Catching up on news of the week

These are probably things you all know by now, but it bears mention for the blog of history on this site.

The biggest news of the week is the Post-Gazette has been saved. However, if the paper was a radio station, it would have to convert its license to “non-commercial”. The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism is the non-profit buyer. What does this mean for the paper’s business model? Well there is no telling what the new paper might look like, but we do know they intend to keep print editions two days a week – Thursday and Sunday. The non-profit is only buying the assets of the paper; not the obligations to contracts. Therefore expect a much smaller workforce at the paper come May 4. Venetoulis was formed in 2022 and operates The Baltimore Banner.

Cox Media Group and Sinclair Broadcasting Group are each tightening their managerial belts. Cox owns WPXI-TV (11) and Sinclair owns WPGH (53) and WPNT (22) locally.

At WPXI, Vice-President and General Manager Kevin Hayes will also oversee sister station WHIO in Dayton, Ohio – not exactly next door. Mr. Hayes is expected to split his time between the markets and we suspect his car will work a groove on both sides of Interstates 70 and 79 as a result.

Meanwhile, if Mr. Hayes decides to take an alternate route via Steubenville, he might pass former co-worker Tim McCoy along the route. McCoy, currently the GM at WTOV (9 Steubenville) has been asked to serve in the same role for WPGH and WPNT pushing Rich Cook out the door. McCoy has worked at WTOV for over 30 years through a few owners, most recently Cox and now Sinclair. Mr. McCoy appreciates the long association Cox-owned WPXI has had with Sinclair and supplying news for WPGH as well as the talent and skills of many from WTOV who moved on to stations in Pittsburgh.