WCAX-TV announces partnership with Seven Days, Kids VT

Two Vermont-owned media companies have formed a partnership to share award-winning local content, according to a Jan. 16 announcement on the Vermont Business Magazine website. Last fall, WCAX-TV, based in South Burlington, began working with the state’s largest newsweekly, Burlington-based Seven Days. 

Each Wednesday and Friday, Seven Days’ reporters and critics appear on WCAX’s 5:30 news show, “The :30,” to talk with hosts Kristin Carlson and Mike McCune about local news, arts and entertainment. Recent topics have included the Burlington mayor’s race, Vermont’s growing electronic music scene and Seven Days food critic Alice Levitt’s 2011 pick for best new restaurant of the year. 

Every Thursday on “The :30,” WCAX airs an abbreviated version of the latest episode of “Stuck in Vermont,” a web video series hosted by Seven Days multimedia producer Eva Sollberger. 

Twice a month, staffers from Kids VT, Seven Days’ free monthly parenting publication, appear on the morning news to discuss events and issues of interest to Vermont families. 

In exchange, WCAX provides a weather forecast for Seven Days’ “Daily 7” email newsletter, which delivers the top seven Vermont stories each weekday afternoon. The station also contributes an extended forecast for Seven Days’ “Notes on the Weekend,” a Thursday-afternoon email that helps subscribers plan weekend fun. 

“We are delighted with this local partnership,” said WCAX-TV news director Anson Tebbetts.  “The response already has been outstanding from our audience.” 

“It’s a natural fit,” says Seven Days publisher and co-owner Paula Routly. “Seven Days provides in-depth local content, and we’re excited to expand our reach. We feel fortunate to work with a locally owned media company that we trust and respect.” 

Family-owned WCAX was the first television station to broadcast local programming, and has been operating for 55 years. Its news team has won multiple New England Emmy and Edward R. Murrow awards. Seven Days, founded in 1995 by Pamela Polston and Paula Routly, has garnered numerous awards from the Association of Alternative Newsmedia and been named the state’s best non-daily newspaper by the Vermont Press Association for the past seven years in a row.

Middlesex Monthly now publishing online-only

The Middlesex Monthly, one of a dwindling number of true single-community newspapers, is transitioning from print to online-only. The paper's publishers are asking their online contacts to "deliver" the paper to interested readers.

Vermontpressconnections received the following note this morning from Neely Washington, publisher of the 22-year old newspaper.

Please find attached January issue of the  NEW ON-LINE ONLY Middlesex Newspaper at:

www.middlesexnewspaper.org


Just a friendly reminder that the paper is not being printed and delivered around town like it had been for the past 22 years,  and, therefore I am asking for your  help in 'delivering' the on-line issue to as many of your friends and colleagues as you you'd like.

This month's issue includes many important (for the record) articles, upcoming meetings and events, photographs, Rumney Memorial School and Middlesex Town news, State House events, informative advertisements, and
much more. 

Sincerely,

Neely

Addison Independent buys Mountain Times

The Addison Independent has acquired the Mountain Times.

The weekly paper for Killington and surrounding towns,was owned and published for many years by Royal Barnard. Addison Independent Publisher Angelo Lynn said today the acquisition took place October 1. The Times' circulation area is the southernmost of a "family" of western Vermont newspapers owned by the brothers Angelo and/or Emerson Lynn. 

The new publisher is Polly Lynn, daughter of Angelo. Her sister, Elsie, publishes the Essex Reporter and the Colchester Sun. The Lynn brothers themselves are sons of a newspaper publisher, making theirs a three-generation family of publishers.

Former VPR prez named to lead Maine public radio, TV

FROM VERMONTBIZ NEWS - Nov. 30, 2011

 

The former president of Vermont Public Radio has been hired to lead the Maine Public Broadcasting Network. The Board of Directors of the MPBN announced Tuesday that it had chosen Mark Vogelzang as its new President and CEO. Vogelzang will be in charge of both public radio and television. In Vermont, public television is a separate entity.

