Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys

News Release Distribution List

Daily Newspaper
The Grand Rapids Press
Mr. John Gonzalez, Arts & Entertainment Editor
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (616) 222-5400
169 Monroe Ave NW Fax: N/A
Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Email: gonzo@mlive.com

Beat/Title (Additional): Arts, Entertainment, Weekend

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Gonzalez is the Arts and Entertainment Editor for The Grand Rapids (MI) Press, overseeing Music as well
as the Weekend and Entertainment sections, also writing an Entertainment column and writing the Going
Gonzo blog on Local Entertainment. His column lists his top choices for things to do and see in the area
each week.

Twitter Handle: @MichiganGonzo

Deadline: N/A

Daily Newspaper
Muskegon Chronicle
Ms. Justine McGuire, Business Reporter
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (231) 683-2329
379 W Western Ave Fax: N/A
Muskegon, MI 49440 Email: justine_mcguire@mlive.com

Beat/Title (Additional): Business, Entertainment, Arts

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
McGuire is a Reporter at the Muskegon Chronicle covering Business, Arts, and Entertainment.
Twitter Handle: @JournoJustine
Deadline: N/A

Daily Newspaper
Kalamazoo Gazette
Mr. Ed Finnerty, Managing Producer
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (269) 350-6833
PO Box 2007 Fax: N/A
Kalamazoo, Michigan, 49003 Email: efinnert@mlive.com
Beat/Title (Additional): Entertainment, sports, business
Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Finnerty is a Managing Producer for MLive.com and the Kalamazoo (MI) Gazette overseeing News,
Sports, Entertainment and Business. Contact him via e-mail.
Twitter Handle: N/A
Deadline: N/A

Community Newspaper
City Pulse
Mr. Ty Forquer, Arts and Culture Editor
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (517) 371-5600
1905 E. Michigan Ave. Fax: N/A
Lansing, MI 48912 Email: ty@lansingcitypulse.com

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Forquer is the Arts and Culture Editor at City Pulse.
Twitter Handle: @tyforquer
Deadline: N/A

Community Newspaper
Southwest Advance
Ms. Kristin Austin, Reporter
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (231) 683-2329
2141 Port Sheldon St Fax: N/A
Jenison, MI 49428 Email: kristin_austin@mlive.com

Beat/Title (Additional): Community News

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Austin is a Reporter covering Community News in Grandville, MI for the Grand Valley Advance and in
Byron Center and Wyoming, MI for the Southwest Advance at Advance Newspapers in Jenison, MI.
Twitter Handle: @kristinaustin17
Deadline: N/A

Magazine
REVUE West Michigan
Mr. Joe Boomgaard, Editor
Mailing Address:
65 Monroe Center, Ste. 5
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: +1 (616) 608-6170
Fax: N/A
Email: joe@revuewm.com

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Boomgaard is the Editor of MiBiz and REVUE West Michigan.
Twitter Handle: @jboomgaard
Deadline: N/A

Magazine
Grand Rapids Magazine
Ms. Carole Valade, Editor
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (616) 459-4545 ext. 3107
549 Ottawa Ave NW # 201, Fax: N/A
Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Email: cvalade@geminipub.com

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Valade is the Editor of Grand Rapids Magazine, Grand Rapids Business Journal, West Michigan
Commercial Quarterly, Grand Rapids Magazine, Health Quarterly and West Michigan Week. She covers
New Trends, Shopping and the Affluent Lifestyle concerning living in western Michigan. Images are
helpful with press materials. She works with a lead time of up to 12 weeks. Contact her by e-mail.
Follow-ups are not accepted..
Twitter Handle: @valadester
Deadline: N/A

Television Station
WZZM-TV
Ms. Amy Fox, News Assignment Editor
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (616) 785-1313
645 Three Mile Fax: N/A
Grand Rapids, MI 49544 Email: amyfox@wzzm13.com

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Fox is News Assignment Editor and is responsible for story assignment and crew allocation. She also
investigates and covers a wide range of news topics as a Reporter. She can be contacted by e-mail.
Twitter Handle: @amyfox13
Deadline: N/A

Television Station
WXMI-TV
Mr. Brooks Blanton, News Director
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (616) 447-5105
3117 Plaza Drive NE Fax: N/A
Grand Rapids, MI 49525 Email: bblanton@fox17online.com

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Blanton oversees the newsroom as News Director. He advises PR professionals, "Make it as brief as
possible and then shoot me an email follow up." He describes his pet peeve as "Someone who is trying to
chat or treats you like they know you."
Twitter Handle: @brooksblanton
Deadline: N/A

Television Station
WOOD-TV
Mr. Aaron Lafferty, Assignment Editor
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (616) 771-9633
3117 Plaza Drive NE Fax: N/A
Grand Rapids, MI 49525 Email: newsroom@woodtv.com

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Lafferty is News Assignment Editor at WOOD-TV and prefers that his contact details are not listed.
Twitter Handle: @aaronlafferty
Deadline: N/A

Television Station
WWMT-TV
Ms. Melissa Broderick, News Assignment Manager
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (269) 388-9339
590 W Maple St Fax: +1 (269) 388-8322
Kalamazoo, Michigan, 49008 Email: melibrod@wwmt.com

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail, Phone
Profile:
Broderick is in charge of the assignment desk as News Assignment Manager. She can be contacted by
e-mail. She accepts follow-up calls. In regards to pitching, she says, "Be very detailed in the news releases
that come across, regarding what the event is about, location, time, contact name, a cell number is
usually great or an e-mail address. Then usually a follow-up call like the day or so before is nice." She
adds, "I just don't like to be called a lot, like everyday or you know, usually one follow-up call is enough."

