New Anchor/Reporter Coming to KNWA
This from a tipster: Mickey Goodwin will be leaving us Nov. 9th to pursue another opportunity in the wonderful world of news. She will be joining KNWA-TV in Fayetteville, Arkansas as an anchor/reporter. She will be starting on weekends there, but should work her way up quickly. She will not have to one-man band. She will not have to produce. She likes this.
Mickey has been with us since August of 2004. She has served in just about every role here at WBBJ-TV in the news department. She's reported, produced, anchored every single show we have. That's a lot.
Citadel DOS Promoted to Market Manager
This from a tipster: Citadel/Little Rock has named veteran Director of Sales Cindy Thompson as Market Manager replacing Jim Beard.
Letter From Anne On Her Retirement
During the Christmas holidays of 2005, my husband, Ralph, and I took a long walk and talked about the future of our family. We were prompted in large part by the fact that my contract at THV was up for renewal. I decided at that time that I would renew my contract at Channel 11 for two more years and then retire. How quickly that time has come.
The eve of my first day as an intern at KTHV was during the summer of 1979. I could not sleep because of my excitement. I had already spent my high school years at another television station in town as an Explorer Scout—a co-ed division of the Boy Scouts--and was certain that my career would be in television news. Then in 1982, armed with a college degree, Robert L. Brown, the President, General Manager and an owner of KTHV, took a leap of faith and gave me my first job.
I consider myself blessed to have been born in Arkansas. I have always loved this state’s breathtaking beauty and her incredible people. Many you have watched me on the news through the years. You have allowed me to make mistakes and helped me grow in my profession. It has been my privilege to share some of your stories with our viewers. My decision to remain in Arkansas was largely because of you and I can never thank you enough for your dedication and friendship.
It has been said that change is both good and inevitable. At this point in my life, I am finding this to be true.
During the course of my career, this industry has gone from using film to tape, to digital technology, to live streaming on the World Wide Web. And I’ve watched this once locally-owned television station become part of Gannett Broadcasting. The members of this THV family have come and gone through the years, each having brought something of value to the table. There is a spirit of genuine caring that prevails here. THVers care about each other, and they care about the people they reach each day. I leave here confident that this tradition will continue, and I feel proud knowing that I was once part of the wonderfully talented team here.
So, as I shift my focus to my family full-time, I look forward to redefining myself. I imagine that, eventually, I will work again. But for the immediate future, I plan on spending less time in front of a mirror, rediscovering the joys of reading for pleasure, and cooking without a microwave. I’ll help my sons with their homework, and may even manage to clean out a few closets. And even though you won’t see me every night, I’ll still be around. Only now, you’ll most likely find me in the grocery store or carpool line, and wearing a lot less makeup.
Thank you all. I will miss you.
Anne
Jansen Leaving KTHV
Source: KTHV.com Veteran Little Rock newscaster Anne Jansen has announced she will retire from broadcasting next year after a 25-year career. Since 1982, she has anchored and reported her entire career for Today’s THV in Little Rock.
After a lifetime of news events and stories, Jansen said the time has come for more family life.
“For the immediate future, I plan on spending less time in front of a mirror, rediscovering the joys of reading for pleasure, and cooking without a microwave. I’ll help my sons with their homework, and may even manage to clean out a few closets,” said Jansen.
Her retirement to family life at home is a departure from her family at THV.
“There is a spirit of genuine caring that prevails here. THVers care about each other, and they care about the people they reach each day. I leave here confident that this tradition will continue, and I feel proud knowing that I was once part of the wonderfully talented team here,” she said.
Today’s THV President and General Manager Larry Audas said Jansen first told him of her retirement plans two years ago.
“I believe Anne and her husband Ralph discussed the possibility of retiring at that time. After helpfully suggesting she stay two more years, I knew this time would come. Anne is professional in every sense of the word. We all commend and thank Anne for her commitment that has helped make Today’s THV a news leader in Arkansas,” Audas said. “We wish her whole family the very best.”
Jansen will continue her regular anchor duties through January of next year when she will complete her career and employment.
“Even though you won’t see me every night, I’ll still be around. Only now, you’ll most likely find me in the grocery store or carpool line, and wearing a lot less makeup,” said Jansen.
Today’s THV will honor Jansen and her 25 years of service by celebrating her career and service over the weeks ahead.
KARK GM Leaving for Ohio
A tipster sent us an e-mail that KARK General Manager Rick Rogala is leaving. ATN can confirm the tip. Rogala came to KARK in 2005. Rogala has been named vice president and general manager of WCMH-TV (Channel 4), Media General's NBC affiliate in Columbus, Ohio.
Bryant Advocacy Group Cries Foul Over KLRT Report
Arkansas Business.com reports People for Bryant Schools is causing a stink over a story KLRT did concerning the proposed, now defeated, millage increase in the Bryant School District. AB.com says, Ed Trauschke, news director at KLRT, agreed that the wording was a little confusing but stands by the Sept. 17 report. Read the full story HERE.
KSLA Reporter Jumps 62 Markets
Newsblues reports KSLA/Shreveport reporter David Begnaud has been hired by CBS-owned KOVR-13 in Sacramento, CA.
