TIMES-NEWS
The editor and publisher of The Times-News in Twin Falls says he plans to retire at year’s end. Brad Hurd has worked for Lee Enterprises for 31 years and has been publisher of The Times-News since November 2004. He was named editor last year. He also oversees the Elko Daily Free Press in Elko, Nev. Hurd joined Lee in 1979 as an assistant city editor for the Missoulian in Missoula, Mont. He was the Missoulian’s editor from 1982 to 1994, when he became manager of Farcountry Press, a Lee-owned book and magazine publisher in Helena, Mont. In 2001, he added duties as publisher of the Independent Record in Helena.
BOISE WEEKLY
It’s been a busy summer at Boise Weekly. Nathaniel Hoffman stepped down as News Editor to get to work on a book about immigration love stories. George Prentice, former host and reporter at KBSX-91.5 Boise State Public Radio, is now heading up BW’s News department. Zach Hagadone, who joined Boise Weekly last spring at Business Editor, took a contributing writer position after moving to his hometown of Sandpoint, where he’s finally running a weekly newspaper he started several years ago. Other new additions to the BW editorial staff include Heather Lile as the calendar department (yep, the whole department) and Josh Gross, expert video and social media wrangler.
TELEVISION
Idaho Falls-Pocatello Market
KIDK
Emily Florez, a reporter, departed for a job in Salt Lake City.
KPVI
Matt Gittins is the new Sports Director. He came from BYU. Paul Shahen, a sports reporter, departed for a job in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
KIFI
Marissa Bodmar is a new reporter. Troy Campbell is a new reporter. He comes from California. Brittany Borghi is a new reporter. She comes from Pennsylvania. Ido Walker, Digital Content Director, has moved to morning weather anchor. Lenny Smith has been hired as the new Digital Content Director.
Aman Charba, a reporter, departed to become a Sports Director in Grand Junction, Colorado. Michelle Costa, a reporter, departed for a new position at KMVT. Hailey Higgins, a reporter, departed for a new position in South Dakota.
Lewiston Market
KLEW
No change
Twin Falls Market
KMVT
Gina Jamison, who was one of the 6 and 10 PM weeknight anchors, left to pursue other job opportunities. Nick and Danielle Koser have been hired, both to work on a new one-hour (6:00-7:00)
morning news show starting November 1st. Both Nick and Danielle were previously with the Fox affiliate in Beaumont, Texas on their AM news product. Danielle is an anchor/producer and Nick is a weather person. Brittany Cooper, a reporter and our previous weekend weather person, is moving into our new AM news product.
Joey Martin, the son of News Director Joe Martin, is now working for us as a photographer and reporter. Jason Carter is now the Sports Director and comes to us from a station in St. George, Utah. Amy Gill is now our weekend sports anchor, and comes from KMPH in Fresno, California. Michelle Costa is the new weekend weather person and reporter and she comes to us from KIFI in Idaho Falls.
Boise Market
KIVI
Tauna Lange is the new News Director. She comes from San Diego. Natalee Morales is the new morning anchor, arriving from Medford, Oregon. Kirk Chaisson is a new videojournalist. He comes from Texas.
Mac King is a new videojournalist, coming to Boise from Northwestern. Tina Jensen is a new videojournalist, coming from California. Meghan McBride departed for other opportunities.
Megan Sweeney left to get married.
KBCI
Tami Tremblay is a new weekend anchor/reporter; she formerly worked at KTRV. Trina Cobbley is a new morning anchor; previously, she was a morning show producer/anchor in Utah. She will be joining Brian Morrin and Adam Behrman for the morning shows. Keyna Whitworth, a morning anchor, departed for a position in Arizona.
KTVB
Edgar Linares left to pursue new opportunities. Ysabel Bilbao departed KTVB to take a position with the University of Idaho.
Ty Brennan joins KTVB from KPVI in Pocatello as a general assignment reporter. Kathleen Spencer is the new evening editor. Brandon O’Rourke is a new producer, and Jamie Grey has come on as a general assignment reporter. Eric Turner, formerly with KIVI, is a new KTVB photojournalist. Ryan Larrondo, formerly with KMVT, is now a KTVB sports reporter.
Among KTVB employees promoted were Don Day, promoted to Internet sales & product manager; Kelsey Jacobson to KTVB.COM senior digital media producer; and Emily Albrechtsen to promotions producer. Justin Corr moves from sports anchor/reporter to general assignment reporter, and Scott Evans was promoted to Saturday Morning News anchor/reporter.
RADIO
BOISE STATE PUBLIC RADIO
Boise State Public Radio is pleased to announce the arrival of Scott Ki as the station’s new General Assignments Reporter. Scott comes to BSPR from KUNM in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he reported on regional and local news for the public radio station. Scott also reported for the public radio station in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Former News Director Elizabeth Duncan departed, and has taken a position with Saint Alphonsus Health System; see public relations Media Moves below.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
J.R. Simplot Company
After a short stay as public relations director at Stoltz Marketing Group, Sydney Sallabanks has accepted a position as communications manager for the J.R. Simplot Company.
Idaho Education
Association
Julie Fanselow is now communications director at the Idaho Education Association. She replaced Gayle Moore, who retired after 30 years in the job. Julie is also keeping a hand in travel writing as a columnist for the Idaho Statesman’s quarterly Treasure magazine.
Saint Alphonsus Health System
Elizabeth Duncan, formerly News Director at Boise State Public Radio, has accepted a position with Saint Alphonsus Health System. Duncan will be the organization’s new Director of Public Relations, a newly created position at Saint Alphonsus. Saint Alphonsus
Health System is comprised of Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Saint Alphonsus Medical Center in Nampa, Saint Alphonsus Medical Center in Ontario, Ore., and Saint Alphonsus Medical Center in Baker City, Ore.
Strategies 360
John Foster, formerly the campaign manager and senior advisor to Congressman Walt Minnick and former managing editor of the Idaho Business Review, is now the Senior Vice President for Idaho Operations at Strategies 360, one of the nation’s leading firms for strategic positioning, communications and public affairs. The company is headquartered in Seattle, and has offices in Anchorage, Helena, Spokane, Portland, Washington, D.C. and now Boise.
