ITHACA -- Former Ithaca Journal sports editor Brian Delaney has traded in print for electronic media, joining the staff at Taughannock Media's ESPN Radio 1160 (WPIE). His official title of Reporter and Account Manager includes duties co-hosting the station's afternoon talk show, Between the Lines.
Updated 5/19 -- SYRACUSE -- According to multiple sources, Jim Tortora has exited NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV) after more than a decade at the station. We're told General Manager Theresa Underwood sent an email memo to staff on Monday afternoon, thanking Tortora for his time with the station, and wishing him well in the future.
Updated 5/10 at 11:00pm - CNYcentral says the WTVH 5.1 transmitter is back in operation tonight, but it's just temporary. To complete the repairs, additional parts will be installed at the transmitter on Wednesday. As a result, WTVH 5.1 will sign off again on Wednesday morning, but engineers hope to have it back online -- for good, this time -- by Wednesday night. WSTM-DT 3.3 continues to simulcast WTVH in standard definition. WTVH-HD remains available on its usual channel number for cable and FiOS customers.
UTICA/ROME -- An employee of Galaxy Communications has been sent to the Oneida County Jail after police say he stole more than $3,000 from the company. Michael Hance, 32, is facing two felony charges -- one for allegedly taking the money and one for trying to cover it up.
SYRACUSE -- Top journalists from Syracuse and surrounding markets gathered for the Syracuse Press Club's 33rd annual Scholarship and Professional Recognition Awards Dinner last night at Drumlins Country Club in Syracuse. Public stations WRVO and WAER dominated the radio categories, while there were plenty of ties for winners in the television categories.
UTICA/ROME -- Radio history buffs and WTLB veterans alike may remember the short-lived "tribute" website launched by Budd Yeman several years ago. Yeman -- who has been known as "Budd Money" and "Budd Green" on the air -- has recently revived the site, as a Facebook Page.
NEW YORK CITY -- Kevin Patrick, the writer of a blog called "So Many Records, So Little Time," writes to tell us of a recent post in which he recalls listening to Jim O'Brien on Syracuse's WNDR during the era of rock's British Invasion. Patrick recalls how he wrote to O'Brien, asking him to play more English bands, and O'Brien's on-air response to the letter. You can read more (and enjoy clips of many of these old songs) on Kevin's blog.
SYRACUSE -- Starting this Thursday, WCNY-TV will air a five-part series called "Focus: Well Being," designed to "help viewers understand and cope with stressful problems such as weight disorders, paying for college, and prostate cancer." Viewer questions will be taken via telephone and internet during each program.
CINCINNATI -- Former WSYR570 sports director and WTVH-5 sportscaster Dan Hoard has been tapped by the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals for radio play-by-play duties starting with the team's preseason games this summer. He'll be joining fellow SU grad Dave Lapham, who will be entering his 26th season providing color commentary.
SYRACUSE -- According to the Syracuse Press Club's April newsletter, released via email today, reporter Kelly Quinn is leaving NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV) to enjoy "the more regular hours of public relations."