ITHACA -- David Muir returned to his alma mater yesterday to share an inspirational message. Muir, a 1995 graduate of the Park School of Communications at Ithaca College, was invited to give the commencement address before more than 1,400 graduates and their guests.
UTICA/ROME -- The City of Utica is in line for some pretty positive attention in the national spotlight this summer. Interestingly, some might credit the well-publicized controversy over plans for a new mosque near Ground Zero in New York City earlier this year. Utica's the focus of an upcoming episode of State of the Re:Union, slated to air on more than 250 NPR affiliate stations nationwide.
SYRACUSE -- Why should you have to wait all year for Halloween to dress up like a zombie? Citadel rocker 95X (WAQX) hosted its annual "Zombie Prom" this past weekend in Armory Square. Listeners were invited to dress up like a zombie -- and members of the on-air staff unquestionably led by example.
SYRACUSE -- Almost two weeks following the sudden resignation of longtime News Director Jim Tortora, ABC affiliate NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV) has officially posted an opening for a News Director on its website. Among other requirements, the announcement requires candidates have at least five years of news management experience.
COLUMBIA, MD -- While radio ratings in the nation's largest markets have been reliant on Portable People Meters (PPMs) for quite some time now, the numbers in many markets -- including Syracuse and Utica -- are still calculated "the old-fashioned way," with ratings diaries. But yesterday, Arbitron gave it's first public preview of "Project Leapfrog," the ratings giant's plans to modernize ratings data collection in non-PPM markets.
UTICA/ROME -- As reported here earlier, the call letters at WYFY/Rome will be changing before Bible Broadcasting Network officially hands the keys over to Tune In Broadcasting. Now, we know those calls: the station, sold in February for $90,000, is now WRUY. According to this week's edition of NorthEast Radio Watch, BBN swapped the calls with a station it owns in Ohio.
ITHACA/CORTLAND -- Look for some personality changes on the Ithaca radio dial. "Hits Girl Katie" from Hits 103.3 (W277BS) is heading south to New York City, as the station announces the search for its next Hits Girl. Meantime, sister station Lite Rock 97.3 (WYXL) is adding syndicated host Tom Kent to its weekend lineup.
NEW YORK CITY -- CBS News national correspondent Jim Axelrod has a new book, released earlier this week. Axelrod, formerly of Syracuse's WSTM and Utica's WUTR, describes how the memory of his late father inspired him to turn things around -- for his marriage, his career and his personal health.
SYRACUSE -- From the "better late than never" file, we've been remiss in mentioning the fact that award-winning radio news reporter Ellen Abbott has changed stations. Abbott has traded in her WSYR business cards for a new stack featuring the call letters of NPR affiliate WRVO.
SYRACUSE -- Afternoon host Jim Reith at FM Newsradio 106.9 and 570 WSYR will conclude his week-long auction to benefit the McMahon Ryan House today. Every cent raised will be donated to the organization, which provides services to physically and sexually abused children.