John Mason moving to management in KSTP shakeup

Hubbard Broadcasting staffers were reportedly told this afternoon of changes coming to the anchor desk and that awful afternoon show.

Station GM Rob Hubbard was in a meeting when I called him for comment but I was able to reach KSTP-TV's John Mason who confirmed that he's going from the anchor desk to managing editor. "I'm taking a management job and I'm cool with that and looking forward to it," said Mason. "I'm going to be sort of the reportercentric manager. I'm going to work with reporters everyday on what they are doing."

Mason said he understands that Bill Lunn from Memphis is coming to be the main male anchor. According to sources, Lunn will be anchoring alongside the luckiest young news reader in town, Leah McLean, who is not in the anchor desk because of her great news judgment. Not implying anything there except that McLean is pleasing to the eye and can read.

Mason said he had heard what I have about anchor Cyndy Brucato being cut back to one daily newscast, the 6:30 p.m. She had been anchoring on the 6 and 6:30 p.m. newscasts.

Mason said he knew nothing about changes to the KSTP morning show or "Twin Cities Live."

Two broadcasting sources tell me that the are finally breaking up "Twin Cities Live" anchors John Hanson and Rebekah Wood, whose chemistry was so nonexistent it's led to speculation that they don't like each other. Separating these two may not save that listless show -- I call it "Bad Company" -- which some are surprised the Hubbards are still dumping money into, given the state of the economy. KSTP-TV reporter Elizabeth Ries is reportedly taking Wood's place on the show, and not former WCCO-TV anchor Jeanette Trompeter, whose fans have been hoping will land somewhere.

My broadcasting sources have heard conflicting information about where Woods will land, but both have heard that she is remaining with Hubbard Broadcasting. One claims she will be doing a morning show on Channel 45 and the other that she will become the third anchor on KSTP's morning show. That sounds crowded.

Lunn has accepted an anchor job at KSTP and KSTC, according to Memphisparent.com.

Some broadcasting sources believe Lunn will be the male anchor of all evening broadcasts on KSTP-TV plus the new 9 p.m. newscast on Channels 45.

Returning to a job in this market in Minnesota is a logical step, writes Memphis Parent writer Jane Schneider. "Lunn honed his reporting skills (not to mention his love of ice fishing) in Duluth before relocating to Memphis as an anchor/reporter at WPTY-Ch. 24 in 1995," Schneider wrote in an April article just called to my attention at www.memphisparent.com/2009/04/best-of-luck-bill-lunn/.

I am still trying to run down gossip about another male anchor who has also reportedly been hired, but this gossip which has been circulating at other stations may just be an attempt at subterfuge.