Phil Hoffman has done a lot over his career in Northeast Ohio, specifically in the Akron area in the past 30-plus years.
He was known for his “Untold Stories” series at the former “23 Newsday” at WAKC-TV/23, Akron’s former ABC affiliate (now Cleveland-focused ION O&O WVPX).
He worked in radio in Akron at WAKR/1590, then-WSLR/1350 and WKDD/then-96.5 and WCUE/1150.
But for the past few years, Phil has been the “Media Doctor”…Dr. Phil Hoffman has been a professor in School of Communications at the University of Akron, and general manager of UA’s “ZTV” program.
Not for long.
Dr. Phil (Hoffman, not the TV talk show guy) is heading for Missouri, where he’ll be general manager and director of broadcasting at PBS affiliate KMOS/6 in the Columbia/Jefferson City market in Central Missouri. KMOS is owned and operated by the University of Central Missouri.
And though we hadn’t heard from Phil in some three years, a quick ping revealed that he’s still very much an OMW reader. He tells us:
“KMOS is a perfect fit for me, and I think it’s a good fit for them too.”
Phil Hoffman appeared Wednesday on his old home of WAKR (audio available at the link), as part of an impromptu “TV 23 Reunion”…with former “23 Newsday” anchor/managing editor Mark Williamson (now communications director for the Akron Public Schools) and former “23 Newsday” weatherman Tim Daugherty (just down the hall from WAKR these days as rock WONE/97.5’s program director).
Phil told WAKR’s Ray Horner that it was “a difficult decision” to leave the area after some 30 years in various Akron area media roles, but says “I think it was time for me to find another challenge, and this opportunity came along in Missouri, and I’m real excited about it”.
He says the station wants to “integrate the students a little bit more in what’s going on with the TV station”, and Phil certainly has that background as a professor at UA, and heading up the ZTV program.
As Hoffman was appearing on WAKR, ZTV alumnus Amani Abraham was in the building at West Market Street, in her role as news anchor for WONE and country WQMX/94.9. WAKR morning producer Aaron Coleman, who arranged the “reunion”, is a UA graduate as well.
Phil is also known for his documentaries, including the Emmy-winning “Turn Blue: The Short Life of Ghoulardi” about legendary former Cleveland TV movie host Ernie “Ghoulardi” Anderson.
And yes, Phil Hoffman tells us that he’ll still be an OMW reader in Missouri, tracking media news from his soon-to-be former home area. He leaves UA and ZTV on July 11th, and starts in Missouri on July 16th.
Our congratulations to Phil, and not just because he’s a reader…
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