts Carla Marie & Anthony. Success…on the cheap. Two people will be added, Amber Cole from the company’s WEBG in Chicago, and Evan Omelia, selling for the company in Seattle with occasional drop-ins on the morning show. Oh, that $10,000 reward? Since the new additional stars came from within the company, that money will stay in Mr. I-Heart’s pocket, thank you.
Still selling. Hubbard Radio has named Michael Fashana as director of sales for its local empire. He had been selling for Comcast Spotlight in Seattle, He is “truly excited for the opportunity,” and the company says he’ll be “an excellent fit.”
Seattle North. They live among us now, those low-powered highly local radio stations whose coverage area is measured in city blocks. KBFG has been on the air since December of ’18, serving Ballard, Fremont and Greenwood (yay, you figured out the call letters!) with a little bit of everything. They broadcast Ballard High School basketball games along with a variety of talk and music shows based on the ideas, urges, and leanings of its volunteer crew. And they celebrated the start of their second year by moving in to new studios (plural? Not sure) in the Jack Straw Cultural Center at 4261 Roosevelt Way N.E. You can stare through the window at them as you walk by. Makes me recall when Al Cummings broadcast from his “ape cage” on Aurora Avenue outside the KING radio studios. (Remember that? If so, enjoy your geezerage.) When I first started at KFKF, we were visible from the sidewalk, too. You tend to do things differently. So, my note to KBFG and other highly visible broadcasters. Take care of all necessary scratching, yawning, poking and prodding before entering the studio(s).
Montana man. Old-fashioned guy that I am, I prefer my radio hosts to be live and local, as opposed to remote, voice-tracked or syndicated. But, I’m also happy to see a friend go to the other side and find work. Long-time KMPS buddy, production genius and disc jockey Sheldon Smith, is voicing the morning show on KYSS, Missoula. And, apparently he gets to stay here while doing it. Good for him. Now Missoulanders will have a good reason to wake up.
On the outs. A bit of a drain at KING-TV. Reporter Alex Rozier, moves to WFAA in Dallas. And weatherman Darren Peck is now at KPIX, San Francisco. On the radio side, Dan Mitchinson may be running low on news/talk stationsto hire him. He’s worked at KIRO, KGA Spokane, and KXL Portland, and has now left KFBK Sacramento, and is available.
Put me in, coach. 710 ESPN, aka KIRO-AM, has started working with the group Coaching Boys Into Men, to do just that, encouraging student athletes, their coaches and their schools in matters of youth leadership, domestic violence prevention and healthy relationships. KIRO PD Mike Salk says the effort can help change views on consent and respect to the young people involved. It’s another example of broadcasters doing more than just broadcasting to help make things better within, and even beyond their signal area. Whether they get credit for it or not. (They prefer getting.)
Apollo’s creed. KIRO-TV has a new owner. Apollo Global Management is the new majority owner, following regulatory approval. Call me old fashioned (a pause here while you do just that), but I would rather see “media,’ “TV,” or something like that in my owner’s name, rather than “management,” but what the heck. The deal involves all 14 Cox TV stations, along with some radio stations in Dayton, Ohio. Price tag not announced, but earlier Apollo had agreed to the neighborhood of $3 billion. This is the company’s first dip of the toe into the TV waters. Apollo also is buying Northwest Broadcasting, which has stations in smaller markets in central and eastern Washington. The company is based in Atlanta, where it “globally” manages more money than you’ve ever seen.
Slapping Sinclair. You don’t have to go far, even in this column, to find criticism of Sinclair Broadcast Group, but when it comes from the FCC, there’s a little extra sting. Inside Radio reports an administrative law judge has cancelled a hearing on the company’s efforts to buy Tribune Media, mainly because the deal’s been called off. But, questions about the deal, and the company, could come up again if it wants to renew the deal, look for another deal, go to the bathroom, pretty much anything. There are questions about whether Sinclair “misrepresented information, showed a lack of candor, or possesses the character qualifications to be a….licensee.” Yow! That slap in the face is edging toward becoming a punch in the gut. There are license renewals always coming up. Keep the Right Guard handy. Company execs will have reason to be sweating a little more.
In other’s words. Good to see one of my favorite consultants (two words you won’t see together that often), Becky Brenner, getting a little national ink from a podcast with the head of the Radio Advertising Bureau. Brenner, former DJ and then PD at KMPS, talked about country music’s connection with listeners, and how it’s an active format, not a passive one. The Inside Radio story quotes her saying a call to action from a radio talent will send an advertiser to the top. I can attest there’s little about country radio she doesn’t know. (I also note that twice in the story, she’s identified as Becker, so maybe she’s not so famous after all. Or, Inside Radio needs a proof-reading consultant.)
Meanwhile, (sorry, Stephen Colbert), PugetSound.Media has a puff piece about former KOMO-TV reporter/anchor Bill Brubaker, loaded with all kinds of good things to say about him. Having known him for many years myself, there’s nothing bad about him to say. He actually had a decent, worthwhile life outside of broadcasting, in local-level politics and the military. A good read written by former government flack Ron DeHart. (‘Scuse me….now that he’s got a byline, he’s Ronald DeHart.)
Tri-outs. There’s a new radio morning show in the Tri-Cities, Brooke & Jubal, syndicated from Seattle to most of the rest of the world. They replace the Kidd Kraddick syndicated show on KOLW. The Townsquare Media station has rebranded itself as 97.5 Kiss-FM.” You probably remember it as “Hot 97.5,” but those days are gone. Not much else has changed. The music might have nudged one direction or another, but most of us wouldn’t notice, and the rest of the day parts are voice tracked by people from company stations in Illinois and New Jersey. Like most of us, I haven’t actually listened to them, so I don’t know if they’re trying to convince listeners that they’re “your friendly local home-town station,” or not.
Also: Another Townsquare station, “New Country” KUAD-FM in Fort Collins, Colorado, has a new morning show. Michael Mason moves from Seattle to join Jordan Soto from Pensacola to broadcast live on their friendly local hometown station.
Bullfitz. Former KKWF morning star and now widely syndicated Fitz has had his countdown program added to Hubbard’s KNUC-FM, The Bull. Syndicator Sun Broadcast also has added that and his Nashville Minute shows to stations in the east and southeast.
Small-station hero. A popular voice at several stations in smaller cities has died. Larry Brown spent 24 years as a computer programmer for the state after hanging up the mic. You may have heard him on stations in Walla Walla, the Tri Cities, Yakima, Sumner and Puyallup. Being stealth, he used the names Mason Dixon (probably as popular a nom-de-airwave as Justin Case) and Charlie Brown (no, not the more famous Charlie Brown from KUBE). A lifelong health issue took him out at 66.
ACross (and Boris) to bear. Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of KOMO, has been written about extensively, including here, for its loved/hated commentator Boris Epshteyn. To say he’s a supporter of President Trump is to put it mildly. He’s the latest, and among the loudest, to suggest that Trump deserves a spot on Mt. Rushmore. Sinclair keeps paying him while saying they don’t necessarily agree with him. But, to blunt some of the talk about the company’s lean to the right, they’ve hired Ameshia Cross, a progressive who worked on the Obama campaign, to offer another view, conveniently using her name to offer “Cross Point with….” It won’t be a “counterpoint” type of scenario. The two usually don’t appear together, only separately, but cover the same topics. Presumably her segments will be “must runs” like his. She says the company is “working to ensure that you hear from both sides.” The company says this is about “smart debate,” but again, they won’t appear together. So, not real debate, just what I’ll call oppositional blabbering. Sinclair can use that if it wants, but I doubt it will.
Sports shift. KIRO-AM, which they want us to know as 710 ESPN, is shuffling some people around—most notable John “The Professor” Clayton. The new “Seattle Sports at Night” will air 7-9pm, or after live games Mon-Thurs, with Curtis Rogers, Stacy Rost, and Jake Heaps as hosts. Clayton’s long-time 9-noon Saturday show will scale back to 8-9 AM, replaced by the new Seattle Sports Saturday, hosted by Rogers (again), Lydia Cruz and Taylor Jacobs. All of the above named have been milling around the studios for a while, hosting, producing, getting coffee, or, in Jacobs’ case, Audience Engagement Specialist (getting coffee).
Grace-ful Departure. KING-TV anchor/reporter Amanda Grace has left the station after a little more than four years there. According to her Twitter page, “it’s time to take on a new challenge and grow personally and professionally.” No word yet on her future endeavors, but we all wish her the best, I’m sure.
Jerry Blum
An inspiration gone. Back in the day, many of us in broadcasting considered “WKRP in Cincinnati” to be more documentary than comedy show. Gordon Jump played owner-manager Arthur Carlson. Our KMPS manager Jim McGovern looked enough like him that we posted pictures suggesting they could be twins. All this came to mind with the recent death of Jerry Blum, at 86. He ran WQXI in Atlanta, and they could have been triplets. He was considered the inspiration for the Carlson character. Considering that the character was relatively clueless, I’m not sure that’s the best thing to put on your headstone. As for whether I was the inspiration for Richard Sanders’ hapless news director character, Les Nessman, that’s a discussion I’d just as soon not get into. I didn’t have tape on the floor outlining my newsroom, and I never won the Silver Sow award.
Smart Alek. KKWF The Wolf has named Alek Halverson as afternoon jock and music director. Entercom’s Seattle Man in Charge Jack Hutchison is “excited to welcome him…and start a new chapter of afternoon drive.” It’s a good move up for Halverson, who’s worked at a couple of stations in Fargo, ND.
Crystalized. The National Association of Broadcasters will hand out Crystal Radio awards to radio stations at its convention in Las Vegas April 9th. Not much northwest presence on the list of 50 finalists: KRWM-FM in Seattle, and KUPL-FM in Portland. The award is for a continuous commitment to community service. (Try saying that three times real fast.)
All things equal. Radio station owners can check their mail. The FCC, like any other government agency not wanting to waste your time and energy on something that probably is important, has sent letters to 205 stations, at random, to be audited. Yikes! No, not for taxes, but for Equal Employment Opportunity compliance. The lucky winners will need to provide a list of full-time employees, by job title, no names, and how many hours they work. And a few other things. Stations around here that get to take part in this adventure include KFNQ, KNDD, KRWM, KGTK in Olympia, KLAY in Lakewood, and KLMY in Long Beach.
Hole in ? I am not a golfer, but I am a griper. Take note, TV directors. When I’m watching a recap of some big golf tournament, and you’re showing me that great putt that wins the match, please remove your station or network logo from that part of the screen that shows the ball going into the hole! Don’t make me guess or assume it went in! Thank you very much. Now, back to our regularly scheduled gossip.
RonDonGone. KIRO-FM’s afternoon talkfest, the Ron and Don show is out-a there, after 13 years. The nationwide search for replacements in this case was a building-wide search. It’s three for two. Candy Harper has been afternoon producer. She’s been with the station since 2015. Mike Lewis has been a reporter and fill-in host there since 2016. And from down the hall, Todd Herman has been afternoon host at KTTH-AM since 2015. He’s also worked for the Republican Party, started the MSN Video unit for Microsoft, and started the first internet radio network. Heather Bosch and Tracy Taylor stay on as news and traffic anchors. “Candy, Mike and Todd” doesn’t roll off the tongue quite like “Ron and Don,” but that’s what the creative types came up with. As is too often the case, there’s no mention in the news release of what’s to become of Ron Upshaw and Don O’Neil, but management says “we wish them only the best.” Br-r-r. This spotlights the different view of things between management and the air talent. The cruelest thing management can do to the talent is to not let them say goodbye. A listener’s personal connection has been built…to those voices, not to their managers. The talent wants to end that relationship as positively as possible. Management shows it doesn’t give a rip about that, either the listeners or the talent. (Yes, that’s my view as one of those “talents.” So, I’m biased. And right.) Social media comments I’ve seen are as expected….liked them a lot…sorry to see them go…tired of no explanation…that sort of thing. Nothing agreeing with the decision. This makes for an uphill climb for Candy, Mike and Todd.
Meanwhile, back down the hall…At the afore-mentioned KTTH, former morning talker Jason Rantz has moved into the afternoon slot. Ben Shapiro’s syndicated show moves to evenings. Saul Spady joins what the station calls the “Conservative Commute” in the morning slot. (Yes, that Spady family. He’s the grandson of Dick Spady, which could mean more Dick’s Drive-In burgers and fries at staff meetings, but probably not. Dick lived three houses from me at Lake Sammamish for a while, but there was no such food for our beach gatherings
Put another nickel in… Radio newscast theme music does many useful things. Identifies what’s next. Wakes up the newscaster. But the workload is increasing. NPR has new music for Morning Edition, starting in May. CEO Jarl Mohn calls the new tuneage “warm, fresh, weighted, smart, modern, energetic and very human.” That’s a lot of work for a few seconds worth of notes. He hopes it will “draw in new listeners to NPR programming.” All together now…”Well, he’s got….high hopes…”
Holding down the Fort. People working for highly localized community radio stations typically need another source of income. Apparently one unnamed disc jockey at KPTZ-FM 91.9, Port Townsend, has one, although we don’t know what it is. But, he or she was able to donate $100,000 to the station to help meet a half-million-dollar challenge grant from the Sage Foundation. The money would go to fancy new studios at an artsy part of Fort Worden State Park, a favorite tourist spot, and a permanent transmitter site. (What…is it now in the back of a Chevy pickup? Dunno.)
Overtaxed? Broadcast owners are a competitive bunch. One way to get them to stand shouder-to-shoulder is to mention more taxes. Our state legislature is doing just that, floating the idea of a two per cent surcharge on revenue from advertising prescription drugs. Under Senate bill 5659, the millions it would bring in would go to fund abuse programs and mental health services. No surprise that the Washington State Association of Broadcasters is against it. Their arguments include consumers benefiting directly from such advertising, and that the products are legal, and there’s nothing misleading in the ads. And yes, there’s that pesky First Amendment, and a Supreme Court ruling about using tax liability to benefit speech that is liked and penalize that which is disliked. The Association of National Advertisers is also opposed. Bob Hasegawa and Karen Keiser are two of the six senators who came up with this idea. No hearings have been set, but if they happen, an earful will be delivered.
Prime time. KUOW has begun a podcast all about Amazon. Co-hosts Carolyn Adolph and Joshua McNichols promise to explore the mixed emotions the company inspires. They will note just how dependent we’ve become on what it can provide us, and what it has done to the retail world. When they say new episodes will “drop weekly,” they don’t mean from drones.
Is it news? I waged a career-long battle…and obviously didn’t win…against managers and ad writers who would trick listeners and viewers into thinking something important was happening. “Breaking news….Chevys and Yugos are on sale this weekend” or something like that. Using the image of important news to push some service or product. I would write to my managers about how news departments work very hard to get and keep credibility (and this was before the days of “fake news”), and doing something like that takes some of that credibility away….yadda yadda, so forth, etc. That’s why I was particularly bothered after the Super Bowl when a promo for Steven Colbert’s show was purposely interrupted by a “breaking news” banner that was no news at all, just more promo. It was especially galling to me since it was CBS itself trivializing its own news department. Jeff Glor needs to write a letter. He can borrow mine. Incidentally, management wrote back to me…yeah, you’re right…sorry….won’t happen again. Every time.
Gathering Hunter. Weekend host at Hubbard’s KNUC, “The Bull,” Hunter Quinn, has moved to Minneapolis to join Mollie Kendrick as the new morning team at KTCZ. It’s a return to I-Heart for Quinn. He had been afternoon host at KBKS “Kiss 106.1” here. Kendrick moved up from nights at the station there.
Portland-bound. Entercom has named Kim Martinez as market manager for its Portland radio stations. She had been veep for digital sales and sales manager for the company stations in Seattle.
My job. “Sure, they can automate the music and the disc jockey, but they’ll never automate the news.” A brilliant comment from a broadcast genius. Okay, it was me. But now…hey, Siri, tell me about Alexa the newscaster.Techcrunch.com reports the big minds at Amazon have given Alexa a newscaster-style voice. Ask her “what’s the latest,” and you’ll hear something other than bland, dull reading of facts. Something called Neural TTS technology (sounds downright scary) puts difference emphasis on different words to make it sound more natural and newsy. Their approach is “direct waveform modeling that applies deep learning to produce the speech signal.” (I’d like to hear Alexa make that sentence sound interesting.) I’ve listened to a comparison or “regular” Alexa and “newsy” Alexa. It’s good, but I’d still rather listen to Lisa Brooks or Linda Thomas or any of the other great lady newscasters I’ve worked with or heard. They have built-in direct waveform modeling. I’m sure.
Give it a Tri. You might not think a person being a radio sales manager in Chicago and Los Angeles would be excited about moving to the Tri-Cities in our state, but that’s fine by Ryan Lieberman, who’s taking over Townsquare Media’s five stations as market president and chief revenue officer. It’s a return home for Lieberman, who still has plenty of family in the area. The job used to include running the company’s stations in Yakima, but they’re now separating the two markets.
Keeping track. From the “where are they now” file, Jay Michaels has been named program director and afternoon jock at KQHN-FM in Shreveport, Louisiana, after time at several stations in Indiana and Kentucky. From the “why do we care” sub-file, back in 2006, Michaels helped launch Movin’ 92.5 KQMV-FM, which grew into a ratings powerhouse here. By the way, for some reason, “Q” has become very popular in radio station call letters.
Who wants Cox? Jobs aren’t the only thing shuffling. So are ownerships. Cox Enterprises, owner of KIRO-TV, wants to get out of the TV business. The list of suitors lined up at the door for its 14 stations includes Tegna, Scripps, and Hearst. Tegna, of course, already owns KING, so that could become an issue. Nexstar Media had been in the line, but changed its mind and went after Tribune Broadcasting instead. That would include KCPQ. Keeping track? Difficult. Scripps now has 51 stations, Tegna has 49, Hearst has 32. Cox could have a wallet fattened by $3 billion when this all ends.
Boergone conclusion. Unlike so many other recent disappearances from the airwaves, we know why Katie Boer is no longer on the KCPQ13 weather team, according to nwbroadcasters.com. She’s the latest poster person for the danger of holiday parties. After enjoying time with co-workers at one of their homes, they decided she was in no condition to drive. She disputed strongly, and continued to dispute strongly against the cops who were called. Timeline: partied, arrested, fired.
Short unemployment. Worry not for Cheryl Carson, recently out as news director at KING-TV. No word yet on whose idea it was, but it took only a couple of weeks for her to find a new chair to sit in. She’s now news director at WJLA-TV, a Sinclair-owned ABC affiliate in Washington, D.C. Media writer Scott Jones describes the station as a train-wreck in need of a lot of work. He seems impressed that Sinclair hired a woman for the job. So, there are still people out there who think like that.
In labor. Back in April, as noted way down the list here, KUOW voted to unionize. Shortly after, seven employees were let go. Now, the union, SAG-AFTRA, has filed an unfair labor practice complaint. Of course it’s complicated. Here’s the “for dummies” version. Three of those were rehired, the other four replaced. KUOW says so there, you union guys still represent those seven employees. The station says yeah, but the four who were replaced were the ones pushing hardest to unionize. (The above language is approximate.) The union also wants the station to discontinue interfering with employees. You’re allowed a small chuckle at that. The station says it planned all these changes before the union thing came up. One more chuckle, and that’s it.
Q but not 13. Entercom has introduced this market to Channel Q, a talk radio format network for the LGBTQ+ community. It will be heard on KNDD’s HD2 network. (You can find it. It’s there somewhere.) Seattle market manager Jack Hutchison “looks forward to helping that community thrive in Seattle.” The format, especially the music, could be competition for the Seattle School District’s popular KNHC 89.5 FM, broadcasting from Nathan Hale high school.
Don’t watch. Among history’s great marriages: TV and football, and radio and cars. Once, when pondering radio traffic reports with the then state highway director, I noted the double-edged sword. Yes, we broadcasters helped drivers make it through rush hour, realizing that help would lead to us losing them sooner. While they were stuck, we had their ears, but not their eyes. That could change. Sinclair Media says it’s working with a couple of electronics firms, pushing toward a day when you may be able to watch your local over-the-air TV station in your car. There’s already plenty of distraction with newer “connected” cars, and many motorhomes have receivers to get satellite TV while on the road, but this could present new “opportunities” for your friendly local TV salesperson. An obvious major hurdle: how to prevent the driver from watching. :”Hey, look! I can see myself in that traffic. Wow! I’m waving.” Then watch your own crash.
Off color. An un-named staff member at KCPQ-13 has been fired for doctoring the image of President Trump in his border-wall plea to the nation. It’s easy to do through technical means I’ll never understand. The image was made to look like Trump had his tongue hanging out of his mouth, and his color was a little more orange than usual. News director Erica Hill said this sort of thing does not meet the station’s editorial standards. Some would argue that trying to make Trump look bad doesn’t take any special effort. But there’s no excuse for this type of action in this situation. I seldom advocate for somebody being fired, but this one’s tough to argue against.
Putting the X in Xmas. There’s a little more room in the hallways at Hubbard’s broadcast complex in Factoria, with seven staff members celebrating the holidays without the nuisance of having to go to work. The morning team of Allen Fee and Andy Ryan at Warm 106.9 KRWM are among those out the door, along with their producer, Kevin Justik. Hubbard, owner of the single biggest money-making station in the country for the last two years, WTOP, has been cutting staff at many of its properties. Night man AJ takes over mornings for now. (Everything in broadcasting is “for now.”) Down the hall, Michael Kraig Mason has been tossed by The Bull, leaving country KNUC.
Star search. The new year began with listeners to Sinclair’s Star 101.5 figuring out where their favorite personalities went. After many, many highly successful years (okay, only number 11 in the latest ratings), KPLZ swapped morning and afternoon teams. Curt Kruse, Corine McKenzie and Leonard Barokas now wake up earlier, with Kent Phillips moving to afternoons, joined by former morning traffic reporter Marina Rockinger and promotion director “Super” Jen Pirak. And what of Alan Budwill, Kent’s on-air partner for 29 years? Good question.
Out-foxed. For those who think Sinclair is trying to take bigger chunks out of Fox TV, and that’s pretty much everybody, here’s further proof. James Rosen has left his Fox D.C. correspondent job to join Sinclair as investigative reporter at its D.C. bureau.
Dear Abby. Steve Pool’s extended medical leave has left a few holes in the KOMO-TV weather team, with Shannon O’Donnell handling most of his chores, along with some weekends still, and a few highly capable fill-ins. To find a measure of peace, Sinclair has brought Abby Acone in to handle weekend evenings and other weather work during the week. She comes from KRDO, Colorado Springs. While she’s sad to be leaving, after four years there, she’s “thrilled to be back home in Seattle.” The Wazzu senora (two degrees: Communications and Spanish) grew up in Bellevue, and worked in Pasco.
Heads up. I give some thought to the headers for these items, going for clever—admittedly with limited success. So I appreciated what the website Politico did with a story from Golf Digest about an incident on a Utah golf course. A man named Lee Johnson (I hope to heck he’s not connected to any car dealership around here) was angered at the slow play in front of him, and was not allowed to play through. So, he took out a knife and wounded the slow golfer by stabbing him. Politico’s headline: So, a hole in one? (Admit it. You loved it. Join me in therapy.)
They’re animals. Seattle Times music writer Michael Rietmulder (back off, spellchecker!) has compared the two remaining major country radio stations here, a year or so after the demise of KMPS, the “country bastion” in the market. KKWF The Wolf had a head start, giving KMPS the first serious run for the money in the 33 years I was there and beyond. KNUC The Bull challenged the Wolf. Rietmulder notes the cowboyness of the two mascots. Riding a bull is tough, but riding a wolf probably is even tougher…especially on the wolf. He lays out the slight differences in music, the Wolf having a wider playlist including a few more “oldies.” He doesn’t give the nod to either station, saying they’re more alike than different, and it’s up to you how you want your pickin.’ To update (and outdate) the old KMPS slogan, Country is no longer “spelled with a K.”
How high. It’s not often that the lead sentence in a news story will make me laugh out loud. While watching a local TV newscast talking about the go-fund-me campaign for the Trump wall, the anchor continued, “meanwhile, a go-fund-me campaign to raise money for ladders to climb over the wall….” at that point, I was hootin’ and hollerin’ so much that I had to go back to hear the number—more than $136K!…It’ll go to helping immigrants…..buy several thousand ladders.
To the bigs. Always nice to see our local TV stars hit the big time. Former KOMO anchor Morgan Chesky (see Heading east item below) left to become a national correspondent for NBC. I’ve seen him several times reporting west coast stories. I’ll presume this lets him work out of Los Angeles rather than New York. And Natalie Brand left her political reporting job at KING in search of something in D.C. I don’t know if she’s found that yet, but I did see her reporting a holiday-slow-news-week feature story on CBS. There have been others in the past. NBC White House correspondent Peter Alexander may be the highest-up. He was at KCPQ 13 back when.
More Delilah. Take Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginiam, off of the shrinking list of places where you can’t hear Seattle-based host Delilah. The “most listened-to woman on radio” is now filling up evenings on WBVW The Wave.
Heading east. It’s the big time for Morgan Chesky. The KOMO-TV anchor is off to New York and NBC News to become a national correspondent. Back in February of ’17, we noted the online news source, Buzzfeed, named him one of the 50 sexiest male TV anchors in the country, one of only a few that were shown less than fully clothed, in a pink swimsuit leaning against, as noted, a well-placed pole. Don’t know if he’ll be doing beach stories for the peacock network, but we know he can dress the part.
Out of the sun. Preston Phillips says he’s trading his shorts and flip-flops for jackets and boots. The morning anchor at KPHO, Phoenix, heads north to KOMO-TV as evening news anchor. Since I hide from winter in Arizona, I’ve watched him often in the three years he’s been there, and think he’ll be a good addition to the anchor corps here. (Left unsaid is that I think there are several anchors in Phoenix who aren’t up to our local levels of excellence, even though it’s a larger market. I guess it’s not left unsaid any more.)
Hahn gone. Reporter Elisa Hahn has put in 22 years at KING-TV. Her announced departure filled her Twitter feed with comments from most of the reporters in town on all the good things about her. She says it’s time for a change, saying she has been “craving a new adventure. To stretch a new muscle and learn something new.” She has not yet reached the age when stretching a new muscle is connected with pain that takes too long to heal.
A big Dent. Radio Hall-of-Famer Lisa Dent is the new late morning jock at WEBG, Chicago. She’s a big deal in the Windy City, having done mornings at WUSN. Her several stops around the country to get there included KYCW Young Country in Seattle in the mid ’90s.
LevinBeck
How right you are. Will cry on TV for dollars. That may be an unfair assessment of Glenn Beck, although he has been known to cry on TV, and he’s making a ton of money. Now, his company, Blaze, is merging with CRTV, another conservative outfit run by Mark Levin. They say the new Blaze Media could reach 165 million people through various media. Beck was raised in Mt. Vernon…they even had a Glenn Beck Day…and worked in radio there and Bellingham, and famously weekends at KUBE in Seattle before he was old enough to drive to work. As a disc jockey, he crashed and burned through several stations around the country before settling into his current style. More local ties: this new effort will include many conservative writers and talkers, including former Seattle Times columnist Michelle Malkin. Levin says the whole project will “offer the public an alternative to liberal media group-think.” I’m sure Beck, Malkin, et al, would agree… Oops. Maybe not. In an update, hardly before the ink was dry on the deal, Malkin said “no thanks.” Nobody’s said yet whose idea it was, but it’s known that she and Beck disagree sharply on immigration. So, she emigrated.
What the puck. When you think of grunge music, you think of hockey. Maybe you didn’t realize that, but Tod Leiweke apparently does. His new NHL team has signed a deal with KEXP to provide all in-arena music in Key Arena for the hockey season, once the new team starts. KEXP is a small public station with some very loyal, and very well-off listeners. Note elsewhere here that 10-million-dollar donation they took in a while back. The fact that their studio is right across a walkway from the arena doesn’t hurt. The station holds a “deep belief in the power of music to connect and inspire.” Whether it inspires dancing—or a hat trick—remains to be seen.
$$$. So, there, Mr./Ms. radio personality/host/disc jockey, you just got yourself a nice little raise, huh? Feeling pretty good about it? Let me bring you back down to earth. Forbes magazine reports the self-proclaimed King of All Media, Howard Stern, earned $90 million this year. A man with even more listeners, Rush Limbaugh, raked in $84.5 million. Proving bland pays well, Ryan Seacrest was third on the list, at $74 million. A big drop to number four, Trumpbuddy Sean Hannity brought in a mere $36 million. And Glenn Beck, mentioned elsewhere in this column, rounded out the top five with $8.5 million. So, the secrets to success: offend people, be far right, don’t offend people, have friends in high places, and cry. Try them all and nobody could afford you.
What’s next. Watching marriage proposals get turned down is never fun, but that seems to be the life story right now for Tribune Media (owner of KCPQ and Joe TV here). Sinclair Media (owner of KOMO and KUNS here) was the latest failed attempt. Now, Nexstar Media is the latest to try, upping the ante to $4.1 billion (Sinclair dangled $3.9 billion). It already owns 171 stations, so this deal would make it the biggest. The company began in Scranton, PA, and is now headquartered in Irving, TX. Its stations are in mostly smaller markets, including all over Texas. The nearest to us are KRON in San Francisco and KSVI in Billings. The good news for the staff at Q13: your resumes were just recently updated anyway, just in case.
Gone too young. Broadcaster Dennis Shannon has died in the Tri-Cities. He was news director at KONA radio for 17 years, and did some work on TV there. He spent time here at KOMO radio, as well as in Bellevue and Everett. The station reports he died of natural causes, a little unnatural for someone 68 years old.
More Gorka. Because some folks just can’t get enough of Trumpbuddy and Fox TV star Dr. Sebastian Gorka (degree in international relations and diplomacy from a Budapest university) will be glad to know Salem Radio Network is giving him the noon to three slot, heard here on KTTH, AM 770. A little less happy may be Seattle-based Michael Medved, the replacee. (Note: second made-up word in this story.) He’s “grateful for more than 21 years….with Salem.” He promises to continue commentating in “an exciting new format,” not specified. You could guess podcast, leaflets, or, as Phil Harper used to forecast for a future post-KMPS Phil, Don and Patti Show—just going door-to-door. He’d crack a few jokes, I’d update neighborhood gossip and Patti would check traffic on your street. Alas, it never came to be.
Unbranded. KING-TV’s political reporter Natalie Brand has left the station, chasing her dream of becoming a political reporter in Washington, D.C. She started at KING in 2015, bringing her political science degree with her. No immediate word on where she may land. Veteran KING reporter Chris Daniels will take on her political-reporting duties.
