KHON2 Web site back
online in time for
today’s elections

Meanwhile, the Web site of KHON sister-station KGMB has been redesigned and relaunched after a months-long project by the stations' interactive news director, Gina Mangieri, and StarrTech Interactive, a division of Starr Seigle Communications Inc.

The sites are at khon2.com and kgmb9.com.

"We're set to go, after months of work and preparation, just in time for the election," said Rick Blangiardi, senior vice president and general manager for both stations.

Mangieri, former editor of Pacific Business News, has been working with the news directors and newsrooms of KHON and KGMB on the Web sites.

Media watchdogs have kept an eye on the news operations of KHON and KGMB since both are owned by one company, Emmis Communications Corp., which is based in Indiana. The watchdogs want the stations to maintain separate news operations and editorial voices.

While Mangieri oversees both Web sites, the local content is being generated by the personnel at the two stations, independent of each other, she said.

"Each station sort of emphasizes its area of focus. With KGMB it's weather, and in KHON's case, it's comprehensive coverage of breaking news with 'The Team That Knows Hawaii,'" said Mangieri.

"We are doing newsroom-generated content throughout, at both stations, so (the sites) are locally built, locally hosted, locally written and produced."

Tonight will be an exception, when both sites provide election returns from the state Office of Elections.

"When the state knows (who wins), we know and the viewers will know. That is one thing the stations share, but it's information anyone could get from the Office of Elections," Mangieri said.