Mitch's Media Musings - Sept 2019
Mitch's Media Musings
Aug. 16 - Sept. 15, 2019
General
Remember, if you're looking for TV clips from Atlanta stations, contact Cindy Champion at TrackNews (cchampion@itracknews.com)!
Congrats to Chadwick Boyd! He's going to be a judge for Hallmark Channel’s first ever original, non-scripted series, “Christmas Cookie Matchup. The new baking competition show premieres this holiday season.
NATAS SE Gold and Silver Circle Inductees - Congrats to all the inductees. All Silver except as noted. Full list is at https://www.southeastemmy.com/gold-silver-circle. But Atlanta honorees include Dana Fowle (Fox5), John Weatherford (Gold), Steve Doerr (CBS46), Bruce Mason (11Alive), Bill Nigut (GPB), Jennifer Rigby (11Alive) Alex Sanz (AP), Carol Sbarge and Brad Stone (WSB TV). Rubber chicken dinner was on Sept. 13.
Congrats to the Everywhere Agency's Danica Kombol and the new "Influencer Marketing Association" that she helped found It launched yesterday as a nonprofit to protect the ethics of the industry. Details: http://tinyurl.com/y4wm492s.
Society of Professional Journalists - "Tools for Investigative Reporting" workshop, Oct. 18 for students, early career journalist or really anyone looking to sharpen their investigative skills. Details: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/spjga/299761.
Atlanta Press Club
Sept. 25 Mixer, Details: https://atlantapressclub.org/events/apc-after-deadline-end-of-summer-global-media-mixer/
Nov. 7, Hall of Fame Dinner, Details: https://atlantapressclub.org/events/the-2019-atlanta-press-club-hall-of-fame-dinner/
Associated Press - Jeff Amy joins, covering education in Georgia and across the South.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fiza Pirani has left the paper. She writes about why she's leaving: http://tinyurl.com/yxca96gg.
Congrats to reporter Tyler Estep on adding a daughter to the family!
If you're sending new hire or promotion info, Bill Hendrick has a new email. It's in the Leff's Atlanta Media database.
Atlanta magazine - Rich Eldridge named best mentor by Creative Loafing. Not a surprise.
Dunwoody Crier - Carson Cook has been named the new editor.
Georgia News Network
Matt Cook announces he'll retire at the end of September.
Scott Kimbler joins from WDUN Radio.
GPB - Held a gala event in honor of Brenda Lee this month. The country music star was the first recipient of the GPC Legend award. Details: http://tinyurl.com/y63ldoao
Gwinnett Daily Post - Added reporter Taylor Denman.
(The) Local Lense - New entertaiment-focused podcast.
Marietta Daily Journal
Reporter Jon Gargis departs to start his own company, Gargis Consulting. He'll be offering PR and communications assistance ... and he says he's already landed his first client! Website www.Gargisconsulting.com.
Reporter Newspapers - Reporter Evelyn Andrews departs. She's started graduate work at the University of Georgia in their Emerging Media Masters program.
Simply Buckhead - Look for Mickey Goodman's "Local Salute" this month featuring Christine Pullara, host of Atlanta & Company on 11Alive.
WABE
New podcast, "Bottom of the Map," is focused on Southern hip-hop culture "and its impact on the world." It's hosted by Christina Lee and Dr. Regina Bradley. More: https://www.wabe.org/shows/bottomofthemap/
WAGA Fox5
Producer Paul Gourley departs for WJLA ABC in Washington D.C. for a Managing Editor position.
WGCL / CBS46
Shon Gable has been named evening anchor
Rick Fulbaum joins at evening anchor, replacing the recently departed Thomas Roberts
Karyn Greer moves to morning anchor duties
Tracye Hutchins moves to afternoon anchor duties
WSB TV
Rikki Klaus has departed
Craig Lucie has departed to launch his own content generation company.
Justin Gray will be returning in late Sept. for a position on the investigative team. He's been a Washington correspondent for Cox Media Group for the last few years.
WXIA TV
Long-time (and much respected) assignment manager Erika Facey Palmer is no longer with the station.
News from the PR Dept.
Congrats to Ann Toro Sevillano for her new job at the CDC!
Congrats to us! Leff & Associates clients MomoCon and Serta Simmons Bedding are both finalists for PRSA Phoenix Awards this year. Awards dinner is in November.
PRSA Georgia's Chapter Champion for September is Chrissy Reddick, senior specialist at Scana.
Congrats to Melissa Sanders whose PR agency, Tadpole Communications, celebrates four years this month!
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