News Bites for July 20…
Radio Workflow co-founder Fletcher Ford has launched “ALTered,” a nationally syndicated one-hour weekly show aimed at introducing listeners to the Christian alternative rock genre. Available on a barter basis, “ALTered” is hosted by Ford and produced by Dave Levora, longtime producer of the Planet radio format. “I’ve always believed some of the most talented musicians in rock are creating Christian music, yet many listeners have never heard them,” Ford says.
The Society of Professional Journalists has announced the recipients of the 2025 Sigma Delta Chi Awards for excellence in audio, TV, online or print journalism. Among the audio award winners are Texas Public Radio news/talk KSTX (89.1) San Antonio’s Camille Phillips for her story, “LGBTQ+ San Antonio teens describe ‘dehumanizing’ effect of being called their birth names at school,” and Boston University news/talk WBUR (90.9) Boston’s syndicated “Here & Now” for Robin Young, Karyn Miller-Medzon and Emiko Tamagawa’s report, “As Dick Van Dyke turns 100, 99-year-old comedian and friend Mel Brooks pays tribute.” The complete list of this year’s SPJ award recipients is available HERE.Mike Chandler, Rejoice Networks President and owner of Communication Systems inspirational gospel “Rejoice 100.9” WFMI Virginia Beach, VA, has been recognized for his three-decade career in broadcast engineering and gospel media by the Williams Bible Institute and Seminary, which has awarded Chandler an Honorary Doctor of Communication degree. Chandler began his career as an engineer on NASA’s Space Shuttle Program before moving to broadcasting as a corporate engineer for Willis Broadcasting in Virginia Beach and later building Rejoice Networks, which currently distributes programming to more than 120 stations.