Channel 24 GM Heilman calls it quits

4/26/2004

After 41 years in the television business, Jerry Heilman is calling it a career.

Last week, the WNWO-TV, Channel 24, general manager announced his resignation, effective at the end of the May ratings period.

Heilman has been at WNWO for nearly four years. He said he was not forced out by the station's owner, Raycom Media. The NBC affiliate ranks third in the market in annual revenue, according to industry sources.

"You've got to make the break sometime," he said. "It was just my time."

Heilman will turn 62 on May 20. He said he and his wife of 40 years, Rose, will move to either Florida or Virginia. "We will make the decision as soon as we look at some more property," he said.

Four Toledo TV stations produce local newscasts, but Heilman is the only general manager to do editorials. He estimated he does 35 to 40 per year.

"Jerry has been a profoundly positive force at this station," WNWO news director Lou Hebert said. "His leadership will be missed."

SWITCHING SIDES: Micki Morgret has left Cumulus-owned WXKR-FM (94.5) for a job with Clear Channel. She is expected to join the WVKS-FM (92.5) morning show in January, when the noncompete clause in her contract expires. (Morgret will become part of a four-person morning show on WVKS, according to host Johny D. The three current members will remain. "Kimmie's role will not be diminished," he said.)

Two years ago, Morgret left Clear Channel's WIOT-FM (104.7) to join the WXKR morning show. She moved to middays in January.

Meanwhile, Morgret's departure means Mark Benson -- who co-hosted the WXKR morning show with Morgret -- will be doing double duty for Cumulus. He will replace Morgret on the 10 a.m.-to-3 p.m. shift at WXKR and continue to co-host an afternoon-drive sports talk show, with Norm Wamer, on WLQR-AM (1470).

MOVING ON: WNWO reporter Mike MacDonald is returning to radio full-time. MacDonald, who started at WNWO 14 months ago, is headed to WWCK-FM in Flint, Mich. "They called me out of the blue and asked me if I wanted to host the morning show," he said.

MacDonald, 49, has had a 30-year career in radio. One of his stops was at Toledo's WWWM-FM (105.5). While working as a TV reporter, he covered a Saturday on-air shift at WXKR. His final day at WNWO will be May 4.

LONG TRIP: WRVF-FM (101.5) afternoon-drive host Steve Goss is based in Atlanta, but you'd never know that by what he said last week. While reading a list of concerts scheduled at the Toledo Zoo, Goss took note of the June 8 date by the Moody Blues. "I'm going to find a way to go to that show," he said.

So, Steve, are you flying or driving to Toledo?

HYPE ALERT: Nielsen Media Research's "May sweeps" -- which is considered television's most important ratings period -- begins Thursday and will run through May 26.