Obituaries
Former Minnesota Broadcasters Association president and CEO Jim Wychor has died. His obituary says Wychor started in radio in 1953 and worked in several states before settling at KWOA (Worthington) for 26 years, where he was owner, vice president, and general manager. He later led the MBA from 1989 to 1997. Services are being held July 21 in Circle Pines, Minn.
Jo McMullen-Boyer, the who recently retired from KVSC/88.1 (St. Cloud) after 31 years as station manager, has died. McMullen-Boyer was recently honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations for her contributions to the industry. An obituary says services will be held Aug. 18 in Superior, Wis.
Longtime Hubbard Broadcasting vice president of corporate affairs Harold Crump has died at 91. Crump started his career in Nashville in 1956 and, after working at several other stations and companies, joined KSTP-TV and Hubbard Broadcasting. Services will be held July 28 in Nashville.
The Upper Midwest Emmy Chapter pays its respects to broadcasting pioneer Harold Crump who passed away recently. Harold was 91 and spent much of his career with Hubbard Broadcasting . Harold was helped start our Emmy Chapter and served as our National Trustee from 2000-2015. pic.twitter.com/qv205qQjvf
— Upper Midwest Emmys (@MidwestEmmys) July 17, 2023
People moves
The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association reported that Chuck Steinmetz is retiring from his role as general manager of FOX owned-and-operated WITI/6 (Milwaukee). Steinmetz has been with WITI since 1996 and previously worked at KMSP/9 (Minneapolis). He will be replaced at WITI by Glenn Burk, who is moving up from Chicago.
Investigative reporter James Stratton announced he is moving from CBS affiliate KCCI/8 (Des Moines) to ABC affiliate WISN-TV/12 (Milwaukee). Both are Hearst stations.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Scripps NBC affiliate WTMJ-TV/4.1 (Milwaukee) has hired longtime Kenosha journalist Jeffrey Zampanti as a multimedia reporter. The newspaper notes that Zampanti will be the station’s first Kenosha-based reporter.
Reporter Victor Jacobo has departed Weigel CBS/Telemundo affiliate WDJT/WYTU-LD (Milwaukee) for a new job in Houston.
Ryan Haff has rejoined Gray NBC/CBS affiliate KBJR/6 (Superior-Duluth).
VolumeOne profiled longtime Eau Claire radio broadcaster John Murphy, who was recently named a Local Broadcast Legend by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association.
Stations and companies
TVNewsCheck profiled the strategy that led to recent ratings growth on the morning show at Tegna NBC affiliate KARE 11 (Minneapolis).
Lakeland News marked the 25th anniversary of its daily local TV newscast with a series of stories documenting its history, which are posted on its YouTube channel. Lakeland News offers the only local TV newscast for north-central Minnesota, which is officially part of the Minneapolis market, on Lakeland PBS stations KAWE/9.1 (Bemidji) and KAWB/22.1 (Brainerd).
SagamoreHill of Minnesota’s KMYN-LD (Duluth) has returned Buzzr to channel 32.6, with Daystar now airing on channel 32.2.
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Disclosure: Jon Ellis is an employee of Gray Media Group. The statements and views expressed in this posting are his own and do not reflect those of Gray Media Group.