FUTURE PRESENCE

William E. Buzenberg

Vice president, news and information, Minnesota Public Radio; in charge of news programming at KPCC-FM (89.3), 53

What he’s done: Most of Buzenberg’s journalistic career, after graduating from Kansas State University in 1969 and serving in the Peace Corps in Bolivia, has been at National Public Radio. His was a steady rise--foreign affairs correspondent in Washington (1978-86), senior editor of the London bureau (1986-89), managing editor of NPR News (1989-90) and finally the top news slot--vice president, news and information, from 1990 to 1997. So why leave for Minnesota in January 1998, clearly a lower-profile job? Quite affably, Buzenberg said he was there for 18 years--”that was a pretty good run.” At Minnesota, he reorganized the 70-person news staff to strengthen regional news coverage and talk programming. Listening at KNOW-FM increased 39%, making it the highest-rated major market public radio station in the nation with a 4.5% audience share. Buzenberg also launched the American Radio Works documentary team, with monthly special reports.

Outlook for 2000: Now you’ll hear those documentaries on Pasadena’s KPCC, starting Jan. 19, with one on the 1988 Pan Am 103 explosion over Lockerbie, Scotland. That’s only the beginning. Buzenberg is in charge of revamping KPCC, including hiring an 11-person news staff. He promises the team will be in place by July 1. And where will the newscasts go? “There have to be program changes in the schedule,” he notes, “that will allow for getting regional material on the air.” Buzenberg envisions eventually cutting into the current nightly and weekend schedule. He insists no decisions have yet been made, but as for what the eventual mix of news, talk and music might be, he would say only, “We’re very much committed to the news and ‘Intelligent Talk’ format.”

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Ted Stryker

Radio personality, KROQ-FM (106.7), late 20s

What he’s done: Using just his last name professionally, the spike-haired blond deejay became only the second new full-time on-air hiring at the alternative-rock trendsetter in nearly a decade. And, after being elevated from interim status in September, he quickly took his 6-10 p.m. slot to No. 1 in the monthly ratings for both the general 12-and-older demographic and the station’s coveted 18-to-34-year-old target. If that’s not enough to get him attention, note that a previous occupant of the same shift, and the last full-time KROQ hire, was Carson Daly, who’s gone on to national fame as the host of MTV’s anchor show “Total Request Live.” The station has also launched national media careers for Adam Corolla, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Kennedy and Jimmy Kimmel.

Outlook for 2000: “I didn’t get to KROQ to launch a TV career,” says the Westwood native, who grew up listening to the station. “I want to stay here a long, long time.” Still, almost as soon as he hit the air, his phone started ringing with offers for TV hosting and acting roles. He’s about to dip his toes into those waters with some small parts, but nothing that will take away from his his deejay duties.