A loose wingnut. KKWF’s mid-day host Wingnut is through the “out” door, after nearly 10 years there. He’s reportedly “on the hunt for his next opportunity.” (You probably know what that means.) He worked in Colorado before coming here. I suppose he now has more time to spend with his brother Lug and sister Pea. (Okay, okay, I might have made that part up. Or not.)
Out-a town. They’re still there, those small-town radio stations trying to make a living in the large shadow of Seattle broadcasters. NWbroadcasters.com shares info on a couple of them. KLSY-FM, not the one that used to be in Seattle and became, eventually, KQMV, the current ratings killer, but the one in Montesano, has asked for a change of license to Belfair, even though that’s a smaller town, by 32 people in 2017 numbers—just over 3,900 each. It broadcasts Christian Spanish programming. And KBRC AM and FM, Mount Vernon, is making slight music changes, and promises to add a lot of sports coverage, including high school sports, M’s, Hawks, Huskies, and whatever else they can find and still make a profit.
Mom HOF. The most-listened-to woman on radio, Seattle-based Delilah, has been inducted into the Adoption Hall of Fame. Famous for having adopted 10 kids to add to her “own” three, she has a nonprofit called Point Hope, to celebrate adoption. Unfortunately, she’s also famous for losing one of those adoptees to suicide a couple of years ago, which helped her raise awareness of both suicide and adoption.
Nifty Fifty. Another Premier Networks show based in Seattle (as is Delilah), KQMV’s Brooke & Jubal, has hit the 50 mark in number of stations where you can hear them. Part of their plan to take over the world. Recent additions include stations in Billings, Bozeman and Helena, Montana, and one in Ottawa, which makes them international. And let’s not forget, as happens too often, Jose Bolanos, the show’s official “sidekick.
Death of KISS? The website for KISS 106.1, (actually KBKS) says “KISS is dead.” Morning personality Bender is gone after hanging on for 17 years, and there are no disc jockeys at all. There are pronouncements that “all good things must come to an end.” What does it all mean? Is it just a big tease (like so many kisses are)? If so, it’s working. We await what’s next… And now we know. Maybe. In the latest display of indecision, I-Heart has moved Carla Marie Monica and “Worst” Anthony Halwagy from one end of the day to the other, now doing mornings, and still looking for “the funniest person” to join them. Get your air checks in now. Rounding out the on-air staff, Molly Mesnick, Zann, EJ (in their old time slot), and “Mayhem,” who finds time to be music director and assistant program director. All this in addition to the format switching involving KUBE and KPWK in recent months. It’s getting tough to keep up.
So Northwest. Thanks to Scott Altus at KOMO-TV for getting us caught up on a couple of items. That lawsuit by former reporter Tracy Vedder against the company has been dismissed. She claimed gender and age bias after being given the boot. Both are still true: she remains female and—ahem—60-plus… And adding to RTNDA award winners, anchor Eric Johnson won another for outstanding writing, his fourth in a dozen years. His “Eric’s Heroes “ stories are always informative and entertaining. You can tell when those kinds of stories, his or others, are about to be aired. They’re usually the only stories in the newscasts with their own background music.
Towering inferno. From my former West Lake Sammamish home, I could see the tower on Tiger Mountain that broadcast several FM stations. Which means I could have seen the smoke from that tower from the early November fire. That took out the signals for KBKS, KJAQ, KZOK, KNUC, KOMV and KSND. (I live on the other side of the lake now, so I didn’t see it.) All the stations were back on the air quickly from auxiliary sites on Cougar Mountain or elsewhere.
Not so well. Lance Tidwell has left his operating manager position at a group of stations in Fort Collins, Colorado. He’s kept the truck rental people busy, as program director at KKWF The Wolf in Seattle about 10 years ago, and similar jobs in Kansas City, Tucson, San Antonio, Hartford, Boise and Memphis. (Why does that country song “I’ve been everywhere” come to mind?) The station says he’s seeking new opportunities and spending more time with family…a phrase often suggesting he might not have been all that ready to leave.
A good sport. You hear “always be a good sport…be a good sport all ways,” you hear Bob Robertson. The voice of WSU sports since 1964 is calling it a career, after 590 Cougar football broadcasts, and after winning state “Sportscaster of the Year” awards 12 times. “Getting old is what it is,” he says. He’s 89. He’s asked Wazzu to list him as “retired.” I got to know him when we worked at KVI. He always encouraged me, and probably everyone else he knew. Not many earn the title of “legendary” in their field while they’re still doing it. Robertson did. Welcome to the next stage, Bob. The hours are better.
Mulholland’s drive. Hubbard Radio has replaced the highly-successful Marc Kaye at their highly-successful Factoria complex with Ann Marie Mulholland as market manager. She comes from 14 years as GM at Crista Media in Seattle. The Central Washington grad began her career at CBS Seattle 28 years ago, and spent time in Eugene, and Pittsburgh. She is “honored,” noting “Hubbard Radio has an elite reputation.” Kaye is joining my world, with more days off than on.
On Decker. Radio Ink magazine has been profiling the 30 Best Managers for the year, including Lisa Decker, who’s run Alpha Media’s stations in Portland for the last two years. She was my last manager at KMPS, and an absolute delight to work for. She and PD Becky Brenner teamed up to make sure my retirement was noteworthy and reasonably generous. In the magazine interview, she talks of creating a winning culture, dipping into positive-poster sayings, like “winners focus on winning and losers focus on winners.” (Could go right next to the “hang in there” dangling cat poster.) She’s been a manager for 31 of her 37 years in the biz, and worthy of the recognition.
Sounds like. John Fisher has company on his morning show at KSWD 94.1 The Sound. Entercom has named Jeanne Ashley as co-host of the newly named “John and Jeanne” show, perhaps showing they’re saving their creativity for other efforts. She’s worked in Miami, Kansas City, Syracuse and Utica in a career that began in 1990. The company says “she is fresh, engaging and a great fit with John.” She calls it “a dream come true.”
Love-ly. Alex Taylor has had a big jump in audience. The University of Alabama graduate started her broadcast career at CBS-Seattle in 2014, the moved to Crista Media and afternoon jock at KWPZ, Bellingham. Now, she’s the new evening host for the K-LOVE network (yes, all caps), a Christian-format company with stations around the country, including KLSW 104.5, Seattle (actually licensed to Covington).
Out of the Pool. If you didn’t feel something when KOMO-TV weather guru Steve Pool explained his absence, you might have some questions for and about yourself. He spent a few moments telling about his diagnosis of prostate cancer. He’ll be out for awhile undergoing treatment. He’s not sure for how long. Shannon O’Donnell will be covering for him, presenting the weather, and showing up at all the food demonstrations on the afternoon news to have a nibble or a sip. As for the ever-upbeat Poole, he says he’s the luckiest man in the world. I’ll join everybody else…and that’s a lot…in wishing him well.
Another award. Hubbard Radio Seattle’s national sales manager, Julie Judge, has picked up the Radio Wayne Award at the Radio Show in Orlando. The award, presented by Radio Ink magazine, goes to those sales execs in six categories whose “hard work…separates them from the pack.” (Because you want to know: the award is named for “Radio Wayne” Cornils, a small market broadcaster who went on to fame in the biz holding top positions in a couple of broadcast associations.) The magazine notes that Judge’s co-workers in Factoria made room for the award (at right). And, we await word on a replacement for Hubbard’s Seattle boss, Marc Kaye, who’s announced his retirement. To keep the office from getting dusty, he continues to show up.
Get out! You know how, when you get divorced, it’s awkward, to say the least, to not move out—although that sounds like the makings of a sit-com. When KPLU was sold by Pacific Lutheran University, not to the UW, but to a group of concerned people with a little money, part of the deal was that the station, renamed KNKX, had to move off campus by June of 2019. And so it shall, to the C. N. Gardner building on Broadway in downtown Tacoma. The station has a studio in Seattle, and it could have made sense to move everything there. But, the News Tribune story in the Times (yes, we all steal from….work with…each other) quotes boss Joey Cohn saying Tacoma was important to saving the station, and already works with many groups there. Maybe including divorce lawyers.
Wide awake. Hip-hop format KUBE-FM has a new wake-up show, cobbling together a team from around the country, including Strawberry, Lizette Love, Jenna, and DJ Supa Sam. Let’s hope they didn’t spend too much on a consultant to come up with a title for their wake-up show. They’re going with The Wake Up Show.
Another voice gone. We note the passing of Norm Gregory, whose broadcasting career began in 1967 in Mt. Vernon and continued in Bellingham and Spokane, before winding up in Seattle. He worked notably at KOMO, KZOK, KJR, and others, retiring in 2003. The Roosevelt High School and Western Washington University grad is on the list of Crystal Soundie award winners from the Puget Sound Broadcasters Association for lifetime achievement. Diabetes and injuries from a fall are blamed for his death. He was 74.
New wakeup. Christian format KCMS-FM has a new morning show on the way, hosted by Scott Carty and Erica Parkerson. He’s been at several Seattle stations, most recently KOMO. She’s worked in this format in North Carolina and Virginia.
Gathering the Hunter. “Anyone in radio will tell you, once you’ve tasted it, you’re hooked for life.” So says Tim Hunter,” missing from the airwaves for 15 years. He’s back tasting more, as the new morning man for KRKO, Everett, as part of the new format of Everett’s Greatest Hits. He was part of the Murdock, Hunter and Alice morning show for 19 years on KLSY, and had produced the morning show at KOMO radio before that. Station manager Chuck Maylin points out KRKO and sister station KKXA are among the few locally owned radio stations left around here that “better serve the listeners and businesses.”
Mornings, eh? Having taken over much of the U.S., Brooke and Jubal in the morning, syndicated from here for the past four years, goes to work on taking over Canada. The show has been added to CKQB-FM, Ottawa, marketed as JUMP! 106.9 (yes, all caps and an exclamation point).
City News. Shannon Gee can drop “interim” from her title. She’s the general manager of the Seattle Channel, a sort-of local version of C-SPAN, widely watched by those who just can’t get enough government in their lives. She’s done a lot of free-lance writing and producing, much of it seen on KCTS, and has seven regional Emmys in her trophy case.
Winning Silver. New morning host at KRBZ The Buzz in Kansas City is Jordin Silver. Her 12-year career has included KNDD The End in Seattle from 2006 to 2010, along with stations in Los Angeles and Atlanta. She loves the advice she got from the KRBZ program director: make ‘em feel, or don’t turn on the mic at all. She plans to keep the mic on.
Dee-tour. Usually when you’re told to take a hike, you’re out of a job. Not so with Reggie Dee, personality at WMBX in West Palm Beach, Florida. He asked to take a walk to raise money for cancer research, after his mother died from it. So, he’s walking 3,300 miles, to Seattle. Due here in mid-November. And this is not his first hike. Three years ago, he warmed up with a 1,300-mile walk from Dallas to West Palm Beach. He’s picked up sponsorship from T-Mobile, so his target is that company’s headquarters in Bellevue. I’m sure a local station will be covering it. It would be most convenient for one of Hubbard’s stations, since they’re located in the same Factoria office building complex as T-Mobile.
Off the air. A big name in Atlanta radio has died. Sean Demery spent several years there before heading west, including a stop at KMTT in Seattle in 2010 and a month on either side, and stations in San Francisco, Fresno, San Bernardino, Salt Lake City, and others. His last stop was at KINK in Portland, as PD and afternoon host. He had a stroke in January, and died in September. He was only 60.
News news. All-news KYW, Philadelphia, has named Alex Silverman as program director. He had been assistant director of news and programming at WCBS, New York. He also worked at WSYR, Syracuse. His only stop in the western 4/5th of the country was at KIRO-FM as anchor/reporter in 2010-11.
A fresh Bre-eze. Bre Ruiz has joined Sir Mix-a-lot as co-host of the morning show on Entercom’s KHTP. Hot 103.7, Seattle. She comes from sister station KSFM in Sacramento. She feels “blessed and excited” and can’t wait to “live the amazing Seattle life.” Others of us may still be searching for that.
Under one roof. Find any list of proud poppas, and Rick Van Cise should be on it. I’ve known him since he was just getting started in broadcasting. Several stops at radio and TV stations have led him to managing programming on both KVI and KOMO radio, as well as anchoring on KOMO. His son, Taylor, recently begin an anchor shift also on KOMO. And now daughter Lisa is back on the air, doing weather on weekends on KOMO-TV. She left KING a few years ago to head into the cushy world of government PIO work, at WSDOT (enough letters for you?), explaining why you couldn’t get anywhere on I-5. It’s good to see her again. She’s as good as it gets. Way to go, dad.
Out of the smog. KING-TV’s new weather guy, Craig Herrera, is up from KCBS-KCAL TV in Los Angeles. Many consider that the big time. He’s won five Emmys along the way, spending the last two years at that combo. He was the weekend morning weatherman, didn’t really like that shift and didn’t see it changing, so he became northbound.
Two years later. Back in August of 2016, when David Espinosa Hall was hired by KING-TV as a new evening anchor, he and the station both said how thrilled they were to be together. By August of 2018, the thrill apparently was gone…and so was he. No word on future plans, or reason for the departure. There is one opinion that his delivery style took time to appreciate.
Ohio’s loss. New at Broadcast House, Shelby Miller is now reporting for KIRO-TV. The Detroit native comes from WOIO, Cleveland. She went there from the morning anchor desk at WATE, Knoxville, Tennessee, wanting to get out of the studio and onto the streets. The dog-loving country music fan (that’s not a bad thing) got an early start in her career, reading the school daily announcements as a fifth grader.
Welcome X 2. KING-TV has two new reporters. Vanessa Misciagna comes to town from Burlington, Vermont. She’s a graduate of Boston University, and promises a plate of “Grandma’s meatballs” to anyone who can pronounce her name correctly the first time. She’s what’s now called an MSJ, or multi-skilled journalist, meaning she does the camera work as well as the reporting. Some say that’s just a cheap way for a company to avoid hiring two people to do two separate jobs. Those who disagree might have trouble mounting a good argument. And Kierra Elfalan made the trip across the state from KREM in Spokane. The Kent native and UW grad worked in the Tri-Cities before that.
Branded. TV stations love the logo wear. That’s why I was surprised to see a new KING-TV reporter wearing a Tegna hat during a field interview, rather than the yellow jacket or KING hat. (Tegna owns KING.) Of course, this could just be a way for a big corporation to save a few pennies with a single hat style for everybody at each of its stations, but I can’t imagine that happening. More likely it was attempt at good brand identification. But, that doesn’t always work, either. The only picture of the hat I could find was on a man, possibly a disgruntled ex-employee, caught on security camera while he was robbing a store in Kingman, AZ. Insufficient buyout? Can’t say. More work for the PR department? You bet.
Yes, No or ???. Whenever I’ve voiced or written a story, I’ve always looked for a little bit of humor, lightness and humanity. Obviously difficult, sometimes impossible, and my idea of humor may not be yours. The sad story of Sumner Redstone presents such a situation. CBS directors are trying to figure out how to strip him of his controlling interest. There are questions about his mental capacity and ability to function. His ailment, not identified but probably just being 95, has left him communicating mostly through grunts, and an i-Pad “preprogrammed with his voice to say yes, no, or a (unspecified) profanity.” There’s your thought-provoker for the day. If you were in that condition, what profanity would you choose?
Trib: No deal. Aug. 9—the day the deal died. Tribune Media pulls out of the proposed deal with Sinclair. The $3.9 billion dollar effort “cannot be completed within an acceptable time frame,” according to Tribune CEO Peter Kern. Oh, yeah, and they’re suing Sinclair for breach of contract, just to make sure they get the message. Don’t know what will or will not happen next, but maybe the folks at KOMO and KCPQ can take a breath for a couple of minutes.
Jazzing in up. It’s almost surprising that long-time Seattle radio jazz DJ Carol Handley has not worked at KNKX. That omission from her bio has ended, as she takes over as director of music programming at the station. She spent 14 years on KWJZ, three years at KRWM, stops at a few other stations along the way, and leaves the interim general manager job at Bellevue College’s KBCS. She also has her own concert production company, does voice work and podcasts. At KNKX, she takes over for Nick Francis, who’s retiring.
Side notes. Some odds and ends…you can figure out which is which. We wondered what had happened to Kelly Franson after she left the KIRO-TV weather desk. Now we know. She’s turned up in the news as spokesman for the Edmonds School District…I wondered about KING-TV’s new studio showing a live shot of the street behind the anchors. Now, as I feared, to me it’s become a distraction. Not with people dancing or jumping up and down to get on TV, but just watching the traffic. It diverts my attention from what the anchors are saying, which could be important… Since I spend some of the Winter in Arizona, I watch what’s going on there. Phoenix economic development director Cathy MacKay notes the six cranes over the city (yeah, just six) and says they’re “catching up to the big cities.” Yeah, if you’re talking about a mere four cities. Phoenix is big city number five already. All that because somebody else must have moved there.
Rebuilt. We’re learning what the earlier-mentioned restructuring at KUOW meant, along with the firing of seven people. Now, they’ve named Kim Malcolm and Angela King as local hosts of the morning and afternoon NPR news blocks, labelling it a “relaunch.” They promise more local news, more in-depth, more of darned near everything. I haven’t seen what there will be less of. It may be fairly gratifying to the seven who were fired that the ratings plunged to fourth. Yeah, still not bad for a market this size. And, they promise to interact with listeners even more, on line, in person, maybe by old-fashioned snail mail. (C’mon, you remember that.) A big ad campaign, untypical of public stations, tells us to tell them what we want to hear. Commercial stations, either new or rebranding, often ask listeners to tell them what they want to hear—and pay little attention to it, since they already know what they’re going to do anyway. I’m sure my alma mater station will be above that sort of thing.
Strategic sale. Cox Media Group is considering “strategic options” for 14 of its TV stations—including KIRO-TV. The options include selling, partnering and merging. Cox boss Alex Taylor says this decision was not taken lightly. The company is not touching its other properties in radio, newspapers and other kinds of media. Taylor describes the TV stations as “attractive assets.” But, apparently, not attractive enough to keep. Nothing definite yet, but it’ll keep the folks at KIRO from getting too comfortable.
Gone Fishin’: When KRKO AM in Everett announced in July it was dropping sports and going to music, afternoon talker Jeff “The Fish” Aaron said he’d be staying at the station Of course, we all knew better. He stayed a very few more weeks before heading to Phoenix. The plan is to get back on the air and to expand his side operation—Fame Trivia USA—to restaurants and bars in Arizona.
Take two. Those who are technology deficient (I will lead that parade) may not understand HD 2 radio. The following probably won’t help much, and don’t quote any of it to a broadcast engineer unless you want to be laughed at. It allows stations to embed an additional digital signal with their broadcast signal, giving them, in effect, another station. You need a radio that will receive these signals. It’s getting more common, but, until now, had never made a blip in ratings. Until now. Latest Neilsens have KNKX-FM-HD 2 sneaking on to the list, one of five stations sharing the bottom with a 0.1 showing for its Jazz 24 format. Fortunately, as with radio in general, you don’t have to understand how it works to enjoy it.
Book ‘em, Delilah. Premier Network talker Delilah, syndicated from Seattle to most of the civilized world, is out with her fourth book. Who knew she had that kind of time on her hands? Her publisher says this book, One Heart at a Time, shares “the real woman behind the microphone.” It’s a slight departure from the first three, all of which have “Love” in the title. The book will be out in mid-October.
Trump on Sinclair. Quoting the Tweeter-in-Chief at 8:39 PM on a Tuesday evening: “So sad and unfair that the FCC wouldn’t approve the Sinclair merger with Tribune. This would have been a great and much needed Conservative voice for and of the People. Liberal Fake News NBC and Comcast gets approved, much bigger, but not Sinclair. Disgraceful.” At least it wasn’t in all caps.
Alpha Omega. The founder and CEO of Alpha Media, Larry Wilson, is stepping aside, although he’ll stay on the Board. Back in 2009, he started with a cluster of radio stations in Portland. Now, they’ve got 225 in 48 markets, including Aberdeen/Hoquiam, Wenatchee and Moses Lake. A good many Seattle broadcasters have found their way to that company, including Portland market manager Lisa Decker, the CBS-Seattle manager who waved bye-bye to me at KMPS (call letters I’ll mention now and then so as not to let them be forgotten).
Another voice gone. A genuine Seattle TV pioneer has died. Yakima native Howard Shuman began his career at KYAK in Yakima, then moved to Seattle in 1956 to become KOMO-TV’s first full-time reporter. He ended up anchoring the late news before leaving the station after 10 years. He then moved into the world of education, at the UW and Central, before going into government public affairs work. Shuman retired to the good life of bird watching, traveling, walking around Kirkland and volunteering at Camano Island State Park. He was 88.
KOMO rates. With the attention given to changes coming at Sinclair, and the domination of KING at the regional Emmys (see separate story), KOMO-TV needed something to smile about. And here it is: the latest ratings for May. Basically a clean sweep, topping every time slot where they compete (They have no news at 7 PM, and nobody else does at 3:30). I won’t pretend to understand all the reasons, but I suspect the KOMO crew may be slightly energized to overcome some of the negatives surrounding Sinclair. Their production values are staying high, while those at KING seem to be matching other Tegna stations. (Not necessarily a good thing.) KIRO, good as it is, can’t seem to get unstuck. And some of us who watch TV more than casually want Q13 to get better numbers because we really like it. Also: buses and ratings are alike…there will be another one along soon.
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As the door revolves. When you leave a company on reasonably good terms, it’s not unusual to end up there again. (Full disclosure: I was a jock, then a newsman at KVI. I did news on TV, then on radio, at KIRO, when they were the same company in the same building.) Now, Jillian Raftery and Heather Bosch have made the return trip to KIRO-FM. Bosch spent the last five years with the big guys at CBS News Radio in New York. Raftery got out of the biz and headed north to Vancouver a couple of years ago. She’s the mid-day news editor, Bosch is afternoon anchor.
Alexa in your pocket. Way back in the way-back, if you wanted to donate to KUOW, you might ride up to their door and drop off a couple of chickens. For many years, you could write a cheque and drop it in the mailbox (a real, actual box, not the kind you seen on the screen in your hand). Now, here in Amazonia, you can donate using Alexa. They’ve actually been promoting this on their streaming service for a while, as the forces behind it figure out how to make it work for all NPR stations. KUOW’s happy because about a third of the money raised in the latest beg-fest has been from new donors using the smart-speaker option. We’re talking only about 35 donations as of this writing, but it’s a start. NPR’s digital officer Tom Hjelm says getting donations through Alexa is “as frictionless and automatic a way as possible,” and they want to “take advantage of that.” Hey, Siri…. For those who had missed it (including me), KUOW is also on your AM dial, at 1340. It’s OK if you’re not a regular listener. The station is licensed to Tumwater, with a mere thousand watts of power (or, as wanna-be-clever disc jockeys used to say, “pots of wower”), which won’t make much of a dent in the ratings, where KUOW-FM is doing just fine, thanks.
Board operators. The group called Country Radio Broadcasters, heading into its 50th year, has re-elected Townsquare Media’s Kurt Johnson as president. Names on the ridiculously large 27-member Board of Directors include Becky Brenner, of A&O&B here, one of my favorite consultants (two words you won’t hear together that often).
Un-sprung. When the Jerry Springer show went on the air back in 1991, it raised the bar for TV shows involving fights, especially trashy people and “who’s the daddy” DNA tests. Now, a mere 4,000 episodes later, it has stopped production. The rest of the world seems to have caught up with it. Yes, it’ll be in rerun probably forever, but if you want new lies, cheating, sex scandals and general bluster and buffoonery*, you’ll have to settle for the evening news. (*Yes, that would be a good name for a law firm.)
If it Fitz. The former KKWF morning man known as Fitz drifted off into the world of syndication, and it seems to be working for him. He’s just extended his deal with Sun Broadcast Group for a number of years (exact number not made clear). It includes his daily show, his weekend countdown show, and his Nashville Minute news feature. In his spare time…he’s got five kids and a dog. He has no spare time. His weekend countdown show, The Hit List with Fitz, has added 20 stations owned by Portland-based Alpha Media including KUPL, Portland, Spokane’s KWIQ, and what Radio Online lists as KKRV-FM, Seattle. To which I said..;what? Yes, Alpha owns a radio station called KKRV, 104.7 fm…licensed to Wenatchee. Peddling that as in the Seattle market is a bit of a stretch.
Sticking around. Apparently surviving probation, mid-day host DeAnna Lee has signed up for three years at KKWF, the Wolf. She started there last December after leaving the sinking ship known as KMPS.
Old KOMO voice. Many broadcasters don’t especially like the way their name “sounds” on the air, so a common cure is to drop the last name, and use the middle name instead. It probably was that way with Jay Ward Giesa, a talented voice at KHQ, Spokane, and here at KJR and KFKF, before heading to KOMO. He did something unusual there, rising to station manager and corporate vice president. People with those jobs most often come up from the sales ranks, not from the programming side. The man we knew as Jay Ward died in May at his home in Issaquah, at age 89.
Nameless. Indecision. Laugh at KING-TV, or applaud them, for holding to a rule that no longer made sense. They joined the rest of our media in worthy coverage of the three-week disappearance of Lily Christopherson of Bonney Lake. I chuckle-snorted a bit when anchor Greg Copeland announced that since the girl had been found and was now considered the victim of a crime, KING would no longer identify her by name. We were supposed to forget, after all those stories with her name and pictures? But, I will applaud them for sticking to a principle, even if pointless in this case. And even though most other media continued to name her. Further snarky comment: this may be related to KING doing a lousy job lately of identifying people they interview. Update: KIRO later made a similar announcement, and there may be more. So, these folks can pat themselves on the back for sticking to their principles, even as they have to know it rings a little hollow.
New on KVI. Much has been said about Sinclair’s operations at KOMO-TV. Let’s not overlook other stations in the building. KVI has added Jamie Markley and David van Camp’s Markley and van Camp Show. The show is syndicated by Compass Media Networks, live in the 9-noon slot. The news release says they are now heard “in over 15 markets.” Does that mean 16, or what? KVI program director Rick Van Cise likes their irreverent take on politics. The two are “pumped to be on KVI,” as many of us have been.
More spewing. Below, I ponder the coverage of the Kilauea Volcano, suggesting I might not mind covering that, given its location and relative impact. Not so in Guatemala, where a different kind of volcano left a high death toll and terrible damage. It’s the kind that really worries the people of Orting and Sumner. It’s the type of volcanic eruption we could have at Mt. Rainier, and did have at Mt. St. Helens. That one left ash alongside I-90 in central and eastern Washington for years. If you were here for that event, you may remember KOMO-TV cameraman Dave Crockett’s incredible coverage from inside the ashfall, showing various shades of black, with him commenting he thought he might actually be dead. Powerful stuff. If you haven’t seen it, or want to see it again, check it out on line. I join other reporters who are proud of our work then, and would rather not have to do it again.
Spews news. The eruption of the Kilauea volcano is ideal for TV news. You may have noticed they love to show pictures of fires. This one is big, interesting, slow moving and long lasting, making coverage relatively easy. True, it has severely disrupted the lives of hundreds of people. These are people who bought or built homes, knowing there’s an active volcano right outside the door. They are right to feel devastated and heartbroken, but not surprised. In what may be a show of Island attitude, the government volcano-watchers say somebody asked if it was safe to roast a marshmallow over a volcano vent. Trying to keep a straight face, they said the short answer…the only answer, is: no. First, you’d want a very long stick. Second, all that smoke and gas infusing into the marshmallow would make it taste yucky, and it’s probably not good for you. Considering where it comes from, I’d say the answer isn’t “no” it’s “hell, no.” Meanwhile, the coverage continues. Pity the poor news crews stuck on the island for days or weeks, who have to tear themselves away from a lightly-populated beach at Kona and drive down to the lava field to do their job once or twice a day. Somebody’s gotta do it. (Me! Me! Pick me!)
For Reel. The latest add to Seattle radio imaging and production company Reelworld is Ron Tarrant. The Calgary native worked for Rogers Radio in Canada before moving to New York to join the Howard Stern show. Reelworld’s Robbie Ehrbar says “a talent like Ron doesn’t come along every day.” That talent will continue doing some work for Stern.
Senator Suzy. Longtime KIRO TV news anchor Susan Hutchison has filed to run for U.S. Senate, to oppose Maria Cantwell. Hutchison recently stepped down as State Republican Party chair, awaiting a possible appointment in the Trump administration, which hasn’t happened yet. We’ll see what happens. (A statement the President has made on many, many occasions.) Hutchison started at KIRO in 1981, and took home five regional Emmy awards in her 20 years there. She’s also been involved in various charities. And she’s hardly the first TV personality to move on—up—over—down to politics.
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Goodbye-hello. The revolving door at I-Heart Seattle’s been getting a workout. Senior VP for sales Russell Robertson just went to Tampa to lead sales efforts at their 10-station cluster. Before the chair even got cold, Mark Glynn took over the sales crew for the eight stations here. No stranger in town, he’s been at KBKS and KUBE, and The Traffic and Weather Network. They are, in order, “very thankful for the opportunity” and “honored to be given the opportunity.” That’s a lot of knocking.
To the max. The newest affiliate relations staffer at Reelworld is Charlie Maxx. (No relation to Beta.) The company, little-known to the huddled masses, began in Seattle in ’94 and now has about 75 employees providing jingles, imaging and other services to broadcasters. (The fact that I’ve never heard of them says more about me than them.) Their affiliate relations people work from pretty much wherever they are, which means Maxx will continue her day job as weekend jock at WXTU-FM in Philadelphia, after working at several other stations back east.
Open Dorr policy. Those who agree that Sinclair Media is a Fox wanna-be have some new ammunition. Kaelen Dorr is joining Sinclair as executive political producer. His background includes communications positions in the Trump White House and on the Trump campaign. He is “eager to bring his unique experience as a campaign veteran…to an already stellar group.” He said “stellar,” not “cellar,” in case you mis-read that.
Sin-Trib surprise. Those of us who thought we knew stuff figured that the Sinclair-Tribune merger would have Sinclair keeping KOMO and KUNS TVs, and selling KCPQ and KZJO. Obviously the company big-thinkers chose not to consider how smart we are. Sinclair says it will keep KOMO and KZJO, sell KCPQ to Fox, and sell KUNS to Howard Stirk Holdings, while continuing to provide service to it. KUNS is a Spanish language station, so it’s kept pretty separate from KOMO. (No, I don’t know if there is an actual wall.) But a lot of KCPQ’s news efforts are shared with sister station KZJO. We local smart people know exactly how that’s going to work out, but we’ll keep it secret for now, in case Sinclair wants to surprise us again.
