Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
For more than 30 years, John Kiesewetter has been the source for information about all things in local media — comings and goings, local people appearing on the big or small screen, special programs, and much more. Contact John at johnkiese@yahoo.com.

Program Director John Patrick Leaves WNKU-FM

WNKU-FM

Veteran program director and music host John Patrick has left WNKU-FM (89.7) after 13-1/2 years.

Patrick, hired in September 2002, also was executive producer of the station's "Studio 89" TV show. He starts this weekend as a part-time staffer here at WVXU-FM, and will continue as a part-time producer/engineer for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network.

He declined to say why he left the station on March 23. Sean O'Mealy, WNKU-FM general manager and sales manager, responded to my questions by sending this media release:

WNKU Cincinnati Assistant Program Director/Music Director Liz Felix’s role has been elevated to Program Director in the wake of John McGue’s exit.  Prior to coming to WNKU, she was the Music Director/ Assistant Program Director at WAPS, Akron. Before that she was the Program Director at Triple A KBXR in Columbia, MO.

WNKU General Manager Sean O’Mealy commented, “Liz is a smart, passionate, strategic thinking programmer who totally gets that content, talent and creative execution make for an engaging experience for our members, listeners and community. WNKU is poised for greatness and I couldn’t be more excited to have her steering the bus.”

Felix added, “The WNKU team has gotten off to a great start in revitalizing the station over the last year. I’m excited to lead our air staff  as we continue to serve Cincinnati with top-notch music programming. I’m grateful to Sean O’Mealy and Northern Kentucky University for the opportunity."

Patrick, whose real last name is McGue, is the fourth long-time voice to vanish from the Northern Kentucky University station since O'Mealy arrived as general manager 13 months ago. Michael Grayson and Steve Hirschberg left the station a year ago, and Brian O'Donnell retired because he "felt the winds of change approaching."

Before coming to WNKU-FM, Patrick did sales for Cincinnati's WSAI-AM, WRRM-FM and WIZF-FM, and for WBWB-FM in Bloomington, Ind. He also was a music director and/or program director and on the air at WTTS-FM in Bloomington, and WZWZ-FM in Kokomo, Ind.

John Kiesewetter, who has covered television and media for more than 35 years, has been working for Cincinnati Public Radio and WVXU-FM since 2015.