Growing up in Philadelphia in a large Italian family, Joany D’Agostino recalls she was a young teenager when she went to the movies with friends.
Joany and her friends arrived early at the theater and watched the trailers promoting upcoming Hollywood pictures.
“I was old enough to understand that the trailers were selling me something and I realized that it was working on me,” D’Agostino told Times of San Diego. “I said to myself, `When I grow up, I want to do something like that.’”
In her 30-year career in TV station promotions, she has fulfilled that dream.
D’Agostino is the new creative services director at KSWB-TV Fox 5 San Diego and KUSI-TV, the two San Diego stations owned by Nexstar Media Group.
“My job is promote and market our two stations,” she said. “I write and produce promotional spots that appeal to our audiences, similar to a movie trailer. I want to remind our viewers why they watch us, and encourage them to stay connected and keep watching. I want our loyal viewers to say, `Those are my people.’”
Since early February, when she began her new job, D’Agostino said she has been busy listening, asking questions and learning about the San Diego TV market.
“Our two stations offer an incredible range of programming,” she said. “The morning shows and newscasts are top notch. My job is to build upon and expand the existing foundations and advance the brand while maintaining brand consistency.”
D’Agostino relocated from Austin, where she spent the past three years as a creative services director with three Nexstar stations, including affiliates with NBC, The CW and My Network.
Prior to Austin, she spent four years in Roanoke, VA, with two stations owned by Gray Television.
Her career also has included stints in Denver with stations owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and in New York City with CNN as a senior writer for the morning newscast, which included intros and teases for Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent. She was a member of CNN’s morning show staff that won a Peabody Award.
She also spent 12 years with “Inside Edition,” a nationally syndicated news magazine TV show produced by King World Productions. She worked there as a promotions manager and supervising producer.
“I have found the staff here at Fox 5 and KUSI has great energy,” D’ Agostino said. “I love my GM (Scott Heath), he is an incredibly positive guy. I loved my job in Austin and the people I worked with, but I love it here in San Diego even more.”
iHeart Promotes Mary Ayala to Program Director
San Diego radio industry veteran Mary Ayala has been named program director for three of the eight local stations operated by iHeartMedia San Diego.
Ayala will oversee programming for Newsradio 600 KOGO-AM, San Diego Sports 760, KGB-AM and The Patriot AM 1360, KLSD-AM, with syndicated talk shows.
As program director, Ayala will be responsible for the programming content of each station, a statement said. She will report to Taylor Jukes, senior VP of programming, iHeartMedia San Diego.
“This is an exciting time to be taking over the program director position for these brands,” Ayala said. “Each station has its own distinct flavor, and all of them are filled with great talent I’m looking forward to working with.”
A San Diego native, Ayala has been with the local cluster of stations since 1983, surviving four ownership changes, including Gannett, Jacor Communications, Clear Channel Communications and iHeart Media. (Jacor was acquired by Clear Channel in 1998, which was acquired and rebranded by iHeartMedia in 2014.)
“I walked in the door right out of high school, started as an intern and have never left,” Ayala told Times of San Diego. The current El Cajon resident graduated from Morse High School.
Prior to her promotion, Ayala served as assistant program director and executive producer for the past 12 years. Over the years, her titles have included news writer, morning editor, assignment editor, assistant news director, news director and executive producer.
“Mary has been part of our cluster for many years and is more than ready to take the lead role of our talk stations,” said Noreen Ippolito, iHeartMedia San Diego market president. “She’s smart, experienced and incredibly detailed with her work.”
iHeartMedia San Diego has a strong cross-platform presence and includes a number of iconic brands and franchises, both broadcast and digital, encompassing eight stations comprised of music, talk and news formats, a statement said.
In addition to the three stations overseen by Ayala, iHeartMedia San Diego operates KGB-FM 101.5, KHTS-FM Channel 93.3, KIOZ-FM Rock 105.3, KMYI-FM Star 94.1 and KSSX-FM JAM’N 95.7.
Alternative Strategies Representing Music Box
Alternative Strategies, a San Diego marketing and public relations agency specializing in restaurant and hospitality clients, has announced it is now representing Music Box, a live music and private-events venue in Downtown San Diego.
William Lopez, principal, Alternative Strategies, said his agency will provide public relations and creative services to Music Box, a three-story venue that hosts an average of 260 concerts annually.
“We are thrilled to join forces with Music Box and contribute to the enhancement of its brand,” Lopez said. “Our team is passionate about live music and entertainment, and we look forward to leveraging our expertise to amplify Music Box’s presence in the community.”
Music Box, which opened Sept. 12, 2015, has hosted a number of private shows featuring high-profile artists, including three-time Grammy winner Ben Harper, two-time Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson, Billy Idol, Halsey, One Republic and Smashmouth.
Alternative Strategies, based in North Park, serves a portfolio of more than 40 clients in the local entertainment and food-and-beverage industries.
San Diego AMA Updates Board of Directors Roster
The American Marketing Association’s San Diego chapter reports its board of directors roster has been updated after a recruiting and rebuilding effort that began in 2022.
The AMA said the following board members will serve the remainder of the 2023-2024 board year: Claudia Chow, president; Zachary Senvisky, president-elect; Kathy Townend, secretary; Janene Forman, treasurer; Frank Cowell, immediate past president.
Other board members (their AMA board titles appear in parenthesis) include: John Haber, VP of membership; Lisa Tomaselli, VP of programming co-chair; Vavara Lynch, VP of programming co-chair; Tom McFdden, VP of sponsorship; Judy Parker; VP of collegiate relations co-chair; Christine Trimble, VP of collegiate relations co-chair; Maya Sykes, VP of volunteer talent management; Summer Haines, VP of special events co-chair; Nick Hofer, VP of special events co-chair; Mary Beth McCabe, member at large; Kirsty Nunez, member at large.
AMA said its board roster will be updated again in July 2024 after elections are held during the next few months. For more information, visit www.sdama.org.
Rick Griffin is a San Diego-based public relations and marketing consultant. His MarketInk column appears weekly on Mondays in Times of San Diego.