meteorologist michael smith now at wfor

®
DECEMBER 2013
CHAPTER NEWS
METEOROLOGIST MICHAEL SMITH NOW AT WFOR
sfltv
Meteorologist Michael Smith is now part of the WFOR weather team. This is the station’s second hire of a
former WPLG personality, the other one being John Guaraldi.
Smith was the weekend meteorologist at WPLG until earlier this year when he became the odd man out
after Local 10 was ordered by corporate to shuffle their weather personalities around. He had a brief stint
at the Weather Channel after leaving Channel 10.
Michael Smith
DAVID BERNARD SIGNS OFF WFOR
sfltv
David Bernard signed off last week after about 5 years as the chief meteorologist for CBS4. He came to
South Florida way back in August of 2005 form WWL in New Orleans, right before Hurricane Katrina hit.
Former WFOR hurricane specialist Bryan Norcross hired him as his eventual replacement.
Rumor has it the powers that be in New York City handed instructions to CBS4 management to dole out
pay cuts, and according to the usual “people familiar with the situation” David Bernard passed on a
“significant pay cut” offer, and decided to walk. Another former WFOR meteorologist, Jeff Berardelli, is said
to have left for the same reasons.
David Bernard
JENNIFER GRAY LANDS AT CNN WEATHER
CNN
Jennifer Gray has joined CNN as a meteorologist, it was announced by Terence Burke, vice president
of newsgathering for CNN/U.S. Gray, who is a member of the National Weather Association and has
earned the AMS Seal of Approval from the American Meteorology Society, will be based in Atlanta at
the network’s global headquarters.
“Jennifer brings a versatile skill set as a meteorologist,” said Burke. “She will be a great addition for
CNN with her experience in production, multimedia and reporting in the field.”
Jennifer Gray
Prior to joining CNN, Gray was the weekend morning show meteorologist and a feature reporter for WTVJ, the NBC affiliate in
Miami, where she covered severe weather in the field and helped produce specials that focused on hurricane preparedness and
safety. She co-hosted and co-produced ‘Florida Insider Fishing Report’ for Sun Sports and ‘Beyond The Reef’ in conjunction with
the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, raising awareness of conservation issues facing the oceans and Florida’s fisheries.
National Television Academy, Suncoast Chapter • P.O. Box 840738 • Pembroke Pines, FL 33084 • Tel. 954-322-3171 • Fax 954-322-3178 • e-mail: [email protected]
DECEMBER 2013
CHAPTER NEWS
NBC UNIVERSAL NAMES MANUEL MARTINEZ
PRESIDENT OF TELEMUNDO STATIONS
By Merrill Knox TVSpy
Manuel Martinez has been named president of Telemundo Stations, the NBC Owned Stations announced.
Martinez has been president and general manager of WTVJ, the NBC owned station in Miami, since 2012.
In his new role, Martinez will oversee the 16 owned Telemundo stations. He will report to Valari Staab, the
president of the NBC Owned Stations.
Manuel Martinez
“Manny is an experienced leader with in-depth knowledge of the broadcast industry, a track record of improving television
stations and a strong commitment to our Spanish speaking communities,” Staab said in a statement. “…Manny’s experience,
skills and dedication will steer our Telemundo stations forward.”
REGIONAL NEWS
FORMER WESH ANCHOR WENDY CHIOJI TALKS
ABOUT LATEST CANCER BATTLE
By Kevin Eck TVSpy
Wendy Chioji, who left the news business in 2008, has recently completed her chemotherapy and
radiation treatments after being diagnosed with thymic carcinoma earlier this fall.
The two-time cancer survivor and former news anchor for Orlando NBC station WESH spoke with
Growing Bolder, co-producer of her show “Surviving & Thriving,” about her cancer treatment and her
plans to climb Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro in February. “ I will do everything I can to make it to the top,”
said Chioji. “It’s amazingly important.”
Wendy Chioji
The die-hard triathlete first shared her 2001 battle with breast cancer while working at WESH.
She said the latest fight may have slowed her down, but it hasn’t stopped her from pursuing her passion,”I already signed up
for an Ironman next year,” said Chioji. “So I’m moving forward. Cancer slowed me down a little bit. It changed my path a little bit
like it does. It changed it more last time. But I’m still going forward.”
Chioji’s special “Surviving & Thriving” airs on Orlando CBS affiliate WKMG next Friday.
National Television Academy, Suncoast Chapter • P.O. Box 840738 • Pembroke Pines, FL 33084 • Tel. 954-322-3171 • Fax 954-322-3178 • e-mail: [email protected]
DECEMBER 2013
REGIONAL NEWS REP. TREY RADEL, FORMER WINK ANCHOR, PLEADS
GUILTY TO COCAINE POSSESSION
By Merrill Knox TVSpy
Rep. Trey Radel (R-FL), a former anchor at WINK, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge
of cocaine possession, USA Today reports:
“I’ve hit a bottom,” Radel said, as he appeared in District of Columbia Superior Court. The
freshman congressman, who represents a solidly Republican district in southwest Florida,
said he’ll enter an in-patient rehab program in his home state.
