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KTSM's Rivers leaving after brief EP stint

KTSM multimedia journalist Matt Rivers is leaving El Paso after an 11-month stint here.

The good news is he's leaving for a bigger market -- KSAT in San Antonio.

Rivers' last day at KTSM is July 7. The station is already looking for his replacement, according to this posting.

Rivers said he'll miss El Paso, especially covering such hard-hitting fare such as this story, but is looking forward to covering the goings-on in San Antonio.

KFOX tidbits

Here's a roundup of all the goings-on at KFOX, including news about a former KFOX staffer.

•After years of reporting in the mornings, KFOX Morning News reporter Martina Valverde will be moving nightside to KFOX News at Six and KFOX News at Nine. The station has hired a new full-time morning show reporter to replace her. Her name hasn't been announced but she starts in mid-July.

•Lauren Rozyla will be the primary weekend anchor for KFOX News at Nine on Saturday and Sunday. She replaces Daniel Novick, who left to work at Dallas' CW affiliate. Rozyla will continue to report three days a week for the 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. newscasts.

•KFOX has hired Josh Zuber to be the primary weekend weather forecaster. He will also report three days a week. You can follow him on Twitter at @ZUBERKFOX14

•Former KFOX weather forecaster/reporter Miri Marshall has been hired in Waco, Texas as a morning show and noon forecaster.

TV station buys ad on rival's website

If you've recently visited KVIA's website only to be greeted by a large KTSM banner, don't be confused.

Apparently, KTSM has bought advertising space on several Internet sites, including KVIA.com, a move that has many Facebook users taking screenshots and posting them on KTSM's Facebook page. Some call the move legitimate, since KTSM is a paid advertiser. Others, however, say the move is pretty sneaky.

What do you think?

A different kind of farewell

Lately it seems this blog has mostly consisted of reporters saying goodbye, but this post is a little different.

Deputy Jesse Tovar, spokesman for the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, is moving on to a more behind-the-scenes position. Viewers and readers may be familiar with Tovar, who is usually the person us reporters speak to to get information about breaking news such as homicides, vehicle-related fatalities and fugitive searches in the county.

Tovar became a sheriff's spokesman six years ago. Since then, he has also worked closely with television shows such as "America's Most Wanted" to feature wanted criminals in the area or crime trends in El Paso County. Most recently, he worked with National Geographic's "Lockdown" program as they featured the Downtown jail and jail annex in Montana Vista.

Beginning next week, he will be a crime analyst for the sheriff's office but will continue working with Crime Stoppers of El Paso and the Manhunt Monday fugitive search program.

Deputy Angelica Becerra, who has been with the sheriff's office for 18 years, will begin her duties as the agency's new spokeswoman on Sunday. Chris Acosta will remain as the office's main public affairs coordinator.

KTSM's Griego to leave Sun City for the East Coast

KTSM weekend anchor and reporter Monique Griego is saying farewell to El Paso. Her last day at the station is Saturday.

The Arizona native will be moving on to a larger market in Baltimore. Although she's excited about her new job in a new city, she said she will miss El Paso and the people here. She has been at the station since October 2006.

Griego's last day reporting was Thursday. Saturday will be her last day at the anchor desk. She will be moving to Baltimore near the end of the month.

Newsy tidbits for June 13

•Martin Bartlett, the former KVIA reporter and political reporter for Austin's KVUE, is returning to the Sun City as a public information officer for El Paso Water Utilities. The Mississippi native will be joining Christina Montoya, herself a former television reporter, at the utility.

•Lindsay Ashcraft, who left KTSM last fall, is back at the station. You may remember Ashcraft worked at the NBC affiliate from July to November 2010. This time around, she's working behind the scenes instead of being in front of the camera.

•Congratulations go out to KINT weather anchor Adriana Valles, who is expecting a baby due in September, and KINT reporter Cristina Zapata, who got married last week.

