KSTX adding staff to expand local news coverage

[anthonydt06]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/KSTX-expanding-staff-newscasts-2216908.php

Beginning in late October, Noriega will host KSTX's morning local news block from 5 to 10 a.m.; this will consist of nine segments, ranging in length from 2 1/2 to 4 minutes, within National Public Radio's “Morning Edition.”

The midday crowd will be served by veteran newswoman Eileen Pace, who will host the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. local block — spot news, weather, traffic — on top of her half-hour interview show, “The Source” at 12:30 p.m. Thursdays.

Steve Short will wrap up the day as anchor of local news segments within NPR's “All Things Considered.”

They are bringing in 30-year SA/Laredo news vet Richard Noriega to anchor; Joey Palacios from KTSA, and Ryan Lloyd from KEYE as reporters. In addition to expanded local news, they plan to add breaking news coverage. Major thumbs up for the NPR guys!

 

[CTHank]

Local public radio serving the local public what a great idea, bet they see an increase in local donations....too bad the commercial operations in town don't have the same attitude about their audience.

 

[Faraway]

....too bad the commercial operations in town don't have the same attitude about their audience.

I'd bet that even after KSTX's new hires, WOAI still has a larger news staff - and certainly more locally produced newscasts. I'm not so sure KTSA doesn't have a larger staff, too. Don't know for sure, just a hunch.

 

[fredcantu]

Local news brings listeners who may not be tuning in for the normal progromming. It's called breaking down the format walls.

 

[CTHank]

Faraway,
I wasn't really thinking about WOAI, after all it's supposed to be a 'news leader' I was more thinking along the lines of live and local (a concept that has been lost by the consolidators) and you know I don't think it would hurt a station to actually have more than music and liners, they'd have to spend a bit of money, but as I've said before I can get most of the current playlists on itunes, pandora etc and not have to even turn on my radio, so let's say I'm listening to KJ or Y100 or KASE or KVET (as you can tell when I listen, it's mostly country ) when something happens that's newsworthy and important I'd like them to have the guts and the staff to break in and tell me about it. It used to be that way, and I know we're not going backward, but it is refreshing to see at least one station growing staff rather than reducing it.

 

[daypart]

....too bad the commercial operations in town don't have the same attitude about their audience.

I'd bet that even after KSTX's new hires, WOAI still has a larger news staff - and certainly more locally produced newscasts. I'm not so sure KTSA doesn't have a larger staff, too. Don't know for sure, just a hunch.

My guess is that WOAI has no more than 5 FTEs for news these days and KTSA has about 4. It's rare that either station sends a reporter to cover spot news anymore, unless it's the ND, probably because they don't have anyone to spare.

In the past year, 'OAI had 3 news staffers retire or get fired and they added 1.

Lately I've started listening more to KSTX and less to the news-talk stations and I had noticed that KSTX has 2 former news staffers from KTSA. It's nice to see KSTX rushing into the void in local news.