KITV is on the lookout for a new news director.

“;Tod (Pritchard) has left KITV to pursue other opportunities after 7 years ... and was a friend to all and mentor to many,”; wrote President and General Manager Mike Rosenberg in a memo to staff yesterday. Aside from confirming that Pritchard's departure came at the end of last week, he did not provide circumstances or specifics of the personnel matter, which are routinely kept private.

“;I'm sure you will join me in wishing Tod nothing but success in his future endeavors,”; the memo continued.

The search for a successor began yesterday, Rosenberg said. In the meantime, Pritchard's responsibilities are being shared by other newsroom management, “;and certainly I'm ultimately responsible,”; Rosenberg said.

Mike Buck goes nationwide

KHVH-AM 830 radio talk-show host Mike Buck will be heard on some 250 radio stations across the U.S. today as he fills in for conservative talker Rusty Humphries.

Ironically, he will only be heard on KHVH for the last hour of his own 3-7 p.m. show, as he'll be hosting Humphries' 3-6 p.m. slot on sister-station KHBZ-AM 990.

He'll switch studios to complete the last hour of his show on KHVH, of which morning show personality Rick Hamada will host the first three hours.

Humphries “;was here last week operating out of one of our studios. That's how the opportunity came up,”; Buck said. “;It's such a great opportunity, there's no way you cannot do it.”; Humphries is on vacation.

Buck has been a correspondent for Humphries' show in the past and previously had sat in for ABC Radio Network talk-show host Michael Jackson (the British-born radio host, not the King of Pop) back in the 1980s because “;he wanted to come to Hawaii on vacation so we swapped roles,”; said Buck.

Passed days his future

Longtime radio figure Phil Abbot will return to Hawaii radio this month as he steps into the morning show and the role of program director at KAPA-FM—100.3 in Hilo and Kau and 99.1 in Kona.

He joins co-host Jaz Yglesias and is “;looking forward to working with our consultant Kimo Akane in the same tent for a change. We've been competitors in the past,”; he said.

KAPA-FM is part of the multi-island group of stations owned by Maui-based Pacific Radio Group Inc. Its programming is streamed online.

“;I'll be based out of my hometown of Hilo and, occasionally, Kona,”; Abbot said. “;I moved from Hilo 31 years ago, and it will be great to get back!”;

After leaving Hilo, Abbot held positions in Honolulu radio before leaving in 1993 for an opportunity in Arizona. Most recently he has been exporting shows, which he records in California, to Japan.

Abbot's wife and a son plan to follow him to the Big Island eventually, while their other son is already here, attending UH.

Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Reach her by e-mail at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).