"I really appreciated and enjoyed the opportunity to help launch the Houston area's only all news radio station," Bishop told mikemcguff.com. "It was a pleasure to work with such a terrific staff of experienced journalists. I wish them and the station much success."
"I'm beyond stunned," one staffer who did not want to be named told mikemcguff.com. "I'm heartbroken. She's a fine woman and a pro."
Bishop, a known media player in Houston, helped sign News 92 on the air in 2011. In the journalism world, she was notably the news director of Fox 26 KRIV from July 1985 to October 2001. In that time, she was instrumental in building the station from its very early days to the way we know it today. Post-Fox, Bishop was the senior director of communications for the Greater Houston Area Chapter of the American Red Cross for seven years.
According to LinkedIn, Bishop joined KROI in October 2011. She helped launch the station by hiring the staff (many former Fox 26 employees) and supervising the operation.
Radio One would not comment on Bishop's departure or if a replacement will come.
News 92FM launched in a tough time for a new radio station to break through in the Houston market. In the last four Houston-Galveston ratings books, the all news station received either an 0.5 or 0.6 rating (total persons 6+, Mon-Sun, 6am-midnight). KROI owner Radio One otherwise dominates the Arbitron ratings with 97.9 The Box KBXX and Magic 102 KMJQ coming in the top and second spot.
Sources tell me that market research indicates KROI does a good job (SEE: News 92FM's Mike Barajas & Bonnie Petrie honored by Texas AP) , but listeners are having problems realizing the new station is there in the former Gospel station's frequency.
In August 2012, the station was seeing an upward trend in the ratings to a 1.0 rating. At that time, Regional Vice President of the Radio One Houston cluster, Doug Abernethy, told me the biggest challenge is getting the News 92 FM name out to Houston. In his experience, getting buzz after launching a new music format has been easier in the past. He added once people find News 92 FM on the dial, "they love us." He said the time they spend listening has been very good.
Radio One has put resources into the station. Just last year, it completed brand new KROI studios and facilities for the staff (TAKE A TOUR).
I contacted Bishop for comment and will update this post if I hear back from her.
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* updated
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