Media veteran Nancy Cassutt Ison has died at 64 after a battle with cancer. She began her career in Duluth and served in TV newsroom management roles in Minneapolis before joining Internet Broadcasting and then Minnesota Public Radio. Ison’s obituary states, “She had a reputation for mentoring young journalists and reorganizing newsrooms to effectively navigate an increasingly complex and constantly changing news industry.”
Gray Media has promoted Jessica Laszewski to general manager of CBS/FOX affiliates WSAW/WZAW-LD (Wausau). Laszewski is currently news director at NBC affiliate WMTV (Madison) and previously worked as ND at WSAW, as well as the company’s station in South Bend.
Scripps NBC affiliate WTMJ-TV/4 (Milwaukee) announced that morning anchor Tom Durian is leaving the station.
Nexstar NBC affiliate WHO-DT/13 (Des Moines) announced that Samantha Mesa is joining the newsroom. Mesa is coming from a Michigan station and previously worked at a competing Des Moines station.
At Gray NBC/CBS affiliate KBJR/6 (Superior-Duluth), Madisan Green is moving to the morning anchor chair. Current morning anchor Natalie Hoepner will manage newsroom content and co-anchor the 4 p.m. newscast.
Delaney Boles has joined Gray NBC affiliate WMTV/15 (Madison) as weekend morning meteorologist.
Gray NBC affiliate KTIV/4 (Sioux City) announced that Larry Wentz will retire at the end of July. Wentz started in the business in 1976 at WHO/1040 (Des Moines) and later moved to WHO-TV/13. His career brought him to Eau Claire and Green Bay before arrived in Sioux City in 1991.
Andrew Ozaki is retiring after 40 years as capital bureau chief for Hearst ABC affiliate KETV/7 (Omaha).
Civic Media announced the hiring of Chali Pittman as news director, Jennie Brand as community engagement manager, and Lucas Hunt as digital content producer.
Saga’s “Jammin’ 98.3” (WJMR-FM Menomonee Falls-Milwaukee) announced that it is switching its morning show back to DeDe In the Morning, dropping Steve Harvey.
RadioInsight reports that Jeff Tyler has retired from his role as iHeartMedia Madison/Milwaukee Area President after a 47-year career in radio.
A belated note that Midwest Communications’ WDKE/96.1 (Coleraine-Hibbing) is now rebroadcasting “Duke FM” KDKE/102.5 (Superior-Duluth), replacing a separate iteration of the Classic Country format that had aired on WDKE. An updated station logo in Facebook indicates the simulcast may have begun in late April. It’s Midwest’s second Duluth simulcast on the Iron Range: Classic Rocker KQDS-FM/94.9 (Duluth) has been relayed in the area for a few decades and is currently heard on KQDX/106.3 (Hibbing).
Omaha’s Walnut Media recently announced a five-year deal to carry Husker Sports on “Boomer Radio,” which is heard on KIBM/1490, K233CO/94.5, and KOBM-FM/97.3. Programming will include Husker Football, men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, baseball, and the nightly talk show Sports Nightly. Husker Football will also air on KCRO/660.
In case you missed it here:
- Gray Media Launches “North Star Sports” in 3 Minn. Markets
- FCC Approves Sinclair’s Sale of Stations in Four Midwestern Markets
- Civic Media Enters Michigan’s UP with Five-Station Purchase (Updated)
- Des Moines AM Station, FM Translator Sold to Current Operator
- FCC Monitor: Several FM Stations at Reduced Power
News tips? Press releases? If you don’t see yours here, I probably didn’t receive it! Please send them to jonellis@northpine.com!