01-17-2012 BLC EXCLUSIVE KCTV'S WRIGHT TO REPLACE SHANIN ON KMBZ AFTERNOON TALK SHOW KCTV's award-winning investigative reporter Dana Wright will replace long-time veteran talker Mike Shanin on the KMBZ afternoon drive-time talk show "Shanin and Parks," sources have told Bottom Line. Sources have said that Shanin will stay with Entercom and serve as the station's business editor providing morning drive business and stock reports. He also will do political commentary. "Shanin and Parks” first aired on KMBZ in December 11, 2006, when Shanin, then a political analyst for KMBZ, joined forces with then KMBZ News Director Parks. Wright, who subbed for Shanin on the show during the holidays, will still do special projects/investigations with KCTV while also co-hosting the show with Scott Parks from 2-6 p.m. on 980-AM KMBZ (98.1 FM). The new show is expected to debut Monday, Jan. 30. In a news release issued today KCTV had praise for the media partnership with KMBZ. (KMBZ issued a news release announcing Shanin's departure, but did not mention the Wright appointment.) “As media continues to converge, we recognize that Dana has a wonderful opportunity and the station wanted to make sure she was able to pursue it,” said Blaise Labbe, KCTV News Director. “We view this as a positive partnership and a way to extend our KCTV5 news brand. "Though she will be leaving us day-to-day, we are excited that she will be part of our team and contributing the quality of reports that Kansas City viewers expect.” Wright grew up in Topeka and graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in broadcast journalism. She joined KCTV5 in June 2000 as a general assignment reporter after spending five years writing, producing, reporting and anchoring for WIBW-TV in her hometown of Topeka. Wright has won some of the most prestigious local and national awards for investigative reporting, including a "Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism" in 2011. “This is really a dream opportunity for me, it allows me to have the best of both worlds,” says Wright. “I will be able to reach an audience daily through talk radio and still tell stories for KCTV5. "Journalism is my passion and I look forward to this exciting new step in my career. I’d like to thank KCTV5 for allowing me to move in a different direction, but still remain part of the KCTV5 family.” The "Shanin and Parks" show marked its fifth anniversary Dec. 11.
Dana Wright
Mike Shanin and Scott Parks (click to enlarge).
01-18-2012
POTENTIAL TRAIN WRECK "At first blush, this looks like a train wreck in the making. Is she going to be playing the super conservative role that Shanin played? What are her credentials for talk radio? It is alot different than standing up in front of the camera and doing a 2-3 minute report on TV? Obviously she will be the junior partner in the relationship with Parks....I give it less than 6 months..." ----Old Radio Guy
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