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DECEMBER 2013
CHAPTER NEWS
METEOROLOGIST MICHAEL SMITH NOW AT WFOR sfltv
Meteorologist Michael Smith is now part of the WFOR weather team. This is the station’s second hire of a former WPLG personality, the other one being John Guaraldi.
Smith was the weekend meteorologist at WPLG until earlier this year when he became the odd man out after Local 10 was ordered by corporate to shuffle their weather personalities around. He had a brief stint Michael Smith at the Weather Channel after leaving Channel 10.
DAVID BERNARD SIGNS OFF WFOR sfltv
David Bernard signed off last week after about 5 years as the chief meteorologist for CBS4. He came to South Florida way back in August of 2005 form WWL in New Orleans, right before Hurricane Katrina hit. Former WFOR hurricane specialist Bryan Norcross hired him as his eventual replacement.
Rumor has it the powers that be in New York City handed instructions to CBS4 management to dole out David Bernard pay cuts, and according to the usual “people familiar with the situation” David Bernard passed on a “significant pay cut” offer, and decided to walk. Another former WFOR meteorologist, Jeff Berardelli, is said to have left for the same reasons.
JENNIFER GRAY LANDS AT CNN WEATHER CNN
Jennifer Gray has joined CNN as a meteorologist, it was announced by Terence Burke, vice president of newsgathering for CNN/U.S. Gray, who is a member of the National Weather Association and has earned the AMS Seal of Approval from the American Meteorology Society, will be based in Atlanta at the network’s global headquarters.
“Jennifer brings a versatile skill set as a meteorologist,” said Burke. “She will be a great addition for CNN with her experience in production, multimedia and reporting in the field.” Jennifer Gray
Prior to joining CNN, Gray was the weekend morning show meteorologist and a feature reporter for WTVJ, the NBC affiliate in Miami, where she covered severe weather in the field and helped produce specials that focused on hurricane preparedness and safety. She co-hosted and co-produced ‘Florida Insider Fishing Report’ for Sun Sports and ‘Beyond The Reef’ in conjunction with the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, raising awareness of conservation issues facing the oceans and Florida’s fisheries.
National Television Academy, Suncoast Chapter • P.O. Box 840738 • Pembroke Pines, FL 33084 • Tel. 954-322-3171 • Fax 954-322-3178 • e-mail: [email protected] DECEMBER 2013
CHAPTER NEWS
NBC UNIVERSAL NAMES MANUEL MARTINEZ PRESIDENT OF TELEMUNDO STATIONS By Merrill Knox TVSpy
Manuel Martinez has been named president of Telemundo Stations, the NBC Owned Stations announced. Martinez has been president and general manager of WTVJ, the NBC owned station in Miami, since 2012.
In his new role, Martinez will oversee the 16 owned Telemundo stations. He will report to Valari Staab, the president of the NBC Owned Stations. Manuel Martinez
“Manny is an experienced leader with in-depth knowledge of the broadcast industry, a track record of improving television stations and a strong commitment to our Spanish speaking communities,” Staab said in a statement. “…Manny’s experience, skills and dedication will steer our Telemundo stations forward.”
REGIONAL NEWS
FORMER WESH ANCHOR WENDY CHIOJI TALKS ABOUT LATEST CANCER BATTLE By Kevin Eck TVSpy
Wendy Chioji, who left the news business in 2008, has recently completed her chemotherapy and radiation treatments after being diagnosed with thymic carcinoma earlier this fall.
The two-time cancer survivor and former news anchor for Orlando NBC station WESH spoke with Growing Bolder, co-producer of her show “Surviving & Thriving,” about her cancer treatment and her Wendy Chioji plans to climb Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro in February. “ I will do everything I can to make it to the top,” said Chioji. “It’s amazingly important.”
The die-hard triathlete first shared her 2001 battle with breast cancer while working at WESH.
She said the latest fight may have slowed her down, but it hasn’t stopped her from pursuing her passion,”I already signed up for an Ironman next year,” said Chioji. “So I’m moving forward. Cancer slowed me down a little bit. It changed my path a little bit like it does. It changed it more last time. But I’m still going forward.”
Chioji’s special “Surviving & Thriving” airs on Orlando CBS affiliate WKMG next Friday.
