TheBuzz Erika Engle

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Local Salem radio executive replaced by industry veteran

T.J. MALIEVSKY served his last day as vice president and general manager of Salem Communications Corp.'s Hawaii radio stations on Friday. He has left the company.

Steve Miller is the new GM for the seven-station cluster -- though not the Steve Miller who's lined up to play April 1 at the Diamond Head Crater Celebration.

Miller's introduction to the staff was made this week by Salem's president and CEO, Edward Atsinger III.

Malievsky could not be reached for comment.

Usually a change at this level is not made unless another direction is sought by a parent company, which in this case is publicly traded on the Nasdaq. But Miller said "there will be no directional change in terms of what we're doing on the programming side."

Miller also said he should not be viewed as a hatchet man.

"There is no expectation of any cuts of personnel; it's just not that kind of situation."

Miller will oversee KAIM-FM 95.5, KHNR-FM 97.5/AM 870, KHUI-FM 99.5, KGMZ-FM 107.9, KGU-AM 760, and KHCM-AM 1170.

The headline on the company-issued announcement of his arrival read, "Steve Miller Named GM of Salem Hawaii Stations; Industry Executive Brings Experience Back to the Islands."

Ouch.

"I don't want the community here to think that I'm coming in, or the organization is coming in saying, 'This is how you do radio,'" Miller said. "I learned as much from the people as I ever taught them" during his previous stint overseeing Hawaii stations.

Miller's been in radio 30 years, three of which were spent putting together another Honolulu seven-station cluster that includes KSSK-FM 92.3/AM 590, KIKI-FM 93.9, KDNN-FM 98.5, KUCD-FM 101.9, KHVH-AM 830 and KHBZ-AM 990.

"I'm very happy to be back in Hawaii," he said. Last time around he only lived here for about six months. He spent the rest of the time overseeing the Hawaii stations from the mainland.

Familiar new news director

Longtime KHON Executive News Producer Lori Silva has been named the station's news director effective immediately, replacing Ron Comings, who resigned along with seven other managers last week amid controversial staff cuts.

Silva took the job after obtaining assurances from Joe MacNamara, the new president and general manager for KHON, that news department job cuts would be minimal. Twelve to 14 cuts were originally planned but the number has since been reduced.

The new plan is "a significant decrease from what they had initially proposed," Silva said, but she declined to specify a number.

It is a bittersweet assignment for Silva. "This is going to be the biggest challenge I've faced in my career, but I believe the people in this news department deserve someone who will look out for their best interests." Silva said she hopes her appointment provides her colleagues some comfort.

Silva's promotion "has the full support of (anchor) Joe Moore," an announcement trumpeted. Nevertheless, Moore told TheBuzz: "Look at what we have lost to save those jobs: a superior GM and eight excellent department heads." The station's new owner has not announced plans to reduce staff cuts in other departments, Moore said.