MEDIA : XTRA’s Staff Gets News on Changes Over the Air

XTRA-AM(690) employees learned that the station had decided to emphasize sports in its ever-changing format when they turned on the radio last Monday morning to hear an increased number of sports reports.

“You probably wondered when you would hear from me about these changes,” new general manager Judy Carlough wrote in a memo to employees that day. “I apologize for not giving everyone advance notice about the changes that are occurring, but much of it was put together over the weekend.”

More changes are due in the weeks ahead, Carlough wrote. Randy Hahn already has been hired as the station’s new “morning sports personality.”

In the memo, Carlough asked for patience from employees, and for their “discretion” in handling questions from the “outside world,” i.e. from the media.

“I expect you to refer all press/inquiries to me,” she wrote. “I do not want internal memos (like this one) to end up outside the station.”

The memo was sent to The Times anonymously.

On Friday, the station dismissed six members of the newsroom staff, as part of it’s new sports emphasis.

The KUSI-TV (Channel 51) 10 p.m. newscast made its debut Wednesday, raising the philosophical question:

What if you did a newscast and didn’t tell anybody?

The station sent out no warnings that the long-awaited news show was going on the air.

In fact, the decision to go ahead wasn’t made until Wednesday evening.

“We did a rehearsal at 8 p.m. and decided it was OK,” said News Director Pete Jacobus.

“It was certainly legitimate enough to put on the air.”

Working in a business where recognition is everything, Channel 8 reporter Greg Starddard must be a little worried. Last week he was stopped by police in the University City area who were looking for a serial killer. Starddard doesn’t look anything like the artist’s rendering of the killer, but he is black, which clearly was enough reason for the police to stop him.

Channel 51 has hired former KNSD-TV (Channel 39) and KTTV (Channel 11) anchor Dennis Morgino as a weekend anchorman. He is scheduled to start Oct. 6. . . .

KFMB-TV (Channel 8) has refused to run a 30-second commercial produced by the Central America Information Center, a group opposing aid to El Salvador. “It is a controversial issue, and we only accept commercials on controversial issues if it is about a ballot issue,” said Channel 8 vice president Bill Moylan. The ad has been rejected by several stations throughout the country, but KGTV (Channel 10) and Cox Cable have agreed to air it. . . .

Former KNSD-TV (Channel 39) reporter Kim Devore, after a few months with Fox Television’s syndicated “Personalities” program, has been hired as one of the main anchors for KCOP-TV (Channel 13) in Los Angeles. She is expected to start Oct. 22. . . .

KFMB-AM (760) and its television sister KFMB-TV (Channel 8) rarely work together on promotions or marketing campaigns, but the newsrooms have decided to pool their resources on the prostitute slayings story, according to KFMB radio news director Cliff Albert. Last Tuesday’s reports by KFMB radio on the killings were detailed and expansive, providing new information and reminding listeners that radio can still be an effective news gathering medium. . . .

“P.M. Magazine” is officially dead. Channel 8 has decided not to go with a plan to do a version in cooperation with stations in other markets, sending the “P.M.” staff scurrying for other jobs. “Please mention I am available,” executive producer Geary Buydos said. The station reportedly will dump “Hard Copy” into the 7:30 p.m. slot. “P.M. Magazine” is scheduled to go off the air Dec. 28. . . .

“P.M. Magazine” co-host Pat Brown may not be too confident in the future of the afternoon talk show she has been tabbed to co-host for Channel 8. She recently talked to Channel 51 about a weekend anchor job. It sounds like she is covering her perky bases. . . .

A premise for a horror movie, which is all too close to real life. Hundreds of “P.M. Magazine” hosts are suddenly unemployed, wandering the Earth looking for jobs. Call it “Night of the Smiling Dead.” . . .

Channel 8 has decided to do more on the Iraqi crisis than having the anchors wear “freedom bracelets.” Reporter Mitch Duncan has been shipped to the Persian Gulf region. . . .

It was Channel 10’s turn to do smarmy self-promotional news stories during the 11 p.m. news show, airing features last week on ABC programs that air on Channel 10, a practice which is apparently becoming standard operating procedure for network affiliates.