MONTROSE, AL -- Chester Whiteside certainly made his mark in Syracuse. Whiteside was the city's first black disc jockey, working at 570 WSYR and 1260 WNDR during the 1960s, its first black television commentator, and Syracuse's first black firefighter. He also played a key role in establishing the Jerry Rescue monument in Clinton Square. Whiteside died Monday from cancer at 82 in Montrose, Alabama.
Rush Limbaugh is set to check out of drug rehab and plans to return to his daily radio show on Monday. Limbaugh's brother, David, said Rush is "chomping at the bit to get back on the air."
The syndicated conservative talk show host has been in a drug treatment program for five weeks to help kick his addiction to prescription painkillers.
Source (link may no longer work):
www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/11/12/limbaugh.painkillers.ap/index.html
SYRACUSE -- Oldies 92.1 (WSEN) is swapping out specialty shows on its Monday night lineup. Beginning this week, Ross Brittain's Hit Machine, which features music from the 1970s, replaces Jack Dean's Keeping the '70s Alive every Monday at 9 p.m.
UTICA-ROME -- WIBX AM 950 has a new news director. The Utica-Rome news-talk station welcomes Erica St. James who hails from Wisconsin where she worked for a six-station cluster in Wausau/Stevens Point.
Erica's hiring will no doubt come as good news to the staff who have been keeping the gears turning in the news department since the exit of former news director Scott Carr and afternoon anchor Jim Knapp.
WIBX AM 950 has a new news director. The Utica-Rome news-talk station welcomes Erica St. James who hails from Wisconsin where she worked for a six-station cluster in Wausau/Stevens Point.
Erica's hiring will no doubt come as good news to the staff who have been keeping the gears turning in the news department since the exit of former news director Scott Carr and afternoon anchor Jim Knapp.
OSWEGO -- The Oswego County Press Club is looking for nominees for its annual Golden Quotes Awards. The awards, which honor excellence in broadcast, web, and print media as well as public relations, will be awarded at the club's annual holiday dinner to be held December 5 at Springside at Seneca Hill in Minetto.
Contact the Oswego County Press Club for more information.
SYRACUSE -- The Syracuse radio community is coming together for a benefit in support of market veteran Jim O'Brien.
OSWEGO -- WRVO FM 90 has been awarded a $139,593 grant from the federal government to improve the station's studio equipment. The funding approved by Congress is a matching grant which means WRVO will be upping its fund-raising efforts beginning in January. Look for dinners, theater performances, and direct mail campaigns in addition to normal on-air fund drives. (Source: The Oswegonian)
Three Clear Channel Syracuse radio stations got together Thursday for a day-long radiothon for the Children's Miracle Network to help raise funds for a proposed children's hospital for Central New York.
Listeners to B104.7 (WBBS), 570 WSYR, and Y94FM (WYYY) pledged over $55,000 to the cause. An auction of signed memorabilia and concert tickets continues through Monday.
Source (link may no longer work):
www.570wsyr.com/CMNradiothon.html
WRVO FM 90 is once again on top in the Syracuse public radio ratings arena.
While WRVO maintained its number one ranking, the Oswego-based station dropped in its overall share of the summertime public radio audience, a time of year which is traditionally a tough one for public radio ratings in general.
Classic FM (WCNY) came in second, with Jazz 88 (WAER) following in third place.