KSL v.p. takes job in Seattle

Utah broadcast veteran Rod Arquette is leaving the market to take a radio job in Seattle.

Next month the vice president for news and operations at KSL Newsradio and the Bonneville/Salt Lake Radio Group (KSL AM/FM, KSFI, KRSP and KUTR) will become program director for Newsradio 710 KIRO and KTTH "The Truth" Seattle. (There's no word yet on Arquette's KSL replacement.)

Bonneville recently purchased the new stations in Seattle and needed a new programmer. "For the past six weeks, I have interviewed numerous candidates from radio stations all over the country," said a memo from Scott Sutherland, Bonneville Seattle's market manager, "and as you know, I set out to find a program director who believes in managing people in a positive manner, has a proven track record of success, and is both innovative and strategic. I can unequivocally state that Rod Arquette is the best person for this job."

Arquette has some 35 years of experience in the broadcast industry, in both radio and TV news. He earned a degree in journalism from American Technological University (now the University of Central Texas).

Arquette has been news director for KBOI radio in Boise and KADQ-FM in Rexburg. He worked for the KUTV news desk in 1981, reporting and anchoring. He was hired as news director at KSL in 1989 — at the critical period when the station moved away from music to a news/talk format.

He also co-hosted the 3-6 p.m. afternoon radio news on KSL with Maria Shilaos until he began to concentrate more on administration. Arquette was named a KSL vice president in June 2005.

During his leadership at KSL, the radio station has won several National Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio and Television News Directors Association. KSL has also been nominated for numerous Marconi Awards from the National Association of Broadcasters for "Legendary" Station and "News/Talk/Sports" Station of the year.

In both 2000 and 2006, KSL radio was awarded a Crystal Award from the National Association of Broadcasters for service to the community.

Only a handful of Utah radio broadcasters have more experience than Arquette, and Salt Lake's loss will be Seattle's gain.

— In other KSL news, Sheryl Worsley has been promoted to news director for the station, effective immediately. She began her career as a desk assistant for KSL-TV news in May 1999, then moved to radio as a reporter in December 2000 and was promoted to managing editor in September 2005. Worsley has also been an important part of KSL's excellence in winning awards.