Famous. The National Radio Hall of Fame is out with its list of inductees for this year. They include Bob Rivers and Nanci Donnellan. Rivers has rocked the airwaves at KJR, KISW, and KZOK, when it was in the next room on Dexter N. with KMPS and other CBS stations. He gained national fame with his Twisted Christmas albums. Donnellan, The Fabulous Sports Babe, was on KJR from 1991 to ’94, then to ESPN, and then coming out of retirement to pop up now and then on CBS Sports 1090 in Seattle. Induction ceremonies are set for Nov. 15 in New York City.
Cliffhanger. Worry not about what Cliff Avril will be doing now that the Seahawks have shown him the door He failed the physical there, but shouldn’t have any trouble with that at his new job, co-hosting with Jason Puckett on what Sports Radio 950 KJR creative whizzes decided to call “The Jason Puckett and Cliff Avril Show.” As of July 9, on the air 10 AM to 1 PM weekdays. I-Heart’s Seattle programming guy Rich Moore says “Cliff had an amazing career and we are lucky to be part of his next chapter.” Avril does have a Seahawks Super Bowl ring. And now a KJR hall pass.
Two KISSers: I-Heart’s KBKS-FM, 106.1 KISS, has two new voices, Zach and Zann, both coming up from Texas. Zach Wellsandt, who calls himself “Mayhem,” programmed the company’s stations in central Texas, in a career that began in Spokane. He’ll be PD and on the air mid-days. One-named Zann, last at KLIF in Dallas, will hold down the afternoon shift. She has worked in Philadelphia and New York City, and leaves you guessing what color her hair will be today. (But, it’s radio, so…?) I-Heart regional programming veep Tim Herbster went to the Big Book of Positive Comments to say Zach “goes beyond listener’s expectations,” and Zann’s “dynamic personality is always on display.” Zach is “thrilled to be back in the Northwest.” Zann says “this is what it would have felt like had I been asked to prom.” Awww.
Back home. In a case of wandering call letters and formats, KUBE is back hip-hopping at 93.3 FM. A couple of years ago, I-Heart moved the station to 104.9, in Tacoma, and introduced KPWK “Power 933,” with a format closer to that of higher-rated KQMV. I-Heart’s local man in charge, Robert Dove, says, and the ratings showed, that listeners “missed KUBE.” And, unsaid, apparently didn’t care all that much for KPWK. So, KUBE is back where it used to be. One could guess KPWK would take the 104.9 slot, but that was not mentioned in the company news release. The change began with a promise of 14,000 songs in a row with no commercials. The company says “this is how you welcome back a legend.” You’re free to count and hold their feet to that fire.
Smokey Sound. Entercom’s new KSWD 94.1 The Sound has a new program director, Smokey Rivers. (Join me in guessing that name is not on his birth certificate.) His 33-year career has taken him to at least nine other stations around the country, most recently in Tucson. Market veep Jack Hutchison is “thrilled and excited” at a time the station is “experiencing phenomenal growth.” Reminding: it is a new station, with, so far, just the one direction to go.
Another take. To the long list of live, local afternoon talk and entertainment shows, you can add Take 5. (Yes, you heard Dave Brubeck rolling over.) The new KING-TV show airs a four pm, promising casual conversation about the news. The promise is to leave you “informed, inspired, entertained and energized.” There are four hosts, but I doubt each is assigned one of those virtues. It’s a “whatever happened to” cast including Angela Russell, who left the anchor chair at KIRO TV a few years ago, burned out, to write childrens’ books. Indeed, the lure of the camera is strong. Two others know their way around the building, KING reporters Michelle Li and Jordan Steele. The most equal of the four, also the producer, is Chris Cashman, Pat’s son. (I’m sure he hates being identified that way. Pat probably does, too. The two of them, together and separately, qualify as Northwest Broadcast Royalty, which, it turns out, has never led to what you’d call regular employment.) The programs’ fifth “host” will be, it says, its viewers. They are hoping for significant response. Be careful what you wish for.
Planning ahead. Next Feb. 13-15, the Country Radio Broadcasters will hold their 50th annual Country Radio Seminar. They’ve already put together a group to plan (flowers, umbrella drinks, a string quartet?). Among the 20 or so people in that group, Andrew Bland, program director at KKWF.
Too soon gone. We note the premature death of Teresa Miller. The Aberdeen native took her WSU Communications degree to sales work in Yakima television, then to channels 7, 11 and 5 here. She also kept herself in shape, placing high in bikini contests in over-age-50 divisions. She left KING in 2005 to join her husband on his commercial fishing boat. She died in a car crash at age 56.
Huge bucks. KEXP-FM, “:where the music matters,” finds the money matters, too, and they’ve got a bunch of it. The station has received a ten million dollar donation from an anonymous, or half anonymous person identified only as Suzanne. It’s the station’s largest gift…among the largest ever for any public station. The station has a long list of ideas for that money, and, I’m guessing, enough money to make most of them happen. Wisely, among the plans is a new “giving club,” the Reverb Society, making it easier for others to give even more moola.
Best of…Regional RTDNA (Radio Television Digital News Association) awards are out for the best in the news biz. For radio, KIRO and KUOW won in several categories, KNKX in one. On the TV side, KING and KOMO were winners. The top “Overall Excellence” wins went to KIRO radio and KING TV. You might expect the winners to occasionally make mention of it on the air. National winners will be named in June.
Return to sender. Pete Combs has left KOMO radio to return to WSB, Atlanta, a station he left nine years ago. He says he missed being at that station. Also, he’s got grandchildren there, and wants to be closer to them. He’ll continue sporadic reports for ABC News.
Weekend weather. KIRO-TV’s newest weekend weather anchor is Claire Anderson, up from KOIN in Portland. She was born in Enumclaw, raised in south Seattle, went to UW. She interned at KCPQ13 and various Fisher stations in Seattle before heading off to work in Great Falls, then Santa Barbara. You think being on TV is all fun and games? You’re not entirely wrong. While working on a story in Santa Barbara, she had to learn how to surf. A talent that may atrophy here.
Not normal. Being completely sane has never been a plus in broadcasting. We note the passing of a man who proved that. Art Bell did a national all-night radio show from his home in Pahrump, Nevada.It was heavy into paranormal activities, assorted conspiracies, UFOs and crop circles. That show ended in 2002, but he kept popping up here and there during lapses in retirement. He was 72.
KUOWow! The revolving door at KUOW-FM is getting a workout. Since being No. 1, or currently No. 2, in this market is never quite good enough, they’ll be “restructuring” drive time. In this case, that means seven staffers out, seven in. The “outs” can try for the “in” jobs, but no promises. Chief content officer Jennifer Strachan’s reason for the move sounds like it came from one of those Mission Statement meetings many of us have had to sit through. The changes are to improve the “capacity to report on breaking news and consistently advance local stories that affect our community on a daily basis.” To hopefully make this happen, the following morning and afternoon hosts, newscasters and producers are past tense: Emily Fox, Kim Malcolm, Lisa Brooks, Jamala Henderson, Rob Wood, Stephen Gomes and Tami Kosch. (I worked with Lisa and Tami at KMPS and know how darned good they are.) Strachan says the new positions will be absolutely different. Not done with knife-twisting, she adds that those who do not fit with the new program “will be eligible for unemployment pay.” As reported earlier, workers at the station unionized under SAG-AFTRA, at least in part to get more money. Only the most cynical among us would think this has anything at all to do with these changes, since this is a public radio station that is above that sort of plebeian thing. (A pause here for you to stop chuckling and chortling.) I have good memories of the station, the first on which I appeared regularly, way back when it was a student-run station in a portable on the UW campus, with only a couple of paid staff. We never thought it would reach this level of success. A level reached, in part, thanks to the seven named above.
One place that may be a little less fun to work at right now is KOMO-TV. Its owner, Sinclair Media, is catching a lot of flak for sending its stations so-called “must read” scripts for newscasts. The internet’s gone bonkers over showing a splicing of several TV anchors reading the same words the same way. Part of the issue is the message from the right-leaning company, ironically about fake news. The big gripe is the “must read” aspect. Dan Rather calls it propaganda. So does Amy McGrath, running for Congress in Kentucky, and pulling all her advertising from the local Sinclair station.
It Pays to advertise. The adventure escalates now with a left-leaning consumer watchdog group, Allied Progress, spending large dollars to produce ads to run on four Sinclair stations, including KOMO, calling out Sinclair over the “must read” issue. It states, in part, “we’re running these ads to ensure Sinclair’s local viewers know the company’s politically motivated owners are forcing the anchors they trust to advance a partisan agenda that has nothing to do with news and everything to do with politics.” Will Sinclair take the money? Will the ads actually be aired? Stay tuned…find out who put the Sin in Sinclair.
And now the answers. Yes, and yes. Sinclair took the money and aired the ads. Between two announcements of its own. First, shortened, “This station is proud to present both sides. We think the ad is misleading, but you decide.” Then Allied Progress’ ad, urging votes to call the FCC to object to Sinclair trying to buy Tribune. Followed by, again shortened, “The misleading ad you just saw focused on a brief promotional message. The ad was purchased by a group known for its liberal bias, and we hope you won’t buy into the hysteria and hype.” I suspect the number of viewers calling the FCC won’t be enough to change anyone’s mind. And yes, Hysteria and Hype would be a great name for an ad agency.
A hiccup. A while back, the FCC got rid of a questionable numbers game that let broadcast owners not count all their audience when nearing ownership caps. They have since reinstated that rule. Now, a Circuit Court in D.C. has asked the agency why they did that. And why do we care? Because this could throw a monkey wrench into Sinclair’s plans to buy Tribune by using that iffy rule. This caused a nearly 4% drop in Sinclair stock. And probably a few more ulcers at headquarters.
Back and forth. You think you can’t make up your mind. Some very important and highly-paid people have the same problem. When I get to talking about my 33 years at KMPS (remember it?), I would mention the eight or ten owners I worked for, depending on how you counted the last one, or three. CBS had bought it, then Viacom bought CBS. Then it spun off CBS. Now, work is under way for…ready?…CBS to buy Viacom. Apparently the two just can’t get enough of each other. The main indecision-maker may be Shari Redstone, president of the holding company that actually owns them both. She wants them back together. Money isn’t the big issue this time…it’s who would run the show, Les Moonves (CBS), or Bob Bakish(Viacom). Dueling pistols at dawn? Nah. Too early.
Silver Circle. The local chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) has announced the 2018 class inductees into its Silver Circle, recognizing individuals for career contributions to the television industry. The inductees include:
• Dennis Bounds, retired news anchor, KING-TV.
• John Sharify, special projects reporter, KING-TV and general manager, SCCtv.
• DJ Wilson, president and general manager, KGW-TV, Portland.
• Laural Porter, news anchor, KGW-TV, Portland.
• Doug Armstrong, president & general manager, KTVB-TV, Boise.
• Eric Sowl, chief photographer, KTUU-TV, Anchorage.
The inductees will be honored at the Silver Circle Reception on Friday, June 8 and formally inducted at the 55th Annual Northwest Regional Emmy Awards ceremony on Saturday, June 9. Both events take place at Fremont Studios.
And nominations are in for the Northwest Regional Emmy Awards, in darned near 80 categories. I will list them for you now. Ha ha…gotcha. They’re all on the NATASNWwebsite. Among news anchors, Jake Whittenberg of KING, Molly Shen of KOMO and Steve Bunin of KING. KCPQ sports anchors Aaron Levine and Michelle Ludtka along with weather anchors Morgan Palmer of KIRO and Jordan Steele of KING could take home trophies.
Picture this. In my 55-year career, I’ve never worked with a group of news photographers like the ones now working at KING. (Okay, except for a few months side-trip to TVland a long time ago, it’s been all radio.) The Northwest Press Photographers Association has handed awards to photojournalists Tom Tedford Joseph Huerta, Andy Wallace, Ryan Coe, Eric Wold, Kevin Glantz, Ty Ngueyen, Matt Mrozinski, Ted Land and Steve Douglas. Four of the awards were First Place. Mrozinski, the boss of them all, says they “put their heart and soul into telling visual stories in our communities.” Sorry I don’t have pictures of them. Camera shy?
Heartless. The nation’s largest broadcaster, iHeart Media, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It has to be a little tough to go to work at KJR, KZOK, KISS, Power 93.3, The Jet, and the former KFNQ, knowing your company is $20 billion in debt, and is working to get that down to a mere $10 billion. You were hoping for a raise? This whole deal has been cooking for a year or so, and the company says it will continue normal operations during this interesting time. Quoting one analyst, Lance Vitanza,”regardless of details, iHeart will be substantially more valuable when it emerges from bankruptcy.” Please don’t bring up the “too big to fail” line.
Shut your mouth. Apparently you can talk too much on a talk show. That’s what Ralph Bristol says got him fired from his radio station in Nashville. His revenge: he’s running for mayor.
Out of business. You’ll have to rehab out of your business news fix for a while. Salem’s KKOL 1300 AM has gone silent while the FCC ponders its request. The company wants to relocate its transmitter farther north and up the power to 50,000 watt daytime, less at night. If all goes well, it should be broadcasting again in June or July. (Props to Salem for resurrecting the very old KOL…one K…call letters at 1300, the station that became KMPS.) Update: presuming Salem got down on one knee with the proposal, the good news is the FCC has said “yes.” Cue the jewelry store ads.
Kraig country. Hubbard Radio continues to fill out its Nu Country station, KNUC 98.9, adding Michael Kraig Mason, left, to handle evenings on air. The Northwest native started in Portland, did afternoons at 104.9 The Monkey here for five years, and has been a production minion for Delilah’s syndicated show. Hopefully the format will allow him to play Michael Martin Murphy, Earl Thomas Conley, David Allen Coe, and other triple-name-threats. Also, the former morning team at the former KMPS, Johnson and Johnson, is on the move again, leaving KUBL in Salt Lake City after what’s becoming the usual three years there. And Seth Hughes will continue living his dream, which was to “play country music on the radio in Seattle.” He’s been added to KNUC as midday host. Not new in town, he helped launch KKWF in 2006, the moved over to KMP something-or-other, the one-time country leader in town. The station has gone through that highly-important re-branding process, now calling itself “The Bull.” Yes, that’s the entire word.
Yakking it up. Stephens Media has bought 14 stations in the Tri-Cities and Yakima from Ingstad Radio. That gives Stephens 41 stations in eight markets.
HOFer. The Country Radio Hall of Fame will induct new members June 20th in Nashville. They will include Seattle consultant Mike O’Malley of A&O&B. He’s my least favorite of the three—but that’s simply because I haven’t actually met him. I have worked for both A and B when they were PDs at KMPS. And I know they’ve got good taste in co-workers. (Ow! Sprained by arm with that self-back-pat.) Three on-air teams also will be honored, including Steve Harmon and Scott Evans of KKNU, Eugene.
Take a spin. One of the smallest surprises around is one answer to Sinclair’s plans for the Tribune television stations it’s buying. That includes KCPQ-13 and KZJO Joe TV 22 here. Sinclair already owns KOMO and KUNS. Now the company is out with its “spin” list—the stations it plans to spin off to whoever would like to buy them, and 13 and 22 are on the list. Also included is WGN-TV, Chicago, and the only radio station in the deal, WGN-AM. It went on the air in 1922 and became WGN radio in 1924, owned by the Chicago Tribune, the self-proclaimed World’s Greatest Newspaper.
What a babe. One of Seattle’s most delightful radio and TV personalities, Kaci Aitchison, is leaving her reporting job at KCPQ-13, for the best of reasons. She led her viewers through her difficulties with getting pregnant, and there was much rejoicing when daughter, Scarlett. finally made her entrance. That’s the reason. Kaci wants to be momma full-time, and is leaving TV “for now.” She’ll keep one hand on the diaper pail and other on a microphone, doing occasional special reports. Following the Sinclair takeover of Tribune and KCPQ, we’ll see which hand wins, if there’s a difference.
Oldies a-plenty. Sub Pop Records began as a record label in Seattle 30 years ago. To celebrate, KEXP-FM is playing stuff from every one of its 1,200 releases. In chronological order, no less. Yes, that’ll take a while. They figure about 4-1/2 months. Writing about it in the Seattle Times, Michael Rietmulder refers to KEXP as “arguably (Seattle’s) most famous radio station.” Arguable, indeed, but an interesting idea anyway. What’s more, they are trying to play the tunes in their original format, be it cassette, record or whatever. Not far enough back to be wire recordings. Just as well.
Winding down. We should note the passing of Trevor Baylis in London at age 80. He said, “If you can solve a problem, you’re on your way to being an inventor.” In 1991, he spotted a problem with people in Africa not getting good information on HIV because of a lack of batteries for their radios. Following that “eureka” moment, he invented the wind-up radio, solving the problem. Do not…do not…do not!..call him a cranky old man.
Rainy mornings. One way to become a Seattle radio star: work in Georgia. (Note the new KNUC morning team elsewhere in this column.) Emily Raines has joined The Morning Wolfpack with Matt McAllister on KKWF-FM. The only other place she’s worked is at WUBL, Atlanta, starting off as an intern and becoming morning show producer. On the air there, they called her “Freckles.”
Men talking. KEGY-FM, San Diego, now calls itself “The Machine,” with a format of “talk that rocks.” They promise comedy, sports, Padres baseball and much else. Afternoons will sound a bit like Seattle, airing KISW’s syndicated The Men’s Room, to help the SoCal guys remember their seventh-grade locker room humor.
One and Dunn. KNUC, the new country station in town, keeps staffing up, pulling help in from, sometimes, way down the hall. Tori Dunn takes on marketing and promotion duties. She had the same title at Hubbard-mate KRWM Warm 106.9 She’s also worked at KQMV. (So far, she’s avoided the AM stations in the cluster.) Other stops on her way to Factoria include The Wolf and The Mountain.
Locked and loaded. The National Rifle Association and F.C.C. Chairman Ajit Pai have one thing in common. They get a lot of love, and a lot of hate. Pai has taken heat for overturning net neutrality, despite opposition from just about everybody. Just about. The NRA has now awarded him their “Courage Under Fire” award for standing up to pressure. The award is handed out pretty much whenever the group feels so moved. And…prepare to be shocked…they also awarded him a gun. His very own hand-made long gun. Pirate broadcasters might want to keep that in mind. [Update: Thanks but no thanks. Pai has turned down the rifle from the NRA, citing some ethics rule about obtaining gifts. He remains surprised and appreciative.]
In Union. After 65 years without, the staff at KUOW-FM has voted to unionize under SAG-AFTRA, joining a growing number of public radio stations signing up, including its chief competitor, KNKX. About 60 of the 100 employees will be in the bargaining unit. The union represents about 160,000 people nationwide. A main reason for the push…paying staff members enough so they can afford to live in the city they cover. Wow! That much?
The bouncing ball. There’s a dial switch for your soccer kick. The Seattle Sounders radio broadcasts, long on KIRO-FM, have moved to KJR-AM under a new multi-year contract.Matt Johnson will continue the play-by-play. Notable quotes: Bart Wiley of the Sounders: “we’re incredibly excited.” Robert Dove of I-Heart Media: “we couldn’t be more excited.” Average fan: “a lot of running for not much scoring.”
That’s the spirit. KCMS-FM Spirit 105.3 has a new program director. Ty McFarland comes up from KSBJ, a Christian music station in Houston.
Say what? There’s a danger in sports-talk radio. Not the sports…the talk. The Red Sox flagship station, WEEI, suspended two of its talk hosts in a two-week period for major brain-to-mouth disconnects. That led to some sponsors cancelling, and the Red Sox complaining. It got so bad, the station decided to drop all local programming for 12 hours one day for “mandatory sensitivity training.” Imagine the fun in that. And, KNBR, San Francisco, fired Patrick Connor for comments he made, not on his own show, but on another show on Sirius, where you can get away with a lot more. But apparently not that much more.
On their mind. The morning team of Tim Leary, Claire Beverly and Karen (Red) Daiss is leaving WUBB BOB 106.9, Savannah, Georgia, for the great Northwest, as the new morning show team on Hubbard’s new country station, KNUC 98.9 FM. Tim bothered to say in the news release that he promises not to break any more of his wife’s grandma’s china when unpacking. Perhaps the significance of that will become clear some day. The station’s been advertising to hire air staff, so here’s your chance.
New news boss. Former KCBS-TV News Veep Bill Dallman is the new News Director at Sinclair’s KOMO-TV. His impressive background past includes working in Denver and Minneapolis. His future…perhaps a bit unclear as Sinclair and Tribune talk about who may end up with what.
From afar. The news director at Sports radio WQAM, Miami, Ryan Maguire, moved about as far away as he could to become the new director of news and programming at KIRO-FM. Those two jobs together means he gets the blame for just about anything that goes wrong on the air. His road here included stops in Pittsburg, Kansas City and Milwaukee.
Randomizing. KOMO’s Spanish language sister, KUNS-TV, has added the TBD network to its programming on channel 51.2 The news release says this will combine the best of both worlds, without actually identifying which two worlds it means. It promises “entertaining stuff from the most creative creators.” “Culinary capers, jaw-dropping action, hilarious pranks, fitness, gaming, or just random awesomeness that you never know you needed.” Obviously not from the “under promise-over perform” school.
Unbelievable. It’s a big deal among news people that they be believed. With those in high places asking the listener to “believe me” and calling lots of what they hear “fake news,” it’s getting tougher. Time magazine is out with a new Pew Research survey that won’t help. It asks people in several countries if its news media are doing Very Well or Somewhat Well in reporting accuracy. In this country, it was only 56%. On behalf of hard-working broadcast and print reporters, I say YIKES! Yes, it’s terrible. No less so because it’s a scary 22% in Greece. To be believed, head for Tanzania, where it‘s 97%. Whether that’s enough to get you to move there is up to you.
Warming up. If there’s such a thing as a circuit-riding marketing director, it may be Gus Swanson. Hubbard named him marketing/promotions director for WARM 106.9. He was at CBS Radio Seattle as marketing and events producer and spent 17 years pushing the wonders of I-Heart Seattle.
Good ol’ school days. WJPZ-FM, the student-operated station at Syracuse University, holds an annual birthday banquet. Up to 33 now. This year’s keynoter: KQMV’s own Jubal Flagg. I’m not aware of any similar banquet for those of us who are KUOW alumni. (I suppose that could be on purpose… they just haven’t told me.)
To market. Jay Yovanovich is the new director of marketing at KING- and KONG-TV. He comes from a similar job in Raleigh, NC. He’s also worked in Pittsburgh and Charleston. He’s s got a pile of awards in his office, including four Gold Promax honors. (Yeah, I know, sounds like something you’d see advertised in the back pages of a men’s magazine—but it’s not… as far as I know.)
The Ol’ Ball Game. There are a lot of jobs involved in getting a Mariners’ broadcast on the air, and Gary Hill, Jr., has done most of them. The part-timer has filled in on play-by-play, pre- and post-game shows, podcasts and maybe going for coffee now and then. He’ll cut back to full-time now, replacing the retired Kevin Cremin as executive producer/engineer for the broadcasts. He’s been with the team for seven years and is a graduate of WSU with degrees and communications and psychology. (An interesting combo, as the first often feeds the second.)
Sports twin bill. Fans of sports radio… we know there are some and they’re usually vocal… take heart. I-Heart media is saving that formerly wasted 1090 AM frequency that was CBS’ KFNQ (The Fink?). It was at the bottom of the ratings heap when it got picked up in all the switching in the Entercom-CBS deal. Now, I-Heart’s KJR 950 “will extend the brand” by launching 1090 KJR. It doesn’t appear to be much of a programming change… nationally syndicated sports talk… but will run as a complement to the local sports at 950. I don’t know yet if they’re planning a call-letter change, since they can’t both be KJR officially. I-Heart’s Seattle programming boss, Rich Moore, is keeping busy, also rebranding KHHO 850 in Tacoma as “South Sound Talk 850.” It’s wildly varying schedule will include NBC Sports Radio, Glenn Beck, Art Bell, Bill Cunningham and even, for three hours Sunday morning, a host listed as Jesus Christ. With all of this, says Moore, “the KJR Brand in Seattle just got even bigger.” We await any changes in ratings.
Leaving the Country. There was a time several years ago when some thought it unlikely that a Country music station would make it big in the Seattle market. KMPS disproved that. But, its demise and the struggles of its most worthy competitor, KKWF, suggest we can think that again. Among the latest Radio Awards nominees for the Academy of Country Music show on April 14 in Las Vegas, there are no nominees from Seattle or anywhere in Washington state. The only two small-market nominations from the Northwest are from stations in Medford and Idaho Falls. You can watch the awards on CBS, with a sigh. Meanwhile, Hubbard’s KVRQ 98.9 FM, which switched to Country to fill the KMPS gap, has changed its call letters to KNUC, as in Nu Country, I suppose.
They’re back. A generation or so ago, there were some fairly decent programs on TV. Some of them look even better now, which says a lot about today’s newer stuff. I mentioned a short return of Murphy Brown (see Brown is back below) later this year. Now, I’m reading of reboots of Magnum PI and Cagney and Lacey is in the works. Will and Grace already is back. Ditto X-Files, Roseanne and Twin Peaks. Currently around long enough that we may have forgotten they’re oldies: MacGyver and Hawaii Five-0. No doubt there are others I haven’t noticed. Of course, I have noticed the change in clothing and hair styles (except for Tom Selleck’s mustache). Makes you wonder which of today’s new shows will be brought back to life in the 2045 season, because they’re better than whatever’s new then.
Say what? In this day when anybody who’s ever been on the air is rethinking every verbal or physical contact with co-workers, and always remembering to avoid using certain words (even if the President doesn’t), we also have to remind ourselves to never pick on the kids!Alex Reimer of WEEI Boston has been reminded. He referred to Tom Brady’s five-year-old daughter, Vivian, as an “annoying little pissant.” Brady is now evaluating any further interviews, and they won’t be with Reimer, who’s been suspended.
Out of tune. The death of former Gov. John Spellman at age 91 reminded me of the days when reporters and politicians seemed to get along better. He was the kind who could deal with all that nasty government work and still be nice to be around. One of his big sources of pride was shepherding the Kingdome into reality. On that building’s first anniversary, the KMPS morning show decided to sing happy birthday to it and thought it would be good to have Spellman, then the King County exec, sing with us.
I called and asked and he said, “Sure,” and lent his lovely Irish-tenor voice to the effort. Four years later, he had ridden that success to the Governor’s office, and we thought it would be nice for him to join Phil, Don (me, for those too young to remember) and Patti again to sing happy fifth birthday. I called the press office in Olympia and got a response a little too quickly, saying sorry, he couldn’t join us. Not only that, but I was told he denied ever having done so in the past. Yes, I wish I had kept the tape.
To this day, I’ll continue to think that the request never got to him, stopped by some low-level PIO flunky too embarrassed to ask him to do something so beneath the dignity of the office. Either that, or he remembered that we were lousy singers.
Whoa, Nellie! When you heard those words you knew you were listening to Keith Jackson call Monday Night Football, a college game or “the grandaddy of them all,” the Rose Bowl. The legendary TV sportscaster has died. The WSU grad has been honored by that school (it didn’t hurt that he gave them a million bucks) and is remembered for his many years at KOMO-TV before going to ABC to go just about as high as you can in this business. He was the kind of guy who made you feel better just by saying you knew him. A career that began in 1952 ended with his retirement in 2006. He famously said he didn’t want to die in a stadium parking lot. He died at his California home, at 89.
Delighted. Most folks in the country have to stay up later at night to hear Seattle-based nationally syndicated Hall-of-Famer Delilah, who’s been soothing hearts of listeners for more than 30 years, but not here lately. She’s been added to the airwaves at the new KSWD The Sound at 94.1. (Still hurts to say that number without saying KMPS.) Her show airs middays, 10-3. The most-listened-to woman on radio is heard on about 150 stations. We’ll see how she does in the daylight.
Who gets the $$$. When KPLU-FM flunked out of Pacific Lutheran University and became KNKX, there was more than $120,000 in donations up for grabs. The school said the money was given to it—the one that saved the station—but Friends of 88.5 FM, said it belongs to them. A King County court commissioner has sided with the station, saying those bequests were, indeed, means for the station, not the school. PLU says it will “follow the ruling” of the court. The word “happy” wasn’t in their statement.
Short move. Seattle’s newest country station, Hubbard’s KVRQ 98.9 FM, has its first program director, from just down the hall in Factoria. Lisa Adams has been marketing director at KWRM. She certainly knows the way to the parking garage. She helped start MOVIN 92.5 before Sandusky sold it to Hubbard. In full marketing-bluster mode, she says Country 98.9 is “an extremely special radio station for Seattle.” It’s filling the substantial hole left by the demise of KMPS, a more than so-so Country station in its day.
Brown is back. One of the happiest pieces of news I’ve head from CBS is announcing the return of Murphy Brown. The highly realistic TV workplace comedy (aren’t they all?) set at a news magazine show is set for 13 episodes for the ’18-’19 season, with Candice Bergen returning as the star.
Goin’ to Chicago. The last program director at KMPS, Kenny Jay, is staying with the company. Entercom changed format and call letters to Adult Contemporary KSWD, The Sound. (So they don’t spell so good.) Jay stayed on as PD for a few minutes, but that wasn’t destined to last. They moved him into the PD slot at WUSN Chicago, one of the most respected Country stations (still) around.
Imus Quits. One of the most successful talk-show hosts in the country, Don Imus, is pulling the plug on his WABC syndicated show at the end of March. It has to do with owner Cumulus’ bankruptcy filing. They told him they’d stop paying him at the end of his contract. Highly skilled pro that he is, he knows that being professional includes being paid. He’s 77… could go looking for a job, or could join others of us in the sun in Arizona or Florida. Not a bad choice. The Imus program was on the air on KRKO Everett for awhile, but didn’t make much of a ripple in the market.
Gone at nine. Enrique Cerna is calling it a career after 42 years on the air, the last 23 at KCTS-9. He was a host, producer, had the title of Director of Community Partnerships—and may well have swept the floors, when necessary. The Wapato native began working at KOMO Radio (he was Henry Cerna back then), and passed through KING-TV on his way to the Community Television Service.
