March 2004

New Rock 105 ‘The Dog’ (WWDG) is looking for a new morning man. Bob Schmidt, who has been with the station since its format change 15 months ago, is headed to Los Angeles where he’ll take over as creative production director at Sports KXTA 690 & 1150 AM. WWDG’s program director, Erin Bristol, says she’s

A two-hour panel discussion at Syracuse University on Thursday will examine current issues facing the media. The moderator for the public forum is PBS correspondent Terence Smith whose resume also includes 20 years at the New York Times and 13 years with CBS. The Syracuse Post-Standard has more on Smith’s visit …Source (link may no

Stan Soboleski, better known to the masses as Froggy 97 morning man James Pond, has been named program director of WFRY and sister station ESPN 1410 (WNER). Both stations are owned by Regent Communications. Soboleski got the nod following last month’s exit of Matt ‘Bullfrog’ Raisman.

The Newhouse School at Syracuse University is teaming up with Clear Channel Communications to host a two-hour public “town meeting” next week to discuss current media hot topics.

Dick Carr’s syndicated Big Bands, Ballads & Blues has picked up its 40th affiliate station. Beginning next month, WRUN in Utica-Rome will carry the two-hour weekly show featuring a mix of adult standards and jazz masters. The program is hosted and produced by Syracuse resident Dick Carr and is marketed by the WOR Radio Network.

Bob Edwards, the sole host of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition since its debut 25 years ago, is being forced out of that position. “It’s part of a natural evolution,” said NPR spokeswoman Laura Gross. “We just felt it was time for a change.” Edwards, 56, will become a senior correspondent for the show. Steve

This week WRVO will preempt much of its regular programming to present live coverage of Senate hearings by the National Commission on the Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Coverage begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday with testimony expected from Colin Powell, Madeline Albright, and Donald Rumsfeld. On Wednesday questioning turns to George Tenet, Samuel Berger,

There’s a new frog in town at WFRY in Watertown. Bud Money, who has worked in the Utica-Rome market and most recently at Clear Channel Syracuse as a traffic reporter and weekend jock, moves to Froggy 97’s afternoon drive slot beginning next week. Money, who will use the name Bud Green on the air, replaces

One of MTV’s original VJs, John ‘J.J.’ Jackson, died Wednesday of an apparent heart attack while driving home from dinner in Los Angeles. He was 62. Jackson, who has been a syndicated radio personality for Westwood One since 1990, was host of The Beatle Years which airs on Oldies 92.1 (WSEN) in Syracuse and Z93

Marty’s ‘one man party’ in the morning on Hot 107-9 (WWHT) has a new co-host. Syracuse native Shannon Wells is heading north from ‘The Zone’ (WOZN) in Greensboro, North Carolina where she’s done middays for the past year. Before that, Wells had worked weekends at WXKS in Boston.