People in the News

iHeartMedia has named Derrick “DC” Cole Senior VP of Programming for its five stations in Wilmington, DE. Cole has programmed multiple formats, including CHR, Hot AC, Country, and News-Talk, and has worked as an on-air personality at stations in Long Island, Hartford, and Poughkeepsie, as well as at Premiere.

And that means Michael Savage is out. O’Connor will host a new three-hour weekday afternoon (3-6 p.m.) show on WMAL-AM/FM beginning January 2. He segues from his co-hosting duties on WMAL’s Mornings On The Mall with Brian Wilson.

Kevin Graham is the new Program Director for News/Talk radio stations WBAP and KLIF in Dallas. Graham moves to Dallas from Boston, where he was Brand Manager for WEEI-FM/AM and Red Sox Radio Network, and Sports Radio Format Captain for Entercom for the past three years. Graham is replacing longtime Program Director Tyler Cox, who is retiring.

Talus Knight, who is the PD at KKND-FM and KMEZ-FM, has been promoted to Operations Manager for the entire New Orleans cluster. And Shawn Williams has been promoted to APD at WRKN NASH 92.3 and WZRH 106.1 the Underground. She will continue as afternoon host on WRKN and midday host on WZRH.

Scott Smith has been inducted into the Alaska Broadcasters Hall of Fame. The 27-year broadcasting vet worked his way up from Account Executive to Market Manager. He has served on the Alaska Broadcaster’s Association for 20 years and is a two-time past president.

Crain’s Detroit Business has named broadcast pioneer Fred Jacobs as one of Michigan’s “50 Names To Know In Information Technology.” Jacobs is known to many in the industry as the father of the Classic Rock format; and Jacobs Media has launched innovative research projects, like Techsurveys.

It's a newly created position for James VanOsdol in Chicago. He's now the Programming Content Specialist for WLUP and WKQX. VanOsdol will produce content that increases interaction with the social media channels for WLUP and WKQX. VanOsdol will continue to produce and host Demo 312, the weekly Chicago music show on 101 WKQX. VanOsdol will also continue as a part-time on-air personality on WLUP.

Bonneville’s News and Sports station KTAR (Phoenix) is adding a local evening news-driven talk show, Reality Check with Darin Damme, on January 3. Damme, who started in radio at the age of 12 at KMOG in Payson, is a former highly-rated Top 40 morning show host on KZZP and KZON in Phoenix.

Hubbard in St. Louis has named Scott Roddy PD for 106.5 The Arch. Roddy has been the acting PD of The Arch since September and he's been PD for sister station 92.3 WIL.

CBS Radio has announced the appointment of Fred Bennett to the newly created position of VP/GM, Traffic Operations and Partnerships. Bennett is charged with building an in-house traffic content and sales operation to serve CBS Radio's 117 radio stations.