Springfield talk radio station KSGF has found a new host to fill the morning spot left vacant by the sudden, unexplained departure of Vincent David Jericho.
Nick Reed will fill the 6–9 a.m. time slot for the Journal Broadcast Group station beginning April 5. Reed spent the last two years as host for Clear Channel Communications’ WISN and WOKY in Milwaukee, where Journal has its base of operations.
Reed started his career working in Joplin for Columbia-based Zimmer Radio Group, and Springfield Operations Manager Valorie Knight said Journal was looking for someone who was familiar with the area.
“They had to have successful experience as a talk show host and as a program director, because that job also includes running that station,” she said. “But we wanted to find someone who had local ties, that knew the people here and knows that southwest Missouri is a conservative area that needs a voice. We wanted someone who wouldn’t come in and have to learn how to pronounce the streets.”
While KSGF has filled its morning opening, Jericho also has moved on. The polarizing host, who spent seven years with the Journal Broadcast station, on March 1 launched “Jericho Only,” a show aired over the Internet at www.jerichoonly.com.
The four-hour show features a widened scope from his previous offering. The first hour focuses on events in southwest Missouri, with subsequent hours looking at events with statewide, national and global perspectives. Listeners worldwide are encouraged to call in and offer viewpoints and comments via Skype.
KSGF officials and Jericho remain tight-lipped on the circumstances behind his late December departure. Jericho did point to comments by former KY3 reporter David Catanese to the KY3 Political Notebook, saying he had talked with Republican leaders who intimated that Jericho’s comments about Republican leaders may have led in part to the abrupt exit. The post has since been removed from KY3’s blog, but Fired Up! Missouri has posted excerpts at www.firedupmissouri.com.
“They’re hinting that this definitely had to do with his constant barrage of attacks on Congressman Roy Blunt and Mavis Busiek, the 7th District (Congressional Republican Committee) executive director,” Catanese said, according to the left-leaning political blog. “They’re not saying that Roy Blunt got somebody fired, but they’re saying that there was a build up there and that had to do something with him leaving.”
Catanese now works for Politico.com.
Jericho said his new show is focused on creating a community among Christian conservatives, adding that the Internet format gives him more freedom.
“I’m not encumbered from sharing my faith more and integrating my faith with conservative ideas,” he said.
Another unique aspect of the show is free advertising for businesses that, as Jericho said, are new or struggling.
“If we can create an opportunity for small businesses to survive and ultimately thrive in southwest Missouri, that will help everyone,” he said.
The free advertising idea is part of the community-building concept, an idea he said is important considering that more Americans are unsure about the country’s stability.
“I think if we can build a local fabric where we really do work together, ... people in southwest Missouri can overcome any challenge,” he said.[[In-content Ad]]
April 7 was the official opening day for Mexican-Italian fusion restaurant Show Me Chuy after a soft launch that started March 31; marketing agency AdZen debuted; and the Almighty Sando Shop opened a brick-and-mortar space.
