(Editor’s Note: The following are excerpts from coverage of Newton Minow’s “Vast Wasteland” speech in the May 15, 1961, edition of Television Digest, the predecessor of Communications Daily and the founding publication of today’s Warren Communications News. Note that back then the company -- which was already 15 years old -- employed a distinctive “telegraphic” style.)
Moves at Wisconsin Public Service Commission: Brian Rybarik to administrator, Telecommunications Division; Matthew Pagel to public information officer … Marnie Black, ex-own PR firm, becomes AMC senior vice president-public relations … ESPN digital moves: John Kosner named senior vice president of ESPN digital and print media; Rob King to vice president of editorial, digital and print media; Patrick Stiegman is editor-in-chief of ESPN.com … Turner Sports promotes Jon Kropp to vice president of business operations for golf portfolio, new position, including golf.com, pgatour.com and pga.com.
Mary Beth Richards recently left FCC, where she advised Chairman Julius Genachowski on reform of the agency, to return to the FTC, where she now is deputy in the office of executive director … Tribune names Eddy Hartenstein, Los Angeles Times and Sirius XM and ex-DirecTV, president-CEO, remains Times publisher-CEO … Discovery Communications Chief Operating Officer Peter Liguori adds title of interim CEO of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, replacing Christina Norman … Alan Schriber, who retired in December as Ohio Public Utilities Commission chairman, becomes Cincinnati Bell board member … Children Now adds Donna Friedman Meir, ex-National Geographic Kids Entertainment, to board … Cox Media Group promotes Julia Wallace to Ohio market vice president … Suzanne Grethen promoted to Hearst Television vice president, promotion & marketing.
MTV Networks Chairman-CEO Judy McGrath to step down; heads of MTV operating units to report directly to Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman …Cisco assignments of senior vice presidents as part of streamlining units: Pankaj Patel and Padmasree Warrior will lead engineering, and the Emerging Business Group will be run by Marthin De Beer … USTelecom promotes Karn Dhingra to director-communications … MUSL TV hires Robb Weller, ex-Weller/Grossman Productions, as executive vice president-programming and production … National Religious Broadcasters hires Aaron Mercer, ex-Generation Forum of the National Association of Evangelicals, as vice president of government relations … Univision promotes Carlos Deschapelles to senior vice president, sports sales … Julian Bellamy, ex-Channel 4 U.K., becomes Discovery Networks International creative director-head of production and development.
Rep. Cliff Stearn, R-Fla., hires Brooke Ericson, ex-aide to FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell, as telecom and privacy aide, replacing Matt Mandel … Insight Communications hires as vice presidents: Ankur Sharma, ex-Plymouth Rock Corp., for e-commerce; and Diane Quennoz, ex-Frontier Communications, for marketing … Iridium names Thomas Hickey, ex-Primus Telecommunications, chief legal officer … Ion Media hires Lauren Gellert, ex-Zodiak USA, as vice president of production and development … Native Public Media names Traci Morris, ex-Homahota Consulting, director of operations.
CEA promotes Brian Markwalter to senior vice president, research and standards … Motorola Solutions promotes Greg Brown to chairman, replacing Dave Dorman, who becomes lead independent director … MTN Satellite Communications names Errol Olivier, ex-Broadpoint, president-chief operating officer.
SES Chairman Romain Bausch adds title of president-CEO, replacing Robert Bednarek, becoming strategic adviser … Michael Kelly, Dish Network, takes over as Blockbuster president … Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif.’s press secretary, Ben Bradford, departs to attend graduate school.
FCC agrees to detail Nicholas Degani, Wireline Bureau attorney-advisor, to the Republican staff of the House Commerce Committee at request of Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., to work on communications and technology issues … Lobbyist Registrations: Epsilon Data Management, Glover Park Group, effective April 18 … Matt Mandel, ex-aide to Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., joins Glover Park Group to work on technology and telecom issues … Marc Welinski, ex-CielEcran, becomes Eutelsat director-marketing and commercial strategy … Prometheus Radio Project founder Pete Tridish recently stepped down as executive director, will continue advising group.
Tammy Sun, ex-Let It Shine, becomes FCC communications director and head of the Office of Media Relations, replacing David Fiske, moving to deputy director, effective April 29; Neil Grace, ex-Burson-Marsteller, becomes press secretary to Chairman Julius Genachowski … House Communications and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Anna Eshoo, D-Wash., hires Terri Glaze, ex-director of FCC Office of Legislative Affairs, as chief of staff of Washington, D.C., office … Richard Cameron, ex-NTIA’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, joins Schultz Group as vice president … Comcast moves: Former FCC and California Public Utilities Commission Commissioner Rachelle Chong hired as regional vice president of government affairs-California, replacing Johnnie Giles, recently named executive director of external affairs at Comcast headquarters in Philadelphia; Bret Perkins promoted to vice president, external and government affairs … Fox Broadcasting promotes Tom Morrissey to senior vice president of design … Salem Communications director Paul Pressler won’t seek re-election at June 16 annual meeting … TechAmerica names Robert Callahan, ex-California Chamber of Commerce, director for state government affairs.
Young Broadcasting changes: Board member Tony Cassara, ex-Paramount TV Stations Group, takes over as CEO; Deborah McDermott remains as president; director Tom Sullivan elected chairman, replacing former CEO Vincent Young … Clear Channel Radio hires Steve Casey as senior vice president of program research strategy … New Cox Enterprises board members: Michael Ahearn, True North Venture Partners, and Helene Gayle, CARE USA.