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November 6, 2009

History Today: 1861—James Naismith, the creator of basketball, was born in Ontario, Canada. Naismith was working as an athletic director at a Springfield, Mass., YMCA when his boss challenged him to create a safe indoor game to keep athletes in shape during the long winter.

	Media Blog	Seize the Day	Media Moves Archives	In Their Own Words	About Vocus

Black, white and glossy all over
Redesigns are in the air, the latest being the San Francisco Chronicle, which announced it would introduce a shiny new format. Come Monday, the Chronicle is going glossy.

But does it make sense? “Bloomberg TV lays off 100 producers but builds a new $4 million set. Condé Nast lays off hundreds and closes Gourmet Magazine but launches a new Gourmet TV series. San Francisco Chronicle lays off reporters and editors but invests in a glossy format,” said media economist Jack Myers in an e-mail interview. “They are throwing spaghetti against the wall hoping something sticks” ...READ MORE

Also in the inVocus Media Blog:
The path of free content
Adventures in localism
Pitching the green

Get informed about children with special needs
What: Over 30 years ago, school systems lacked the tools to provide a proper education to many children with disabilities that ranged from Attention Deficit Disorder, autism and Asperger's Disorder, to brain trauma and speech impairment. In fact, the U.S. Department of Education reports that only 1 in 5 schools educated children with disabilities before 1975, and that some states even excluded some children with certain needs from their schools. Times have changed since then, but learning disorders are as prevalent as ever. On Dec. 2, honor the country’s progress while encouraging the further evolution of learning on Special Education Day.

Story Pitch: Special Education Day provides an opportunity for schools to promote efforts in developing special education programs, while community groups and hospitals can promote awareness. In addition, retailers can campaign educational products around this event...READ MORE

Daily Media Moves

Magazines
Cooking mag gets new executive editor
Christian Millman
Taste of Home
(414) 423-0100
cmillman(at)reimanpub.com
www.tasteofhome.com

Christian Millman recently joined Taste of Home as the publication’s executive editor. The Reader’s Digest publication focuses on home-style cooking recipes that include seasonal advice on recipes, cooking and entertaining. Millman comes from Better Homes and Gardens where he held the role of deputy editor.

New associate editor at Inc.
Nadine Heintz
Inc.
(212) 389-5300
nheintz(at)inc.com
www.inc.com

Inc. magazine associate editor Hannah Clark Steinman has left the publication. She has joined Clinton Global Initiative as a communications manager. Nadine Heintz, previously an assistant editor for the magazine, now serves as associate editor.

newline

Newspapers
New editor at New York Observer
Kyle Pope
New York Observer
(212) 755-2400
kpope(at)observer.com
www.observer.com

Kyle Pope has been named editor of the New York Observer. Previously, he was a deputy editor for Condé Nast’s now-defunct Portfolio magazine. He has worked for the Wall Street Journal and freelanced for the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times. Pope replaces Tom McGeveran, who will leave the paper at the end of the year after assisting with Pope’s transition. Pope’s first issue as editor will be Dec. 9.

newline

Television
WFXT drops lead sports anchor
Butch Stearns
WFXT-TV
(781) 467-2525
desk(at)fox25.com
www.myfoxboston.com

WFXT did not renew lead sports anchor Butch Stearns’ contract and he was officially let go on Nov. 5. He is not being replaced, leaving only Ryan Asseta as the remaining on-air sports personality at the Fox affiliate. Stearns has been with WFXT for 10 years.

WFXT-TV is a Fox affiliate serving the Boston viewing area.

WEAO introduces new program
NEOtropolis
WEAO-TV
(330) 677-4549
program(at)wneo.pbs.org
www.westernreservepublicmedia.org

On Nov. 6, WEAO will debut its newest program called “NEOtropolis.” The half-hour weekly program will focus on the business and economy of northeastern Ohio. The show is hosted by Thomas Mulready and will air Fridays at 9 p.m. and repeat at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday mornings.

WEAO-TV is a PBS affiliate serving the Cleveland viewing area.

newline

Radio
Fernando & Greg join San Francisco’s KMVQ for mornings
Fernando Ventura
Greg Sherrell
KMVQ-FM 99.7 (“Movin 99.7”)
(415) 391-9970
www.movin997.com

Beginning Thursday, KMVQ will debut a new morning show, “Fernando & Greg,” airing weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. The program features San Francisco radio vets Fernando Ventura and Greg Sherrell, who exited KREV-FM in September. The duo replaces Maria Todd and Marcus “Chunk” Bonfiglio, who aired their last show yesterday.

KMVQ-FM is a Top-40 station serving the San Francisco area.

The industry’s only Pitching Tips selection featuring

Podcasts. Click to hear pitching preferences directly from the media contact.

newline

Newspapers
Keith Darce, health care reporter
San Diego Union-Tribune
(619) 293-1020
keith.darce(at)uniontrib.com
www.signonsandiego.com

Keith Darce covers medical science and the business of health care, including hospitals, health care reform and health insurance, in San Diego and throughout Southern California. Press releases must have a local angle to gain his attention – whether it is a person or a company. Pitch him by e-mail. Do not send attachments or photos unless requested. Follow-up calls are encouraged. The best time to reach Darce is between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. He does not want to be contacted after 4 p.m. unless it is for an urgent breaking story.

newline

Television
Dana Hann, news director
WJBK-TV
(248) 395-3692
fox2newsdesk(at)foxtv.com
www.myfoxdetroit.com/myfox

Dana Hann is interested in press releases related to local, national and international news. Pitch her by e-mail; she accepts high-resolution images and attachments. A follow-up call is encouraged “just to make sure we have it and if I need more specific information, or really just to sell the idea,” says Hann. “On the important ones, it does help.”

newline

Radio
Robin Fisher, producer
WFPL-FM / “State of Affairs”
(502) 814-6500
rfisher(at)wfpl.org
www.wfpl.org/state-of-affairs

Robin Fisher pre-screens guests and sound for promotional ads and updates research for "State of Affairs." The program's listening audience is suburban professionals between 35 and 55. Press releases can relate to any topic. "We do health, arts, politics. If we think it's a good hour discussion, we'll do the show," says Fisher. "It's really the topic that grabs my attention more than anything," she adds. Pitch her by e-mail; she accepts sound-clip attachments. Follow-up calls are discouraged.

“State of Affairs” provides a public forum for discussion of the issues, people and events that impact the Louisville, Ky. community. It airs weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon on WFPL-FM, a non-commercial News/Talk station that includes both local programming and syndicated public radio programs.

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