Media Watch

JON JUSTICE TV SHOW IN THE WORKS

It looks like popular radio talk-show host Jon Justice will soon bring his brand of conservatism to the television airwaves.

Sources say the Journal Broadcast Group is working through the technical requirements for simulcasting Justice's radio show—which airs mornings on KQTH FM 104.1—on KWBA Channel 58.

Along with Belo-owned KTTU Channel 18, KWBA brings up the market rear in terms of ratings and locally produced programming. Therefore, it makes sense for Journal to give its underused TV signal a bit of a boost by simulcasting a product it already has.

Allaccess.com reported in late July that Journal was looking to hire a producer/technical director to aid in the process. Journal has yet to officially confirm the move, and an exact launch date is unknown.


RICHARDSON TEMPS AT KGUN

When Belo jettisoned its news staff earlier this year as part of its shared-services agreement with Raycom—in other words, paying Raycom, which operates KOLD Channel 13, to produce a local news product for KMSB Channel 11—it left about three dozen people out of work. Among them was longtime KMSB news director and market news veteran Bob Richardson.

Richardson used the opportunity to start his own production company. Now, under the auspices of that company, Richardson is handling technical producer duties for Journal's KGUN Channel 9 news. Richardson is stepping in on a temporary basis while another producer takes leave.

The producer's role includes assisting with listing stories, deciding in what order they will run, and picking the visual elements to go with them. In his temporary capacity, Richardson also acts as copy editor and approves reporter copy.


FROM SNOW TO SUNSTROKE

KGUN has nabbed a reporter familiar with snow to handle general-assignment duties in a market more accustomed to sunstroke.

Alexis Fernandez started this week at the ABC affiliate. Her background includes a bachelor's in broadcast journalism from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, reporting/anchor stints in Fairbanks and Anchorage, and an internship at a Fox News affiliate in New York. Fernandez started at KGUN on Tuesday, Sept. 4.


MACKEY LEAVES LOTUS

Adrienne Mackey has wrapped up a nearly six-year stint with radio cluster Lotus Communications. Mackey started at classic rocker KLPX FM 96.1 in 2006 and was promoted to its morning show alongside Scott Barnett in December 2008.

When KLPX opted to move The Frank Show from alternative station KFMA FM 92.1 to KLPX, Mackey stayed on with the cluster in a number of capacities.

"I met and talked with some great people over there," Mackey said.