Vogelzang, 56, is a veteran of public broadcasting, having served most recently as station manager at WBFO-FM, Buffalo's NPR member station, where he helped facilitate a merger to be completed in 2012 between WBFO and WNED in western New York.

Vogelzang was also president of Vermont Public Radio (VPR) for 16 years, from 1993 to 2009, where he helped the organization complete a $10 million endowment campaign and created two regional networks - one that carries news, information and cultural programming and another devoted to classical music and the arts. He was elected to NPR's Board of Directors for seven years (2001-2008), and served as the Executive Director (Interim) of the NPR Foundation for most of 2009, overseeing the foundation's entire fundraising operation.

Like its Maine counterpart at MPBN, VPR is a statewide network in a largely rural state with a relatively small population, and the similarities in the challenges faced by each played a key role in his selection, according to MPBN Board Chair Henry "Hank" Schmelzer.

"Mark's long tenure as the leader of a statewide public media network in northern New England with a roughly equal number of stations, individual donors and corporate supporters," said Schmelzer, "combined with his deep knowledge of non-profit fundraising, makes him the ideal candidate to lead MPBN into the future."

When he takes over as the head of MPBN in January, Vogelzang will replace Jim Dowe, who has been MPBN's President and CEO since April 2006 and who last spring announced his plans to retire at the end of this year.

Prior to leading VPR, Vogelzang worked as Program Director and Radio Manager at WHYY in Philadelphia, helping Terry Gross with the national launch of "Fresh Air" and assisting colleagues with national television productions, and led a major format change in Philadelphia public radio in the early 90's.

Vogelzang received his BA degree from Dordt College in Iowa, where he also began his public radio career at the campus radio station. He and his wife Rhonda have 5 adult children and 5 grandchildren. 

Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel teaches at Lyndon State

Almost 30 years ago, when I was a reporter for the St. Albans Messenger, I discovered that curious readers wanted explanations for strange weather phenomena. Once I called Stuart Hall of WCAX to explain that double corona around the sun. He was very cordial and helpful, and I think the story was well read because everyone in St. Albans had seen the strange phenomena that morning and wondered what had caused it. And when the paper hit the streets that afternoon - voila! And by the way - the answer was "atmospheric ice crystals."

The following press release from Lyndon State College, one of the nation's finer training grounds for media people covering the weather, was printed on Vermont Digger this morning.

LYNDON CTR., VT.: The Weather Channel’s on-air personality and self-described ‘Weather Geek’ Jim Cantore (LSC Class of ’86) visited Lyndon State for his annual workshop “TV Weathercasting Techniques” on November 12. This is the eighth year Cantore has given the class. The full day class offers senior broadcast meteorology students the opportunity to be mentored, coached, and critiqued by Cantore.

Cantore was again joined by meteorologist Kerrin Jeromin (Class of ’08). Jeromin is the meteorologist for Fox 44 Local News This Morning and ABC22 This Morning in Burlington, Vermont.

The day began with a presentation about the general state of broadcast meteorology, strategies for breaking into the business, and trends from within the field including the push towards “hyperlocal.” Cantore stressed the importance of being both passionate and compassionate in your line of work. Both Cantore and Jeromin discussed the process of finding that first broadcast job and tips on becoming successful. The class visited via Skype with Lou Michaels of Talent Dynamics.

Michaels talked to the students about producing a solid resume tape. She also discussed developing a viewer-friendly personality and the importance of on-air appearance. Michaels spoke of the role of social media and helped with advice about the job search.

The afternoon session concentrated on one-on-one studio work. Cantore watched tapes of each student’s earlier broadcast work and offered individual critiques and guidance. The student then had time to work in front of the chroma-key wall (green screen) where weather maps are projected. These sessions were taped and allowed Cantore and the students a final individual session. While Cantore was in studio, Jeromin watched show tapeswith the other students and shared advice on improving on-air performance.