Morning Man. Entercom has named John Fisher as the first morning man for its new KSWD, The Sound, at 94.1 FM (yes, the former KMPS home.) No stranger to getting up early, he’s been waking up listeners to KMTT The Mountain for 20 years, and more recently at KRWM. His new boss calls him morning-show royalty in Seattle.” [To those of you who say, I must have abdicated, thank you. Anybody?]
Quest-ionable. Tegna is bankrolling a new network for all its stations, including KING-TV (sub-channel 5.3) as of Jan. 29. The Quest Network promises to entertain and inform with “exhilarating programming about nature’s greatest dangers, history’s greatest mysteries and man’s greatest achievements.”—shows like Swamp Loggers, Life After People and others. It will show “how the world really works,” as part of company effort to “reach new and underserved audiences.” [Presumably, that includes all of us who want and need to know more about logging in swamps.]
Slip ‘n’ slide. Retired race-car driver and new NBC sports commentator Dale Earnhardt, Jr., should have listened to himself when he warned people to stay off the icy roadways in North Carolina during the recent freeze. Shortly after using his truck to pull a car out of the ditch, Dale—as he put it—“center-punched a pine tree.” No injury and minimal damage to the truck and the tree—but a major hurt to his ego.
NW to NE.John Summers is the new brand manager and news director at WHCU-TV in Ithaca, New York. He was news director for the Northwest News Radio Network and the Washington Ag Network.
Just a sec. The more we watch what’s happening, the more we realize a staple of the broadcasting industry should be more widespread. There have been times, or will be times, when we’re about to speak or type, that we all could use a seven-second delay.
Graf
Moving On. Reporter Heather Graf has left KING-TV after five years, moving on to WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C.
Bunker
Out the door.Peggy Bunker, who anchored the news at KOMO-TV from 2011 to 2013 before heading south, is out at KNTV/San Jose. She’d been anchoring weekends and reporting during the week, but wanted to cut back to weekends only. No deal, said the station… all or nothing. So, nothing it is. (My thoughts also are with the parents, who are long-time friends of mine. Although it’s unlikely she’ll be moving back in with them.)
The passing of four legends:
French
• Jim French, best known for producing Imagination Theater, an old-timey-type broadcast, as well as his work at at KIRO, KVI and others. Last January, he said he’d be ending production of the show at the end of the year, citing age and health issues. He was 89.
• Long-time broadcast exec Ken Hatch moved from KSL Salt Lake City to Seattle when Bonneville Broadcasting bought KIRO AM-FM in the mid-’60s. He went on to become a consultant, ended up on the boards of many companies and nonprofits, including the Tateuchi Center in Bellevue. He was 82.
Ray
• George Ray, for many years the face of fundraising on pledge breaks at KCTS9, who retired from the station about five years ago. Before working there, he was sports director at KOMO- TV in the ’60s. Ray was 85.
King
• Because of the nature of their work, sportscasters tend to be thought of as nice guys. Anybody’s list will have Bruce King at the top. He was with KOMO-TV from 1968 to 1999, with a year out at WABC, New York, and once said “life is too short not to smile.” He overcame childhood polio, but the four-time State Sportscaster of the Year died of prostate cancer at his Snoqualmie Ridge home. He was 83.
Also, Los Angeles radio personality Cliff Winston has died from a heart attack. The UW grad began his career at KYAC in Seattle before moving on to successful years at several stations in the LA market. He was 65.
Lee
Switcheroo. Glad I don’t work there any more….sad to see the change. When KMPS flipped to Christmas programming, the guessing was that a format change would happen with the sale of CBS to Entercom. Even though mid-day jock DeAnna Lee pooh-pooed the idea (without actually using those words), promising the station “would always be country,” we now know how much management had confided in her. Christmas music stopped well before Christmas, and the new adult-contemporary format began, ending more than 42 years as one of the more important stations in the Country format anywhere. Entercom’s now-lone country station, KKWF, The Wolf still will have competition. Hubbard has seen a gap to fill, and has switched its AC station, KVRQ, to “Country 98.9.” Could mean more work for my favorite consultant, former KMPS program director Becky Brenner, and her team. The above-mentioned Deanna Lee was the only KMPS staffer to make the move to KKWF, sending Wolf mid-dayer Ellen Tailor out the door, after six years there.
Those mourning the loss of the KMPS Country format have something else to mourn now—the call letters. Entercom has changed them to KSWD, to go—sort of—with the new promotional tag—“The Sound.” They’ll move the KMPS call letters to the even more historic KRAK/ Sacramento. When Manning Slater bought KOL and changed it to KMPS in 1975, he basically copied the format from his highly successful Country station, KRAK, which now carryies CBS Sports Radio.
Who goes there. In other staff changes:
• From Elliott Bay to Chesapeake Bay. That’s Mike Preston’s view of his journey. The former PD at KKWF is now programming I-Heart’s stations in Baltimore.
• Former KIRO-TV reporter Henry Rosoff hardly let his chair get warm at KYW-TV, Philadelphia. After five months there, he moved to even bigger time at WPIX-TV in New York City.
• Romeo Solomon is back at KIRO, this time as national sales manager. The UW grad has worked for owner Cox Media since 1998, leaving the station in 2004 to pass through several other company properties.
• KOMO-TV news director Pat Costello is calling it a career. He’s been there about three years, but is no stranger in town. He was VP and station manager at KING-KONG and Northwest Cable News. He returned to Seattle after three years in Phoenix.
News danger. As deadly and horrible as it was, the Amtrak derailment in DuPont gave broadcast newsrooms the chance to show what they do best, giving you the information you want or need on the truly big stories in real time. There is a danger for reporters when, a few hours into a story like this, not much new is happening and there’s still all that time to fill, so they begin to speculate. They need to remember that’s not their job. All in all, though, a credible job all around.
Trophy case addition. KBCS 91.3, Bellevue College’s radio station, finished third in the Katherine Schneider Journalism Award competition with a story about a wheelchair user trying to navigate public transportation in Seattle. (Third, yeah, but behind the Chicago Tribune and the Houston Chronicle—good company to be in.) Props to those involved, Yuko Kodama, Sonya Green and Mona Yeh. The award is limited to stories on people with disabilities. And, more importantly, it caught the attention of Metro Transit, which will work toward improving its system. The station began at the school in 1973, and I was pleased to be an early media adviser.
Random Radio. KWLE/Anacortes, has changed format, going from Adult Contemporary to an unnamed conglomeration of Country, Blues, Rock, and whatever else may sneak in. Let’s call it Random Radio. Maybe not a bad idea. But, apparently no disc jockeys to explain, entertain or get paid. Hear the same stuff on sister station KRPA/ Oak Harbor.
Trapp
Crashing the market. Jim Trapp, former PD at KJAQ in Seattle, is now running Townsquare Media’s six stations in Yakima. He didn’t get off to a good start, though, after he totaled his car in a crash on the way to his first day on the job.
The Weigel wiggle. Michael Dell’s Osa Broadcasting has sold KVOS-TV in Bellingham and KFFV-TV in Seattle to Weigel Broadcasting, a Chicago outfit with TV, digital and other sneaky ways into homes in 175 markets. The Seattle station used to be KPST, and before that, KHCV. And I’ll bet you didn’t even notice.
Other ownership changes include Amador Bustos adding to his string of Spanish-language stations in the northwest, buying KMCQ-FM/ Oak Harbor, from Everett-Snohomish Broadcasting.
Radio Pacific, owner of stations in Port Angeles, has added KZQM-FM/ Sequim, to its family.
The Ballard-Fremont-Greenwood mega-neighborhood now has its own low-power FM station, KBFG, at 107.3. Fulcrum Community Communications is the owner.
Foreign to us. It was noted here a while back that Australians Richard and Sharon Burns took total ownership of Frontier Media, with 29 signals in Alaska and Texas. They were the first non-U.S. citizens to be allowed to be sole owners of broadcast properties in this country, as the F.C.C. decided to open that door a bit. They were the first, but we knew they wouldn’t be only. Now, Mexican citizens Juan Carlos Rodriguez and Francisco Gonzalez are asking the FCC to okay buying stations in Phoenix and Bakersfield, and the feds seems to be leaning in favor. The door could be opening a bit wider, regardless of a potential wall.
More nits. Anchors and reporters new to town, don’t be afraid to ask your co-workers how to pronounce difficult local names, like Hylebos (high’luh-bo) or Puyallup (pew-al-up). There’s no embarrassment in asking. However, there is embarrassment when you blow it.
It’s also easy to spot the reporters who have never worked or lived in Arizona (like my wife and I do several months of the year). Rookies there pronounce the city of Prescott to rhyme with apricot. But the locals in AZ pronounce it Presskit. Nobody seems to know why, but this doesn’t speak highly of public education there.
Coming of Age. Consider our feelings, newscasters. When I hear or read of an “elderly” victim of a crime or accident, someone 68 to 72 or whatever, I wince a bit. I’d rather hear just the age number. As one justifiably lumped into that category, I don’t need to hear that “e” word to be reminded. I have aches and pains for that. Dadburned whippersnappers! (And yes, get off my lawn!!)
KOMO Conflict. You gotta feel for the folks at KOMO-TV 4, caught in the crossfire between following their own news sensibilities and orders from new parent and Fox News wannabe, Sinclair Broadcast Group.
That dilemma was never more evident than during the Friday, Jan. 4 news cycle. It began with Sinclair’s chief political analyst and former Trump campaign operative Boris Epshteyn blasting Michael Wolff’s new book, Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, as “full of inaccuracies and useless score-settling” on the 11am news.
That was followed on the 5 o’clock newscast by a piece on how hot sales of the book are nationally, and a local poll showing that the majority of respondents believe the information in the book. At 11 o’clock, there was a report that the book is on back-order at local outlets, due to its popularity.
In an op-ed piece in the Jan. 5 Puget Sound Business Journal, King County communications director Alex Fryer noted that Sinclair is “best known for its hard-right political agenda, running on-air and online commentaries that invariably blast Democrats, praise President Donald Trump and take a hard line against immigration.”
He continued: “These commentaries are foisted on local TV stations across the nation as ‘must runs.’ KOMO gained national attention in a New York Times story that noted the station ran such ‘must runs’ at 4am. (Ed. Note: Until Jan.4). Fryer added that KOMO news director Pat Costello, who some credit with shielding the newsroom and creating an atmosphere where enterprise reporting can thrive, will retire early this year. “His replacement will have a big impact on the local news landscape,” Fryer said.
The piece also reported that his boss, County exec Dow Constantine, has written the FCC in opposition to Sinclair’s acquisition last May of Tribune Media, which would add more than 40 TV stations to the Sinclair stable, including Q-13 here in Seattle. The FCC recently eliminated regulations dating back to the ’70s aimed at ensuring a diversity of broadcast and print opinions by limiting the number of media holdings a company may have in one market. Stay tuned, for sure…
Pub. Note: The Dog Days of Summer—when breaking news is at a premium—is the perfect time to conduct a Quiz on the homeless/lawless crisis that is besetting Seattle—and lots of other cities. We’re sure you’re tired of the subject by now—after all of our talk about Action Central and other approaches—but thanks for your understanding…
You’re also encouraged to leave Comments in the box provided below. Thanks for your participation!
Pub. Note: We get lots of interesting marcomm-related emails worth posting. Here are three to introduce this new feature.
A brand new study—which hasn’t been reported anywhere yet—explores marketing successes, failures and the characters who matter most to different generations. Here are some of the findings:
Most Memorable: Starbucks’ green, two-tailed mermaid is America’s most recognizable product mascot with 95.6% of consumers identifying her correctly.
Endangered: The Keebler elves aren’t aging well. There’s a huge “recognition gap”
between older and younger Americans, with only 37.5% of Gen Z able to identify them vs. 95.2% of Baby Boomers.
Most Hated: Mr. Mucus from Mucinex gets no love from American consumers.
Flo vs. the Gecko: In a popularity contest, which insurance mascot comes out on top? The gecko, with a likeability score of 7.80 on a scale of 1-10. Flo’s score was only 6.98.
Who’s sexier: Mr. Clean or the Brawny man? We’ll give you a hint; plaid is making a comeback.
Mistaken Identity: Columbia Pictures’ “lady with a torch” mascot is among America’s most-often-mistaken mascots. More consumers linked her with rival movie studios than her own (35.8% named competitors vs. 32.4% who named Columbia Pictures).
A recent survey by Robert Half asked local workers what their plans are when it comes to leaving their job, what would make them stay, and asked hiring managers their top concerns and what they’re doing about it. Some key findings:
46% of Seattle workers said they plan to look for a new job in the next 12 months.
In addition, 78% of Seattle employers said they’re concerned with their company’s ability to retain valued employees.
What would keep local workers from jumping ship? More money (41%), followed by more time off (22%).
Read the full report in the link above.
This is a good place to share the recent 123rd Anniversary Message from Seattle Times publisher (and MARKETING IMMORTAL) Frank Blethen, in case you missed it. Kudos to Frank for a remarkable and sustained job of getting local corporations to sponsor various initiatives—apart from traditional advertising—(i.e., “community funding of public-service journalism”) in order to sustain the newspaper. Traffic Lab and the Homeless Project are but two examples.
“The secret of a truly free press is that it should consist of many newspapers decentralized in their ownership and their management, and dependent for their support upon the communities where they are written, where they are edited and where they are read.” —Walter Lippmann
America’s Free Press System is on Life SupportOur country’s once-robust free press system is on life support. Its unnecessary demise has put our democracy at risk.
Five decades of unfettered Wall Street and hedge-fund consolidation have wiped out the critically important “localism” that is the foundation of a strong, free press system and participatory democracy. Fewer than a dozen top-50 metro newspapers remain private and with local stewardship.
Absentee investors have dangerously slashed the number of journalists and the amount and quality of content. From 2008 to 2018, newsroom employment dropped 24%, from 114,000 to 86,000. Across America, 1,800 newspapers have simply disappeared since 2004, leaving what are referred to as news deserts.
Broadcast consolidation has been just as dangerous. Thanks to corporate and hedge-fund lobbying, the FCC, which once ensured that broadcast licenses were based on public service, has been turned into the handmaiden of the financial mercenaries. The publicservice mandate no longer exists, and limits on ownership and cross-ownership rules have been eliminated.
A recent study shows that when local papers are diminished, voting goes down, the cost of government goes up, corruption increases and civic engagement decreases. Robust daily newspapers and their digital products remain the principal source of real, professionally vetted news essential for healthy communities and a functional self-government.
The Seattle Times’ Stewardship Model – 123 Years and Counting
Seattle and the Puget Sound area are an exception. The Seattle Times is a strong regional newspaper, both print and digital. We have become a national model for public-service journalism and innovation. We are the country’s oldest regional metro newspaper under continuous local stewardship. Through the years, our family has turned down lucrative buyout offers and fought off hostile suitors – all to sustain journalism, public service and private, local family stewardship. In doing so, we have emerged from the Great Recession as a new, sustainable model for the future.
The quality and volume of our journalism make us a national leader. Our audience in the Puget Sound region (1.9 million) is a record. We have a robust print audience and a fast-growing digital audience, including 43,000 digital subscriptions growing at an annual rate of 29.4%. Advertising revenue is flat (-.04%), which is far better than the industry average. We are gratified with 10.5% year-over-year growth of our “digital advertising agency” and broad array of new digital advertising and branding options.
Community Support Is EssentialThe old saying “You get what you pay for” couldn’t be more true for civically engaged citizens of the Puget Sound region. Robust print- and digital-subscription support combined with our unique national innovation – community funding of public-service journalism – has enabled us, with your help, to produce the best regional journalism in the country.
Community journalism investments now include The Greater Good Campaign to stop the defunding of higher education (2011); Education Lab (2013); Traffic Lab (2017); and Project Homeless (2018). These journalism projects have garnered large audiences and empowered significant change and improvements in public policy.
We are in the early phase of developing the Investigative Journalism Fund. This will be the most ambitious project yet with an expected launch this fall.
The Blethen family is all in but would be unable to produce this level of journalism without the community support.
The Future of our Free Press System
The Washington Post and New York Times are excellent newspapers, but they are national and can’t provide the critical local connection and civic engagement that are essential across America. Local journalism creates vibrant communities essential to support our democracy.
If we are to preserve our democracy and emerge from these divisive times, we must urgently address media consolidation and re-establish localism for all media – most importantly, print and digital newspapers.
We need a movement to protect the free press in our country and bring attention to:
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The critical importance of independence and localism
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Educating the nation on the creation of our free press, an understanding necessary to begin to identify and embrace reform
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Understanding necessary to begin to identify and embrace reform
Our vision for such a moment begins here. Why not start with the Puget Sound region, home of innovation and creativity? Our pioneering community finds solutions to problems. Hold a national conference to start the process, then create a Free Press Center in Seattle, an independent, democracy-focused center charged with:
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Educating the populace on the creation of our free press
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Identifying the root causes of the free press system’s decline
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Developing public policy solutions and creating a path to recovery
Blethen Family StatementFor 123 years, The Seattle Times and Blethen family have had a very beneficial symbiotic relationship with Greater Seattle and Washington state – a relationship more important today than ever. As we celebrate our 123rd anniversary and transition to a fifth generation of family stewards, we want to assure you that, with your support, we will stay the course and ensure that you continue to have an exceptional level of journalism and public service.
With deep appreciation, thank you for more than 12 decades of support.
Frank Blethen
PublisherWe want to hear from you
What Public Service project would you like to see? Have suggestions for our existing labs? Interested in funding Public Service journalism? How can we better serve your news, information and advertising needs?Email PublisherFeedback@seattletimes.com with your comments and suggestions.
The First American Revolution in Communications “… Innovations that made up the first American revolution in information and communications: The United States established free speech as a constitutional principle, and the Constitution itself was written and published so that ordinary citizens could read it. Instead of taxing newspapers, the government subsidized them. It created a comprehensive postal network and assured postal privacy. It introduced a periodic census, published the aggregate results, and assured individuals’ anonymity. Primarily through local efforts, it extended primary schooling earlier to more of its population, including women.” — Paul Starr, “The Creation of the Media: Political Origins of Modern Communications”
There was one surprise in the responses to the five important questions about the homeless/lawless crisis besetting Seattle—and lots of other cities. Plus—there’s news about a new Seattle/King County homeless authority. But first, the quiz results:
• Who should take the lead in addressing the homeless/lawless crisis? King County (40%); Seattle/Other individual cities (30%); Washington State (25%); and The federal government (5%).
• What do you consider the No 1 cause of the homeless/lawless crisis? Drug addiction was the runaway leader at 60%, followed by Mental illness (20%); Inadequate funding (15%); and Housing (5%).
• What is the best way to monitor the homeless/lawless crisis? A central monitoring facility (50%); Mandatory registration for homeless/lawless individuals (30%); and The current navigation-team approach and Voluntary registration (10% each).
Pub. Note: It’s encouraging to see that the Action Central concept we’ve been promoting as a logical first step is resonating with those paying attention to the problem.
• What do you consider the main reason the homeless/crisis persists unabated? Lack of a coordinated approach (45%); Restraints on police conduct (25%); Liberal approach to the problem and Leniency of the courts (15% each).
And the surprise, because of the high degree of optimism at a time of general pessimism over lack of progress in addressing the crisis…
•What do you think is the best possible outcome over the next 10 years? Sizable strides in abating the problem (60%); Elimination of the problem (35%); Continuation of the status quo (5%); and Some cosmetic reductions (0%).
Meanwhile, The Seattle Times Project Homeless team wrote this article about elected officials throughout King County getting their “first peek at how a proposed regional homeless authority could operate—and its proposed $110 million annual budget.” But suburban leaders also expressed concerns about their decision-making powers, once the new organization is up and running.
And lest we get lost in numbers and bureaucratic red-tape, it’s well to remember the human element in all of this homeless talk. Be sure and take a minute to read Eric Lacitis’ article in The TImes about the death of “Three Stars.”
Editorial: This second-half nightmare that Daniel Vogelbach is now mired in is as old as baseball. You enter the league with a good feeling for the strike zone and a swing that’s working. Home runs are jumping off your bat, and you find yourself in the All-Star Game.
And then these amazing and talented scouts and opposing team sabermetrics’ staffs provide the opposing pitching staff with a well-analyzed game plan against you and, all of a sudden, you’re like Ray Charles up there.
Vogelbach’s struggles are very real. And the perception of his fit in this organization’s future plans certainly has become less clear. Early in the season, he seemed to be the everyday designated hitter of the future. But his continued struggles against left-handed pitching and his current downslide since even before All-Star break are something more than a concern for the Mariners.
In his first 63 games, from opening day to June 13, Vogelbach had a .266/.395/.562 slash line with nine doubles, 17 homers, 40 RBIs, 43 walks and 53 strikeouts. Since then, a span of 59 games, Vogelbach has a .161/.291/.362 line with seven doubles, a 11 homers, 29 RBIs, 36 walks and 72 strikeouts. Yes, he’s banged some homers, but the increase in strikeouts and the dip in on-base percentage is glaring.
Vogelbach’s struggles against left-handed pitching became more pronounced during that span. They are glaring for the season:
vs. RHP: .234/.370/.512 with 12 doubles, 23 homers, 55 RBIs, 64 walks, 90 strikeouts in 357 plate appearances.
vs. LHP: .162/.273/.333 with four doubles, five homers, 14 RBIs, 15 walks, 35 strikeouts in 128 plate appearances.
Is he an everyday player, even as a DH?
Multiple opposing Major League scouts have remarked that Vogelbach’s bat has slowed considerably in the second half.
“He looks gassed,” said one scout. “Playing him at first base so much for extended stretches hasn’t helped him either.”
Another scout asked if Vogelbach has gained weight during the season.
Vogelbach is dealing with the minor dings and soreness that comes with the marathon season, but no reports of an injury have been mentioned. Manager Scott Servais believes it’s the league adjusting to Vogelbach and his approach at the plate.
“Vogey has struggled in the second half of the season,” Servais said. “What does Vogey do really well? He understands the strike zone and he hits fastball. That’s what he does really well. And he hasn’t been doing that as well. Know the strike zone and be really good at your strengths so you are great at what you do. For a while, Vogey was (expletive) awesome at what he did because he knew the strike zone and he wasn’t missing the fastballs.”
So what happened?
“The league adjusts and they start throwing you differently,” Servais said. “If you don’t stay really disciplined to who you are and you try to adjust, maybe get away from your strengths, then all of the sudden it starts going in the other direction.”
Servais still was optimistic, even with the struggles to adapt.
“Vogey will get out of it,” he said. “Vogey can hit. He knows the strike zone. Those things haven’t gone away. Its’ tough for him. He’s never struggled like this before. He’s hit at every level he’s ever been at. It’s tough.”
If Vogey makes more adjustments, he stays in the league, and his kids go to private schools. If not, he’s an overweight barista.
“The Amazon is burning. The Amazon is gone. The oligarchs are taking over. The oligarchs own us all.
“Tommy, Tommy! Didn’t you see this coming? Why didn’t you do more? You Boomers let them burn the world.
“You burned high-octane. Laid the rubber and the girls. Felt no pain as you walked with Johnny Walker. Talking tough to hide your fears, while you helped them rape the world.
“Asshole.”
“Marcus, Marcus…
“I didn’t see it coming. Didn’t know enough to fear the future. Beyond my own internal struggle, I was blind to what was coming. Although all the signs were there.
“I’m sorry I hid from knowing. Sorry I chased the game. Sorry for adding to the illusion. Sorry my pride drove me on.
I was only Tom then…”
“You’re Tommy now.
“Time to drive the changes, to a place that’s good for all. You know what’s right within you. Time to stop the hiding, and to invent the new.”
“But, Marcus…
“We don’t have the power of the oligarchs. Don’t have politicians in our pockets. Haven’t got the people in agreement. Can’t risk our fragile co-op.”
“So, Tommy
“Yesterday is behind us. Tomorrow isn’t far. When will it be right if the time isn’t now?
“Earth has sounded the alarm. An alarm we can all hear. We know it’s now or never. Time to put aside our fears.”
The rant was over in a few seconds.
Tommy’s tears flowed. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s too fucking late for sorry, Tommy.” Marcus was crying with Tommy now.
Wet through
Sky black. Midday and dark. No shadows anywhere.
It was raining. Seattle—famous for rain. Except… except this was tropical rain. Streets awash with water. Drains unable to keep up.
“Water. Water everywhere, but not where Earth needs it,” thought Marcus. “Too late anyway. Forests are gone. Embers are still smoking. Decades of fires, now just ash.”
The quick jog from curb to office wasn’t fast enough to avoid getting soaked.
Critic
Brie and the whole team were in the big room. Marcus, dripping, slipped into the back. He wiped his face with paper towels and spoke. “It’s not your role in the Deloitte debacle that’s the problem.
“Or your leadership.”
Marcus had long been Brie’s critic.
Brie thought to herself, “He’s always supported ‘good for people and planet,’ but he’s often been at odds with the need for sustainable worker income. This is his chance. His chance to shift our focus. Will he be realistic? I guess we’ll see.”
Long silence. Attention shifted from Brie to Marcus, waiting for him to say more.
“Trump is running for a fourth term. The ideals of Sanders and Warren have been swept aside. Sure, many of the ‘good’ corporations have switched to renewables, but it hasn’t stopped sea-level rise. Much of Florida is underwater. Even our climate denier Trump must of noticed; Mar-a-Lago, Florida is mostly submerged at high tide. Guess it’s too fucking wet to burn…”
Marcus paused again. This was familiar territory for all of them. Mar-a-Lago, after all, had been reproduced on the warming shores of Hudson Bay. Overture had been asked to pitch a graphics contract for the place. Would have been good money.
“I’ve been criticized in the past for ignoring the need for sustainable income. For being too idealistic…”
Jessica leaped in with, “Marcus, we all have families to support. Kids in school, mortgages and debts to pay. With prices the way they are, many of us are having trouble putting food on the table…”
Brie held her silence, knowing that Jessica and Marcus were both right.
Feelings
Marcus went into his rant. Tommy cried. Marcus cried. Brie cried. They all felt the despair.
Ryan spoke up. “The question is, what more can we do in the face of increasing political madness and a world baking in heat? Should we change our focus somehow? To what?”
Way back at the beginning, Overture had dedicated itself to tackling major issues, all of which were the result of the greed that produced global warming—civil unrest, sprawling urban growth, mass migration, slave labor and food security. But now it felt like a losing battle—all those years of playing nice while the earth’s resources were gathered into the hands of fewer and fewer people.
Overture’s people were just as caught in the fine net of social and economic success as all the others in the “first world.” Diligently working for good, for their families, for their colleagues. More aware than others of how their world had walled off and left the rest of the planet to starve. More aware of how even their own work had simply added to the growth of the oligarchy. Aware of the growth of the two-class system in the first world: Those who serve, and the few who receive, under the blessing of the “chosen one.”
Marcus, wiping tears: “I don’t think we should change our leadership. Brie has done well. She’s just as full of human failings as the rest of us. Including me.
“I know how this goes. Brie knows. Tommy knows. We all know. Thinking, ‘I’ve done my part. Done what needed to be done,’ only to find it was all wrong. All misguided. So I know how this goes while we try reinventing the future. Trying not to fall back into our indulgences. Tommy and his Corvette.
“I do think we should regroup, with Brie’s guidance and willingness to go on, of course….
Finally, a Seattle mover-and-shaker has hit the nail on the head about how to begin solving the city’s homeless/lawless (as we term it) crisis, which seems to be spreading, rather than shrinking.
In a recent interview on the Voices of Experience (VOE) show on KKNW radio, Howard S. Wright, whose father’s construction company built the Space Needle in the early ’60s and who now is a homeless activist, said, “There are a lot of people working on this homeless issue, and there’s not a lot of collaborative sharing of resources. There is no one particular director or czar of this project, and it would be helpful if there were…”
Below is the link to the interview, edited for use here by the show’s creator and moderator Paul Casey. Paul and I have been colleagues since the days of Metro Transit and he later was a member of our former Niche Newspapers Group, as publisher of Voices of Experience newspaper.
It’s my fervent hope that Howard S. Wright, and other influencers on his level, will read all—or even a portion—of what has been posted here previously on the subject and get the ball rolling to make Action Central—and its “czar” (nee director)—a reality!
Pub. Note: The primary purpose of this post is to promote the release of Julie Blacklow’s remarkable memoir, Fearless: Diary of a Badass Reporter. But it also represents a moment that’s personally gratifying—on multiple levels:
• Daughter Melissa and her husband, Scott Book, were an integral part of the publishing process, working through the same company that counts the Bob Walsh memoir, Who The Hell Is Bob?, among its many titles;
• Julie asked me not only to proof her manuscript but also to write a review, which put me in the select company of iconic TV anchor Tom Brokaw and local radio legend Pat O’Day;
• She was an early (2009) inductee into the pantheon of MARKETING IMMORTALS, whose membership includes the aforementioned Bob Walsh and Pat O’Day; and
• Finally, I want to thank Julie for her willingness to take time out of her busy life to pen the backstory of “The Journey”—from her “first inkling” years ago to the reality of holding the finished product in her hands today. And it should be of interest to the many out there who aspire to author their own memoir… —LC
The Journey
“The first inkling that I wanted to write my memoir happened four years ago on the anniversary of my kidney-cancer diagnosis. I was, coincidentally, waiting to see my doctor for a check-up, when I had a frightening panic attack. I became dizzy, nauseous and blacked out. I was taken into a back room, given some valium, and told to lie down, close my eyes and try to breathe. In the darkened room, I slowly came back to reality as my terror subsided. My doctor did a routine exam and told me something I already knew. I needed help.
“Within a week, I began seeing a therapist who helped me unravel the mystery of what happened to me and more importantly…why. She guided me to a truth I had buried years ago…that I had some unfinished business to tend to. That business was undertaking the intimidating, ambitious and challenging task of writing my book…stories both entertaining and horrifying that marked a somewhat overloaded life. I started that work after two therapy sessions.
“Writing a book is a tough slog. I’d spent nearly four decades writing individual news stories, but never an undertaking of this magnitude. I began by making lists of the life events I felt most defined and explained the person I became. I identified the bookends—where I would begin and where I would finish— and then fill in the empty spaces with the stories of my life in television news and the decision to leave the news business and manage a horse ranch…stories which affected me most deeply and which might resonate with readers. I went through four complete re-writes of the book.
“The first attempt was what I call the ‘retch’ rendering…verbal vomit…just random writing…getting things on the empty computer page. I was embarrassed by those initial efforts. Then the winnowing began, followed by research and fact-checking to update the narrative. The final version demanded intense focus on word choices until I was finally satisfied and forced to release the manuscript to the printer. I was making changes up until the moment the document was sent.
