Update: Drivetime changes at LAist 89.3

 

SoCal NPR outlet LAist 89.3 (KPCC) has announced both their morning and afternoon local anchors, Susanne Whatley and Nick Roman are departing the station. Here's what they posted on social media:

Every day, LAist listeners wake up with Susanne Whatley sharing the morning news and then spend every afternoon hearing Nicholas Roman. Now, we share the heartfelt news that after years of dedication and exceptional service, our beloved hosts of #MorningEdition and #AllThingsConsidered are retiring from LAist.

Susanne Whatley has been a beacon of reliability and integrity every morning. Her calm demeanor and insightful storytelling have better connected us to our communities to start the day. Susanne’s warmth and dedication to delivering stories that matter will be greatly missed. Her last day hosting 'Morning Edition' will be Monday, July 29.

Broadcasting out of the O.C. Bureau (his home), with a deep understanding of the issues that matter most, Nick Roman has made afternoons and evenings informative and enjoyable. His ability to break apart complex stories and present them with clarity has set a high standard for all of us at LAist. His last day hosting 'All Things Considered' will be this Friday, July 26.

Thank you to both Susanne and Nick, whose voices have made LAist a trusted source of news and information. As we bid farewell to them both, we look forward to continuing our mission with the same passion and dedication that they have exemplified. You can tune in on tomorrow during #AirTalk as Larry Mantle celebrates Susanne and Nick live on the air with a special episode.

Whatley was one of the last voices heard on KFWB before the station abandoned their all-news format in September 2009. The Pasadena native graduated from USC, then took a year to travel the world with her backpack before becoming a general assignment reporter for K-EARTH 101 (KRTH). She also served as the L.A. correspondent for the Associated Press and other networks. For a decade, she hosted AP's "Portfolio" news magazine, covering all things Hollywood. Whatley has been heard internationally, including reports for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and other stations in Sydney. She also hosted "Healthline," a cable news show. She's the recipient of Golden Mike and APTRA awards for Best Newscast and Best Newswriting. 

Roman was heard on all-jazz KLON (now KKJZ) for two decades before the station elminated their news department, serving as their news director for 13 of those 20 years. While at the Long Beach station, Roman helped create CALNET, a daily statewide news program, where he worked as a producer, news editor, and host. He teaches broadcast journalism at Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Fullerton. A bit sports fan, he filed reports for NPR's "Only a Game."
LAist recently hired Alejandra (Alex) Santamaria as the station's new President / CEO, succeeding Herb Scannell who held the position for the past three-and-a-half years. The station has been through two recent rounds of layoffs in 2023 and 2024, a total of 27 layoffs and 21 buiyouts, reducing the total staff by about 17 percent. 

More details when available. 

ayodaradio@gmail.com


Comments

  1. JoeyJuly 25, 2024 at 11:07 PM

    88.1 is actually KKJZ. The KJZZ call letters are assigned to an NPR member station in Phoenix, AZ.

    ReplyDelete

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