By Rick Griffin
Alternative-rock station KBZT 94.9 FM, operated by Entercom San Diego, has announced that Dana DiDonato and Jayson Prim will begin hosting the weekday morning show, 5:30 to 9 a.m., starting Monday.
Dana and Jayson were previously at WBLI-FM (Nassau/Suffolk County, NY). They left in June 2016. Three years previously, Jayson joined Dana, who had hosted morning drive for 11 years and won two Gracie Allen awards.
“It’s a really exciting day for FM 94/9 and Entercom San Diego to be able to add such dynamic personalities to San Diego’s Alternative, they made me laugh,” said Kevin Callahan, KBZT-FM program director and Entercom San Diego operations director.
“It’s always been a gift to laugh and hang out with people each morning,” said DiDonato. “We are so excited to invite the San Diego community into our lives, and we hope they make our show a part of theirs.”
“I’m just happy that instead of talking to myself every morning, I finally get to have human interaction again,” said Prim.
A station press release said DiDonato is a reformed sorority girl and married mother of three and Prim is gay. “Each show takes listeners on a ride through vulnerable, awkward and hilarious conversations that would usually be saved for happy hour with your closest friends,” the press release said.
The station posted a YouTube video featuring the duo announcing the new job.
Dana and Jayson replace the morning team of Chris Cantore and Steven Woods, who left the station in January. KBZT 94.9 FM is the new radio home for San Diego Padres’ broadcasts this season. In addition to KBZT, Entercom operates two other stations in San Diego, including KSON 97.3-FM and 92.1-FM and KXSN Sunny 98.1-FM.
After 11 years, MiraCosta College PR Director Has Left
Cheryl Broom has left MiraCosta College after 11 years as the community college’s director of public and government relations, marketing and communications, to open the West Coast branch office of Interact Communications, a marketing and strategic communications firm that has served two-year colleges for the past 20 years.
The company said Broom will serve as Interact’s point person on the West Coast providing marketing, research, strategic and PR support to two-year and technical colleges. “The move to Interact Communications has provided me a fabulous opportunity to assist community colleges across California and the western United States in their efforts to strengthen their enrollment and student success efforts,” said Broom.
While at MiraCosta, Broom won more than 100 awards from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations and the Community College Public Relations Organization. She assisted with the 2016 passage of a $455 million facilities bond and spearheaded state legislation that helped California community college employees take maternity and paternity leave.
MiraCosta College has about 14,600 students.
Fox 5 San Diego Touts Nielsen Numbers
KSWB-TV/Fox 5 San Diego has announced that TV ratings company A.C. Nielsen Co. reports its weekday Fox 5 Morning News and Fox 5 News at Ten shows ranked #1 with adults ages 18-49 and adults ages 25-54 during the February 2017 sweeps period (from Feb. 2 to March 1).
The station said it was the third consecutive February sweeps period that both shows, Fox 5 Morning News show during the 6 a.m. hour and Fox 5 News at Ten, drew top ratings for adults 18-49 and 25-54.
“I am very proud of the continued growth of the Fox 5 news, a total team effort where serving our viewers and our community comes first,” said Scott Heath, president and GM, Fox 5.
“Our top priority is to serve the San Diego community, I’m proud of the work we have accomplished in the newsroom and are thankful for the loyalty of our viewers,” said Rich Goldner, VP/news director, Fox 5.
Health Care Communicators Focusing on Positive Mindset
Health Care Communicators of San Diego will host “”Create A Winning Mindset,” a workshop from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16 at Red Card Cafe, 4140 Morena Boulevard. A presentation from Leisa Reid of Productive Learning, a boutique personal growth company, will discuss how perceptions and thinking patterns can keep opportunities and goals out of reach. Reid will discuss actions that can lead to personal growth and success.
Cost to attend the program is $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House. More information is available at www.hccsd.org/events. HCCSD is a professional networking group for communications professionals who work in the health care, wellness, biotech, medical device, health information technology and pharmaceutical industries.
Rick Griffin is a San Diego-based public relations and marketing consultant. His MarketInk column appears weekly on Mondays in Times of San Diego.