“I made a decision to keep control of the ‘product’ by working with a local publisher, Melissa Coffman and her husband Scott. I knew I was too old and cranky to be told by some faceless 25-year-old in NYC that I needed to switch chapters around, eliminate one or change the title. It was the best decision for me to create the book this way and to keep the process close to home. I knew about language and words, but needed help navigating the maze of turning pages into a real book.
“Dozens of decisions had to be made about layout, typeface, font size, color of the cloth on the book itself, dust cover choices, quantity of a first printing, distributors, creating a website and on and on. Melissa got me through the morass of the book jungle, though there were many, many times I was quite lost. I am amazed that I survived the trek through that labyrinth and even more amazed that the book is now in my hands.
“I could write a book about writing a book, but perhaps I will leave that to someone else.”
Pub. Note: Nominations are being accepted for the next two inductees into the pantheon of MARKETING IMMORTALS. They will be announced and profiled in the 2020 edition of The LINK, which will be published only in digital form. Send your nomination to larrycoffman@frontier.com by Aug. 31. Name-only will suffice, but feel free to explain the reasons for your nomination. Thanks to those who have sent the following nominations thus far—Glenn Blue, Becky Brenner, Alan Brown, Jim Cissell, Betti Fujikado, Jean Godden, Dan Gross, Eric Johnson, Kim Kimmy, Peter Lewis, Lori Matsukawa, Cal McAllister, John Rubino, Gary Spinnell, Sparky Taft and Bill Wixey.
Since 2009, MARKETING has been inducting leaders in the marcomm community into the pantheon of MARKETING IMMORTALS, based on their career accomplishments. The eight categories include Advertising, Public Relations, Design, Direct Marketing, Film/Video/Audio, Graphic Arts, Media and Corporate/Client. The total number of inductees now stands at 67.
As stated in the Welcome message on www.marketingimmortals.com, “The intent of this Website is to preserve the memories of those who have contributed so much to these various fields of endeavor, as we know them today and as they will evolve in the future. Besides ‘immortalizing’ the work of those who have gone before, the site also is intended to inform current practitioners of the legacies upon which their work is founded and to have significant educational and historical value.”
We revisit a different MARKETING IMMORTAL each week. This week’s featured IMMORTAL is advertising icon John Brown. Here’s his update:
“I didn’t exactly retire. I stopped working when I suffered a five-way bypass. (That’s surgeon-speak for repairing all five of the main blood vessels that feed your heart.)
I had been a freelance copywriter before that, but the heart issue took me right out of the game.
“Next: Rest up, get well.
“Next: I tried my hand at writing a novel. The storyline turned out great, but then I experienced something I learned in over nearly 40 years of writing ads: The fun part is thinking of up the idea for a campaign (book idea). The hard work is writing the copy that goes with each of the ads or (book pages} that make up the campaign, or the book pages.
“Next: Getting back in better shape. I had spent quite a bit of time behind a typewriter, so I enrolled in a local gym, LA Fitness. I’ve been going there about three times a week since then. My workout is far from professional. It lasts from 45 minutes to an hour. (23 minutes on a stationary bicycle, 48 pull-ups on a hang- down rig. 50 reps on a leg-pull machine. And 15 minutes on a treadmill. It’s grueling work, but it may save my life one of these days.
“Next: Swimming/walking. I’ve always been able to swim without too much extra effort. But when I tried it at the gym, I sank like a rock. Learning to walk again is also trick I haven’t yet re-mastered. When I leave the gym, my legs often give out before I get to my car. Serious disability. I used to play golf on rolling hills and scamper down steep valleys to get to trout-fishing paradises. No more.
“Memories: I’ve had some experiences that are one-of-a-kind. I worked for Cole and Weber (C&W) for 11 years and got to know the legendary Hal Dixon and Hal Newsom. I was the first creative director (CD) they ever trusted enough to replace Newsom. I remember putting together a campaign for Boeing that I was quite proud, but Newsom turned it down before it ever got to Boeing.
“When I was CD of the Portland office of Cole and Weber, i accompanied C&W’s general manager to Honolulu with the intent to open a C&W office in Hawaii. McCann”s office was closing and our plan was to win any of the clients they had left behind. We did manage to win a real estate condo account and turn out a TV spot I was very proud of.
“Nike was one of John Brown & Partners (JB&P) first accounts. I wrote a two-page spread headlined “There is no finish line.” It showed a photo of a singular runner (photo by Bob Peterson) on a rural road. That piece won the most of the more than 400 awards that JB&P won in its 15 years of business. It also began a revolution in running throughout the nation.”
Let’s get a couple of things settled right from the get-go. I bleed purple and gold. And to my three detractors who think I should stick to advertising topics—this IS about the influence of broadcast revenues, and the damage it can do.
On Saturday, Sept. 7, my beloved Huskies coughed up a hairball at home against the Cal Bears. S*&% happens. It’s a football game for God’s sake, and no one died. I think-hope.
But I’m not sure. Because the game ended on Sunday morning—after a 7:30pm kick-off and a three-hour weather delay—and long after I gave up and went to bed.
I thought to myself, well, they’ll postpone this game and figure out a way to make it up down the road. Why put the kids at physical risk, right?
The fact that they began play again around 10:30 is a shameful example of why PAC12 commissioner Larry Scott should be fired by the collective athletic directors and school presidents. This game was the last straw.
Scott’s inability to understand that college football is more than just broadcast revenue is appalling. And his shameless pursuit of said revenue puts young athletes, most of whom will never play football again after college, in harm’s way.
Both Cal and the UW have somewhere between 60 and 70 active players. So, after playing the better part of a quarter, they were rounded up and sent to the locker room to escape the thunder, lightning, rain and even hail.
If you’ve ever played any sport, that kind of break in the action means once-warmed-up athletes are now in various degrees of tight-as-a-drum. And who knows what kind of mental state a three-hour break does to one’s concentration and motivation.
This game should have been postponed. Where was Plan B? How hard would it have been to figure something out?
And back to that 7:30pm start. Ridiculous. I had season tickets to Husky football for nearly 40 years. I gave up four 50-yard-line seats because of the inane start times, many of which you didn’t know for sure until a week before the game.
College football is not a night time event. They call it “Game Day” for a reason. Besides the strain it puts on the coaching staffs and athletes, it gives knuckle heads seven more hours to get really hammered. Imagine how many drunks there were at 7:30 Saturday night and then re-imagine how many more there were at 10:30.
The Cal-UW game was a microcosm of everything that’s wrong with PAC-12 football and Larry Scott’s “leadership.” [Be sure to read the second link below.]
This was a farce and Scott needs to go. Today. The money from whatever advertising revenues are being generated (or lost) is not worth destroying a tradition and putting young people at risk.
A “Hooverville” encampment during the ’30s in Seattle
By Larry Coffman, publisher
I’ve been asked several times why I’ve taken such an interest in the homeless/lawless crisis that’s raging in Seattle (see series of prior posts below). Eric Johnson’s chilling documentary on KOMO-TV—Seattle Is Dying—clearly was the trigger for my interest. But the complete answer requires that I share is bit of personal backstory…
In 1968, Jim Ellis spearheaded an unprecedented 12-part capital-improvement program in King County that he dubbed “Forward Thrust.” Seven of the 12 propositions were approved by voters, and the benefits that flowed from the program included new fire stations, road improvements, parks and swimming pools, the downtown aquarium and the late Kingdome.
Unfortunately, the proposal for the $1.1 billion rail-rapid-transit system, to be built and run by the former Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (Metro), was one of the four measures that failed. Although it received just over 50% of the votes, a 60% majority was required, because the local funding was based on property tax.
I was hired by Ellis and then-Seattle-Mayor Dorm Braman in late 1968 as the first employee of the new Metro transit function, activated to resubmit the issue to the ballot in 1970, because Senator Warren Magnuson had secured $800 million in federal funding that was earmarked for Seattle, pending voter approval of the project.
My job was to staff the technical committee working on refining the plan for a 50-mile/four-legged system, designed to be completed by 1985, and to manage the subsequent campaign to resubmit the issue to the voters. Unfortunately, the infamous Boeing Bust coincided with the election, and the funds earmarked for Seattle were redirected to help build what is today Atlanta’s MARTA transit system.
Many long-time Seattleites rank the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 and failure to approve rail-rapid-transit—in two tries—as easily the worst setbacks in Seattle’s history. The result of our failure to get a jump on transit-building is reflected in today’s periods of near-gridlock and the addition of untold billions of dollars in construction costs.
One big anti-argument in the 1970 election was that Seattle would not become a headquarters city—and thus not increase sufficiently in density—because most of the future development would be concentrated in the suburbs. Boy, did the UW geographers who were our adversaries ever get that one wrong!
The other big argument was that if we, indeed, built the then-leading-edge transit system, it would be too much of an encouragement for people to move to Seattle. Ironically—and unfortunately—we’re hearing that same argument against cleaning up the homeless/lawless crisis.
Oddly enough, there has been little talk of the “Hooverville” and “Nickelsville” homeless encampments in the city’s past. My concern is that the current homeless crisis is far more pervasive than those previous versions and will be far more difficult to resolve, due to the “perfect storm” of drug addiction, mental illness and housing prices that is driving today’s version.
Our recent poll showed that readers are surprisingly optimistic about the potential to end the homeless/lawless crisis. Polls on the 1968 and 1970 transit issues were positive, too.
But bad things are said to happen in threes. Hopefully, we can avoid a double dose. First, by preventing the homeless crisis from becoming Seattle’s third major setback—and perhaps the worst of all, in human terms. And second, by avoiding becoming known as “Seattleville”—the logical successor to “Hooverville” and “Nickelsville.”
Being personally involved in one of the two worst setbacks in Seattle history is enough! And it will sustain my interest in helping resolve the homeless/lawless crisis—and making Seattle a model for other cities to copy.
Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto has made the following final-month moves that increase the active roster to the full 40 players. The call-ups, all from AA Arkansas, are the so-called “Fab Four” of the Mariners farm system.
Warren, 26, will be making his Major League debut with his first appearance with the Mariners. In 29 relief appearances with AA Arkansas this season, he went 2–1 with a 1.71 ERA with 15 saves in 17 opportunities, while walking 13 and striking out 41. He did not allow more than 1 earned run in any of his 29 appearances this season. He was named a 2019 Texas League Post-Season All-Star and is listed as the #26 prospect in the Mariners organization on MLB.com.
Warren was originally drafted by the Mariners in the 23rd round of the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Ashland University. He has played 5 minor league seasons in the Mariners organization, posting an 18–6 record with a 3.64 ERA (73 ER, 229.2 IP) with 101 walks and 233 strikeouts in 119 career games (20 starts). He has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen since the start of the 2017 season, allowing on 31 earned runs in 123.1 innings pitched during that span (2.27 ERA).
Dunn, 23,is listed as the #5 prospect in the Mariners organization by MLB.com. He was acquired by the Mariners from New York-NL along with Jarred Kelenic, Gerson Bautista, Jay Bruce and Anthony Swarzak in exchange for Robinson Canó and Edwin Diaz on December 3, 2018. He has spent the entirety of this season with AA Arkansas, posting a 9–5 record with a 3.55 ERA (52 ER, 131.2 IP) with 39 walks and 158 strikeouts in 25 starts. He was named as both a Mid and Post-Season Texas League All-Star this season and was one of three Mariners prospects selected to participate in the 2019 Futures Game. He will be Making his Major League debut with his first appearance with the Mariners.
Dunn was originally selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 37th round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Gunnery High School but did not sign. He was selected by the New York Mets in the 1st round (19th overall) of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft from Boston College. In total, he has appeared in parts of 4 minor league seasons with the Mets (2016–18) and Mariners (2019), posting a 23–20 record with a 3.76 ERA (164 ER, 392.1 IP) with 149 walks and 424 strikeouts in 80 career games (72 starts).
Lewis, 24, will be making his Major League debut with his first appearance with the Mariners. He is listed as the #10 prospect in the Mariners organization by MLB.com. He has spent the entire season in AA Arkansas this season, batting .263 with 61 runs scored, 25 doubles, 2 triples, 11 home runs, 62 runs batted in, 56 walks, and 3 stolen bases in 122 games. He was named Texas League Player of the Week for the week of June 17–23, slashing .524/.643/.619 with 7 runs scored, 2 doubles, and 1 RBI during that span. Among Arkansas batters this season, Lewis led the team in doubles (25) and RBI (62), while ranking 2nd in hits (120), T3rd in home runs (11) and 2nd in walks (56).
Lewis was originally selected by the Mariners in the 1st round (11th pick) of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft from Mercer University. He appeared in only 165 combined games over his first 3 professional seasons due to a knee injury he suffered on July 19, 2016 in a collision at home plate. Prior to the injury, he was named as a Northwest League All-Star and received Player of the Week honors for the week of July 4–10. In 2018, he participated in the 2018 All-Star Futures Game and was named as a California League Mid-Season All-Star. In total, he has played in parts of 4 minor league seasons in the Mariners organization, batting .260 with 155 runs scored, 65 doubles, 8 triples, 30 home runs, 171 RBI, 119 walks, and 10 stolen bases in 287 career games.
Walton, 25, hit .300 (144×480) with 72 runs scored, 22 doubles, 3 triples, 11 home runs, 50 RBI, 63 walks and 10 stolen bases in 124 regular season games with AA Arkansas this season. Among Texas League leaders, he ranked T4th in batting (.300), 2nd in on-base percentage (.390), 2nd in hits (144), 7th in runs (72), T2nd in walks, 5th in total bases (205), and 5th in OPS (.817). He was named a Texas League Mid-Season All Star earlier this season, and is listed as the #28 prospect in the Mariners organization on MLB.com. He will be making his Major League debut with his first appearance with the Mariners.
Walton was originally drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 5th round of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Oklahoma State University. He was drafted twice previously in 2012 (36th round, NYM) and 2015 (23rd round, MIL) but did not sign. He has played 4 minor league season in the Mariners organization, batting .283 with 211 runs scored, 72 doubles, 9 triples, 24 home runs, 143 RBI, 164 walks, and 35 stolen bases in 358 career games.
Eight local designers have been nominated for the prestigious Fellow Award. The 2019 recipient will be announced at a Ceremony & Panel at 6 p.m. Oct.17 at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, sponsored by the Seattle Chapter of AIGA.
At the end of the panel discussion, the 2019 Award will be presented to the newest Fellow and they will present a PechaKucha on their lives. Beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and light bites will be served during the networking portion of the evening.
The AIGA is inviting a group of designers from various disciplines to talk about how important it is to be responsible for the communities they‘re all part of. The names of panelists will be announced closer to the event.
Fellow nominees, in alphabetical order, are: Karen Cheng; Michael Ellsworth; Kristine Johnson; Steffanie Lorig; Gage Mitchell; Wendy Quesinberry; John Van Dyke; and Karen Gutowsky Zimmerman.
The Fellow Award program recognizes designers who have made a significant contribution to raising the standards of excellence in practice and conduct within their local or regional design community as well as in their local AIGA chapter. The areas of education, writing, leadership and reputation, as well as the practice of design are given equal consideration in measuring significant contribution.
An eligible nominee is: A practitioner and/or educator with more than 15 year’s experience in the profession; an AIGA member in good standing; making or have made a significant contribution to AIGA; making or have made a positive impact within their local or regional design community; and advancing or have advanced excellence in design as a discipline, profession and cultural force.
Newsmakers: DNA’s ‘Nerd‘ Campaign For Florida Agency
Seattle-based DNA has helped client Catalina Marketing, the market leader in intelligence and personalized digital media that converts shoppers into buyers, launch a novel B2B ad campaign that celebrates “the nerd on your side” company narrative—as personified by its team of data nerds who “eat, sleep and breathe buyer behavior data” in their unending quest to drive sales for CPG retailers and brands.
With headlines like “We’re Obsessed with Your Mustard” and “We’re Seriously Crushing on Your Cat Food,” the ads reinforce the point that — whether it’s nasal spray, corn chips or cosmetics — when it comes to CPG retail, Catalina understands the unique buyer behind every buy. Video spots focus on data nerds connecting on a first date and later at a barbecue, with the latter featuring actual Catalina data scientists.
“While one objective of this ad campaign is to raise awareness of our digital products, we also want to celebrate the genius our data scientists bring to unlocking actionable insights on millions of buyers to provide precise 1:1 targeting, audience segments and now measurement to deliver profitable results for our customers,” said Marta Cyhan, Catalina’s chief marketing officer. “We’re data nerds and proud of it! It has been a lot of fun partnering with our agency, DNA, to bring this campaign to life because it authentically represents what makes Catalina so distinctive.”
The creative work includes digital display and video ads, as well as social components. In a bit of inspired casting, two actual and avowed Catalina data nerds are featured in the videos: Ron Menich, VP, Advanced Analytics & Data Science; and Peter Williams, VP, Data Integration, Fusion and Solutions.
“From the first time we met the Catalina team, we were blown away by all the shopper data at their fingertips, and how geeked-out they get when they talk about using that data to turn shoppers into buyers” said Alan Brown, co-founder and CEO of DNA. “In effect, this campaign is a tongue-in-cheek homage to ‘nerddom.’ While playful and fun, it gets a serious point across that no one can tap into, analyze and apply data as effectively as Catalina.”
The campaign will run on a variety of business-oriented news sites, tailored to decision makers in both CPG and retail companies. This campaign represents the first work by Seattle-based DNA since being hired as Catalina’s ad agency earlier this year.
Brian Hunt, co-founder of Hunt Marketing Group, has transitioned to chief executive officer and been succeeded as president by Natalie Gossett, also a co-founder.
“Natalie is a tremendous leader, a fantastic spokesperson for your agency and has the respect of our clients and our entire staff,” Brian said. “She is without a doubt the perfect person to lead our agency into its next chapter.”
In addition to her role as president, Natalie will continue to lead HMG’s client-services team and manage day-to-day operations, alongside agency co-founders Matt Hunt and Corey Moran.
Gossett described herself as “excited and honored to take on this new challenge,” adding that “HMG has been my professional home for the past 12 years, and I look forward to continuing to provide our clients with outstanding solutions, alongside a talented and passionate group of people.”
HMG is an independent agency, with a staff of 29, based in Seattle that specializes in lead generation, nurture and retention and upsell for clients of all sizes. It was formed in 2007.
Aaron Blank, president/CEO of The Fearey Group, was elected president of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN), a PR and communications organization representing 50 independently owned agencies, at its bi-annual meeting in the Netherlands.
“With 54 offices on six continents,” PRGN is as strong as ever,” Blank said. “The back half of 2019 is going to be profound for PR businesses around the globe. I’m truly excited that we can offer communications services to clients in practically every corner of the world.” The network also welcomed two new members, New York-based Southard Communications and hasan communications, based in Helsinki, Finland.
Founded in 1990 by a group of visionary public relations leaders, PRGN is one of the world’s largest networks, representing agencies with $85 million in annual revenues and some 1,000 professionals worldwide.
Blank noted that The Fearey Group has been a member since the founding of PRGN. He said, “Being able to connect our clients to select partners throughout the world truly offers us a competitive advantage. I’m thrilled to continue to grow the network as president.” He joined Fearey in 2006.
July 1 is the deadline for entries in the annual PPI PrintROCKS! competition All marketing directors, graphic designers and printers are encouraged to showcase their print production and design prowess by entering their best work at www.printrocks.org to be judged in the top print and design competition in the West.
“Printing is one of the most innovative and exciting industries right now with designers and printers pushing the envelope, so to speak,” said Kristin Baldwin, the new PPI executive director (see story below) . “The print industry keeps brands at the top of customer minds”.
Companies, schools, and artists from PPI’s seven member states (AK, HI, ID, OR, UT, WA, MT) are encouraged to send in their best products from the past year. Winners of the PrintROCKS! Competition are announced at annual party on September 27th in Portland and then entered into the national Printing Industry Association’s Premier Print Awards (the Bennies). Entries are not limited to PPI members and graphic designers, marketing directors and allied professions are encouraged to enter.
After submission and judging, entrants, peers, and guests are invited to the 2019 PrintROCKS! Party, which will be held on September 27 in Portland. For more details on submission and the PrintROCKS! party, visit www.printrocks.org.
The PPI Association has a new executive director, succeeding Jason Page, who was on the job for only a matter of months, after succeeding long-time ED Jules Van Sant. This is the photo of Page that accompanied his letter to the PPI membership last Fall. Efforts to gain an explanation from Board members for the swift swap were unsuccessful.
Kirstin Baldwin, a Seattle resident, has been named to the position for the Portland-based printing association that serves seven Northwest states, including Washington, Oregon, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Alaska and Hawaii. This is the letter sent to the PPI membership about Baldwin’s appointment.
“Back when Steve Jobs was still making adorable little rectangle beige computers, I walked into a position as a training consultant at the California District Attorneys and had to learn to design brochures on the new Mac in the office, since no one else wanted to attempt it. With that, I was hooked on both designing for print and the business of associations. PPI marries those two loves into one.
Later in my career, my publications office was next door to Dave Weber at Highline Community College. I often would visit his print shop and classroom to learn alongside his students about the printing process. Dave and his group made me an even more rounded designer through his patience and knowledge of what a file might actually look like on the press. Those lessons are invaluable even today.
And now my professional journey leads to PPI Association and serving our members and sponsors. I’m thrilled to be joining such a creative and innovative association and look forward to hearing more from members about why they belong and what more we can do to take the association to the next level. My email is kristin@ppiassociation.org and my cell number is 206-650-8229. One of my first tasks as your new leader is to talk to every member, so please feel free to reach out if I don’t talk to you first.
Associations are big ships and need to be steered with a slow and careful hand at the helm. It’s not uncommon in the association world to have some fits and starts when there is a transition from a long-term executive director to a new executive director. The PPI Board is doing everything it can to make this transition as smooth as possible. Most boards have a board advisor, but it also is essential to the process of being a good executive director to have an executive director advisor. I’m thrilled that Jules VanSant has agreed to stay involved as that advisor.”
The Art Institute of Seattle is abruptly closing its doors on Friday, March 8, with only a couple days’ notice, leaving more than 600 students in the lurch. Read the details in this March 7 Seattle Times story.
Seattle Weekly is the latest print publication to convert to online-only publication. Check out the two excellent stories on the Crosscut and Seattle Times websites.
Katherine Mackinnon, a prominent strategic communications and advocacy expert, has joined APCO Worldwide, according to Tim Smith, managing director of the Seattle office. Mackinnon has more than a decade of local government and public affairs experience and will serve as a director, based in the Seattle office.
“Making an impact on a local level has never been more important for companies and organizations in today’s challenging advocacy landscape,” said Smith. “Katherine’s strong public affairs and Seattle government background, coupled with her experience developing impactful strategic communications campaigns in the market, strengthens our ability to provide innovative solutions for our clients. We’re delighted to welcome Katherine to APCO and our growing West Coast team.”
Prior to joining APCO, Mackinnon served as an account supervisor and director for Nyhus Communications, where she specialized in reputation management, advocacy, strategic communications and public affairs for a wide range of clients across the technology and real estate sectors. Prior to that, Mackinnon was a policy and advocacy specialist for the Downtown Seattle Association.
Lee Allen has joined Weber Marketing Group, a data analytics and strategic branding agency, as software platform director. Allen will manage the development and marketing of the agency’s growing data warehouse and BI analytics software platform.
“Working with a prestigious agency like Weber, which is developing cutting-edge software and cloud-based BI visualization for a niche like financial services, is an exciting opportunity,” said Allen. “I look forward to bolstering our client offerings to transform their digital future and enhance 1-to-1 personalized user experiences and growth.”
Allen formerly was the president of a multi-national reality engineering SaaS platform. He also held senior-level positions in global manufacturing while working in the U.S., Europe and Japan with global leaders Toyota and Honda. And Allen was the former director of operations and VP/emerging markets for multi-national corporation Donnelly. He holds a B.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of Utah and brings more than 25 years of experience in SaaS software development, Lean operations and international sales and marketing.
Alan Brown’s TRIBE. Who Knew? It took this article in Chief Executive magazine (https://chiefexecutive.net/side-gig-led-change-company/) to awaken us to the fact that—besides running DNA—he has a “side gig” at the helm of a fitness studio!
Says Alan: “I bought the studio 2½ years ago (September 2016). Interestingly—in 2018, TRIBE Fitness received a Visionary Award from Mindbody (the technology company that powers most studios and gyms in the U.S.). We received it because we were in the top 30% of all studios in the U.S. for revenue. In addition, TRIBE was named the Best Pilates Studio for 2018 by Seattle Magazine.
The cover photo is a group shot after a class. Hard-working Alan is the one on the far right.
The Pacific Printing Industries Association (PPI) has a new executive director, Jason Page, who is succeeding Jules Van Sant. Here is the introductory letter Jason sent to the membership:
“I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce myself and tell you how humbled I am at the opportunity to serve you as the new PPI executive director. I recognize that this position is a special and unique role and responsibility and I don’t take it lightly.
“Printing is in my DNA. My father is a printer and I grew up in our family’s print shop. I’ve mixed ink, burned plates, cut and collated paper, managed pre-press, worked in sales and marketing and spent countless nights pushing jobs through the process to meet crucial deadlines.
“After my Dad had to close his shop, over time, all the things that seemed so inconvenient to me as a kid, especially as a teenager, I discovered I greatly missed. The smell of the ink, the texture of paper and even the sounds of the press not cooperating like it should. All of those things hold powerful memories for me that directly reflect strong values that I believe need to be preserved with great devotion and shared with an even greater passion.
“Change, like in our culture, is constant in our industry. Some changes we can anticipate, others can catch us by surprise. The ability to weather it all is both an art and a science that takes time, talent, skill and experience from hard-working people, like my Dad and you, that I have deep admiration for and commitment to.
“Over the next month or so, I’d very much like to meet you face-to-face or, at the very least, get the chance to talk briefly over the phone. Eyeball and handshake ethics are very important to me. In the meantime, if there’s anything I can do, please feel free to contact me.
“Finally, Jules Van Sant is an amazing leader and I hope that my leadership moving forward, although slightly different, will honor her and all of the work she has done with and for you all. I look forward connecting with you soon.”
Enthusiastically,
Jason Page
Jules Honored. Outgoing PPI executive director Jules Van Sant was the recipient of two prestigious awards recently from the Printing Industries of America (PIA).
She was among 10 inductees into PIA’s Ben Franklin Honor Society. During her 12 years as ED, she was cited for “championing the region with forward-thinking strategies for sustainability” and “marketing acumen that positioned her as a leader and inspirational catalyst for the print and visual-communications industry.”
The Society also noted that “her energy revitalized fundraising for their local Educational Trust. She recruited new board members for the Trust and then turned her focus to making the Trust relevant to industry members through school, work days and career fairs. Jules tied the Trust fundraising into the local PPI networking events and over a five-year period she increased the yearly giving to the Trust from under $500/year to over $29,000 in 2017.”
Van Sant also was named a 2018 Naomi Barber Memorial Award recipient. The award honors outstanding women in the graphic communications industry for their exceptional record of accomplishments, extraordinary contributions to the development of the graphic communications industry and their help in advancing the interests of the industry.
She started working on for the Oregon Health Sciences University on her 14th birthday, filing, copying and sorting paper and envelopes for mailing. While attending Portland State University, she was promoted into the insurance billing department, where she eventually became a supervisor upon graduation and was instrumental in training employees as systems transitioned from paper to digital claims filing.
Jules then moved to Los Angeles and worked first as a financial assistant and then as broadcast traffic coordinator for Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising. From there came traffic and print production management positions back home in Portland, with advertising agencies as well as graphic arts firms. She was fortunate to become well versed in a variety of segments, including large-format screen printing, offset print sales, flexography prepress production management as well as a multi-faceted sign shop. She rolled back into agency work and eventually started Red Joule Communications, creating marketing solutions on behalf of a variety of industries, including Pacific Printing Industries (PPI) Association. Where she later was chosen as ED in 2006.
WONGDOODY has hired four new staffers in its Seattle office: (from left above) motion designer Ashley Nieves; designer Delaney Pratt; studio designer Bailey Lehtinen; and administrator Katie Harrison. Nieves has been a freelancer who is looking forward to being part of a team. Pratt comes from the NBA Players Association in New York City. Lehtinen is a recent graduate of Western Washington University in Bellingham. And Harrison is “happy to be home in the creative house that is WONGDOODY.”
efelle creative, based in Seattle, has opened a new office in Minneapolis. extending the reach of its award-winning website design and online services, begun in 2005. ECommerce Specialist and digital marketing consultant Cody Jacobsen is leading efforts in the Mini Apple, helping serve clients in the midwest as well as nationwide. Principal Fred Lebhart said the company also is adding a New York City sales office and another office in either Ft. Worth or Austin, TX, in the new year.
Verizon: A red checkmark, which is as common as it looks, and looks nothing like a symbol for a Fortune 500 telecommunications company.
Cardinal Health: An abstract version of a wingspan, with three curvilinear lines on the left and four on the right. It looks more suitable for an airline than a health services provider, though this bird does not fly.
Foxconn: Its name in Encapsulated PostScript, which looks as inviting as an abandoned apartment building in Chernobyl. No wonder workers jump to their deaths.
Alphabet: Its name in red. Forget “Don’t be evil.” The logo should say: “Don’t be creative.”
Prudential plc: A drawing of the face of Prudence. This goddess looks like a man, baby! The company needs to hire a new artist.”
“These logos are primitive, cheap, and embarrassing,” says Janil Jean, Director of Overseas Operations for LogoDesign.net. “Each one neither denotes what a company does nor connotes feelings of loyalty, warmth, and value. Children can produce designs far less crude than these 5 failures”
Verizon: A red checkmark, which is as common as it looks, and looks nothing like a symbol for a Fortune 500 telecommunications company.
Cardinal Health: An abstract version of a wingspan, with three curvilinear lines on the left and four on the right. It looks more suitable for an airline than a health services provider, though this bird does not fly.
Foxconn: Its name in Encapsulated PostScript, which looks as inviting as an abandoned apartment building in Chernobyl. No wonder workers jump to their deaths.
Alphabet: Its name in red. Forget “Don’t be evil.” The logo should say: “Don’t be creative.”
Prudential plc: A drawing of the face of Prudence. This goddess looks like a man, baby! The company needs to hire a new artist.”