The KFOX exodus continues

KFOX Las Cruces bureau reporter signed off for the last time over the weekend before leaving the area for San Antonio.

Phil Anaya tweeted his followers on Saturday to let them know about his last night on the anchor desk. He also thanked them for their support.

Rumor has it Anaya will begin work soon at a San Antonio TV station.

Anaya is a native of Las Cruces who attended Las Cruces High School and New Mexico State University, where he worked as part of KRWG-TV’s student-produced News22.

Before joining KFOX, he spent a summer working at Tucson's KMSB-TV before receiving his journalism degree from NMSU.

Former El Paso TV reporter in the news

According to the Albuquerque Journal, former KDBC reporter Cristina Rodda is facing a criminal trespassing charge, but the officer who cited her is also being investigated for wrongdoing.

The Albuquerque Journal reported Thursday that police have launched an internal investigation into the allegations that an officer took the camera from Rodda, now a KOB-TV reporter, and erased footage.

Rodda faces a charge of criminal trespassing. She was cited while working on a story April 29 at the Tumbleweed night club. The television station says Rodda was following a tip about a possible rave at the club, where six people previously were arrested at the club for allegedly selling ecstasy.

The criminal complaint against Rodda alleges the club manager asked her to leave. The complaint says a police officer at the club later saw Rodda outside hiding behind cars.

Rodda, a UTEP graduate, worked at KDBC from 2005 to 2009. She joined the KOB-TV news team in December 2009.

The best in the market

The Lone Star Emmy Chapter recently announced their Excellence in My Market Awards (EMMA) recognizing television excellence produced in markets ranging in size from Harlingen/Weslaco/Brownsville/McAllen (#88) to Victoria, Texas (#205).

KVIA reporter Paul Cicala won four mentions, including the top award for Spot News reporting, while KINT's Karla Mariscal won the News Anchor award.

El Paso winners include:

Spot News
Drug Cartel Ambush Along Juarez/El Paso Border: 7 Officers Killed In Broad Daylight
KVIA ABC-7, El Paso/Juarez/Las Cruces
Paul Cicala, Reporter

Sports Program
NC9 Overtime
KTSM
Beau Bagley, Assistant Sports Director

News Anchor
Karla Mariscal "Live-on the desk"
KINT Univision Channel 26
Karla Mariscal, News Anchor-Producer

 

Photographer
I SEE IT AND I HEAR IT
KFOX TV EL PASO
Rudy Reyes I SEE IT AND I HEAR IT

Honorable mentions

General Assignment Report
Going Inside The Massacre Of Teens In El Paso's Sister City Of Juarez
KVIA ABC-7
Paul Cicala Reporter

Spot News
Bombazo en Juarez
KINT TV
Luis Escalera Reporter

Feature News Report

From University of Texas El Paso Student-Athlete ...To Bolivian Basketball Beauty

KVIA ABC-7, El Paso/Juarez/Las Cruces

Paul Cicala Reporter / Photographer

Tres Horas de Martirio

KINT TV

Heidi Renpenning Reporter

Oswaldo Escobedo Photographer

Specialty Assignment Report
LA DEA EN EL PASO
KINT UNIVISION 26
Ariadna Lopez News Anchor/Producer

Sports
Nolan Richardson: Is Basketball Legend In Lone Star State Being Snubbed By Texas Sports Hall Of Fame?
KVIA ABC-7, El Paso/Juarez/Las Cruces
Paul Cicala

Magazine
Drug War Along El Paso's Border And How It Compares To Medellin, Colombia During "Pablo Escobar Years"
KVIA ABC-7, El Paso/Juarez/Las Cruces
Paul Cicala Reporter / Photographer
Donnie Laffoday Editor

Reporter

Novick's News

KFOX-TV

Daniel Novick Weekend Anchor/Reporter

Producer

Noticias 26 a las 10

KINT

Karla Mariscal News Anchor/Producer