Neil Sanderson

After a couple of weeks of blogospheric rumours, online news pioneer Rob Curley today confirmed on his blog that he’s leaving Washingtonpost Newsweek Interactive to join the Las Vegas Sun. And at least nine of his colleagues will join him in the trip west.

Rob had been VP of Product Development at WPNI since 2006, and his projects there included the launch of local site Loudon Extra.

Rob spent an afternoon with us at the Star late last year, sharing some secrets of his early success at the Journal-World in Lawrence, Kansas and the Naples (Florida) Daily News. And leaving us inspired by his creativity and insight.

On his blog, he talks enthusiastically of the opportunities awaiting him at the “one of the most interesting local media operations in the nation,” but hints at why he’s leaving the Post despite his admiration for the company and its leaders, saying: “I probably wasn’t the best fit with the organization.”

— Video from the Peterborough Examiner

May 5th marked the end of an era in a small southern Ontario city, and brought back a few fond memories for me.

The radio station where I began my media career, CKPT in Peterborough, abandoned the AM dial in favour of a new home on FM.

The switch probably cuts the station’s power bill significantly (the AM transmitter ran at 10,000 watts day, 5000 watts at night) and delivers better-quality audio.

But it’s still a bit sad. AM radio is what drew me to broadcasting - staying up late as a youngster to tune in the super stations of the 1960s like WABC New York, WLS Chicago and KMOX St Louis - plus the dozens of lesser signals that filled the dial after sunset. As the signals faded in and out, I would strain to discern their callsigns and locations.

There was a sense of mystery and intrigue in those days that you just don’t find on Sirius or iTunes - or even on FM. (more…)