“These logos are primitive, cheap, and embarrassing,” says Janil Jean, Director of Overseas Operations for LogoDesign.net. “Each one neither denotes what a company does nor connotes feelings of loyalty, warmth, and value. Children can produce designs far less crude than these 5 failures”
Emerald City Graphics (ECG) and Printing Control (PC), two RR Donnelley companies that operated from separate plants in Kent and Tukwila, respectively, for a number of years, are now under the ECG roof in Kent.
ECG president Travis Mullen-Ballis said the combined workforce numbers just over 100, with the addition of some 30 PC staffers. “We also brought over significant digital assets and bindery equipment from the Tukwila plant,” Travis said.
The combined company, under the ECG name, now has broad capabilities in commercial printing, digital printing and packaging, Travis said, adding that “uniting the two locations under one roof will enable us to serve our customers even more efficiently.” The ECG plant is located at 23328 68th Ave. S. in Kent. For more information, visit www.emeraldcg.com.
We were a little late with this, but—this Summer Betti Fujikado was named one of the year’s—and the nation’s!— 50 Outstanding Asian Americans in Business at a gala in Manhattan. Check it all out via this link. Congrats, Betti!
Starbucks hired posterGIANT to stencil this graphic on sidewalks at 50 locations outside its downtown stores and on pedestrian routes to the Seattle Sounders matches at CenturyLink Field. The stencil is approximately 24×24 inches.
The graphic is in support of the Darigold Dozen, who are fasting to call attention to working conditions at Ruby Ridge Dairy in Pasco, which is part of the Darigold cooperative. The workers filed a lawsuit and won, but still began fasting “so workers at Darigold dairies can have a safe workplace and speak freely to report workplace hazards without fear of retaliation,” according to a spokesperson. The Seattle City Council also passed a resolution in support of the dairy workers.
Heard of Civilization—as in a Seattle design studio? Neither had we, until Christina Arbini, who’s launched a new public relations firm after many years at Hornall Anderson, sent us a release.
It contained the news that Civilization is the recent winner of “one of the nation’s highest accolades—the prestigious National Design Award, in the Communications Design category, from the Cooper, Hewitt, Smithsonian (CHS) Design Museum.”
The release described the agency as “a small, passionate team with a shared belief in tirelessly fighting for the betterment of society through education, social responsibility, arts+culture, public health and civic engagement. The co-founders are seated in the forefront of the cover photo. From left are creative director Gabriel Stromberg, Michael Ellsworth and Corey Gutch.
The CHS award was bestowed “in recognition of excellence, innovation and enhancement of the quality of life.” All nominees were judged on extraordinary originality in identifying, shaping and solving problems and the extent to which the general public has benefited from the achievements of the work.
The agency’s work involves a variety of socially responsible causes committed to and leading the fight against some of our nation’s—and the world’s—most pressing issues. These include reproductive rights, drugs and addiction, homelessness, climate action, prison reform and education.
Recent projects include Shout Your Abortion, a platform where people can share their personal stories to remove the stigma, Drugs Over Dinner, a platform encouraging compassionate conversations about drug and alcohol addition, and Farestart, the job-training program to help raise people out of poverty and homelessness.
Said Ellsworth: “For us, design is a series of choices. At its best, those choices are informed by the desire for empathy, sustainability and meaning. That is the work we aim to do every day. That is why we do what we do.”
The two Kevins (Burrus and Nolan) and media buyer Megan Smiley are out with a new multi-platform campaign for Elliott Bay Auto Brokers. You can see the work around town on outdoor (see example above), transit, broadcast and online. Elliott Bay Auto Brokers is the largest pre-owned luxury brand dealership in Seattle, specializing in BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Porsche. Elliott Bay Auto Brokers is a family owned company and has been in business since 2004, according to Mr. Nolan.
Here are the :15 TV spots (perhaps you caught a couple of them on Monday Night Football on Sept. 10):
“W” has gotta be the favorite letter in the alphabet for the folks at Michael Courtney Design (MCD)! On the heels of making the large metal W at the entrance to the UW campus an instant landmark (see story below), the agency has scored again with that letter.
Backstory: MCD was chosen to develop the graphics, signage and wayfinding for the Lincoln Square expansion in Bellevue. The $1 billion project involves an office tower, retail podium, ultra-luxury residences, a parking garage—and—a W Hotel.
According to principal Michael Courtney, the client requested a landmark that would encourage guests to snap a selfie and added: “When they send it to their friends, I want them to text back, Where the —- are you?”
Courtney said his team imagined a landmark incorporating Pacific Northwest (PNW) themes and presented several possibilities, including a lush green W covered with live ivy, a W fashioned from colorful beach balls, another with sheet music from PNW artists folded into a W, translucent PNW music-album art and even a Bigfoot W, adorned with “hairy” Koosh balls.
But the winner was the iteration on the above. It extends the hotel’s Seattle music theme (Nirvana, Quincy Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Paul Revere and the Raiders, the Kingsmen, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Ray Charles, Death Cab for Cutie). This W design is covered with 10,000 guitar picks and any breeze will make the picks move.
Courtney calls it “an instant selfie magnet.” Chalk up another W for his team.
The folks at Michael Courtney Design had a suspicion when they designed the Big W at the entrance to the main campus at the University of Washington that it might become a favorite photo location. And indeed, the iconic seven-foot-tall landmark has become the place for graduates to stand, diploma in hand, to pose for a photo while the proud family looks on. Said principal Michael Courtney, “We’re happy to play a part in this milestone moment and to see the emotional connection the grads have to this oversized letter that represents a place they love and identify with.
BrandQuery president and chief brand strategist Jacque Beamer completed the Executive Education Program at Yale University. The program, Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders is a thorough overview of today’s creative business including Understanding Consumer Choice, Organizing for Innovation, Leading Organizational Change, law, accounting, negotiation, and more.
Held on the Yale campus in New Haven Connecticut, The Yale Executive Program was an opportunity to follow Beamer’s on-going goal in continuing education. Her career spans over 30 years, and as she stated: “Consumers and B2B are constantly evolving, it’s important no matter what stage my career or business is in and how successful it’s been, there always are opportunities to learn. This experience was both educational and validating. I’ve gained many insights to help BrandQuery clients and our agency itself. I’m looking forward to applying these new insights over the next year and beyond.”
Yale Program participants were U.S., Europe, and South America based, from some of the most notable companies including Bloomberg, NY Times, IDEO, Jet Blue, Johnson & Johnson, Thought Form, and Capital One.
Genny Boots has been promoted from intern to assistant advisor at Tacoma-based JayRay. As an intern, she helped with projects for tourism and travel clients—organizing photo shoots, writing blogs and coding website content. Her strong writing skills were honed in a variety of settings. She worked as an intern at The News Tribune in Tacoma, as social-media manager for a nonprofit in Prague and as GM of the student TV station at Pacific Lutheran University. She also taught English in Peru and Nicaragua for a year after graduation from high school.
Substantial, a Seattle digital design agency, has promoted Carey Jenkins to CEO, charged with overseeing digital teams working on national and global product development. She brings more than 17 years of experience in client services and delivery management.
Jenkins was hired six years ago as one of the first engagement managers and rose through the ranks to director and then VP/client services. She has a liberal arts and journalism background with experience built on a foundation of fostering authentic relationships—both internal and external.
“I’m thrilled for this leadership opportunity,” Carey said. “My path to this position was nothing, if not unconventional. I had to prove myself, of course, but the hardest part was admitting to myself I wanted it and giving myself the chance to fight for it. I was the sixth woman to work at Substantial and now we have 37% females overall and our leadership team is 40% females.”
Substantial’s clients include Mercedes Benz, Amazon, the University of Washington, News Corp./Dow Jones and Novartis.
DNA continues it’s hiring drive with three additions to its creative leadership team. The new hires are Steve Williams, Noel Nickol and Jon Lazar.
Williams has been a freelancer the past two years since leaving Publicis Seatte. He will be reuniting with his former creative partner, Scott Fero, as co-executive creative director.
Nickol is is joining DNA as a creative director from the Rokkan agency in New York City, where he worked on the Cadillac, Verizon and Hallmark accounts, as well as others.
Lazar, also a creative director, comes from VITRO in San Diego, where he was co-creative director and before that had a five-year award-winning freelance career.
DNA co-founder/CEO Alan Brown said, “What each of these talented creatives brings to DNA are successful integrated ideas that have broken ground in multiple channels for national and regional clients.”
This comes on the heels of these earlier top-management moves..
In the words of Alexander Graham Bell, when one door closes another opens…
And so it was for Christine Wise, who spent nearly 10 years with the late Wexley School for girls and now is moving to DNA in the new role of chief strategy officer and becoming part of the agency’s senior management team.
CEO Alan Brown said, “The move adds a significant player to DNA’s next generation of leaders and follows the recent news that Chris Witherspoon was named president and chief growth officer.”
As a partner and exec team member at Wexley, Wise was instrumental in developing and delivering an innovative and creatively driven (some might even say “quirky”) approach that drove measurable business results for clients and garnered creative awards.
Witherspoon said, “Christine is a proven entrepreneur and marketing innovator who brings DNA new ways to evolve our structure and capabilities to better deliver creative business-building solutions for our clients.”
Brown added that “with Christine and Chris now in place as agency leaders, DNA is on a fast track to deliver transformational change to our clients and our industry.”
DNA’s client list includes Amazon, BECU, Ben Bridge, Consumer Cellular, Puget Sound Energy, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and Nordstrom.
Stephanie Lorig, center, with Linda Hunt and Larry Asher.
Steffanie Lorig has been named a co-director at the School of Visual Concepts (SVC), joining long-time co-directors/owners Linda Hunt and Larry Asher. Lorig is the former founder/director of Art With Heart, an organization dedicated to helping kids overcome trauma through creative expression.
SVC has been a staple of the Seattle design community since it was founded in 1971 by Dick and Cherry Brown. In the past three years, it has seen huge growth, due to the introduction of certificate programs and an increase in its corporate-training business. Hunt and Asher took over ownership of SVC from the Browns in 1994.
Larry said, “Linda and I have known Steffanie for years—going back to shortly after she arrived in Seattle and took classes with us. We then followed her career through the formation and growth of the nonprofit Art With Heart. Through it all, we’ve been so impressed with her great business sense and—more than that—her strong sense of dedication and compassion.”
SVC has been helping designers, art directors, writers and marketing people fill in their knowledge gaps since 1971, largely with faculty who are principals in local marcomm firms. Today, the school offers courses, workshops and certificate programs in design, interactive marketing, creative services and business practices.
Ed. Note: Lorig is a back-to-back winner of Big M Awards in the design category in the MARKETING Awards competition.
Washington Energy Services marketing manager Sloan Newman sends along this news: “Washington Energy Services has come out swinging with new TV and radio commercials for 2018. We teamed up with Blue Plate Digital’s Brian Pelzel and Laura Szczes of Ad Mark Services to make our first new creative for the company in several years. The new TV spot contains local talent as well as real employees to showcase our brand and range of products, while our radio ads use science and binaural beats to educate and stimulate active listening.”
Shawn Williams, founder and CEO of GRAY Magazine, which covers the design industry in the Pacific Northwest, has been named one of Folio’s 2018 Top Women in Media in the Entrepreneurs category. The award honors women “who have stood out, taken risks and pushed their teams to new heights.” The Top Women list also includes leaders from The Atlantic, Bloomberg, Harvard Business Review, Hearst, Time and Vox Media. Honorees were celebrated in New York City on June 7.
Williams was the art director at Seattle Homes & Lifestyles before it folded during the great recession. The self-described “rookie entrepreneur” had been in the publishing industry for 19 years before she founded GRAY Media in 2011. She has grown the operation to a full-time, all-woman staff of seven. She self-funded the startup and began with a print run of 5,500 and over the next five years grew distribution by more than 800% and revenues by 1,500%.
In 2017, she launched the GRAY Awards, a first-of-its-kind regional cross-disciplinary design awards program. The program exceeded every goal in the initial year, with nearly four times the expected number of entries and 30% higher attendance at the awards gala than expected. Entries are being received through Aug. 1 at www.grayawards.com and the awards gala is in November.
Marti Lindeman has joined Piranha Partners as VP, business development and client services. Her experience spans virtually all the media, including (do you remember?) the KIRO Radio News Fax? And in her promotional life, she’s done everything from putting an inflated gorilla on the Space Needle to being the first to introduce “this Internet thing” to local advertisers.” And I love her Mantra, “Rewired, Not Retired.” For more info, go to www.piranhainformation.com.
BrandQuery won the 2018 Communicators Award at the recent NAYDO Conference in New Orleans, LA, for its Skagit Valley Family YMCA building-fund campaign that was the largest such effort ever in Skagit County. On hand to received the award, from left above, are Skagit Valley Y staffers Renata Maybruck and Jennifer Pitner and Brand Query principal Jacque Beamer. (Pub. Note: The Skagit Valley campaign also won the Publishers’ Choice award at THE EVENT on May 23, where all MARKETING Award winners were announced.)
The award-winning integrated campaign included print and digital advertising, environmental graphics and signage, a documentary-style video and a Look Book. The campaign helped the Y exceed its fundraising goal, reaching a final total of $13.4 million—the largest fundraising effort in the history of Skagit County. NAYDO Awards chair Molly Thompson said, “The campaign clearly articulated the future impact of the new facility.” The North American YMCA Development Organization has the mission of inspiring and strengthening the philanthropic culture of the YMCA in North and South America and Europe. (Also see additional item on Beamer below.)
HackerAgency has announced the hiring of Rachel Stevens as creative director and the return of Eric Osgood as media director, as Hacker redefines itself as an independent agency. (Also see No. 1 HackerAgency Now Independent).
Stevens most recently was an art director with adventure-focused MERCURYcsc. She also is an independent filmmaker, writer and author who has worked as an independent design consultant. Osgood returns to Hacker where he spent six years previously.
Hacker CEO Spyro Kourtis said, “Beginning 2018 with a clean slate, (we) have a golden opportunity to reimagine what it means to be a creative performance agency. This includes a new perspective on talent. The selection of Stevens exemplifies the agency strategy to hire outside of the traditional marketing disciplines. Conversely, hiring Osgood as media director provides an immediate opportunity to re-hire a proven talent lost in the agency’s 2017 divestiture from the Interpublic Group.”
The Hacker Group was founded in 1986 by MARKETING IMMORTAL Bob Hacker and his wife, Jo Anne, and sold to Foote Cone & Belding in 1999, which made it part of the Interpublic Group, where it was renamed HackerAgency.
Quinton Alari has been named the new VP of sales for the Pacific Northwest for ColorGraphics Envelope in Kent. Quinton moves from the ColorGraphics printing division, which will be closing soon. He has more than 20 years of sales and sales management experience, including stints with Trans-continental West and Consolidated Graphics. (Also see ColorGraphics’ Death ’Exaggertated’!)
Josh O’Connor has been promoted to president/publisher of Sound Publishing, succeeding Gloria Fletcher, who left to become publisher of the Tulsa (OK) World.
Josh is responsible for Sound Publishing operations statewide. This encompasses 42 community weeklies and bi-weeklies in King, Snohomish, Kitsap and Grays Harbor Counties and the Olympic Peninsula, and The Daily Herald in Everett.
He joined Sound‘s parent company, Black Press Group, Ltd., based in Surrey, B.C., as a sales exec in 1998. And after a series of promotions, he was named publisher of the East Sound community newspaper group and in May 2013, he became publisher of The Daily Herald.
O’Connor said, “I’m excited about the new challenge. I think there’s a lot of hard work ahead but I see a bright future for journalism as we make sense of the ways our content can engage with the future.”
Josh and his family live in Issaquah and he is a contributor to many community organizations throughout Puget Sound.
Phinney Bischoff has completed a rebrand for BECU, aimed at helping the identity stand out and better extend to multiple environments. BECU was founded in 1935 by a group of 18 Boeing factory workers and now has more than one million members and growing. “In a world where affinity for financial institutions is fading, BECU is a shining example of what’s possible when people and community come first,” said PB principal Leslie Phinney.
She said that the agency began with extensive research and visited BECU financial centers across Puget Sound, as well as competitors, to learn the ways that BECU stands out. “We then distilled those thoughts into an updated brand platform and developed a framework that emphasized membership, financial health and community involvement as key pillars.”
NewOld
Regarding the before and after identities, she explained: “The scripted ‘E’ in the old logo, created to give special emphasis to Boeing employees, was given equal weight as the other letters (in the new design) to reflect the broader population of Washington state residents that BECU now serves. Our design also gives a nod to its heritage, as shown by the use of BECU’s signature red.” Above is an application of the new identity on the face of a reception desk.
Hydrogen Advertising has created a Labor of Love advertising and PR campaign to raise awareness of the Skilled Labor Fund and added two staff members.
The fund, administered by the National Housing Endowment, was created to address the lack of trades and talent entering the residential construction employment pool. It raises student scholarship dollars from key industry partners to attract and train skilled labor for the housing industry via accredited trade schools The “Let’s finish the job” campaign features a compelling call-to-action, combined with imagery designed to stand out in industry publications.
SigristPeterson
The two new hires are content specialist Emily Sigrist and project manager Jennifer Peterson. Before joining Hydrogen, Sigrist was a department manager at Whole Foods Market and a sales rep for Stumptown Coffee Roasters. Jennifer comes to the agency after having worked at Paradysz and HackerAgency.
Jacob Kreutzer has been promoted to work in business-development at Northwest Sign and Design in Monroe. He began his career there at age 19 and has been integral part of every aspect of the sign-making process there for three years. He was the company’s fourth employee and has excelled in assembly, machining, fabrication, installation and project management. In business development, he will use his insight and experience to create innovative solutions for clients.
Maria Lamarca Anderson is the new director of communications at the University of Washington Bothell. For the past five years, she has held similar posts with the Seattle Colleges.
At UW Bothell, she will join the marketing and communications team headed by Marie Blakey, assistant vice chancellor for communications and marketing, who said, “Maria’s background in communications, higher education and community engagement maker her a great fit.” In the new position, she will serve as the UW Bothell spokesperson.
Anderson’s past professional experience includes positions with Youth Eastside Services, KING 5 and KIRO 7 television stations, Flying House Productions, Northwest Harvest, LapLink.com and the Everett Mall.
etailz Agency. Spokane-based etailz, inc., the leading online marketkplace retailer, has launched a new marketing agency—Marketplace Growth Partners (MGP)—to service brands selling online (i.e., Amazon, eBay, Walmart, etc.).
Co-founder CEO Josh Neblett said, “Most consumers begin their shopping on these marketplaces, and Amazon captures nearly half of all U.S. ecommerce sales. MGP is the result of our nine years of experience on Amazon and our proprietary technologies developed to protect, position and promote brands on global marketplaces.”
He explained that the new agency will help clients strategically target the most relevant consumers, based on consistently refined performance data. Parent etailz is a beta partner for new initiatives and innovation on Amazon and the No. 1 Fulfillment By Amazon retailer, based on number of reviews in the last 12 months.
Jacque Beamer, president of BrandQuery is headed to Yale University this Summer for an intensive business-certificate program.
She’s using a $10,000 scholarship from the Communities Foundation of Texas, sponsored by Bank of America, to attend the Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders program. It’s for mid-career and senior design professionals, is sponsored by the American Institute of Graphics Arts and the Yale University School of Management and is taught by experienced Yale faculty members.
“I’m honored to be recognized within my profession, to be awarded the scholarship and to be accepted to study at Yale University,” Jacque said. “I look forward to returning with a suitcase of benefits for BrandQuery clients, employees and the overall business of our agency.”
BrandQuery is celebrating 25 years in business. In the past five years, the Mount Vernon-based agency has received 24 regional and national awards (including back-to-back Best of Show in the annual MARKETING Awards). BrandQuery produces work to enhance clients’ brands for company growth and customer engagement. Also see www.brandquery.com.
Tim Smith has been named managing director of the Seattle office of APCO Worldwide, leading the New York-based PR giant’s growing West Coast presence. Smith has now completed the “hat trick” with major PR firms. He comes to APCO from a position as EVP with Edelman, which he joined in 2009 from an SVP position with Waggener Edelman Worldwide.
Said Tim, “APCO is uniquely positioned to help organizations adapt and thrive in today’s complex world. Much of the future of business, technology and society flows from innovations made on the West Coast. I’m excited to lead this distinguished and growing team and look forward to assisting clients from around the world thrive in this critical region.”
Kerry Dorado is a new account manager at PhinneyBischoff. She has worked with global leaders including Medtronic and Enphase Energy, national brands like Whole Foods Market, and nonprofits such as Guide Dogs for the Blind. A Wine Country native, Kerry enjoys redirecting her precise attention to detail to the greens in her free time.
And Kevin Patnik has been hired as a senior brand/content manager. A writer by trade, Kevin has driven strategy and led creative teams on major organizational rebrands, including KUOW 94.9, Washington Women’s Foundation, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, Port of Vancouver USA and Adrift Hotels. Other brand and verbal identity clients have included Starbucks, Seattle Colleges, Seattle Humane, Lakefield Veterinary Group, Seattle Channel and KEXP 90.3.
Michael Courtney Design created this striking recognition wall for the College of Architecture, Planning and Design at Kansas State University. The wall is a visual thank-you to the donors, supporters and friends who imagined, designed and funded the $75 million expansion of Seaton Hall on the KSU campus. It’s located in an entry lobby and rises two stories on an historic stone wall.
DNA Seattle has hired Summer Slater as director of communications strategy, overseeing all aspects of the agency’s integrated media offerings. She was most recently partner/strategy director at Mindshare in Playa Vista, CA. Principal Alan Brown said, “Summer brings a deep skill set in media analytics that will further enable us to deliver ideas that drive results. Brown said the hire followed a record year for DNA Seattle.
Bruce Pinkleton has been named dean of the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University, following a national search. Pinkleton, who has served as interim dean since January 2016, will assume the permanent post, effective March 15. He joined the faculty of what was then the Murrow School of Communications in 1993 as an assistant professor and has held several positions, including head of the Strategic Communication degree program.
Purdie Rogers has issued an RFP that offers a local charity the opportunity to receive $100,000 worth of marketing services over a 12-month period.
The Seattle agency will select a charity partner within the next 60 days, according to principal Andy Rogers. Interested charities can download the application at purdierogers.com/cause-marketing. Applications must be submitted by March 15. All inquiries should be directed to account manager Brianna Duval at bduval@purdierogers.com.
Principal Andy Rogers said, “All agencies get solicited to do pro bono work for charities and most try to help out when they have the spare time and capacity. We want to take a more deliberate approach to giving back to our community. We plan to have a long-term impact by deeply immersing ourselves in a single charity, treating them like a client for a 12-month period.”
Rogers said the agency will donate its time in ways that are most beneficial to the specific charity. Services provided may include branding and marketing counsel, creation of a marketing plan, development of communication materials, board development guidance, a fundraising plan, website enhancements, public relations counsel, and social media tools/coaching, among other services.
Job-Search Factors: What are the factors that are most important to job seekers these days—in Seattle as well as around the country?
A recent Accountemps survey found that Vacation Time led the field in Seattle at 29%, followed by Corporate Culture/Work Environment at 24%, Something Else at 16%, Career Advancement Potential and Word From Home, tied at 13% apiece, and Professional Development at 5%.
The survey also found that Seattle workers 55 and older are most interested in Vacation Time, professionals 18 to 34 prefer Career Advancement Potential above all else, and female respondents say Vacation Time is most critical, while men say Corporate Culture.
A spokesperson said, “If you’re falling shore in any of these areas, you’re going to lose talent.” The adjoining graphic shows the most important factors in a variety of major markets across the country.
Jenn McElroy has promoted been promoted to director of training and implementation at Woodinville-based BDA, the nation’s leading brand-merchandise agency, including the ubiquitous bobble-head dolls. Jenn has contributed her sales expertise to BDA for more than 10 years, most recently as director of global sales operations. She is stepping into this new role to leverage her strong background in training, with over a decade of training management experience at Tully’s Coffee before joining BDA. Wanted to send over another BDA submission for consideration in your Newsmakers section.
Sydney Tanner is the new director of program sales. Before coming to BDA, Sydney led site and email merchandising for Sur La Table and managed eCommerce and site merchandising for Eddie Bauer, accumulating over a decade of experience in the field. She is analytically driven and passionate about understanding clients’ needs to bring best options to grow and expand their business.
Leigh Kolb is the newest addition to JayRay’s marketing and strategic communications team. She most recently worked at Adaptive Sports Center in Crested Butte, CO, and brings a background in nonprofit marketing, travel and photography to her role as an assistant advisor. She was raised in New Mexico and attended Pepperdine University.
Congrats, Carolyn: A contemporary in the niche-publishing business, Carolyn Price, is celebrating the 30th anniversary of her Price Media Co., publisher of OutdoorsNW and The Cyclist and host of a number of outdoor events. Congrats, Carolyn and many more.
As the leader of several iterations of small, local ad agencies and design firms, I learned very early on that effective creative comes from solid strategies.
The process is not some magical, other-worldly, cosmic connection that happens because you had a hot cup of the latest herbal tea and a good bowel movement. It comes because you, or the people you work with, did some digging and put down their biases to find out what really matters to the consumers who will buy or use your client’s products or services.
It’s not about you, all you creative types, it’s about them. That’s why, when I read the stuff in the link below, I laughed out loud at what is an enormous load of cow flop. This is the stuff that begets shows like Bewitched (if you’re under 45, Google it).
There’s this lingering belief on the part of non-ad types that creatives are mystics, driven by some skill that is inexplicable. Not!
Great work comes from great effort and not falling in love with the sound of your own voice. Or to be more specific, the sound of your own bullshit. Which is exactly what the 4A’s SmartBrief article is—creative BS.
As an agency owner and creative director, I didn’t care how you got to work, what music you listened to or what you had for breakfast. What I cared about was, are you paying attention to the brand strategy? Are you listening to the research? Are you doing things that help connect your client at a visceral level with their consumers?
Probably the one aspect of the creative department that drove me bat$@#& crazy were the art directors. Having been one, I had a very solidly rooted understanding that my “masterpieces” were not going to hang in the Louvre. And it had to be as good as it was ever going to be by 3 p.m., Tuesday because that’s when the publication needed the mechanical.
A word of advice to all of you who are—or believe you are—creative: Listen. The process is about being smart, not esoteric..
I have a friend whose son decided to get into advertising as a writer. Upon his arrival home from a college break, his mom said, “Good God, when was the last time you took a shower?” I kid you not, this was the response, according to mom.
“I feel more creative if I’m raw.”
No, you just smell bad, dude, plus BO is not an asset in most meetings.
I’d been worried about Anna since she’d left the co-op to take the sales job. We’d been in the planning stages at the time and had no revenue. In fact, we hadn’t even put in any startup money yet. Anna was an industrial designer who’d worked mostly with exhibits. She couldn’t find work and was quickly running out of money, so she took this job.
“The leads come from a call center.”
I’m trying to imagine Anna in sales… She had a warm smile and looked directly at you. Seemed to be a caring person, but…
“How long has it been since you started?”
“I accepted the job March 20, packed and left. It’s commission-only. It’s been six months, and really hard, Tom. Really hard.”
Cards maxed
I’m really feeling concern now. Here I am, sitting in my car with Anna on the line, about to head out for a nice weekend getaway. And Anna? She’s trying to make it on commissions only, in the East Bay. I’m imagining being down to my last dollar, credit cards maxed, trying to make a commission sale. I shudder.
“How long did it take you to make your first sale?”
“Two weeks. It was for $10,000.”
“That was fast! Did you get $1,000 out of that?”
“Yes. But then there was a long dry spell.”
“How long?”
“Three weeks.”
“Must have been painful. What are you selling? How does it work?” I’m feeling a bit better for Anna. Maybe she can pull this off.
“People go into a home-improvement store and ask for help redoing their kitchen, or they need a new roof. The store gives them a number to call. That’s the call center. The center sets up an appointment. I have to be there in two hours.”
I’m thinking, this is the gig economy. It’s raw. It’s rough. I can picture myself in Anna’s position: No safety net. No one to bail me out if I can’t make a sale.
Libraries
“Anna, was there any training?”
I don’t really understand why she wasn’t able to get a design job. Or why she left New York to come to Seattle. She does have a thick accent. I’d looked at her work and thought it was good. But what do I know about exhibit design? Not much.
“I spent the first couple weeks riding with another salesman. Guess that was training. He was terrible. At least I thought he was terrible. These people are Trump voters. He was, too. And they all tell stories—mostly lies. Lies about why people let their roof get so bad that it leaks. Or they volunteer how the socialists at UC Berkley are ruining the country. Or the Mexicans or the Muslims or anybody different, including me.”
Now I’m seeing how much a fish out of water Anna really is. “So you don’t talk politics if you want a sale, right?”
“I’ve been using the public libraries between sales calls. Reading everything I can on how to do sales. I’m up late reading most nights.”
“Dale Carnegie?”
“Yes, and Everybody Lies by Seth something, Daniel Pink, and SNAP Selling by Jill Konrath… and all this is downloadable from the local libraries. So, driving from San Jose to Concord, I’m listening, learning, getting ready for my next client…
“Oh, and I’m actually paid for the work I put in managing the project. Many of these small contractors are Hispanic and need help. My Spanish isn’t great, but it’s improving.”
“Paid hourly?”
“Yes, hourly for project management. Not a lot, but it helps.”
I’m thinking, thinking… amazed that Anna actually seems to be surviving at this point. I remember how I worried about her when she first told me she had to take this commission-only job. And felt a little guilt, which I quickly forgot. Out of sight, out of mind. That’s me.
“Tom, I’m making a go of it. Don’t worry about me. I’m covering my costs. Putting a little away. Amazing myself, actually. I wish I was working with you guys, but I’m actually enjoying myself.”
Sales
That conversation happened 10, maybe 11 years ago. Trump was in his first term. Tommy remembered the call well. Six months later, Anna rejoined Overture to lead the sales effort. Tommy figured any designer who could self-teach her way into survival in sales from scratch was the kind of winner Overture needed. She did it in Trump territory, herself a refugee. Several times in the course of that first call, Anna had mentioned how much she was learning about people and how she wished she’d been taught these skills when she was at Pratt. And how she’d like to help other designers learn these skills.
At the point Anna was hired, Overture had been getting lots of inbound calls. Lots of opportunities were coming our way, but our ability to respond hadn’t been great. We’d been fumbling the leads, big-time. Painful. It had been a time of transition. A sink-or-swim time.
Transition
And here we were at another time of transition. Losing staff to Deloitte as a result of the Unilever loss. Brie’s leadership in question. The challenge from Marcus had re-centered us back to our roots and the group-visioning, theater-in-the-round method that had won us the General Motors contract—a contract we still held.
