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TheBuzz

BY ERIKA ENGLE

On- and off-air
changes in store
for alphabet soup
of TV and radio

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Visible changes will result from "big meetings" staffers at Emmis Communica-tions-owned KGMB- and KHON-TV were warily anticipating.

KGMB staff were introduced to Kim Montour on Tuesday. The news and programming veteran was temporarily in charge of the Channel 2 News and will now be consulting for KGMB.

"She will continue in her relationship with KHON, to help work through the transition with (incoming News Director) Dan Dennison as well as move across to work with me and (News Director) Bob Loy at KGMB," said Rick Blangiardi, Emmis Hawaii market senior vice president.

KHON's changes were announced Wednesday. Reporter Sheryl Turbeville will move to an off-air position in the newsroom assisting Managing Editor Mark Matsunaga. "Sheryl is going to move from reporting duties to a very critical responsibility on the assignment desk," Blangiardi said.

Channel 2 Morning News viewers will see reporter Tannya Boyd get a co-anchor seat next to Kirk Matthews. She had filled in during Bernadette Baraquio's vacation; the latter will return to pounding pavement for stories.

New news in Hilo

KPUA-AM 670 in Hilo has launched an online news site, www.KPUA.net.

"It's a natural extension of the news product to further position KPUA as the Big Island's news leader," said Chris Leonard, vice president and general manager of New West Broadcasting, which owns the station.

The Associated Press provides much of the content, but a lot of the local news is prepared by New West staff, including group News Director and KPUA Program Director Ken Hupp, writer/producer John Burnett and reporter/producer Kaohu James.

It also adds advertising opportunities. "Ultimately it's a cooperative project. The Web and radio will be sold together," Leonard said.

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Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com