People in the News

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.

Jeff Mitchell has been appointed to the position of General Manager for Salem Media Group’s stations in Dallas. Mitchell has been with Salem Dallas as Director of Sales for the past 6 ½ years.

Al P is the new nighttime host for CHR Top 40 station, WFLC/HITS 97.3. The young jock started his radio career at the ripe old age of 16, hosting and mixing an Internet radio show.  At 19 he interned for at SBS Entertainment in New York City, then scored his big break when he was hired to be a part of the morning show at CBS’ WBMP.

She's been a regular on Radio Ink's annual top PD list. Yesterday, Charese Fruge informed Radio Ink she was leaving her position as Vice President of Programming and Operations Manager for CBS Radio in Houston. Here's what Fruge told us...

iHeartMedia West Palm Beach says that Rich Dickerson will retire from The Love Doctors on December 16. The Love Doctors airs afternoons on WZZR-FM Real Radio 94.3. Dickerson launched The Love Doctors in 1991 on WZZR-FM after hosting an earlier incarnation of the show on iHeartMedia rock station WKGR-FM.

William (Bill) Shearer, a member of the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) Board of Directors in the 1980s and 90s, passed away November 1 after a lengthy illness. During his NABOB Board tenure, Shearer was the General Manager and then eventual owner of KGFJ-AM in Los Angeles.