The counselor will see you now and other short takes
Trading the mic for a couch: One of the best known voices on the local dial, Jennifer York, is about to pursue a new career as a full-time therapist with Kaiser Permanente later this month, fulfilling a long-held ambition. She offered the following memo to her KNX colleagues:
Well, after ALL these
years, the time has come.
I'm saying goodbye to
the broadcasting business. Trading yoga pants, tennis shoes and bun hair for
glasses and suits (in determination of being taken seriously 😂) and starting a job at
Kaiser Permanente as a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist.
11 years in the making
and $130,000 in student loans, now seems like the perfect time.
I’ve been getting up
at insanely early hours since 1984 after graduating from UCLA and starting at
Good Morning America in NYC. Never looked back.
Would like to leave
you with the biggest thank you I could ever show to all of you at KNX. My
prayer is that you felt loved and respected by me. I also pray that you know
your worth and know how special each one of you are. I will absolutely miss
you…especially Mike (Simpson) and Vicky (Moore).
Alex Silverman, the station's Director of News and Programming, added his tribute:
From the first time I ever heard Jen ask "have I told you I love you lately?" I knew she was unlike any traffic reporter I'd ever heard. Jen is someone who truly puts her heart into everything she does: her reports, her off-air conversations with her tipsters (trust me, it pains her when she doesn't have time to get to that stall on the 14 :), and her relationships with her colleagues. She truly cares about doing good for people on the roads and in life, which is why I'm so happy for her to take this next step. Most of you know how hard Jen has worked for many years to get her therapist's license, and while I'm thrilled that she has decided to follow her heart and her passion, it's hard to believe she won't be with us in the newsroom or on the freeways anymore. You'd better believe, however, that we will continue the Yum Yum Donuts tradition - yet another sign of Jen's kindness and generosity. Please join me in congratulating Jen, and we will all have the chance to wish her well before her last day next Friday May 10th.
We once had the opportunity to chat with Jennifer York, we'll post the interview soon. But a few highlights include her graduating from UCLA with a dual degree in Political Science and Communications before working in New York as the assistant for Joel Siegel on ABC-TV's "Good Morning America." York found her way back to LA, starting as the airborne traffic reporter for KFWB before providing Shadow Traffic reports for KTLA-TV. She received her first Emmy for her reporting during the 1993 Malibu fires. Two more Emmy Awards, one for her coverage of the Northridge Earthquake, and the other for her "Morning News" reports, followed, as well as two Golden Mike Awards, one for Best Traffic Reporter of 1998, and one for her coverage of the North Valley Jewish Community Center shooting in 1999. After leaving KTLA, York briefly moved to Atlanta before returning to SoCal as the morning co-host at The Fish 95.9 (KFSH). She started as the midday traffic anchor via the Total Traffic Network for KNX in 2012, before moving over to morning drive and taking a seat in KNX Traffic Central.
She is also a professional electric and acoustic bassist. York founded the group Rachel Rachel, the first all-female contemporary Christian band. She now performs with The York Quartet, an all-female jazz group.
York graduated from the Masters in Family Therapy program at Azusa Pacific University (full disclosure, that's my day job). She hopes to both serve her Kaiser clients as well as offering encouragement to the community-at-large about navigating life via the web.
A new Power supply: Meruelo Media, owners of Power 106 (KPWR), Cali 93.9 (KLLI), and KDAY, plus Spanish TV outlet KWHY-TV, has hired Pio Ferro as their new Senior Vice-President of Programming and Content, effective next week. He moves from the East Coast where he was VP of Programming for New York City's Hip Hop Hot 97 (WQHT) and Urban AC WBLS.
Before Ferro led MediaCo's New York properties, he has alwo worked in the leadership of Emmis Communications, CBS Dallas, and Spanish Broadcasting Systems. He told Radio Ink his first order of business in SoCal "is to go to In-N-OUt and have a Double Double."
Power 106 was once a top five station, it now ranks toward the bottom of the top 20 in the most recent ratings. KLOS has respectible ratings, though is constantly being outranked by JACK-FM (KCBS-FM), its competitor for the clasic rock audience. Ferro said he wants to capitalize on digital content, using YouTube and other platforms to connect with their audience. The three-decade radio veteran acknowledges the rapidly growing local Hispanic population. "I know the landscape in Southerin California and have worked with some amazing Spanish brands out there," Ferro told Radio Ink. "It's about bringing my experience -- my battle scars -- into the fold and building from there."
A Mark-ed update: Former KOST morning personality Mark Wallengren is returning to Los Angeles to continue his medical treatment. He wrote on Monday, May 6: "I’ve been discharged and I’m now waiting in the IV infusion department to get an antibiotic that will last a couple of weeks. After that, a van is picking me up to take me to the airport and I’ll be landing in LA before the sun goes down."
Wallengren continues to recover from a severe bacterial infection. "My pelvis apparently has areas of arthritis and the bacteria has gone there," he wrote. He's also affected on his right side where he also deals with sciatica, behind his tailbone, his wrist, and his shoulder, necessitating physical therapy in order to walk. "Still a long road to go but I'm up for it," Walllengren said.
Thanks for all of those of you who've taken the time to read the blog and offer your comments. You can always reach me (and subscribe via email) at ayodaradio@gmail.com
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