St. Louis Radio: N-D Kent Martin EXITS KTRS

Kent Martin

A new voice can be heard on the afternoon news at KTRS 550 AM, as the station has parted ways with veteran reporter and news director Kent Martin.

According to Joe Holleman at stltoday.com, Martin's last day on the air was Monday, and he has been replaced by Jim Fairchild, who has been a regular fill-in at the "Big 550."

Station manager Mark Dorsey said the station was planning a "change in direction" when asked about the split.

Dorsey said Fairchild would take over the newscasts that fall in the shows hosted by John Carney and Guy Phillips, weekdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jill Enders will remain on the morning news shift.

Program director McGraw Milhaven said the station now is searching for Martin's replacement as news director.

A Mizzou grad, Martin began his STL radio career in 1982 and a reporter for KMOX 1120 AM.

Dorsey said the station also is exploring the possibility of having Learfield Communication's Missouri Network ("MoNet") provide newscasts for KTRS in the future.