The class didn’t end there. Both Cantore and Jeromin subsequently send each student a written assessment. The pair will watch more broadcasts in the spring and submit analysis on the students’ progress.

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Andy Potter, George Commo, John King, and Rudy Vallee named to HOF

From the Vermont Business Magazine website:

A news reporter, a sportscaster, a station executive and a legendary crooner have been named to the Vermont Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Radio and TV news reporter Andy Potter, sportscaster George Commo and Vermont Public Television President and CEO John King will be inducted during the annual VAB Awards Banquet November 19 in Burlington. Radio and movie star Rudy Vallee will be inducted posthumously.

Vallee was born in 1901 in Island Pond. A teenage bandleader, he drew attention with the band he started at Yale University, “Rudy Vallee and the Connecticut Yankees.” In 1929, Vallee began hosting “The Fleischmann’s Yeast Hour” on NBC, later “The Royal Gelatin Hour.” The show was one of the two most popular programs in the country for the next ten years (the other being “Amos ’n’ Andy”). His program was the first to present acts such as Burns and Allen, Milton Berle, Kate Smith, the Mills Brothers and Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy. His radio, stage and film career was lengthy. He worked into the early 1980’s, when he occasionally served as the opening act for the Village People. Vallee passed away in 1986. His wife, Eleanor Vallee, said she was thrilled with the VAB honor. “I’m so pleased and appreciative of this honor for my late husband, my ‘vagabond lover,’” she said from her home in Los Angeles. “Vagabond Lover” was the name of Vallee’s first film, in 1929. Eleanor Vallee, a prolific actress and model in her own right, is planning on attending the VAB Hall of Fame ceremony.

The recently-retired Andy Potter is a legend among news reporters in Vermont. He started his radio career while attending Middlebury College in the mid-1960’s. After serving in Vietnam, he returned to Vermont, where he brought his reporting skills to a variety of radio stations, including WJOY, WDOT and WKDR among others. He carved a second career on TV, where he was a longtime senior reporter for WCAX in Burlington.

George Commo is a nine-time winner of the Vermont Sportscaster of the Year award and is also a member of the Vermont Press Association Hall of Fame. George has been a radio and TV sportscaster since the early 1970’s and was the longtime voice of UVM Hockey and Vermont minor league baseball. Since 1998, he has been covering Norwich University Hockey for WDEV. Among his fans and peers, George is considered one of the greatest hockey play-by-play sportscasters to ever climb behind a microphone.
John King joined VPT in 1987 and has served as President and CEO since 1998. He also serves on the PBS Board of Directors and has served as Chairman of the Vermont Television Broadcasters Co-location Association. He is credited with helping to form a strong bond between public and private broadcasting in Vermont.

WDEV Radio in Waterbury has been named the “Broadcaster of the Year” for 2011. The station did an extraordinary job of keeping the public informed during and after Tropical Storm Irene. Their around-the-clock coverage of the disaster is credited with saving lives and keeping people informed.

John Likakis, Executive Director of WBTN-AM in Bennington is also being recognized for outstanding coverage of Tropical Storm Irene. Likakis is one of two winners of the VAB’s Distinguished Service Award. Likakis and station volunteers at WBTN provided critical information to their community before, during and after the storm. For days, they were the only link between local emergency officials and stranded citizens.
The other Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Ginny McGehee of WJOY radio in Burlington. Ginny is the longest-serving female radio personality in Vermont history, having started at WJOY in 1983. Her radio family wouldn’t think of starting the day without her good humor and upbeat attitude. She’s served her community in other ways as a board member of Champlain Valley Crimestoppers and the Vermont and New Hampshire Valley chapter of the American Red Cross.

