On-air radio personality Alyssa Haberman has returned to KBZT-FM ALT 94.9 in San Diego to host weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“I’m beyond excited to be back on the San Diego airwaves doing what I love and entertaining alternative music fans,” Haberman told Times of San Diego. “Even though I grew up in Cleveland, San Diego feels like home.”
After graduating from Kent State University in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting, Haberman worked as the nighttime host on WDJQ in Canton from 2015 to 2016 before relocating to San Diego to join ALT 94.9, operated by Philadelphia-based Audacy.
Haberman previously hosted middays at ALT 94.9 from 2016 to 2020, including serving as music director from 2018 to 2020, when she also hosted a new music preview show on Sunday nights. She exited during a company-wide restructuring in 2020.
“Like many people during 2020, I spent a lot of time at home, it was a crazy time in our world,” Haberman said. “I worked at a couple of social media jobs. But, I was thrilled when Jeremy (Pritchard) called me and said there would be openings. He was part of the hiring team that brought me to San Diego the first time.”
Prichard serves as regional brand manager for Audacy’s alternative format, which includes overseeing content, strategy, talent, operations and branding at KNRK-FM 94.7 Alternative Portland and afternoon drive host at KBZT-FM ALT 94.9. He has spent the past 19 years working at KBZT.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Alyssa back to the ALT 94.9 airwaves and reintegrate her as a part of our weekday lineup,” said Michael Valenzuela, senior VP and market manager, Audacy San Diego. “Her ability to captivate her audience and entertain them throughout their workday is a true testament to her talent and we look forward to her connecting with our listeners once again.”
“I’ve been in the habit of saying that I’m from Ohio, but, honestly, San Diego feels more like home,” Haberman said. “I have no intention of ever leaving San Diego again.”
She returned to KBZT-FM beginning March 14.
In addition to In addition to KBZT-FM, Philadelphia-based Audacy, previously known as Entercom, also operates four other San Diego stations, including KYXY-FM 96.5, KXSN-FM Sunny 98.1, KWFN-FM 97.3 The Fan and KSON-FM 103.7.
Molly Rast joins TW2 Marketing as Account Coordinator
TW2 Marketing, a San Diego-based marketing and public relations firm, has hired Molly Rast as an account coordinator. In her role, Rast will broaden client relations through news release development and distribution, social media planning and media and account coordination, a statement said.
“Molly has the energy, enthusiasm and creativity that TW2 is known for,” said Teresa Warren, founder and president of TW2 Marketing. “She has the skills we need to continue to grow the firm and provide best-in-class service.”
Rast was previously as an account manager and the director of brand communications with Over the Moon Sales & Advertising in San Diego. In 2018, Rast held a public relations internship with an independent artist development label in Arizona, where she facilitated promotional efforts, target audience research, event recruitment and video editing for both clientele and the label. She also led the event coordination process for an industry seminar held at Rock and Roll San Diego with former Sony Music A&R consultant Loren Israel.
In 2021, Rast received her bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in interdisciplinary studies from San Diego State University.
Realtors’ Advertising Campaign Targets Hispanic Renters
Hispanic renters will be encouraged to close the wealth gap through equity building and become homeowners in a new statewide advertising campaign from the California Association of Realtors.
Scheduled to run from March 14 to April 24, the “Mi Familia” campaign is expected to deliver 12 million impressions across several paid media channels, including animations, 15-second digital videos, static online banners, streaming audio, spot radio, paid and organic social ads.
The San Diego market will be included for online banners on key websites and 30-second spots on Spanish-language radio stations, along with PR and influencer content, digital video, paid social and streaming audio, CAR said.
CAR said the campaign components will help first-time homebuyers receive financial guidance and better understand the market, down payment assistance and the overall home-buying process. Advertising expenditures were not released.
It’s the second year CAR has launched an ad campaign targeting first-time Hispanic homebuyers. Last year’s campaign focused on the benefits of becoming a homeowner and how the dream of homeownership is possible.
CAR said that about 25 percent of Hispanics renting in the state could afford a home, but many are concerned about credit and down payments or lacked information about mortgages. The campaign aims to address those fears and educate the community on the steps towards homeownership.
Latino homebuyers are expected to account for 70 percent of homeownership growth from 2020 to 2024, according to the Urban Institute. More than half of home ownership growth over the past decade has come from the Latino population and Latinos will be the only ethnic or racial group to experience a higher home ownership rate over the next couple of decades, said the Urban Institute’s recent forecast.
SPJ’s Wall, Window, Sunshine and Skylight Awards Announced
The Society for Professional Journalists’ San Diego professional chapter will host a reception to celebrate recipients of four annual special awards from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday, March 23, on the back patio of the Starlite restaurant, 3175 India Street. The awards honor public officials, individuals and government agencies who did the best and worst at transparency and accessibility with the press. Honorees include:
- Music Watson, chief of staff, San Diego County Office of Education, for the SPJ Window Award, given to a person or public agency that prioritized transparency and access to information;
- The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department for the SPJ Wall Award for making it difficult for journalists to do their jobs by ignoring information requests or compromising the public’s right to know, said SPJ (it’s the second time in two years SPJ has given this award to the Sheriff’s Department).
- Dave Maass of Electronic Frontier Foundation, a San Francisco-based nonprofit working to defend privacy rights and free speech, for the SPJ Sunshine Award;
- The late Greg Block, a longtime public affairs and communications professional who helped establish San Diego State University’s social media presence and managed press relations for former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, for the SPJ Skylight Award for career devotion to championing the public’s right to know. Block passed away at age 50 in November 2021 after two years of battling multiple myeloma.
For more event information, visit www.spjsandiego.org.
Rick Griffin is a San Diego-based public relations and marketing consultant. His MarketInk column appears weekly on Mondays in Times of San Diego.