Traffic reporter puts energy into the Salt Lake radio market

J.T. MacKenzie is probably the most energetic radio traffic reporter to enter the S.L. market since General Gridlock arrived almost six years ago.

"I always try to be conversational," MacKenzie said of her reports, which air weekdays from 6-9 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. on three Simmons Media stations — KZNS (AM-1280), KRSP (Arrow 103.5) and KXRK (X-96).

"I like it to be entertaining," she said, although she doesn't get to chat as much during the afternoon segments, when there are more traffic problems to report.

The 28-year-old, who has been doing the reports for about five months now, is also an employee of Metro Traffic, which provides road-condition information to radio stations. She usually works out of the Metro Traffic offices near I-15 and 5300 South rather than at the Simmons studios. MacKenzie has ridden in the Metro Traffic plane once but said she prefers to keep her feet on the ground when doing traffic reports.

MacKenzie, who was raised in New York City, started working in radio at age 13 as an intern doing nights and weekends at Long Island's Laser Hot HB 107, which is owned by Paul Simon's brother. She eventually attended the New York Institute of Technology and Suffolk County Community College, majoring in communications.

"When I was real young, I was incredibly shy," she said. "You couldn't see me in radio." That's why the field attracted her.

But by age 15, it didn't matter. "I blossomed and was a real chatterbox," she said.

MacKenzie previously worked for WB-TVand another Salt Lake radio group.

TEN YEARS AGO — Scott MacNeil and Peggy Ijams of the KSFI morning show are nominated as personalities of the year by Billboard Magazine. . . . KCNR radio (AM-1320) moves into talk radio and hires Martin Davies and Mills Crenshaw. . . . Bonneville International purchases two stations in the Kansas City market.

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E-MAIL: lynn@desnews.com