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."
OSWEGO -- It's been a very good week for the news staff at WRVO; with 16 wins, the NPR affiliate is the only radio station in CNYRadio.com's coverage area to appear on the recently-released list of New York State Associated Press Broadcasters Association awards. On the TV side, the wealth is shared among various local stations. The awards recognize excellence in broadcast journalism during 2010.
SYRACUSE -- Two staff members at Citadel rocker 95X (WAQX) were recently promoted. Big Smoothie tells CNYRadio.com he is now the afternoon drive host and night guy Joe D adds APD stripes. Big Smoothie says the announcement is "kinda late" and apologizes for his delay in informing us. (No problem... we're a little behind on news this week too, after Tuesday's storm caused some problems here at CNYRadio.com HQ.)
UTICA/ROME -- The three-station simulcast (two AMs and an FM translator) known as B95.5 will be rebranding itself come Monday as "95.5FM WUTQ, your FM local news and talk headquarters." The station, which has combined local talk with "beautiful music," will be focusing more on news and talk programming. As a result, longtime morning host Hank Brown has exited the station.
SYRACUSE -- At the start of his self-titled talk show today, Gary Nolan announced today is his last day at Citadel's 105.9 The Big Talker (WXTL). Just a little over a year since Nolan returned to Syracuse, he's heading back to Columbia, Missouri to launch a nationally-syndicated show.