Rep. Trey Radel
Radel was caught buying drugs in what a senior Drug Enforcement Administration official described as a sting operation that was part
of an investigation by several federal agencies into a drug ring in the nation’s capital. A drug dealer who told law enforcement officials
that one of his customers was a member of Congress helped set up a buy on Oct. 29 and Radel bought the cocaine, the official said.
“I’m profoundly sorry to let down my family, particularly my wife and son, and the people of Southwest Florida,” Radel said in a statement
released Tuesday.“I struggle with the disease of alcoholism, and this led to an extremely irresponsible choice. As the father of a young
son and a husband to a loving wife, I need to get help so I can be a better man for both of them.”
Radel was the evening anchor at the Fort Myers CBS affiliate from 2007 to 2010. When he signed off from the station, he said his true
passion was politics. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012.
Radel is married to Amy Wegmann, a former anchor at rival WFTX.
WVUE GENERAL MANAGER JOE COOK TO RETIRE
By Merrill Knox TVSpy
WVUE president and general manager Joe Cook will retire from the New Orleans Fox affiliate on December 13, Broadcasting &
Cable reports.
WVUE parent company Louisiana Media Company recently announced a shared services agreement with Raycom, which will
provide operational services to WVUE beginning December 16. Cook will become president of Louisiana Media Company and
plans to spend more time on his other interests, songwriting and real estate.
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National Television Academy, Suncoast Chapter • P.O. Box 840738 • Pembroke Pines, FL 33084 • Tel. 954-322-3171 • Fax 954-322-3178 • e-mail: [email protected]
DECEMBER 2013
PEOPLE MOVES
Meteorologist DEREK KEVRA joins WJBK in Detroit from WWL in New Orleans.
Meteorologist JENNIFER GRAY joins CNN Weather from WTVJ in Miami.
KRISTIN WRIGHT joins WRC in Washington D.C. from WTVT in Tampa.
MICHAEL SMITH joins WFOR CBS4 in Miami from WPLG in Miami.
JOHANNA TORRES joins WPLG as general assignment reporter from WGXA FOX24/ABC/16 in Macon, Georgia.
JOHN GUARALDI joins WFOR CBS4 in Miami. Previously John worked as weekend meteorologist at WPLG in Miami.
Check out this year’s Emmy® Awards Photo Gallery on FLICKR!
Congratulations to this year’s Suncoast Emmy® Award winners!
National Television Academy, Suncoast Chapter • P.O. Box 840738 • Pembroke Pines, FL 33084 • Tel. 954-322-3171 • Fax 954-322-3178 • e-mail: [email protected]
DECEMBER 2013
Officers
Committee Chairs
Chip Richards, President and Trustee,
Production Manager, WLRN-TV, PBS, Miami
Art & Design
John Mays, 1st Vice President and Trustee,
Production Manager, WFOR/CBS4, Miami
Maria Cristina Barros, 2nd Vice President and Alternate Trustee,
Director of Marketing and Community Relations,
WSCV/Telemundo 51, Miami
Karla MacDonald, Secretary and Suncoast Chapter Administrator
Stacey Panson, Graphic Artist, Ft. Lauderdale
Emmy Awards
John Mays, Production Manager, WFOR/CBS4, Miami
Scholarship
Angela Ramos, Programming & Public Affairs Director,
WLTV/Univision23, Miami
Betsy Behrens, Treasurer, Retired television producer
Karla MacDonald, Suncoast Chapter Administrator
Board of Governors
Tel. 954-322-3171 e-mail [email protected]
Frank Adelson, Editor, NBC6/WTVJ, Miami
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Barbara Alfonso, Manager, Programming and Community
Marketing, WTVJ/NBC6, Miami
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Alternate Trustee, Director of Marketing and Community
Relations, WSCV/Telemundo 51, Miami
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Joyce Belloise, WPBT Channel 2, Miami
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Submissions related to television in the Suncoast region of Florida,
Mobile, Alabama, Louisiana and Puerto Rico are welcome. Send to
[email protected]
Pam Giganti Bunge, News Anchor, WTVJ/NBC6, Miami
Natalia Crujeiras, Director of Digital Media & Social Strategy for
the Office of Cuba Broadcasting
Tammy Darling, Director, WSVN-TV, Miami
Lori Davis, Producer/DP/Director/Avid Editor,
LCD Productions, Ft. Lauderdale
Frances Hernandez, Manager, Production Administration,
WPBT Channel 2, Miami
Steve Greenberg, Freelance Producer/Reporter/VO/
Media Training, Miami
John Mays, Chapter 1st Vice President and Trustee
Production Manager, WFOR/CBS4, Miami
Adrianna Mocciola, AMERICA TEVE, Miami
Christine Portela, Producer, Fusion, an ABC-Univision joint venture
Liz Roldan, News Director, WFOR/CBS4, Miami
Mel Taylor, Assignment Desk, WPLG, Miami
Max Wyler, Owner, Accord Productions, Coconut Grove
National Television Academy, Suncoast Chapter • P.O. Box 840738 • Pembroke Pines, FL 33084 • Tel. 954-322-3171 • Fax 954-322-3178 • e-mail: [email protected]