National Television Academy, Suncoast Chapter • P.O. Box 840738 • Pembroke Pines, FL 33084 • Tel. 954-322-3171 • Fax 954-322-3178 • e-mail: [email protected] DECEMBER 2013
REGIONAL NEWS
REP. TREY RADEL, FORMER WINK ANCHOR, PLEADS GUILTY TO COCAINE POSSESSION By Merrill Knox TVSpy
Rep. Trey Radel (R-FL), a former anchor at WINK, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of cocaine possession, USA Today reports:
“I’ve hit a bottom,” Radel said, as he appeared in District of Columbia Superior Court. The Rep. Trey Radel freshman congressman, who represents a solidly Republican district in southwest Florida, said he’ll enter an in-patient rehab program in his home state.
Radel was caught buying drugs in what a senior Drug Enforcement Administration official described as a sting operation that was part of an investigation by several federal agencies into a drug ring in the nation’s capital. A drug dealer who told law enforcement officials that one of his customers was a member of Congress helped set up a buy on Oct. 29 and Radel bought the cocaine, the official said.
“I’m profoundly sorry to let down my family, particularly my wife and son, and the people of Southwest Florida,” Radel said in a statement released Tuesday. “I struggle with the disease of alcoholism, and this led to an extremely irresponsible choice. As the father of a young son and a husband to a loving wife, I need to get help so I can be a better man for both of them.”
Radel was the evening anchor at the Fort Myers CBS affiliate from 2007 to 2010. When he signed off from the station, he said his true passion was politics. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012.
Radel is married to Amy Wegmann, a former anchor at rival WFTX.
WVUE GENERAL MANAGER JOE COOK TO RETIRE By Merrill Knox TVSpy
WVUE president and general manager Joe Cook will retire from the New Orleans Fox affiliate on December 13, Broadcasting & Cable reports.
WVUE parent company Louisiana Media Company recently announced a shared services agreement with Raycom, which will provide operational services to WVUE beginning December 16. Cook will become president of Louisiana Media Company and plans to spend more time on his other interests, songwriting and real estate.
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National Television Academy, Suncoast Chapter • P.O. Box 840738 • Pembroke Pines, FL 33084 • Tel. 954-322-3171 • Fax 954-322-3178 • e-mail: [email protected] DECEMBER 2013
PEOPLE MOVES
Meteorologist DEREK KEVRA joins WJBK in Detroit from WWL in New Orleans.
Meteorologist JENNIFER GRAY joins CNN Weather from WTVJ in Miami.
KRISTIN WRIGHT joins WRC in Washington D.C. from WTVT in Tampa.
MICHAEL SMITH joins WFOR CBS4 in Miami from WPLG in Miami.
JOHANNA TORRES joins WPLG as general assignment reporter from WGXA FOX24/ABC/16 in Macon, Georgia.
JOHN GUARALDI joins WFOR CBS4 in Miami. Previously John worked as weekend meteorologist at WPLG in Miami.
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Congratulations to this year’s Suncoast ®Emmy Award winners!
National Television Academy, Suncoast Chapter • P.O. Box 840738 • Pembroke Pines, FL 33084 • Tel. 954-322-3171 • Fax 954-322-3178 • e-mail: [email protected] DECEMBER 2013
Officers Committee Chairs
Chip Richards, President and Trustee, Art & Design Production Manager, WLRN-TV, PBS, Miami Stacey Panson, Graphic Artist, Ft. Lauderdale John Mays, 1st Vice President and Trustee, Production Manager, WFOR/CBS4, Miami Emmy Awards John Mays, Production Manager, WFOR/CBS4, Miami Maria Cristina Barros, 2nd Vice President and Alternate Trustee, Director of Marketing and Community Relations, Scholarship WSCV/Telemundo 51, Miami Angela Ramos, Programming & Public Affairs Director, Karla MacDonald, Secretary and Suncoast Chapter Administrator WLTV/Univision23, Miami Betsy Behrens, Treasurer, Retired television producer Karla MacDonald, Suncoast Chapter Administrator Board of Governors Tel. 954-322-3171 e-mail [email protected]
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National Television Academy, Suncoast Chapter • P.O. Box 840738 • Pembroke Pines, FL 33084 • Tel. 954-322-3171 • Fax 954-322-3178 • e-mail: [email protected]