8:15 p.m. update Friday March 9: Just heard from Mark Heyne. He says he's "changing careers." His comments added to story below.
"Cincinnati Edition" host Mark Heyne has resigned from WVXU-FM, prompting a national search for the weekday afternoon talk show.
Heyne, who was with the station before Cincinnati Public Radio acquired it from Xavier University in 2005, hosted the 1-2 p.m. public affairs talk show since September 2014.
Former WKRC-TV "Newsmakers" host Dan Hurley, who recently completed his stint as National Underground Railroad Freedom Center's interim president, will begin hosting the talk show next week, said Rich Eiswerth, station president.
"This was something we knew was in his (Heyne's) plans," Eiswerth says. Heyne, WVXU-FM's former "Morning Edition" and afternoon "All Things Considered" host, will work for the station another month, Eiswerth says. A national search for a new host will begin immediately.
WVXU-FM's announcement says Heyne was leaving "to pursue new opportunites." I have not been able to reach him for a comment.
Heyne tells me that he's "changing careers. After 35 years in broadcasting, I felt it was time to move on. The listeners have been great, I've gotten a lot of good comments from people about the show. I appreciate everyone for being so supportive all these years and am so grateful for all the really excellent guests who've come on the show.
"I also appreciate the Cincinnati Edition production crew, Pete Rightmire, Selena Reder and Josh Elstro, for all the hard work they put into making the show reality. And my co-workers in the news department: Howard Wilkinson for all his marvelous political insights, Jay Hanselman for his coverage of city hall. Tana Weingartner, Bill Rinehart, and Ann Thompson for all their help over the years. (And news director ) Maryanne Zeleznik for her support."
Heyne has received awards from the Ohio Associated Press, Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, The Press Club of Ohio and the Cincinnati Society of Professional Journalists. He was also the recipient of the 2017 Anthony Lewis Media Award presented by the Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy, according to the station.
Hurley, a broadcast journalist and historian, was a regular contributor to Channel 12's newscasts and election coverage for years. Hurley also served many years as director of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s Leadership Cincinnati program.
