New faces in your newsroom or communication department? Let everyone know. Send your Media Moves to: email@idahopressclub.org
COEUR D’ALENE PRESS
The Press recently created a new position, regional design editor, and filled it with Grant Purdum. Grant has worked for a number of newspapers across the West, most recently for Gannett as a designer based in Spokane. He’s a Washington State University grad.
Nine-year veteran Press education reporter and feature writer Devin Weeks left to work in the communications department at Kootenai Health, the regional hospital with 3,600 employees. Devin was replaced by Hannah Neff, who had been a copy editor at The Press for one year.
IDAHO BUSINESS REVIEW
Alx Stevens is the new managing editor at the Idaho Business Review. Former managing editor Sharon Fisher became a digital nomad in October, then left Idaho Business Review and is freelancing for journalism and corporate clients as she travels the world.
IDAHO STATESMAN
Rachel Spacek joined the Statesman in May to cover local governments in western Ada County and Canyon County, plus the Latino community. She previously worked at the Idaho Press. Sally Krutzig joined the Statesman in May to cover growth and development. She previously worked at the Post Register.
Becca Savransky joined the Statesman in June as an education reporter through a partnership with Report for America. The position is funded by philanthropy. She previously worked at SeattlePI.
Kyle Land joined the Statesman in July to cover the city of Boise, after previously working at the Albuquerque Journal in New Mexico. Kevin Fixler joined the Statesman in June as an investigative reporter. He most recently worked at the Santa Rosa (California) Press Democrat. Paul Schwedelson joined the Statesman in September as a local government and breaking news reporter. He previously worked at the Idaho Press. Gustavo Sagrero joined the Statesman in September as a sports clerk and news intern. He also works at Boise State Public Radio.
Bryan Clark joined the Statesman in October as an opinion writer. He previously worked at the Post Register in Idaho Falls. Nicole Blanchard was promoted in June to investigative reporter. She still covers outdoor recreation and the environment.
Hayley Harding left in April for a job at the Detroit News. She previously covered the city of Boise.
Nicole Foy left in July for a job at the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman. She previously was an investigative reporter and covered the Latino community.
KIVI 6/KNIN Fox 9/KSAW TV
Obaiy Hashem, producer for Fox 9, has left to work on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Jake Brasil has left KSAW in Twin Falls to work as PIO for the Boys and Girls Club in the Magic Valley.
Rachel Garceau has left Good Morning Idaho, which airs on both KIVI and KSAW, to become the PIO for Central District Health.
Evelyn Avitia, a University of Idaho graduate, started Oct. 18 as a multimedia journalist for KSAW in Twin Falls. Isabella Bright, a graduate from USC’s Annenberg School of Journalism, started on Nov. 1 as a multimedia journalist for KSAW in Twin Falls.
IDAHO PRESSTeddy Feinberg was named managing editor in June; he previously was news editor at the Bakersfield Californian. Feinberg was selected after a national search. He replaces Holly Beech, who worked at the Press for a decade before leaving for a position with the Idaho Office for Refugees.
Laura Guido joined the Press as city editor in September. She most recently worked as a reporter, editor and designer at the Woodinville Weekly, and previously worked for the Whidbey News-Times and the Columbia Basin Herald. Digital Editor Madison Guernsey joined the Press in May. He was with the Idaho State Journal for six years and also worked for the Lewiston Tribune. New reporters at the Idaho Press include Alexandra Duggan, who started in October; she is a University of Idaho graduate and a Meridian native. Reporter Erin Banks Rusby joined the staff in June; she holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of California-Berkeley and formerly freelanced for publications including the Idaho Business Review.
Reporter Carolyn Komatsoulis joined the Press in May; a Boston University graduate, she most recently reported for the Columbus Telegram/Schuyler Sun in Columbus, Nebraska and previously worked for the Berkshire Eagle and Voice of America.
Former reporter Erin Sheridan left the Press in June and now works for Interfaith Sanctuary. Former reporter Paul Schwedelson departed in September to join the Idaho Statesman; former reporter Rachel Spacek departed in May to do the same.
BOISE WEEKLY
Jeanne Huff, community engagement editor for the Idaho Press, has been promoted into a dual role where she now also serves as editor of the Boise Weekly. The Weekly (and the Idaho Press features staff) has also welcomed new reporter Bowen West, who comes from Missoula.
KTVB TV
Jessica Hagan took the helm as President and General Manager, coming from KING5, KTVB’s sister station in Seattle, where she most recently served as Director of Sales. Katija Stjepovic came to KTVB for her first full-time reporting role from KSTU in Salt Lake.
Tyson White, chief photographer, left for opportunities outside of news. Natalee Allen was promoted from Executive Producer to Assistant News Director. Shirah Matsuzawa was promoted from MSJ/reporter to Weekend Anchor/Producer. (MSJ stands for multi-skilled journalist.)
Joey Pretchl, MSJ/reporter, took a position as a communication specialist with an Oregon school district. Zoran Tesic transferred from Tegna’s Memphis station to take the chief photographer position. Tristan Lewis joined KTVB as an MSJ/reporter coming from the Tegna station in Bryan, TX after spending time at Local News 8.
Logan Smith joined as an editor for Wake Up Idaho but will soon be moving to a visual producer role for The 208. Melissa Mione transferred from the production team at KTVB to a newscast producer. John Mark Krum also transferred from production to a news editor.
Jeremy Stiles moved from a broadcast producer to a full-time digital producer. Tyson Miller, broadcast/digital producer, left KTVB for an opportunity outside of the business. Tami Tremblay, Saturday Morning News anchor/reporter, left KTVB to spend more time with family.
Chase Biefeldt, MSJ/reporter, moved back home to report at WBIR in Knoxville, Tennessee. Andrew Baertlein began his journalism career as a MSJ/reporter after graduating from the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University. Melissa Stoner hung up her marketing director hat to pursue other opportunities.
Brielle Anderson, producer, left the news business. Lucas Gebhart, producer, left for the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce. Brenda Rodriguez came to KTVB as a MSJ/reporter and Saturday Morning news anchor/producer from Redwood News and has also begun local reporting in Spanish.
Katie Yeatts came to KTVB from Chicago for a producer job. She previously worked for Big Ten Network and Marquee Sports Network. Morgan Romero returned to KTVB as an anchor/investigative reporter after several years in Portland at KGW.
Mark Johnson announced he will be retiring in December. Brian Holmes will continue on The 208 at 5 p.m. and begin also anchoring the News at 10 at that time.
Doug Petcash will be moving to the News at Noon, continuing Viewpoint, and anchoring the News at 6 as soon as KTVB finds the perfect Wake Up Idaho anchor to join Maggie and Larry. Celina Van Hyning will be making a move our sister station in Spokane to produce for KREM morning news and their digital platforms.
Darren Damon left KTVB for a position at Bilbao & Co. Bridger Cowan just joined the Wake Up Idaho team as an editor. Paul Boehlke will be leaving for the Idaho Farm Bureau. Ky Tucker will be returning to Boise for a producer role from KING5 in Seattle.
IDAHO MOUNTAIN EXPRESS
The Mountain Express is currently recruiting for a general assignment reporter, a full-time position in the resort community of Sun Valley. For details, see idahopressclub.org under the “Jobs” tab.