Another time of transition. A time where sales once again were a critical need. A time when the theme of Creativity Challenges Dystopia was more meaningful than ever: Trump running for an unprecedented fourth term; the country at war with itself.
Forward
Anna had been quiet during the all-firm meeting. She’d been pleased at the challenge Marcus had made, and by Brie’s response. A challenge Brie had accepted by continuing in her CEO role. Now, it was Anna’s turn.
“I’m here because I hit bottom in my career when we were forming Overture. All the founders were struggling in one way or another. I think those original struggles were the source of our success. Do or die. Sink or swim. Clichés, yes, but we all know what they mean.
“So… most of you know this: I began my career as a designer and switched to sales. I was desperate, so when I couldn’t get enough design work I sold kitchen remodels and roof jobs. I worked in the heart of Trump country, with clients who were living on the edge and with contractors just up from Mexico, desperate to stay. The contradictions were huge, the sales were hard to make. But I survived. In fact, I thrived. I learned more in that desperate year than I probably had in the previous 10.
“Here we are, up against it again. It’s time to make some sales. Big ones, little ones—anything that supports good for people and planet, and helps the world regain some sanity. Anything that helps people choose goodness and light over darkness.
“That’s the message I’ll sell with, and that’s the message that will take Overture forward for us, our families and those we help.”
With that, Anna smiled, waved and left the room to set up some appointments.
King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn had it right when he told KIRO Radio (see link below) that the new Regional Homelessness Authority is simply “designed to give politicians in Seattle political cover because they’re failing at this.”
The 11-member Authority board and an executive director will be appointed by King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and a Steering Committee, which will be composed of nine politicians and two people who’ve been homeless.
While Dunn accurately calls the move a “political cover,” I’d call it a huge band-aid that’s more likely to fester than heal the worsening homeless/lawless wound that’s centered in Seattle. The move, in effect, takes Seattle off the accountability hook and brings in a host of satellite cities who already are voicing concerns about what kind of clout they’ll have in the new Authority—when it eventually gets up and running—and who knows how long that will take.
Those concerns aside, there’s a more pivotal point that’s been completely overlooked in my and others’ dissection and discussion of the crisis.
When they built the Space Needle, when they rebuilt Ground Zero and when they rehabilitated a feces-infected Lake Washington, what was the basic step that the public and private entities responsible for those huge projects did, once they’d given them the green light?
They hired a contractor, who immediately established an on-site center staffed with managers, engineers and tradespeople who were on the job round-the-clock. Without that center and those workers and their 24/7 attention to the project, nothing ever would have been built, rebuilt or rehabbed. Period.
Ergo—where’s the contractor on the all-important homeless/lawless project?
The Action Central facility that we’ve been stumping for here this past many months would be that “contractor,” if you will, in dealing with the homeless/lawless crisis. And NASA’s Mission Control, that we’ve been using as an analogy, is in the same category as the other projects mentioned earlier. It’s certain that we’d never have achieved a moon landing or countless successful space probes without it.
When will our public and private influencers come to the realization that this is a crisis that simply can’t be solved by a scatteration of hit-and-miss efforts—no matter how well intentioned? More importantly, when will they classify this crisis in the same category as other crises—like earthquakes, hurricanes and wars—that receive 24/7 attention—rather than bureaucratic band-aids?
Thanks for the ride, Felix, it’s been a great 15 years since your very first game, August 4, 2005 in Detroit, Michigan.
This is what Class looks like: 17 years in the Mariners organization, 169 wins, 2,524 strike outs, an ERA of 3.42 and unquestioned loyalty to the team and its fans,
And the only member of the present or past Mariners management to go into the locker room and salute Felix, after he was taken out of the game Sept. 26, was former Mariners President Chuck Armstrong, shown hugging The King in the cover photo. This also is what class looks like.
Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto made the following final-month moves that increase the active roster to the full 40 players. The call-ups, all from AA Arkansas, are the so-called “Fab Four” of the Mariners farm system.
Warren, 26, will be making his Major League debut with his first appearance with the Mariners. In 29 relief appearances with AA Arkansas this season, he went 2–1 with a 1.71 ERA with 15 saves in 17 opportunities, while walking 13 and striking out 41. He did not allow more than 1 earned run in any of his 29 appearances this season. He was named a 2019 Texas League Post-Season All-Star and is listed as the #26 prospect in the Mariners organization on MLB.com.
Warren was originally drafted by the Mariners in the 23rd round of the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Ashland University. He has played 5 minor league seasons in the Mariners organization, posting an 18–6 record with a 3.64 ERA (73 ER, 229.2 IP) with 101 walks and 233 strikeouts in 119 career games (20 starts). He has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen since the start of the 2017 season, allowing on 31 earned runs in 123.1 innings pitched during that span (2.27 ERA).
Dunn, 23,is listed as the #5 prospect in the Mariners organization by MLB.com. He was acquired by the Mariners from New York-NL along with Jarred Kelenic, Gerson Bautista, Jay Bruce and Anthony Swarzak in exchange for Robinson Canó and Edwin Diaz on December 3, 2018. He has spent the entirety of this season with AA Arkansas, posting a 9–5 record with a 3.55 ERA (52 ER, 131.2 IP) with 39 walks and 158 strikeouts in 25 starts. He was named as both a Mid and Post-Season Texas League All-Star this season and was one of three Mariners prospects selected to participate in the 2019 Futures Game. He will be Making his Major League debut with his first appearance with the Mariners.
Dunn was originally selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 37th round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Gunnery High School but did not sign. He was selected by the New York Mets in the 1st round (19th overall) of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft from Boston College. In total, he has appeared in parts of 4 minor league seasons with the Mets (2016–18) and Mariners (2019), posting a 23–20 record with a 3.76 ERA (164 ER, 392.1 IP) with 149 walks and 424 strikeouts in 80 career games (72 starts).
Lewis, 24, will be making his Major League debut with his first appearance with the Mariners. He is listed as the #10 prospect in the Mariners organization by MLB.com. He has spent the entire season in AA Arkansas this season, batting .263 with 61 runs scored, 25 doubles, 2 triples, 11 home runs, 62 runs batted in, 56 walks, and 3 stolen bases in 122 games. He was named Texas League Player of the Week for the week of June 17–23, slashing .524/.643/.619 with 7 runs scored, 2 doubles, and 1 RBI during that span. Among Arkansas batters this season, Lewis led the team in doubles (25) and RBI (62), while ranking 2nd in hits (120), T3rd in home runs (11) and 2nd in walks (56).
Lewis was originally selected by the Mariners in the 1st round (11th pick) of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft from Mercer University. He appeared in only 165 combined games over his first 3 professional seasons due to a knee injury he suffered on July 19, 2016 in a collision at home plate. Prior to the injury, he was named as a Northwest League All-Star and received Player of the Week honors for the week of July 4–10. In 2018, he participated in the 2018 All-Star Futures Game and was named as a California League Mid-Season All-Star. In total, he has played in parts of 4 minor league seasons in the Mariners organization, batting .260 with 155 runs scored, 65 doubles, 8 triples, 30 home runs, 171 RBI, 119 walks, and 10 stolen bases in 287 career games.
Walton, 25, hit .300 (144×480) with 72 runs scored, 22 doubles, 3 triples, 11 home runs, 50 RBI, 63 walks and 10 stolen bases in 124 regular season games with AA Arkansas this season. Among Texas League leaders, he ranked T4th in batting (.300), 2nd in on-base percentage (.390), 2nd in hits (144), 7th in runs (72), T2nd in walks, 5th in total bases (205), and 5th in OPS (.817). He was named a Texas League Mid-Season All Star earlier this season, and is listed as the #28 prospect in the Mariners organization on MLB.com. He will be making his Major League debut with his first appearance with the Mariners.
Walton was originally drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 5th round of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Oklahoma State University. He was drafted twice previously in 2012 (36th round, NYM) and 2015 (23rd round, MIL) but did not sign. He has played 4 minor league season in the Mariners organization, batting .283 with 211 runs scored, 72 doubles, 9 triples, 24 home runs, 143 RBI, 164 walks, and 35 stolen bases in 358 career games.
Pub. Note: During my 30 years as publisher of MARKETING newspaper, my mantra was: “It’s more important to reach the people who count than to count the people you reach.” It spoke to the model of distributing the niche publication for free to the target audience as a means of enhancing the value for present and prospective advertisers. And it was a model shared by the Woodinville Weekly, and many other newspapers, as noted below.
However, in digital age, a return to the subscription (now called membership) model of years past is gaining in popularity, as explained in this lengthy and detailed message to readers from the new owner and Publisher of the Woodinville Weekly, Eric LaFontaine. They will begin with a Beta test on the Weekly’s sister publication, the monthly Valley View serving Duvall and Carnation, beginning Nov. 1.
“It’s safe to say the traditional model of circulating a newspaper has changed. Gone are the days of paperboys and 5 a.m. deliveries. News consumers no longer get their sports scores or election results the morning after. News is immediate and, depending on your age, typically begins through a digital touchpoint.
“Our conversations have shifted from did you read that in the newspaper to did you see that on Facebook or Patch? Our thirst for news, both local and national, hasn’t declined (as the industry has) over the last few decades, it’s actually grown. Great stories are great stories, regardless of how the reader engages.
“The only thing that’s truly changed in our industry is the method in which readers consume their local news. Operating within the current newspaper model is similar to shoving a square peg into a round hole. We (as the newspaper of record) keep pounding away, trying to force the peg into the hole, all the while it’s pretty clear it’s not going to fit. Now is the time for a disruption.
“Just as disruptive as Carol Edwards, founding owner of The Woodinville Weekly and Valley View, who changed the news model in 1976 by giving the newspaper away for free. Edwards was also the first newspaperwoman in the state of Washington to put a publication’s content online for free. At the time, both strategies were disruptions to the 150-year-old traditional model. Flash forward 43 years and surprise; the traditional model is flawed. Trying to force a print newspaper into every reader’s hands is no longer a strategy that works.
“Thankfully, there is an answer. There’s already a digital newspaper in the pockets, purses and on desktops of nearly every adult over the age of 25. The mobile phone is simply the 21st Century digital paperboy. It’s no longer about having to find your news. The news will eventually find you.
“The cost of printing a newspaper, mailing it to every household regardless of their interests or news habits, and expecting to remain financially viable is a business model that was inherently flawed from the inception. Paper costs have risen, along with ink, preparation, delivery and postage. It’s fair to say that advertisers, although extremely supportive, haven’t been able to bear these rising costs. Factor in the consumption shift from print to digital and the model is on a trajectory towards failure.
“The good news is we’ve got an idea and a model that works. Our proven model supports quality journalism, allows newsrooms to effectively curate local news and opens up a community dialogue where the press is no longer reactive, but proactive in the narrative. And we’re starting the model in Duvall and Carnation. Effective Nov. 1, 2019, the Valley View will no longer be mailed free to the communities of Duvall and Carnation.
‘The paper will continue to publish monthly; it will have more pages of local and engaging content, but will only be available to Valley View members. If there ever was a time to support your local newspaper—and keep the Duvall and Carnation communities from retracting into a news desert—it is now. What is a Valley View Membership? Your Valley View Membership is a total news experience. It’s not just a monthly newspaper; it’s a daily digital experience with local and regional news, a weekly subscription to The Woodinville Weekly, and monthly subscription to the Valley View. Members will also receive unlimited digital access to the news websites (nwnews.com/valleyview) and a curated weekly email newsletter. Your support and membership will ultimately decide the fate of the Valley View.
‘It’s no longer about us (the media) telling readers what’s important to their community; it’s about the readers telling us what is valuable to you. Our team of journalists simply help connect the dots. The more you engage with our news experience, the better we understand and connect with our communities. A stronger connection translates to a better overall news experience. Establishing a strong bond between the communities of Duvall and Carnation and your local media source requires trust from readers and transparency and news from us to which we are committed. Now is the time to take advantage of the opportunity to support the future of the Valley View by becoming a vested member of your local paper. Membership begins at $35 for 13 weeks or $7.99 a month if you prefer to pay with a debit or credit card. Since we’re still two months away, I’ll make your participation very user friendly.
‘Just send me an email (eric@nwnews.com) with Sign Me Up in the subject line and I’ll coordinate with you from there. If you’re concerned about being the only household in Duvall or Carnation that doesn’t have a membership, please send a $35 check payable to Valley View (along with the accompanying form) and we’ll make sure your membership begins by November. As well, you have our commitment that for every 1,500 memberships, we will invest back into local journalism and hire a full-time journalist to report on the Duvall and Carnation communities, which includes city council, school boards and Cedarcrest sports! If you prefer to receive a monthly 8-page Valley View instead of the entire news package, which includes The Woodinville Weekly and access to its website, lets talk.Looking forward to receiving 1,500 emails between now and November 1.”
EastSide Media Corp, a locally owned startup company, has acquired the Woodinville Weekly. That publication, along with its two allied titles—the Northlake News and Valley View—is a well-established community news provider that has been covering all things in and around Woodinville for the past 43 years.
Eric LaFontaine, co-founder and publisher of EastSide Media, said his company embraces a digital-first engagement when it comes to news coverage. “We have a very different model of hyperlocal journalism, and being the only locally owned media source on the Eastside truly means we’re invested for the right reasons. This is a long-term play. We intend to save the region from being a ‘news desert.’
Julie Boselly, owner of the Woodinville Weekly, said the time was right to transition out of the industry. “My mother started the Woodinville Weekly and I began working at the paper in 2001. During that time, the industry has changed, but the community has continued to grow. As digital has developed into a mainstream outlet, I knew that new ideas and expertise could spark excitement in the community again. The EastSide team is exactly the right people I hoped would come in and keep local news alive.”
Julie and Eric
“There are a number of innovative revenue streams that can reinvigorate local journalism,” LaFontaine said. “Amongst other tactics, the Eastside is a great place for events that can be created to help forge a closer relationship among the communities we serve. Those will be a priority of EastSide Media as we grow, impact and appeal to the region.”
LaFontaine said the staff of five will be retained and that “we don’t anticipate making major changes to the publications at the outset, but will be tweaking the layout of the Woodinville Weekly in the coming weeks.” EastSide Media Corp. distributed its first edition of the Weekly on Aug. 6.
About EastSide Media Corp.
LaFontaine, along with Mike Flynn, former president and publisher of the Puget Sound Business Journal, and Patrick Scanlon, a former Board member of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and VP of USA TODAY Sports, co-founded the Bellevue-based EastSide Media Corp. in January 2019.
About Woodinville Weekly
Carol Edwards started the Woodinville Weekly in her garage in the Spring of 1976. A civic leader and vital force in the Woodinville community, Edwards published the paper through 2007. The Woodinville Weekly can be found online at www.nwnews.com.
Pub. Note: We asked the publisher of “Unite Seattle,” Mike Montgomery, for this brief background on the fledgling magazine targeting the city’s LGBTQ community, as a lead-up to the holiday issue, coming in November:
“We launched “Unite Seattle” in the Spring of 2018 to prove that print wasn’t dead and to show that print still is a viable platform. Realistically, you need all platforms (print, digital, social, video and online) to survive in the ever-changing marketplace.
“The idea of a lifestyle magazine, featuring people and places that don’t get covered by other Seattle media, has been on my mind for more than 15 years. Seattle (and the Northwest region) has needed a communications vehicle to collaborate with businesses and the community for a single purpose—to bring diversity and inclusiveness into the mainstream consciousness.
“We’re proud that “Unite Seattle” is the first LGBTQ-focused publication to be produced in the Northwest. For our upcoming holiday issue (No. 8) on November 20, we’ve increased distribution from four to eight locations in the Seattle area. The holiday issue is our annual arts and dining issue. In the past, we have profiled Dina Martina, Jinkx Monsoon, Cherdonna, Kitten-n-Lou, Gaysha Starr, Kathy Casey and Julien Perry.
“If you would like to partner with us on this—or a future—issue, please contact me at publisher@uniteseattlemag.com .”
What did you look at? That’s a question younger folks will ask of the more ripe among us when the subject of “old radio” of the late ’40s and ’50s comes up. Look for the answer in the title of my forthcoming book, Radio: Creator of the Blank Stare. (A book that so far consists of nothing beyond what you’ve just read, so don’t rush to Amazon.com quite yet).
Many zeroes. In the wake of the CBS-Viacom merger, it looks like Joe Ianniello is the big loser. We all should be losers like this. Prior to the remarriage, he and Bob Bakish were duking It out to head the company, Ianniello being head of CBS and Bakish running Viacom. Bakish got the nod, and Ianniello got the boot. With a parting gift of seven-ty mill-ion doll-ars. Yeah, that’s seven—with seven zeroes. The published story in Inside Radio shows him understandably smiling. I guess they couldn’t get a pic of him laughing up his sleeve.
Out the door. KIRO-FM’s news and programming director, Ryan Maguire, has left the building. No “it was a great run” or “we wish him well,” so I don’t know whose idea it was. He identifies himself as a brand manager, broadcast and digital-content specialist. His wanderings have included endeavors in three stations in Michigan, and Milwaukee, Kansas City, Pittsburg (at the nation’s first commercial radio station, KDKA) and Miami, before his year-and-a-half here. Could get into the truck-rental HOF.
New in town. The new weekend sports anchor at KOMO-TV is Femi Abebefe. (His real name, not something created by a high-ranking government official. C’mon. You were thinking that.) He’s been doing sports reporting, producing and play-by-play at KHQ in Spokane for the past three years.
Out of town. KNKX news producer and Saturday host Ariel Van Cleave winds up her nearly four years at the station, moving to an editor position at WBEZ-FM in Chicago.
Love Liner loss. I had the pleasure of working with Jack Allen at both KVI and KMPS. And indeed it was a pleasure. He always was supportive and a joy to work with. His Love Line broadcasts probably brought a lot of people together. He sort of stayed with that, becoming a preacher in later years, so he could perform marriages. He’d had a bad health year, and his daughter points out that’s why he was so quiet, which most certainly had not been his nature. Jack died in mid-July, just a month after the passing of his wife of 35 years.
He’s back. Sports reporter Chris Francis returns to KIRO-TV. He was sports anchor from 2009 to 2016, before heading south. He’s been doing freelance work in San Francisco. His wife, former KIRO-TV traffic reporter Alexis Smith, is back, too, but will be staying at home with the family. Don’t be shocked if her face shows up on your TV screen at some point. That’s the lure of the business.
Bye bye CC. A Seattle disc jockey using the name C. C. has been working Saturdays at KISW, but has picked up the morning shift at KFMW in Waterloo, Iowa. It’s not unusual for a person to thank the folks she’s been working for. It’s also not mandatory, Quoting her: “I can’t freakin’ pack my stuff fast enough. I’m so ready to rock eastern Iowa. Hell yeah, baby, it’s on.” Consider her a gift from the 14th market to the 243rd market.
Weather weekender. Meterologist Grace Lim has joined KCPQ13 as weekend weather anchor. She comes from Lafayette, LA, and has worked at KEZI in Eugene, and in Los Angeles, after graduating from UC Davis.
Popping in. KOMO-TV’s newest reporter is Nick Popham. The SoCal boy graduated magna cum laude in journalism from Cal State-Northridge. He interned at 60 Minutes, made a few other stops before getting to Sioux City, IA. There, he was awarded for his coverage of the Wayne Chicken Show. (No, no, Les Nessman at the Silver Sow award…get out of my head!) He comes to Seattle after a couple of years at KATV, Little Rock.
New wake up. Speaking of KING-TV, Brittany Moorer is a new morning reporter. A cross-country move, she comes from WIAT in Birmingham, Alabama. She’s also worked in San Francisco.
Foxed. The best-known of the football-playing brothers, Brock Huard, (remember Damon and Luke?) is heading to Fox Sports as college football commentator alongside play-by-play man Joe Davis. I’ve always had the impression that he thinks he’s being paid by the word and wants a big check. On the other hand, they don’t hire him to sit around and say nothing. He’s spent the past 12 years doing the same sort of thing for ESPN. And, he co-hosts the morning show on KIRO-AM (“please call us ESPN710”). He had a great career as a UW quarterback, and a little less so in the NFL.
Saving Gracie. A pat on the back (if you can do that any more) to Angela Russell. The co-host of KING’s Take Five, and former KIRO anchor has won the Gracie Award from the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation. As you might guess from the name, the group honors programming created by, for and about women in non-print media.
B gone. He was called Mister Smooth, Peter B. Peter Boam was the evening disc jockey on KVI from 1973 to 82. He also worked at KJRB, Spokane, and several stations in California before heading to Madison, Wisconsin, where he won best radio personality awards five times. His unexpected death came at age 73.
Re-Marco-ble. KEXP disc jockey Marco Collins is taking some time off to up his battle against cancer. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame DJ and former music director at KNDD The End says doctors are optimistic. He admits to Times writer Michael Reitmulder that he cried when he began losing his hair, as chemotherapy kicked in. There is a GoFundMe campaign underway.
Fallon, not Jimmy. The I-Heart programming merry-go-round rolls on, with Jared Fallon jumping off in Seattle, to become program director at KBKS Kiss FM. He comes from sister station WIOQ in Philadelphia, where he was PD and afternoon host. He’s also worked in Ohio and Wisconsin. Statements from him and the company both use the word “excited”
Keeping track. John LaPorte is KIRO-TV’s new news director. He
comes from WITI-TV in Milwaukee… Ali Bradley has joined KCPQ-13 as anchor/reporter. The WSU grad spent the last three years in Pennsylvania at WPMT. Both stations are Fox affiliates owned by Tribune Media…Former KING-TV reporter Amanda Grace has landed one of those cushy non-broadcast PR jobs, at Zillow, with the fancy-sounding title of lifestyle consumer communications manager.
Speaking of Sinclair… Because it’s become a sideline sport here, watching Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of KOMO: former CBS correspondent Lara Logan is joining Sinclair for a short-term assignment covering the US-Mexico border. She left CBS after airing what turned out to be bad information about Libya on 60 Minutes, and apologizing for it. She says, in taking this job, that she hasn’t had a lot of offers lately. She says Sinclair is getting an independent honest journalist owned by neither the left nor the right. It’s possible Sinclair knows that.
On the street. It can be lonely at the top. Some cops don’t like to be promoted off the streets. Same for some news directors. The streets are where the action…the fun is. Maybe that’s why Erin Hennessey is stepping down from the top news job at KNKX-FM, the public station that used to be KPLU. She wants to return to reporting and special projects. The hunt is on for her replacement.
An apt move. Aptivada, a Salt Lake provider of marketing for broadcasters, podcasters, and anyone else who comes in the door, has a new chief marketing officer, Randi P’Pool. She’s been marketing veep for Alpha Media in Portland. It’s a return to Salt Lake for her, where she ran marketing for Citadel Communications. Radio Ink magazine put her on their 50 “Most Influential Women in Radio” list last year. A Yakima girl, she did college there and at Western Washington University. Alpha Media has radio stations all over, including Grays Harbor and Wenatchee. And yes, I hope some day to find out the significance of the unusual family name.
Aloha. Who amongst us hasn’t at some time thought about moving to Hawaii, finding work there, and just not leaving? (My wife was one of those, until I came along and loused up those plans.) Among the few of us who actually did that is Lexi Jones. Born in California, she grew up in Las Vegas and Kirkland, and came out of the UW with a degree in Media and Communications in 2016. Next stop, Kauai, where there were relatives. Next stop, KQNG Radio (calling itself KONG but no relation to KING TV’s sister station), selling, promoting, and doing a weekend air shift. And spending non-beach time at the gym, leading to a few bikini-category wins in various body-building competitions. Living her dream…and maybe yours.
In other’s words. Good to see one of my favorite consultants (two words you won’t see together that often), Becky Brenner, getting a little national ink from a podcast with the head of the Radio Advertising Bureau. Brenner, former DJ and then PD at KMPS, talked about country music’s connection with listeners, and how it’s an active format, not a passive one. The Inside Radio story quotes her saying a call to action from a radio talent will send an advertiser to the top. I can attest there’s little about country radio she doesn’t know. (I also note that twice in the story, she’s identified as Becker, so maybe she’s not so famous after all. Or, Inside Radio needs a proof-reading consultant.)
Meanwhile, (sorry, Stephen Colbert), PugetSound.Media has a puff piece about former KOMO-TV reporter/anchor Bill Brubaker, loaded with all kinds of good things to say about him. Having known him for many years myself, there’s nothing bad about him to say. He actually had a decent, worthwhile life outside of broadcasting, in local-level politics and the military. A good read written by former government flack Ron DeHart. (‘Scuse me….now that he’s got a byline, he’s Ronald DeHart.)
Tri-outs. There’s a new radio morning show in the Tri-Cities, Brooke & Jubal, syndicated from Seattle to most of the rest of the world. They replace the Kidd Kraddick syndicated show on KOLW. The Townsquare Media station has rebranded itself as 97.5 Kiss-FM.” You probably remember it as “Hot 97.5,” but those days are gone. Not much else has changed. The music might have nudged one direction or another, but most of us wouldn’t notice, and the rest of the day parts are voice tracked by people from company stations in Illinois and New Jersey. Like most of us, I haven’t actually listened to them, so I don’t know if they’re trying to convince listeners that they’re “your friendly local home-town station,” or not.
Grace-ful Departure. KING-TV anchor/reporter Amanda Grace has left the station after a little more than four years there. According to her Twitter page, “it’s time to take on a new challenge and grow personally and professionally.” No word yet on her future endeavors, but we all wish her the best, I’m sure.
Smart Alek. KKWF The Wolf has named Alek Halverson as afternoon jock and music director. Entercom’s Seattle Man in Charge Jack Hutchison is “excited to welcome him…and start a new chapter of afternoon drive.” It’s a good move up for Halverson, who’s worked at a couple of stations in Fargo, ND.
Meanwhile, back down the hall…At the afore-mentioned KTTH, former morning talker Jason Rantz has moved into the afternoon slot. Ben Shapiro’s syndicated show moves to evenings. Saul Spady joins what the station calls the “Conservative Commute” in the morning slot. (Yes, that Spady family. He’s the grandson of Dick Spady, which could mean more Dick’s Drive-In burgers and fries at staff meetings, but probably not. Dick lived three houses from me at Lake Sammamish for a while, but there was no such food for our beach gatherings
Gathering Hunter. Weekend host at Hubbard’s KNUC, “The Bull,” Hunter Quinn, has moved to Minneapolis to join Mollie Kendrick as the new morning team at KTCZ. It’s a return to I-Heart for Quinn. He had been afternoon host at KBKS “Kiss 106.1” here. Kendrick moved up from nights at the station there.
Portland-bound. Entercom has named Kim Martinez as market manager for its Portland radio stations. She had been veep for digital sales and sales manager for the company stations in Seattle.
Boergone conclusion. Unlike so many other recent disappearances from the airwaves, we know why Katie Boer is no longer on the KCPQ13 weather team, according to nwbroadcasters.com. She’s the latest poster person for the danger of holiday parties. After enjoying time with co-workers at one of their homes, they decided she was in no condition to drive. She disputed strongly, and continued to dispute strongly against the cops who were called. Timeline: partied, arrested, fired.
Q but not 13. Entercom has introduced this market to Channel Q, a talk radio format network for the LGBTQ+ community. It will be heard on KNDD’s HD2 network. (You can find it. It’s there somewhere.) Seattle market manager Jack Hutchison “looks forward to helping that community thrive in Seattle.” The format, especially the music, could be competition for the Seattle School District’s popular KNHC 89.5 FM, broadcasting from Nathan Hale high school.
Putting the X in Xmas. There’s a little more room in the hallways at Hubbard’s broadcast complex in Factoria, with seven staff members celebrating the holidays without the nuisance of having to go to work. The morning team of Allen Fee and Andy Ryan at Warm 106.9 KRWM are among those out the door, along with their producer, Kevin Justik. Hubbard, owner of the single biggest money-making station in the country for the last two years, WTOP, has been cutting staff at many of its properties. Night man AJ takes over mornings for now. (Everything in broadcasting is “for now.”) Down the hall, Michael Kraig Mason has been tossed by The Bull, leaving country KNUC.
More Delilah. Take Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginiam, off of the shrinking list of places where you can’t hear Seattle-based host Delilah. The “most listened-to woman on radio” is now filling up evenings on WBVW The Wave.
Out of the sun. Preston Phillips says he’s trading his shorts and flip-flops for jackets and boots. The morning anchor at KPHO, Phoenix, heads north to KOMO-TV as evening news anchor. Since I hide from winter in Arizona, I’ve watched him often in the three years he’s been there, and think he’ll be a good addition to the anchor corps here. (Left unsaid is that I think there are several anchors in Phoenix who aren’t up to our local levels of excellence, even though it’s a larger market. I guess it’s not left unsaid any more.)
Hahn gone. Reporter Elisa Hahn has put in 22 years at KING-TV. Her announced departure filled her Twitter feed with comments from most of the reporters in town on all the good things about her. She says it’s time for a change, saying she has been “craving a new adventure. To stretch a new muscle and learn something new.” She has not yet reached the age when stretching a new muscle is connected with pain that takes too long to heal.
A big Dent. Radio Hall-of-Famer Lisa Dent is the new late morning jock at WEBG, Chicago. She’s a big deal in the Windy City, having done mornings at WUSN. Her several stops around the country to get there included KYCW Young Country in Seattle in the mid ’90s.
What the puck. When you think of grunge music, you think of hockey. Maybe you didn’t realize that, but Tod Leiweke apparently does. His new NHL team has signed a deal with KEXP to provide all in-arena music in Key Arena for the hockey season, once the new team starts. KEXP is a small public station with some very loyal, and very well-off listeners. Note elsewhere here that 10-million-dollar donation they took in a while back. The fact that their studio is right across a walkway from the arena doesn’t hurt. The station holds a “deep belief in the power of music to connect and inspire.” Whether it inspires dancing—or a hat trick—remains to be seen.
Gone too young. Broadcaster Dennis Shannon has died in the Tri-Cities. He was news director at KONA radio for 17 years, and did some work on TV there. He spent time here at KOMO radio, as well as in Bellevue and Everett. The station reports he died of natural causes, a little unnatural for someone 68 years old.
Unbranded. KING-TV’s political reporter Natalie Brand has left the station, chasing her dream of becoming a political reporter in Washington, D.C. She started at KING in 2015, bringing her political science degree with her. No immediate word on where she may land. Veteran KING reporter Chris Daniels will take on her political-reporting duties.
