Media Frenzy

By Rob Holbert Managing Editor

Still lots of changes coming in the local media scene, as more television reporters appear to be leaving at the same time some new faces are making the scene.

WPMI’s new faces

Two new reporters are gracing the airwaves at WPMI TV-15 these days. Astute viewers may have noticed Emily Turner and Jenna Susko. According to her biography on WPMI’s Web site, Turner started at the local NBC affiliate in September after a stint working in Gainsville, Fla. at AM 850 and WUFT, where she was a reporter and anchor. Turner graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Telecommunication News and is originally from Jacksonville, Fla.

Susko most recently worked at WJBF TV-6 in Augusta, Ga. where she was a reporter. She is a 2005 graduate of Florida State University, where she was a double major in Mass Media/Communications and English Literature.

Plea deal

In mid October, Daniel Leonard plead guilty in federal court to sending threatening e-mails to WPMI TV earlier this year, a situation that caused the station to go into virtual lockdown and led to the resignation of reporter Richard Allyn.

Leonard, 37, who was Allyn’s boyfriend and roommate, sent e-mail messages over the course of several days that became increasingly harassing and threatening. The e-mails led to security at the station’s main door and the use of a metal detecting wand to scan employees for weapons. Weapon/bomb-sniffing dogs were also employed at the Azalea Road building.

Two separate streams of e-mails, one ostensibly from a viewer in Semmes and another from someone claiming to be a WPMI employee working on the morning shift, began circulating around the first of June. The e-mails from the “viewer” expressed anger at having been subjected to the word “feces” during a 6 p.m. broadcast story by reporter Varion Walton.

On June 5, Leonard, writing from the e-mail address wpimconcernedemployees@hotmail.com, began sending messages to WPMI employees, other news media in town and Clear Channel corporate officials. The messages referred to General Manager Bob Franklin as “Dictator Bob Franklin” and indicated the sender had brought things into the building that should frighten co-workers. In subsequent messages, Leonard said Franklin’s convertible car could be followed and also referenced the Virginia Tech shootings. Leonard also managed to insult just about everyone on the WPMI staff.

Leonard is scheduled to be sentenced in January, although his attorney is hopeful he will just get probation. Leonard has been under house arrest for the past few months. However, he still faces charges stemming from accusations he stole more than $76,000 from the Alabama School of Math and Science, where he served as finance director. Leonard is accused of giving himself unauthorized raises.

There is no word on what Richard Allyn is doing since leaving WPMI.

Richardson moves

Longtime staple at WABB radio, Kathy Richardson, has moved over to do traffic reports for WZEW 92-FM. Richardson is one of the latest longtimers to leave the independently owned WABB since Bernie Ditman passed away last year.

Anchor changes?

Although there’s still no official word on the changes, it seems Kym Thurman has made the move to full-time evening anchor at WPMI alongside Greg Peterson. Reporter/anchor Varion Walton has also been pulling morning anchor duty for some time. The shuffling was caused by the sudden departure of former anchor Raquel Eatmon in April.

Also, WKRG’s Roseanne Havens is filling the 5 p.m. broadcast spot vacated by the departure of Holly Ames for the time being as the station searches for a replacement, according to insiders.

WSJ carries endorsements

The Wall Street Journal online recently carried an item that’s sure to tip the oh-so-tight Republican presidential race in favor of Mit Romney. According to WSJ, Mobile County Commissioner Stephen Nodine recently threw his hat in the ring for Romney.

“Sen. Jim Inhofe and Rep. John Sullivan, both of Oklahoma, endorsed fellow Republican Fred Thompson on Wednesday. The commissioner of Mobile County, Ala., Stephen Nodine, announced support for Mitt Romney today, as did Alaska Lt. Governor Sean Parnell.,” the item said.

I’m not sure how much weight local endorsements carry, but WSJ seemed to think it was newsworthy. You can check it out at http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2007/10/12/.

Rob Holbert is Lagniappe managing editor. Contact him at rholbert@lagniappemobile.com.

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