Mitch's Media Musings Dec 2024

Mitch's Media Musings

Nov. 16 - Dec. 15, 2024

General

Associated Press - Sports writer Paul Newberry retires after 40+ years writing for the AP.

Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles - Elizabeth Ralls has formed Buckhead Crown Media, which includes the acquisition of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. She's the president of the new company and remains the publisher of AHL.

More details in this link.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

• A number of senior reporters are leaving the paper at the end of the year or in January. Here are a few that have announced their departures publicly.

  • Shelia Poole departs after 36 years with the paper. She writes "After many years at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, it's time to start Chapter II. In my time at the newspaper, which drapes Dixie like the Dew," I've covered everything from small and minority business, nonprofits, faith, health, immigrant and refugee communities and written compelling stories about the people that make Georgia great. Other stories include personal journeys of individuals who overcame great odds to help others and themselves. But I've also written about hip hop and it's influence on church, the split within the United Methodist Church, how the faith community addresses inclusion among LGBTQ-plus members and reported on scandals that have plagued the faith community."

  • Maureen Downey retires after 42 years with the paper. You know her from her "Get Schooled" writings. Downey has been an incredible advocate for education in her writings.

  • Shane Harrison retires after 35 years with the paper

  • John Spink retires after 40 years as a photographer for the paper

• Jason Armesto joins as Higher Education reporter. He was most recently a government/politics reporter for The Daily Progress in Charlottesville, VA. Previously jobs include work for the BBC, The Grio, and Fortune.

• Patricia Murphy writes about Hershel Walker completing his UGA degree this semester. Really nice piece. Take a read!

• Emma Hurt returns to Atlanta as a business writer. She'll be covering Delta, UPS, Norfolk Southern, and the Atlanta Airport. She was previously a reporter for WABE Radio and Axios.

• Jim Gaines departs for a communications position with Fulton County. He was covering the south side of the city. Contact local editor Dan Klepal if you have stories in that area.

  
  

Cox Media - The company is closing its Washington DC bureau

Georgia Voice - The longtime LGBTQ+ paper has been acquired by Rough Draft. Collin Kelley will be the paper's Executive Editor, in addition to holding the same title at Atlanta Intown. More about the move here from Savannah Sicurella at the AJC.

James magazine marks its 20th anniversary

Rough Draft - Cathy Cobbs is editing a new weekly newsletter about Dunwoody. It comes out on Wednesdays.

WAGA - Reporter Joi Dukes was named one of ten news reporters to watch in 2025. This was from Yahoo Entertainment and WhereistheBuzz.

WANF

• Aaron Ladd joins as sports reporter/anchor. He was most recently in Kansas City.

• Connor Hines joins as sports reporter. He was most recently working in Macon.

• Anastassia (Stassi) Olmos joins as an investigative reporter

• Karli Barnett is now anchoring weekdays at 10 pm

• Nathalie Malkoff joins as weekday assignment manager

• We've added morning news producer Matthew Fleckenstein to our database

WSB Radio - We've added anchor/reporter Daphne Young to our media database

WSB TV

• Justin Farmer departs after 17 years with the station. He's moving into the financial industry. Details here

• Former WSB meteorologist Katie Walls (now with Fox4 in Florida) is now a Certified Consulting Meteorologist, a process that involved a written exam (each question taking 3+ hrs to research and answer), a written essay and a 3 hour oral exam. The entire process lasted from April to late October. Forbes says, “There are approximately 250 active CCM’s in the world. The scientific professionals who receive this certification are highly regarded by their peers and are recognized around the world as the foremost experts in meteorology and also as trusted sources for critical weather information.”

  
  

WXIA TV

• The station's parent company, TEGNA, announced it's closing all of its local marketing operations, including its staff in Atlanta. Details here.

• Dan Kennedy joins as weekend morning anchor. He comes from WVEC TV in Norfolk, VA. He'll be on air Jan. 27.

News from the PR Dept

• Arketi Group, an Atlanta based business-to-business marketing firm for tech companies, is being acquired by two private equity firms, Go Capital and Station Partners. Details from Atlanta Business Chronicle.

• Caren West PR celebrates its 19th anniversary!

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