The Alan Noyes Community Service Award is going to WJJR-FM in Rutland for their amazing annual Gift-of-Life blood drive. WJJR personalities Terry Jaye and Nanci Gordon helped collect 1,400 pints of blood in one day last December, breaking a New England record set in Boston. The annual drive has been a focal point of community involvement in Rutland. The regional and national record has since been eclipsed by Manchester, New Hampshire. This year’s drive is scheduled for December 20.

Two other Community Service Awards will be presented to WOKO-FM and ABC22/FOX44-TV. WOKO radio in Burlington has been conducting their “Big Change Round-up for Kids” for seven years. Last year, the station raised an astounding $206,000 for the Vermont Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen. The annual campaign culminates in a four-day radiothon.

ABC22/FOX44 is being honored for organizing a telethon for June 8 that raised more than $45,000 for the local Red Cross. The stations took action when reporter Natalie Paterson came back from covering damage from Vermont’s spring floods and asked General Manager Vic Vetters what the stations could do to help their neighbors. The telethon helped replenish the local Red Cross coffers at a critical time.

Funeral services for John Curran, AP reporter, 54, to be held Thursday, 11 am

Just a week after posting news of the untimely death of a well-respected member of the Vermont media, Susan Jarzyna of the Hardwick Gazette, vermontpressconnections sadly reports yet another passing of a journalist in the prime of life. John Curran, head of the Vermont bureau of the Associated Press, died Saturday afternoon at Central Vermont Medical Center after suffering a heart attack while mowing the lawn at his Colonial Drive, Montpelier home. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, and a funeral mass will be held Thursday morning (see Burlington Free Press obit below for details).

Sunday afternoon, I was talking with a prominent attorney who has represented several high-profile, unpopular causes. He praised John as a "fair" reporter, meaning of course "fair and balanced" in the true sense. Speaking as someone who has worked both as a reporter and with my former colleagues in a "flack" capacity, this is a goal to which all aspire and some achieve better than others. Based on my dealings with John as a communications professional for various not-for-profits, I agree wholeheartedly with my lawyer friend. I gladly pay John one of the highest compliments that can be paid to any reporter: "If he/she had a bias, I never knew what it was."

At his press conference Tuesday, September 20, Gov. Peter Shumlin praised Curran as "an extraordinary journalist and friend." On behalf of those who knew him he expressed "extraordinary grief and loss" and said that our hearts go out to his wife Trisha, and children Julie, Mary and Patrick. "Our love and prayers are with Trish and his family at this tough time," he said.

Before the press conference began, one of his peers noted - without referring to John in particular - that the life of the newspaper reporter is not always conducive to healthly lifestyle choices. There are long hours, lots of pressure and endless deadlines, lots of travel, too much fast food, and an over-reliance on caffeine and an underreliance on sleep (AKA "the poor man's medicine"). It would be well for all news professionals "of a certain age" to self-evaluate and not put off that annual checkup.

JOHN FRANCIS CURRAN MONTPELIER - John Francis Curran, 54, of Colonial Drive in Montpelier, died unexpectedly on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in Central Vermont Medical Center. He was born on Sept. 16, 1957, the son of S. Robert and Mary (Sullivan) Curran in New York City, N.Y. On Aug. 19, 1989, he married Patricia Flynn in Southbridge, Mass. He worked as a Journalist for the Montpelier Bureau of the Associated Press. Survivors include his wife, Patricia "Tricia" Curran of Montpelier; children, Julie Curran, Mary Curran and Patrick Curran of Montpelier; and brothers, S. Robert Curran, Jr., of West Islip, N.Y. and Mark Curran of New York City, N.Y. He was predeceased by his parents. Calling hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011, at the Guare and Sons Funeral Home. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, at St. Augustine's Church in Montpelier. Those wishing to express condolences may do so online at www.guareandsons.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road-Berlin, Barre, VT 05641 or to St. Augustine's Church, 16 Barre Street, Montpelier, VT 05602.