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| CONTACT: Denise Franklin 336-758-8850 franklid@wfu.edu |
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Winston-Salem, NC-Michele Gillespie, Associate Provost for Academic Initiatives at Wake Forest University, announced today that Denise Franklin, award-winning news journalist, news director, and associate general manager of 88.5 WFDD has been named general manager and Jay Banks, the station's current general manager, will become director of major giving for the station. Associate Provost Gillespie said, "Denise Franklin has demonstrated the outstanding qualities expected of a top general manager in her work at 88.5 WFDD. Her broad experience in broadcast journalism has resulted in strong recognition for WFDD's news department. She has also successfully managed the programming side of the station. WFDD's many listeners and contributors can look forward to a bright future for public radio service in the Triad under her leadership." "Jay Banks, who has served as General Manager since 2004 and became station manager in 2001, invited this change in leadership. The university recognizes his commitment to building a strong team, increasing listenership and membership contributions, converting the station to digital radio broadcasting, establishing relationships with educational institutions throughout the Triad, and positioning 88.5 WFDD for continued growth and success. Banks will now work in coordination with the university's advancement office." Denise Franklin said, "88.5 WFDD is at the edge of a very exciting future. Its reputation for strong community service and listener oriented programming is only going to get stronger. As the station examines its future and strategic options, our listeners, supporters and the university will benefit in important new ways. 88.5 WFDD will grow even closer to the community and continue to be the Triad's most listened to public radio station." Jay Banks stated, "Denise Franklin has been involved in the positive evolution of the station. She has been involved in every good thing that the station has accomplished and it is an honor to work on major giving under her leadership." 88.5 WFDD recently announced to its membership the conversion of its studios to digital and is completing the installation of an HD radio transmitter at a tower site in North Davidson County. After the transmitter is installed later this month, the station will begin broadcasting, in addition to its current signal, two digital signals: WFDD2, an all classical music broadcast and WFDD1, a duplicate broadcast of its current programs. The all classical broadcast will include Performance Today, Saturday Opera, and area performances. In January, the station plans to launch its third digital channel, WFDD3, which will include music of the region, world music and other selections not heard in the Triad today. More information about HD radio can be found on the station's website, http://www.wfdd.org and at http://www.hdradio.com. Denise Franklin joined 88.5 WFDD in 2001 as senior news host. She became news director soon after and was promoted to associate general manager in 2004. She worked in television news broadcasting in Kansas City, Wichita, Kansas, and here in the Triad where she was an investigative news reporter and anchor on the NBC affiliate, WXII. Franklin graduated from Wake Forest University's Babcock Graduate School of Management with an MBA in 2006.. She serves on the board of directors of the Reynolda Rotary Club, and is vice president of the North Carolina Public Broadcasting Association. 88.5 WFDD has won over thirty national and regional news awards while she has been news director. Franklin also hosts Voices and Viewpoints, an interview program on WFDD featuring national and internationally renowned people who live in the Triad. ### P. O. Box 8850 • Winston-Salem, NC 27109 • 336-758-8850 • www.wfdd.org |