A loose wingnut. KKWF’s mid-day host Wingnut is through the “out” door, after nearly 10 years there. He’s reportedly “on the hunt for his next opportunity.” (You probably know what that means.) He worked in Colorado before coming here. I suppose he now has more time to spend with his brother Lug and sister Pea. (Okay, okay, I might have made that part up. Or not.)
Nifty Fifty. Another Premier Networks show based in Seattle (as is Delilah), KQMV’s Brooke & Jubal, has hit the 50 mark in number of stations where you can hear them. Part of their plan to take over the world. Recent additions include stations in Billings, Bozeman and Helena, Montana, and one in Ottawa, which makes them international. And let’s not forget, as happens too often, Jose Bolanos, the show’s official “sidekick.
Towering inferno. From my former West Lake Sammamish home, I could see the tower on Tiger Mountain that broadcast several FM stations. Which means I could have seen the smoke from that tower from the early November fire. That took out the signals for KBKS, KJAQ, KZOK, KNUC, KOMV and KSND. (I live on the other side of the lake now, so I didn’t see it.) All the stations were back on the air quickly from auxiliary sites on Cougar Mountain or elsewhere.
Not so well. Lance Tidwell has left his operating manager position at a group of stations in Fort Collins, Colorado. He’s kept the truck rental people busy, as program director at KKWF The Wolf in Seattle about 10 years ago, and similar jobs in Kansas City, Tucson, San Antonio, Hartford, Boise and Memphis. (Why does that country song “I’ve been everywhere” come to mind?) The station says he’s seeking new opportunities and spending more time with family…a phrase often suggesting he might not have been all that ready to leave.
A good sport. You hear “always be a good sport…be a good sport all ways,” you hear Bob Robertson. The voice of WSU sports since 1964 is calling it a career, after 590 Cougar football broadcasts, and after winning state “Sportscaster of the Year” awards 12 times. “Getting old is what it is,” he says. He’s 89. He’s asked Wazzu to list him as “retired.” I got to know him when we worked at KVI. He always encouraged me, and probably everyone else he knew. Not many earn the title of “legendary” in their field while they’re still doing it. Robertson did. Welcome to the next stage, Bob. The hours are better.
Mulholland’s drive. Hubbard Radio has replaced the highly-successful Marc Kaye at their highly-successful Factoria complex with Ann Marie Mulholland as market manager. She comes from 14 years as GM at Crista Media in Seattle. The Central Washington grad began her career at CBS Seattle 28 years ago, and spent time in Eugene, and Pittsburgh. She is “honored,” noting “Hubbard Radio has an elite reputation.” Kaye is joining my world, with more days off than on.
On Decker. Radio Ink magazine has been profiling the 30 Best Managers for the year, including Lisa Decker, who’s run Alpha Media’s stations in Portland for the last two years. She was my last manager at KMPS, and an absolute delight to work for. She and PD Becky Brenner teamed up to make sure my retirement was noteworthy and reasonably generous. In the magazine interview, she talks of creating a winning culture, dipping into positive-poster sayings, like “winners focus on winning and losers focus on winners.” (Could go right next to the “hang in there” dangling cat poster.) She’s been a manager for 31 of her 37 years in the biz, and worthy of the recognition.
Love-ly. Alex Taylor has had a big jump in audience. The University of Alabama graduate started her broadcast career at CBS-Seattle in 2014, the moved to Crista Media and afternoon jock at KWPZ, Bellingham. Now, she’s the new evening host for the K-LOVE network (yes, all caps), a Christian-format company with stations around the country, including KLSW 104.5, Seattle (actually licensed to Covington).
Out of the Pool. If you didn’t feel something when KOMO-TV weather guru Steve Pool explained his absence, you might have some questions for and about yourself. He spent a few moments telling about his diagnosis of prostate cancer. He’ll be out for awhile undergoing treatment. He’s not sure for how long. Shannon O’Donnell will be covering for him, presenting the weather, and showing up at all the food demonstrations on the afternoon news to have a nibble or a sip. As for the ever-upbeat Poole, he says he’s the luckiest man in the world. I’ll join everybody else…and that’s a lot…in wishing him well.
Another award. Hubbard Radio Seattle’s national sales manager, Julie Judge, has picked up the Radio Wayne Award at the Radio Show in Orlando. The award, presented by Radio Ink magazine, goes to those sales execs in six categories whose “hard work…separates them from the pack.” (Because you want to know: the award is named for “Radio Wayne” Cornils, a small market broadcaster who went on to fame in the biz holding top positions in a couple of broadcast associations.) The magazine notes that Judge’s co-workers in Factoria made room for the award (at right). And, we await word on a replacement for Hubbard’s Seattle boss, Marc Kaye, who’s announced his retirement. To keep the office from getting dusty, he continues to show up.
Another voice gone. We note the passing of Norm Gregory, whose broadcasting career began in 1967 in Mt. Vernon and continued in Bellingham and Spokane, before winding up in Seattle. He worked notably at KOMO, KZOK, KJR, and others, retiring in 2003. The Roosevelt High School and Western Washington University grad is on the list of Crystal Soundie award winners from the Puget Sound Broadcasters Association for lifetime achievement. Diabetes and injuries from a fall are blamed for his death. He was 74.
New wakeup. Christian format KCMS-FM has a new morning show on the way, hosted by Scott Carty and Erica Parkerson. He’s been at several Seattle stations, most recently KOMO. She’s worked in this format in North Carolina and Virginia.
Gathering the Hunter. “Anyone in radio will tell you, once you’ve tasted it, you’re hooked for life.” So says Tim Hunter,” missing from the airwaves for 15 years. He’s back tasting more, as the new morning man for KRKO, Everett, as part of the new format of Everett’s Greatest Hits. He was part of the Murdock, Hunter and Alice morning show for 19 years on KLSY, and had produced the morning show at KOMO radio before that. Station manager Chuck Maylin points out KRKO and sister station KKXA are among the few locally owned radio stations left around here that “better serve the listeners and businesses.”
Mornings, eh? Having taken over much of the U.S., Brooke and Jubal in the morning, syndicated from here for the past four years, goes to work on taking over Canada. The show has been added to CKQB-FM, Ottawa, marketed as JUMP! 106.9 (yes, all caps and an exclamation point).
City News. Shannon Gee can drop “interim” from her title. She’s the general manager of the Seattle Channel, a sort-of local version of C-SPAN, widely watched by those who just can’t get enough government in their lives. She’s done a lot of free-lance writing and producing, much of it seen on KCTS, and has seven regional Emmys in her trophy case.
Winning Silver. 
Dee-tour. Usually when you’re told to take a hike, you’re out of a job. Not so with Reggie Dee, personality at WMBX in West Palm Beach, Florida. He asked to take a walk to raise money for cancer research, after his mother died from it. So, he’s walking 3,300 miles, to Seattle. Due here in mid-November. And this is not his first hike. Three years ago, he warmed up with a 1,300-mile walk from Dallas to West Palm Beach. He’s picked up sponsorship from T-Mobile, so his target is that company’s headquarters in Bellevue. I’m sure a local station will be covering it. It would be most convenient for one of Hubbard’s stations, since they’re located in the same Factoria office building complex as T-Mobile.
Off the air. A big name in Atlanta radio has died. Sean Demery spent several years there before heading west, including a stop at KMTT in Seattle in 2010 and a month on either side, and stations in San Francisco, Fresno, San Bernardino, Salt Lake City, and others. His last stop was at KINK in Portland, as PD and afternoon host. He had a stroke in January, and died in September. He was only 60.
News news. All-news KYW, Philadelphia, has named Alex Silverman as program director. He had been assistant director of news and programming at WCBS, New York. He also worked at WSYR, Syracuse. His only stop in the western 4/5th of the country was at KIRO-FM as anchor/reporter in 2010-11.
A fresh Bre-eze. Bre Ruiz has joined Sir Mix-a-lot as co-host of the morning show on Entercom’s KHTP. Hot 103.7, Seattle. She comes from sister station KSFM in Sacramento. She feels “blessed and excited” and can’t wait to “live the amazing Seattle life.” Others of us may still be searching for that.
Under one roof. Find any list of proud poppas, and Rick Van Cise should be on it. I’ve known him since he was just getting started in broadcasting. Several stops at radio and TV stations have led him to managing programming on both KVI and KOMO radio, as well as anchoring on KOMO. His son, Taylor, recently begin an anchor shift also on KOMO. And now daughter Lisa is back on the air, doing weather on weekends on KOMO-TV. She left KING a few years ago to head into the cushy world of government PIO work, at WSDOT (enough letters for you?), explaining why you couldn’t get anywhere on I-5. It’s good to see her again. She’s as good as it gets. Way to go, dad.
Out of the smog. KING-TV’s new weather guy, Craig Herrera, is up from KCBS-KCAL TV in Los Angeles. Many consider that the big time. He’s won five Emmys along the way, spending the last two years at that combo. He was the weekend morning weatherman, didn’t really like that shift and didn’t see it changing, so he became northbound.
Two years later. Back in August of 2016, when David Espinosa Hall was hired by KING-TV as a new evening anchor, he and the station both said how thrilled they were to be together. By August of 2018, the thrill apparently was gone…and so was he. No word on future plans, or reason for the departure. There is one opinion that his delivery style took time to appreciate.
Ohio’s loss. New at Broadcast House, Shelby Miller is now reporting for KIRO-TV. The Detroit native comes from WOIO, Cleveland. She went there from the morning anchor desk at WATE, Knoxville, Tennessee, wanting to get out of the studio and onto the streets. The dog-loving country music fan (that’s not a bad thing) got an early start in her career, reading the school daily announcements as a fifth grader.
Welcome X 2. KING-TV has two new reporters. Vanessa Misciagna comes to town from Burlington, Vermont. She’s a graduate of Boston University, and promises a plate of “Grandma’s meatballs” to anyone who can pronounce her name correctly the first time. She’s what’s now called an MSJ, or multi-skilled journalist, meaning she does the camera work as well as the reporting. Some say that’s just a cheap way for a company to avoid hiring 
two people to do two separate jobs. Those who disagree might have trouble mounting a good argument. And Kierra Elfalan made the trip across the state from KREM in Spokane. The Kent native and UW grad worked in the Tri-Cities before that.
Alpha Omega. The founder and CEO of Alpha Media, Larry Wilson, is stepping aside, although he’ll stay on the Board. Back in 2009, he started with a cluster of radio stations in Portland. Now, they’ve got 225 in 48 markets, including Aberdeen/Hoquiam, Wenatchee and Moses Lake. A good many Seattle broadcasters have found their way to that company, including Portland market manager Lisa Decker, the CBS-Seattle manager who waved bye-bye to me at KMPS (call letters I’ll mention now and then so as not to let them be forgotten).
with Jay Ward Giesa, a talented voice at KHQ, Spokane, and here at KJR and KFKF, before heading to KOMO. He did something unusual there, rising to station manager and corporate vice president. People with those jobs most often come up from the sales ranks, not from the programming side. The man we knew as Jay Ward died in May at his home in Issaquah, at age 89.
New on KVI. Much has been said about Sinclair’s operations at KOMO-TV. Let’s not overlook other stations in the building. KVI has added Jamie Markley and David van Camp’s Markley and van Camp Show. The show is syndicated by Compass Media Networks, live in the 9-noon slot. The news release says they are now heard “in over 15 markets.” Does that mean 16, or what? KVI program director Rick Van Cise likes their irreverent take on politics. The two are “pumped to be on KVI,” as many of us have been.
Open Dorr policy. Those who agree that Sinclair Media is a Fox wanna-be have some new ammunition. Kaelen Dorr is joining Sinclair as executive political producer. His background includes communications positions in the Trump White House and on the Trump campaign. He is “eager to bring his unique experience as a campaign veteran…to an already stellar group.” He said “stellar,” not “cellar,” in case you mis-read that.
with Jason Puckett on what Sports Radio 950 KJR creative whizzes decided to call “The Jason Puckett and Cliff Avril Show.” As of July 9, on the air 10 AM to 1 PM weekdays. I-Heart’s Seattle programming guy Rich Moore says “Cliff had an amazing career and we are lucky to be part of his next chapter.” Avril does have a Seahawks Super Bowl ring. And now a KJR hall pass.
Smokey Sound. Entercom’s new KSWD 94.1 The Sound has a new program director, Smokey Rivers. (Join me in guessing that name is not on his birth certificate.) His 33-year career has taken him to at least nine other stations around the country, most recently in Tucson. Market veep Jack Hutchison is “thrilled and excited” at a time the station is “experiencing phenomenal growth.” Reminding: it is a new station, with, so far, just the one direction to go.
Return to sender. Pete Combs has left KOMO radio to return to WSB, Atlanta, a station he left nine years ago. He says he missed being at that station. Also, he’s got grandchildren there, and wants to be closer to them. He’ll continue sporadic reports for ABC News.
Weekend weather. KIRO-TV’s newest weekend weather anchor is Claire Anderson, up from KOIN in Portland. She was born in Enumclaw, raised in south Seattle, went to UW. She interned at KCPQ13 and various Fisher stations in Seattle before heading off to work in Great Falls, then Santa Barbara. You think being on TV is all fun and games? You’re not entirely wrong. While working on a story in Santa Barbara, she had to learn how to surf. A talent that may atrophy here.
Silver Circle. The local chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) has announced the 2018 class inductees into its Silver Circle, recognizing individuals for career contributions to the television industry. The inductees include:
Out of business. You’ll have to rehab out of your business news fix for a while. Salem’s KKOL 1300 AM has gone silent while the FCC ponders its request. The company wants to relocate its transmitter farther north and up the power to 50,000 watt daytime, less at night. If all goes well, it should be broadcasting again in June or July. (Props to Salem for resurrecting the very old KOL…one K…call letters at 1300, the station that became KMPS.) Update: presuming Salem got down on one knee with the proposal, the good news is the FCC has said “yes.” Cue the jewelry store ads.
HOFer. The Country Radio Hall of Fame will induct new members June 20
What a babe. One of Seattle’s most delightful radio and TV personalities, Kaci Aitchison, is leaving her reporting job at KCPQ-13, for the best of reasons. She led her viewers through her difficulties with getting pregnant, and there was much rejoicing when daughter, Scarlett. finally made her entrance. That’s the reason. Kaci wants to be momma full-time, and is leaving TV “for now.” She’ll keep one hand on the diaper pail and other on a microphone, doing occasional special reports. Following the Sinclair takeover of Tribune and KCPQ, we’ll see which hand wins, if there’s a difference.
On their mind. The morning team of Tim Leary, Claire Beverly and Karen (Red) Daiss is leaving WUBB BOB 106.9, Savannah, Georgia, for the great Northwest, as the new morning show team on Hubbard’s new country station, KNUC 98.9 FM. Tim bothered to say in the news release that he promises not to break any more of his wife’s grandma’s china when unpacking. Perhaps the significance of that will become clear some day. The station’s been advertising to hire air staff, so here’s your chance.
From afar. The news director at Sports radio WQAM, Miami, Ryan Maguire, moved about as far away as he could to become the new director of news and programming at KIRO-FM. Those two jobs together means he gets the blame for just about anything that goes wrong on the air. His road here included stops in Pittsburg, Kansas City and Milwaukee.
To market. Jay Yovanovich is the new director of marketing at KING- and KONG-TV. He comes from a similar job in Raleigh, NC. He’s also worked in Pittsburgh and Charleston. He’s s got a pile of awards in his office, including four Gold Promax honors. (Yeah, I know, sounds like something you’d see advertised in the back pages of a men’s magazine—but it’s not… as far as I know.)
The Ol’ Ball Game. There are a lot of jobs involved in getting a Mariners’ broadcast on the air, and Gary Hill, Jr., has done most of them. The part-timer has filled in on play-by-play, pre- and post-game shows, podcasts and maybe going for coffee now and then. He’ll cut back to full-time now, replacing the retired Kevin Cremin as executive producer/engineer for the broadcasts. He’s been with the team for seven years and is a graduate of WSU with degrees and communications and psychology. (An interesting combo, as the first often feeds the second.)
Leaving the Country. There was a time several years ago when some thought it unlikely that a Country music station would make it big in the Seattle market. KMPS disproved that. But, its demise and the struggles of its most worthy competitor, KKWF, suggest we can think that again. Among the latest Radio Awards nominees for the Academy of Country Music show on April 14 in Las Vegas, there are no nominees from Seattle or anywhere in Washington state. The only two small-market nominations from the Northwest are from stations in Medford and Idaho Falls. You can watch the awards on CBS, with a sigh. Meanwhile, Hubbard’s KVRQ 98.9 FM, which switched to Country to fill the KMPS gap, has changed its call letters to KNUC, as in Nu Country, I suppose.
Delighted. Most folks in the country have to stay up later at night to hear Seattle-based nationally syndicated Hall-of-Famer Delilah, who’s been soothing hearts of listeners for more than 30 years, but not here lately. She’s been added to the airwaves at the new KSWD The Sound at 94.1. (Still hurts to say that number without saying KMPS.) Her show airs middays, 10-3. The most-listened-to woman on radio is heard on about 150 stations. We’ll see how she does in the daylight.
Short move. Seattle’s newest country station, Hubbard’s KVRQ 98.9 FM, has its first program director, from just down the hall in Factoria. Lisa Adams has been marketing director at KWRM. She certainly knows the way to the parking garage. She helped start MOVIN 92.5 before Sandusky sold it to Hubbard. In full marketing-bluster mode, she says Country 98.9 is “an extremely special radio station for Seattle.” It’s filling the substantial hole left by the demise of KMPS, a more than so-so Country station in its day.
Goin’ to Chicago. The last program director at KMPS, Kenny Jay, is staying with the company. Entercom changed format and call letters to Adult Contemporary KSWD, The Sound. (So they don’t spell so good.) Jay stayed on as PD for a few minutes, but that wasn’t destined to last. They moved him into the PD slot at WUSN Chicago, one of the most respected Country stations (still) around.
Imus Quits. One of the most successful talk-show hosts in the country, Don Imus, is pulling the plug on his WABC syndicated show at the end of March. It has to do with owner Cumulus’ bankruptcy filing. They told him they’d stop paying him at the end of his contract. Highly skilled pro that he is, he knows that being professional includes being paid. He’s 77… could go looking for a job, or could join others of us in the sun in Arizona or Florida. Not a bad choice. The Imus program was on the air on KRKO Everett for awhile, but didn’t make much of a ripple in the market.
Gone at nine. Enrique Cerna is calling it a career after 42 years on the air, the last 23 at KCTS-9. He was a host, producer, had the title of Director of Community Partnerships—and may well have swept the floors, when necessary. The Wapato native began working at KOMO Radio (he was Henry Cerna back then), and passed through KING-TV on his way to the Community Television Service.
Morning Man. Entercom has named John Fisher as the first morning man for its new KSWD, The Sound, at 94.1 FM (yes, the former KMPS home.) No stranger to getting up early, he’s been waking up listeners to KMTT The Mountain for 20 years, and more recently at KRWM. His new boss calls him morning-show royalty in Seattle.” [To those of you who say, I must have abdicated, thank you. Anybody?]
Editorial: This second-half nightmare that Daniel Vogelbach is now mired in is as old as baseball. You enter the league with a good feeling for the strike zone and a swing that’s working. Home runs are jumping off your bat, and you find yourself in the All-Star Game.
“Writing a book is a tough slog. I’d spent nearly four decades writing individual news stories, but never an undertaking of this magnitude. I began by making lists of the life events I felt most defined and explained the person I became. I identified the bookends—where I would begin and where I would finish— and then fill in the empty spaces with the stories of my life in television news and the decision to leave the news business and manage a horse ranch…stories which affected me most deeply and which might resonate with readers. I went through four complete re-writes of the book.
We revisit a different MARKETING IMMORTAL each week. This week’s featured IMMORTAL is advertising icon John Brown. Here’s his update:
Let’s get a couple of things settled right from the get-go. I bleed purple and gold. And to my three detractors who think I should stick to advertising topics—this IS about the influence of broadcast revenues, and the damage it can do.
In 1968, Jim Ellis spearheaded an unprecedented 12-part capital-improvement program in King County that he dubbed “Forward Thrust.” Seven of the 12 propositions were approved by voters, and the benefits that flowed from the program included new fire stations, road improvements, parks and swimming pools, the downtown aquarium and the late Kingdome.
I was hired by Ellis and then-Seattle-Mayor Dorm Braman in late 1968 as the first employee of the new Metro transit function, activated to resubmit the issue to the ballot in 1970, because Senator Warren Magnuson had secured $800 million in federal funding that was earmarked for Seattle, pending voter approval of the project.
Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto has made the following final-month moves that increase the active roster to the full 40 players. The call-ups, all from AA Arkansas, are the so-called “Fab Four” of the Mariners farm system.
Brian Hunt, co-founder of Hunt Marketing Group, has transitioned to chief executive officer and been succeeded as president by Natalie Gossett, also a co-founder.
July 1 is the deadline for entries in the annual PPI PrintROCKS! competition All marketing directors, graphic designers and printers are encouraged to showcase their print production and design prowess by entering their best work at 
Kirstin Baldwin, a Seattle resident, has been named to the position for the Portland-based printing association that serves seven Northwest states, including Washington, Oregon, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Alaska and Hawaii. This is the letter sent to the PPI membership about Baldwin’s appointment.
The Art Institute of Seattle is abruptly closing its doors on Friday, March 8, with only a couple days’ notice, leaving more than 600 students in the lurch. Read the details in this March 7 
Katherine Mackinnon, a prominent strategic communications and advocacy expert, has joined APCO Worldwide, according to Tim Smith, managing director of the Seattle office. Mackinnon has more than a decade of local government and public affairs experience and will serve as a director, based in the Seattle office.
Lee Allen has joined Weber Marketing Group, a data analytics and strategic branding agency, as software platform director. Allen will manage the development and marketing of the agency’s growing data warehouse and BI analytics software platform.
The Pacific Printing Industries Association (PPI) has a new executive director, Jason Page, who is succeeding Jules Van Sant. Here is the introductory letter Jason sent to the membership:
Jules Honored. Outgoing PPI executive director Jules Van Sant was the recipient of two prestigious awards recently from the Printing Industries of America (PIA).
WONGDOODY has hired four new staffers in its Seattle office: (from left above) motion designer Ashley Nieves; designer Delaney Pratt; studio designer Bailey Lehtinen; and administrator Katie Harrison. Nieves has been a freelancer who is looking forward to being part of a team. Pratt comes from the NBA Players Association in New York City. Lehtinen is a recent graduate of Western Washington University in Bellingham. And Harrison is “happy to be home in the creative house that is WONGDOODY.”
Emerald City Graphics (ECG) and Printing Control (PC), two RR Donnelley companies that operated from separate plants in Kent and Tukwila, respectively, for a number of years, are now under the ECG roof in Kent.
Starbucks hired posterGIANT to stencil this graphic on sidewalks at 50 locations outside its downtown stores and on pedestrian routes to the Seattle Sounders matches at CenturyLink Field. The stencil is approximately 24×24 inches.
Heard of Civilization—as in a Seattle design studio? Neither had we, until Christina Arbini, who’s launched a new public relations firm after many years at Hornall Anderson, sent us a release.
The two Kevins (Burrus and Nolan) and media buyer Megan Smiley are out with a new multi-platform campaign for Elliott Bay Auto Brokers. You can see the work around town on outdoor (see example above), transit, broadcast and online. 
“W” has gotta be the favorite letter in the alphabet for the folks at Michael Courtney Design (MCD)! On the heels of making the large metal W at the entrance to the UW campus an instant landmark (see story below), the agency has scored again with that letter.
The folks at Michael Courtney Design had a suspicion when they designed the Big W at the entrance to the main campus at the University of Washington that it might become a favorite photo location. And indeed, the iconic seven-foot-tall landmark has become the place for graduates to stand, diploma in hand, to pose for a photo while the proud family looks on. Said principal Michael Courtney, “We’re happy to play a part in this milestone moment and to see the emotional connection the grads have to this oversized letter that represents a place they love and identify with.
BrandQuery president and chief brand strategist Jacque Beamer completed the Executive Education Program at Yale University. The program, Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders is a thorough overview of today’s creative business including Understanding Consumer Choice, Organizing for Innovation, Leading Organizational Change, law, accounting, negotiation, and more.
Genny Boots has been promoted from intern to assistant advisor at Tacoma-based JayRay. As an intern, she helped with projects for tourism and travel clients—organizing photo shoots, writing blogs and coding website content. Her strong writing skills were honed in a variety of settings. She worked as an intern at The News Tribune in Tacoma, as social-media manager for a nonprofit in Prague and as GM of the student TV station at Pacific Lutheran University. She also taught English in Peru and Nicaragua for a year after graduation from high school.
Substantial, a Seattle digital design agency, has promoted Carey Jenkins to CEO, charged with overseeing digital teams working on national and global product development. She brings more than 17 years of experience in client services and delivery management.
Shawn Williams, founder and CEO of GRAY Magazine, which covers the design industry in the Pacific Northwest, has been named one of Folio’s 2018 Top Women in Media in the Entrepreneurs category. The award honors women “who have stood out, taken risks and pushed their teams to new heights.” The Top Women list also includes leaders from The Atlantic, Bloomberg, Harvard Business Review, Hearst, Time and Vox Media. Honorees were celebrated in New York City on June 7.
Marti Lindeman has joined Piranha Partners as VP, business development and client services. Her experience spans virtually all the media, including (do you remember?) the KIRO Radio News Fax? And in her promotional life, she’s done everything from putting an inflated gorilla on the Space Needle to being the first to introduce “this Internet thing” to local advertisers.” And I love her Mantra, “Rewired, Not Retired.” For more info, go to www.piranhainformation.com.
BrandQuery won the 2018 Communicators Award at the recent NAYDO Conference in New Orleans, LA, for its Skagit Valley Family YMCA building-fund campaign that was the largest such effort ever in Skagit County. On hand to received the award, from left above, are Skagit Valley Y staffers Renata Maybruck and Jennifer Pitner and Brand Query principal Jacque Beamer. (Pub. Note: The Skagit Valley campaign also won the Publishers’ Choice award at THE EVENT on May 23, where all MARKETING Award winners were announced.)
Josh O’Connor has been promoted to president/publisher of Sound Publishing, succeeding Gloria Fletcher, who left to become publisher of the Tulsa (OK) World.
Phinney Bischoff has completed a rebrand for BECU, aimed at helping the identity stand out and better extend to multiple environments. BECU was founded in 1935 by a group of 18 Boeing factory workers and now has more than one million members and growing. “In a world where affinity for financial institutions is fading, BECU is a shining example of what’s possible when people and community come first,” said PB principal Leslie Phinney.
Hydrogen Advertising has created a Labor of Love advertising and PR campaign to raise awareness of the Skilled Labor Fund and added two staff members.
Jacob Kreutzer has been promoted to work in business-development at Northwest Sign and Design in Monroe. He began his career there at age 19 and has been integral part of every aspect of the sign-making process there for three years. He was the company’s fourth employee and has excelled in assembly, machining, fabrication, installation and project management. In business development, he will use his insight and experience to create innovative solutions for clients.
Jacque Beamer, president of BrandQuery is headed to Yale University this Summer for an intensive business-certificate program.
Tim Smith has been named managing director of the Seattle office of APCO Worldwide, leading the New York-based PR giant’s growing West Coast presence. Smith has now completed the “hat trick” with major PR firms. He comes to APCO from a position as EVP with Edelman, which he joined in 2009 from an SVP position with Waggener Edelman Worldwide.
Kerry Dorado is a new account manager at PhinneyBischoff. She has worked with global leaders including Medtronic and Enphase Energy, national brands like Whole Foods Market, and nonprofits such as Guide Dogs for the Blind. A Wine Country native, Kerry enjoys redirecting her precise attention to detail to the greens in her free time.
And Kevin Patnik has been hired as a senior brand/content manager. A writer by trade, Kevin has driven strategy and led creative teams on major organizational rebrands, including KUOW 94.9, Washington Women’s Foundation, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, Port of Vancouver USA and Adrift Hotels. Other brand and verbal identity clients have included Starbucks, Seattle Colleges, Seattle Humane, Lakefield Veterinary Group, Seattle Channel and KEXP 90.3.
Michael Courtney Design created this striking recognition wall for the College of Architecture, Planning and Design at Kansas State University. The wall is a visual thank-you to the donors, supporters and friends who imagined, designed and funded the $75 million expansion of Seaton Hall on the KSU campus. It’s located in an entry lobby and rises two stories on an historic stone wall.
DNA Seattle has hired Summer Slater as director of communications strategy, overseeing all aspects of the agency’s integrated media offerings. She was most recently partner/strategy director at Mindshare in Playa Vista, CA. Principal Alan Brown said, “Summer brings a deep skill set in media analytics that will further enable us to deliver ideas that drive results. Brown said the hire followed a record year for DNA Seattle.
Job-Search Factors: What are the factors that are most important to job seekers these days—in Seattle as well as around the country?
Jenn McElroy has promoted been promoted to director of training and implementation at Woodinville-based BDA, the nation’s leading brand-merchandise agency, including the ubiquitous bobble-head dolls. Jenn has contributed her sales expertise to BDA for more than 10 years, most recently as director of global sales operations. She is stepping into this new role to leverage her strong background in training, with over a decade of training management experience at Tully’s Coffee before joining BDA. Wanted to send over another BDA submission for consideration in your Newsmakers section.
Sydney Tanner is the new director of program sales. Before coming to BDA, Sydney led site and email merchandising for Sur La Table and managed eCommerce and site merchandising for Eddie Bauer, accumulating over a decade of experience in the field. She is analytically driven and passionate about understanding clients’ needs to bring best options to grow and expand their business.
Congrats, Carolyn: A contemporary in the niche-publishing business, Carolyn Price, is celebrating the 30th anniversary of her Price Media Co., publisher of OutdoorsNW and The Cyclist and host of a number of outdoor events. Congrats, Carolyn and many more.
The Action Central facility that we’ve been stumping for here this past many months would be that “contractor,” if you will, in dealing with the homeless/lawless crisis. And NASA’s Mission Control, that we’ve been using as an analogy, is in the same category as the other projects mentioned earlier. It’s certain that we’d never have achieved a moon landing or countless successful space probes without it.
“We launched “Unite Seattle” in the Spring of 2018 to prove that print wasn’t dead and to show that print still is a viable platform. Realistically, you need all platforms (print, digital, social, video and online) to survive in the ever-changing marketplace.
