Media Frenzy

By Rob Holbert Managing Editor

It looks like another big name will be moving from WZEW/WNSP to “The Pirate” in 2008.

Multiple sources tell Lagniappe WNSP’s morning host Wayne Gardner will be heading to WAVH, also known as “The Pirate” as part of the station’s ownership team. His last day with WNSP will reportedly be at the end of December.

When contacted, Gardner said he could have no comment on the issue.

In October we reported that Sean Sullivan, the longtime host of WZEW’s morning show, had left the station to become part of WAVH’s ownership. Sullivan’s stepfather Donald Bigler of Bigler Broadcasting Co. made a $3.6-million bid for the station, which must still be approved by the Federal Communications Commission. That should come to pass in the next few months.

Sullivan left WZEW in October and must sit out a six-month non-compete clause in his contract before he can go to work at “The Pirate.” Gardner also has a similar clause in his contract, so it may be early summer before he could be back on the airwaves.

Gardner has long been a major voice in local broadcasting. For nearly 30 years, he was on WKSJ’s morning show. He also served as programming director for the station and for a decade was the general manager.

Gardner first came to Mobile from South Carolina in 1974 and began work for Ken Johnson, who now owns WNSP and WZEW.

Gardner is also no stranger to radio ownership, having been part of a group that bought “The DAWG,” a country music station in the ‘90s. He was also part of a group that purchased WKSJ, Lite Mix, The Rocket and WNTM, stations that were all eventually sold to Clear Channel.

For the past six years, he has hosted “Morning Sports Center” on WNSP with co-host Lee Shirvanian. Reportedly, Scott O’Brien will be moving into Gardner’s spot after the beginning of the year. O’Brien was recently let go from WNTM where he served as the programming director and hosted “Ask the Expert,” among other duties.

WNSP Programming Director Tim Camp said he could have no comment when contacted by Lagniappe.

More Henry

If you can’t get enough “Uncle Henry,” then get up earlier. The Uncle’s show has been expanded to four hours weekdays, running from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Host Chris Smith says the move is welcome and a result of the show pulling good ratings and some changes in programming at WNTM 710-AM.

“Uncle Henry” generally focuses on current events in the local area.

More Bay Times

The demise of the Mobile Bay Times was greatly exaggerated. OK, actually when Chip Drago announced the end of his online magazine covering local politics and news, he did leave the door open for a reprieve.

It seems that happened. Drago sent out a message to readers and supporters a couple of weeks ago saying his site will continue on thanks to some new financial support. Those who enjoy getting his well-reported stories on a daily basis can rejoice and still log on at www.mobilebaytimes.com.

Good timing

I couldn’t help thinking about my friend Jeb Schrenk this past week. The Press-Register’s assistant city editor, Schrenk has spent the past couple of weeks as interim editor of my old employer, The Mississippi Press. The Pascagoula newspaper is also owned by Newhouse and needed someone to fill in while they search for a new editor.

On Schrenk’s watch, three national stories with Jackson County ties hit in rapid succession. First U.S. Sen. Trent Lott abruptly announced that he would be retiring before the end of the year, ending a 35-year Congressional career. Shocker.

A couple of days later, Pascagoula native and uber-wealthy attorney Richard “Dickie” Scruggs was indicted for allegedly trying to bribe a circuit judge in north Mississippi. Scruggs is Lott’s brother-in-law and was the lead counsel in the famed cigarette lawsuits of the ‘90s that were cooked up in Pascagoula. He has been rumored to be John Grisham’s inspiration for his book “The King of Torts” and was played by a guy named Colm Feore in the movie “The Insider,” which told a version of the cigarette lawsuits.

And if all that weren’t enough for an interim editor, another Jackson Countian made national news last week when The New York Times reported that Paige Roberts, Southeast Mississippi executive director for the Red Cross, was involved in a “personal relationship” with now-dismissed American Red Cross head Mark Everson. Roberts was a former reporter with WLOX-TV in Biloxi and is married to Gautier, Miss. municipal judge Gary Roberts.

Having spent nearly four years at The Mississippi Press, I can say that much national news in a week is a pretty rare occurrence. Schrenk must attract big stories.

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

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