In an effort to focus on larger markets, Cox Media Group has agreed to sell five stations in small markets to Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Sinclair will acquire KFOX in El Paso, WJAC in Johnstown, Pa., WTOV in Steubenville, Ohio, and KRXI-KAME in Reno. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“All of these media locations are valued brands with talented professionals who are committed to their audiences, advertisers and communities,” Cox Media president Doug Franklin said in a statement.  “We wish all of the employees well and know they will continue to work hard to produce quality entertainment, news and information for their customers and new owners.”

In an effort to focus on larger markets, Cox Media Group has announced that it is selling four of the stations it currently owns and buying four stations from Newport Television.

The stations being sold are KFOX in El Paso, WJAC in Johnstown, PA, KRXI in Reno and WTOV in Stubenville, OH.

The stations Cox is buying from Newport Television are WAWS and WTEV in Jacksonville and KOKI and KMYT in Tulsa.

“This simplified structure will enable CMG to capitalize on continued growth and synergies, while retaining its size financially,” president Doug Franklin said in a statement.  Read more

Journalists won’t be allowed to record the sex-abuse trial of Jerry Sandusky but they will be able to live-tweet it.

According to a court order issued on Wednesday, journalists will be allowed to tweet and blog as they attend the trial, which is set to begin next week.

Local news stations WJAC and WTAJ will each have one reserved seat in the courtroom, and will be able to use smart phones and laptops during the trial, although they will not be allowed to record or broadcast “any verbatim account of the proceedings while court is in session.” Read more

Gary Sinderson, a reporter at WJAC in Johnstown, PA, writes about reporting on the Penn State Scandal on TVNewsCheck. Sinderson, who is a Penn State alum, says he “began hearing whispers about Jerry Sandusky several years ago”:

Why couldn’t I report it? I didn’t have the time to get the needed verification to move the story ahead or to convince my bosses it’s not a rumor, but a real story. It’s just the nature of my particular job. I’m a one-man band, expected to crank out several stories a day. I may get a day or two to work on a large story, but not the time afforded to [Harrisburg Patriot-News reporter Sara] Ganim.

[...] Some in this biz are lazy, just repeating and reporting on what a few others have uncovered. We have a lot of commentators and not enough folks on the front lines finding the stories for everybody else to talk about. Corporate downsizing has cut those positions.  Read more

As thousands of students crowded the streets around the Penn State campus on Wednesday night, protesting the University’s decision to fire beloved football coach Joe Paterno, the mob quickly chose a common enemy: the media.

Nearly 100 members of the media were at the Penn Stater Conference Hotel covering the board of trustees’ announcement when word quickly spread of a student demonstration developing nearby.

Following the press conference, local reporters as well as news crews in from Pittsburgh and elsewhere rushed to downtown State College, where a growing mob of students had gathered.  And things quickly turned ugly. Read more

A man who has been part of the Penn State sports community for decades is stepping down this week.  No, not Joe Paterno.  Longtime WJAC sports anchor Tim Rigby.

WJAC, the NBC-affiliate for the Johnstown-Altoona-State College market, decided back in August not to renew Rigby’s contract so tonight will be his final newscast with the station.

“Obviously I’m disappointed,” Rigby told The Tribune-Democrat recently.  “When I was told of the decision in August, I said that I have been given worse news in my life and everything worked out. I just have to have faith and everything will work out again.” Read more

James Platzer has been named news director of WJAC, a Cox Media-owned NBC-affiliate in central Pennsylvania.

Platzer actually began his TV career as a part-time photographer for WJAC and has recently been working as a journalism instructor at nearby Penn State University. Before joining Penn State, Platzer served as news director for WFMY in Greensboro, NC and WAND in Decatur, IL.

“James brings an abundant amount of knowledge and experience to WJAC,”  said Kevin Hayes, who was recently appointed to vice president and general manager of the station. “He has a nose for news, is a great leader, and I am thrilled that he has joined our team.”

“I am thrilled, honored and humbled to return to my first station as news director,” Platzer said.

His first day is set for April 4th.

Kevin Hayes, the general sales manager at El Paso’s KFOX, is set to become vice president and general manager of WJAC in Johnstown, PA. Cox Media, which owns both KFOX and WJAC, made the announcement today.

“Kevin brings a wealth of broadcast industry experience to WJAC, and it’s great to promote such valuable talent from within our company for this important role,” said Ray Carter, who oversees WJAC in addition to serving as vice president and general manager of Pittsburgh’s WPXI.  “Additionally, his vast sales experience is the perfect fit for building on the great relationships WJAC has with the local community and delivering strategic results for our advertisers.”

Hayes worked his way up the sales ranks at stations throughout the southwest. Before joining Cox’s KFOX, he worked as a local sales manager at El Paso’s KDBC and as an account executive at Phoenix’s KSAZ.

“I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to join the outstanding team at WJAC, with their rich heritage and dedicated tradition of serving the community,” said Hayes.