Arkansas Native Named ND at THV
Arkansas Business.com reports Arkansas Native Chuck Maulden has been named news director at KTHV. Maulden comes to Channel 11 from KSDK in Saint Louis, MO. He will start at THV October 22.
Lawsuit Against Former NWA Sports Anchor Thrown Out
Source: NWA Times Local sports broadcaster Bo Mattingly, who quit his job at KNWA-TV in July, will not have to stop doing his radio show.
That is the bottom line of a ruling Wednesday afternoon by Fourth Circuit Judge Mary Ann Gunn, who denied the station owner’s motion to keep Mattingly from airing “ Sports Talk with Bo Mattingly” via KFAY, an AM radio station that broadcasts in the Fayetteville and Farmington areas, for a year after his quitting the television station on July 9.
Gunn said the plaintiff, Nexstar Broadcasting Group, failed to show that the station would undergo irreparable harm if the injunction was not granted.
Any further issues in the matter should be handled via arbitration, she said.
Nexstar had asked for a preliminary injunction that would bar Mattingly from broadcasting the show. The company argued that he breached his Nexstar contract, which contained a clause keeping him from working on-air in this market for a year after quitting.
KAIT Forced to Make Changes to One of its Digital Channels
A reader tells ATN KAIT recently was forced to drop the My Tube Music Network from one of its digital channels. MTMN went bankrupt. KAIT has 3 digital channels, regular, weather and the yet to filled spot left empty by the dropping of MTMN.
Changes in Monroe/El Dorado
This from a tipster: KTVE (NBC10) in West Monroe, LA has a new reporter and new weekend anchor. I believe the new anchor's name is Melissa Clark. I don't know how interested people are about hearing from this market, but there's big news coming out of Monroe- El Dorado . After Hoak Broadcasting took over KNOE last week, they fired GM Roy Frostenson (sp?). He will stay on as a consultant for six months before leaving the station.
New KTAL Morning Anchor; New KTBS Met AND KTAL Reporter Arrested
I finally made it back home and in this post I have more questions than answers BUT will post what I have until I find the specifics:
> KTAL has a new morning anchor. will be watching Monday morning to report the name
> KTBS has a new weekend Meteorologist; will be watching the newscasts tonight for the name
AND Shreveport blogger Marshall Fannin reports that KTAL reporter Maria Vallejo was arrested late last week on DWI charges.
KNWA Exec Promoted
Source: TV Newsday Blake Russell to serve be vice president of marketing and operations. He’s succeeded as VP/general manager of KNWA Fayetteville, Ark., by Mike Vaughn.
Nexstar Broadcasting Group today announced the appointment of Blake Russell to serve as the company’s vice president of marketing and operations. Working with Nexstar’s 29 general managers, he will be responsible for the conception, execution and implementation of the company’s strategic initiatives and special projects.
Russell has served as vice president/general manager of Nexstar’s KNWA (NBC) Fayetteville , Ark. , and KFTA (Fox) Fort Smith , Ark. , since 2004. During that time, he re-launched and rebranded the station with the KNWA call letters, and last year launched KFTA.
In making the announcement, Nexstar CEO Perry Sook commented, “During Blake’s 10 years with Nexstar, he has been instrumental in re-launching and re-positioning stations in Beaumont , Shreveport , and Ft. Smith/Fayetteville. Blake will bring this experience to the corporate level to help lead the continuing evolution of the company to a multi-platform, local content and service provider. He will also play a key role in our regional hub strategies.”
Prior to joining Nexstar, Russell held various promotion and production management positions at KJAC Beaumont, Texas; KLRT/KASN Little Rock, Ark.; and KAIT Jonesboro, Ark.
Mike Vaughn, will replace Russell as VP/GM KNWA. He will have additional oversight of KFTA under the terms of a shared services and joint sales agreement with Mission Broadcasting. Nexstar has entered into a definitive agreement to sell KFTA to Mission and is awaiting FCC approval.
Vaughn has been director of sales for KARK Little Rock and KNWA/KFTA since August 2005. Prior to that, Vaughn was general sales manager at KNWA/KFTA and local sales manager at KSFX/KOLR Springfield, Mo. He also held various sales positions at KPBI and KPOM/KFAA Fayetteville/Ft. Smith.
Former KHOG Met Guilty in Picture Taking Incident
Source: The Morning News A former television weatherman accused of harassing an 11-year-old girl by taking surreptitious pictures of her was found guilty in a bench trial Tuesday in Fort Smith District Court.
Justin Povick, 25, was charged with the Class A misdemeanor in connection with a June 12 incident at Creekmore Park, where the girl was swimming.
Povick has not been employed by KHOG since shortly after the incident was reported.
District Judge David P. Saxon withheld sentence.
The offense is punishable by up to a year in county jail and/or a maximum $1,000 fine. The state recommended a one-year suspended sentence and counseling by Larry Gant, a local counselor highly regarded in the legal community.
If the defense chooses to appeal, Saxon indicated he would set an appeal bond and the case would be forwarded to Sebastian County Circuit Court.
Who would have thought I would have been spending a whole month in El Dorado?!? Anyway I will be making my way home over the weekend and blogging should be back to normal on Monday.
