PITTSBURGH -- Our latest Picture of the Week is not only related to local TV, but it also serves as our latest "where are they now" report. During a visit to Pittsburgh this past weekend, your editor unexpectedly happened to spot a former Syracuse TV sports director -- in the middle of pre-game Pittsburgh Pirates coverage at PNC Park.
ITHACA -- They called it "A Major Fundraiser" -- and they had good reason for the name. All seven stations in Saga's Cayuga Radio Group urged listeners for contributions to help bring a new police K-9 to Tompkins County after the previous dog, Major, recently died of cancer. Listeners surpassed all expectations.
SYRACUSE -- All That Remains is signed as the headliner, set to appear following five other bands on the bill for "Sausagefest," hosted by Citadel rocker 95X (WAQX). Tickets for the Friday, August 12th concert at Baldwinsville's Paper Mill Island are already on sale.
SYRACUSE -- NPR News senior national correspondent Linda Wertheimer will be speaking in Syracuse tomorrow night, sharing stories from her long career with National Public Radio, including her 13 years as the host of All Things Considered.
UTICA -- Television news outlets from Syracuse and Utica set their competitive differences aside yesterday, pooling their resources to provide live coverage of the funeral services for Oneida County Sheriff's Deputy Kurt Wyman. Staffers, cameras, live trucks and other resources from WKTV, YNN, WSTM, WTVH and WSYR were combined as a single unit for yesterday's coverage.
SYRACUSE -- CBS News travel editor Peter Greenberg, the host of the nationally-syndicated Peter Greenberg Worldwide, will be in Central New York later this month. He'll be hosting a live taping of his show from The Sherwood Inn in Skaneateles, on June 25 and the public is invited to attend.
UTICA -- Mayor David Roefaro (D) wants the FCC to ban the use of the term "breaking news" in broadcast advertising. In a letter to the FCC, Roefaro calls the practice a "cheap advertising tactic" aimed at taking advantage of consumers.
DES MOINES, IA -- Former 95X (WAQX) Program Director Steve Brill is leaving radio, according to multiple national trade outlets. Brill, who will end a 30-year radio career when he wraps up a 3-year run as Ops Manager for Citadel's Des Moines cluster next month, is forming his own company. But rather than leave radio altogether, Brill's new business will let him work alongside radio stations across the country.
OSWEGO -- If you've got a particularly favorite program on WRVO, you may need to adjust your listening habits. Later this month, the NPR affiliate will be launching a third program stream. The added capacity gives the station some new opportunities to group certain types of programming together, meaning some programs will be moving to new timeslots.
WASHINGTON, DC -- When you hear that annoying modem-like tone signaling the start of an Emergency Alert System (EAS) activation, you usually expect to hear either a test message, or a severe weather warning. Thankfully, EAS has never been needed for a national-level alert. But, if we ever needed EAS for a national alert, would it work? We'll find out for sure later this year.