Twitter Handle: @aaronlafferty

Deadline: N/A

Television Station
WFQX-TV
Mr. Sean Mahon, News Director
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (231) 775-9813
P.O. Box 627 Fax: N/A
Cadillac, MI 49601 Email: seanmahon@9and10news.com

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Mahon oversees all news content and determines which stories get airtime as News Director of
WWUP-TV, WWTV-TV, and WFQX-TV
Deadline: N/A

Television Station
WLNS-TV
Mr. Jam Sardar, News Director
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (616) 447-5105
820 E. Saginaw Fax: N/A
Lansing, MI 48912 Email: jsardar@wlns.com

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Sardar helps oversee newsroom operations as News Director. He is interested in local stories or stories to
which local viewers can relate. Press releases should be concise and have available contact information
of people in involved in the story. Pitch him to the news department's email address. He accepts high
resolution attachments. Send anything in advance but call one day in advance to follow up.
Twitter Handle: @jamsardar
Deadline: N/A

Television Station
WGVU-TV
Mr. Patrick Center, News Director
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (616) 331-6666
301 Fulton W Fax: N/A
Grand Rapids, MI 49504 Email: centerp@gvsu.edu

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Center is News Director for WGVU-TV, WGVU-AM, WGVU-FM and WGVS-AM. He is also Host and
Producer of WGVU Midday, Newsmakers and West Michigan Week. He ultimately oversees the news
stories associated with WGVU News as well.
Deadline: N/A

Radio Station
WWBR-FM
Mr. Steve Gove, News Director
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (231) 796-7000
18720 16 Mile Road Big Fax: N/A
Rapids, MI 49307 Email: steve@bigrapidsradionetwork.com

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Gove is News Director for WWBR-FM.
Deadline: N/A

Radio Station
WNWN-FM
Mr. Jim Whelan, News Director
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (269) 968-1991
70 West Michigan Avenue Fax: (269) 968-1881
Suite 700 Email: jim.whelan@mwcradio.com
Battle Creek , MI 49017

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: Fax, Mail
Profile:
Whelan is the News Director for WTVB-AM. He is also the News Director for WNWN-FM. He is also the
Host of Delaney in the Morning. In regard to his positions at WTVB-AM and WNWN-FM, he is in charge of
the newsroom and is a main contact for the station. He can be contacted by phone, fax, or mail. Send
press releases and all other submissions by fax or mail. In regard to his position at Delaney in the
Morning, leads the on air content and direction of the show and can be contacted by phone, fax, or mail.
Send press releases and all other submissions by fax or mail.
Deadline: N/A
Radio Station
WMUS-FM
Mr. Mark Dixon, Program Director
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (231) 733-2600 ext. 140
3565 Green St Fax: N/A
Norton Shores Michigan, Email: markdixon@iheartmedia.com
49444

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-Mail
Profile:
Dixon is the program director for WMUS-FM.
Deadline: N/A

Radio Station
WTNR-AM
Mr. Marcus Bradman, Promotion Director
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (616) 774-8461
60 Monroe Center Fax: N/A
Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Email: marcus.bradman@cumulus.com

Beat/Title (Additional): Public Service Contact, News Director, Webmaster

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Bradman is the Promotion, Public Service Contact, News Director and Webmaster for WHTS-FM,
WLAV-FM and WTNR-FM. He is the Promotion Director for WJRW-AM and WBBL-FM. Additionally he is
the Public Service Director for WJRW-AM. Also he is the Webmaster for WBBL-FM and WLAV-FM Online.
Deadline: N/A

Radio Station
WITL-FM
Mr. Chris Tyler, Operational Manager
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (517) 394-7272
3420 Pine Tree Road Fax: N/A
Lansing, MI 48911 Email: c.tyler@townsquaremedia.com

Beat/Title (Additional): Music Director, Program Director

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: Fax, Mail
Profile:
Tyler is the Operations Manager for Citadel Broadcasting's Lansing, MI cluster. He also coordinates the
 station's playlist and handles the programming duties as Music Director and Program Director for
WITL-FM. He can be contacted by phone, fax, or mail. Send press releases and all other submissions by
fax or mail.
Deadline: N/A

Radio Station
WYCE-FM
Mr. Matthew Jarrells, Program Director
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (616) 459-4788 ext. 112
711 Bridge Street NW Fax: N/A
Grand Rapids, MI 49504 Email: matt@wyce.org

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Jarrells is Program Director at WYCE-FM. He may be contacted via email.
Deadline: N/A

Internet Media
GRNow
Mr. Josh Depenbrok, Publisher & Editor
Mailing Address: Phone: N/A
N/A Fax: N/A
Email: josh@grnow.com

Beat/Title (Additional): Things to Do in GR

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Depenbrok is the Publisher and Editior and covers Things to Do in Grand Rapids, MI. Contact him via
e-mail.
Deadline: N/A

Internet Media
Rapid Growth
Mr. Tommy Allen, Lifestyle Editor
Mailing Address: Phone: N/A
N/A Fax: N/A
Email: rapidgsync@gmail.com
Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Allen is the Lifestyle Editor at Rapid Growth Media. Contact via e-mail.
Deadline: N/A

Blog
Going Gonzo- The Grand Rapids Press
Mr. John Gonzalez, Arts & Entertainment Editor
Mailing Address: Phone: +1 (616) 222-5400
169 Monroe Ave NW Fax: N/A
Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Email: gonzo@mlive.com

Beat/Title (Additional): Arts, Entertainment, Weekend

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Gonzalez is the Arts and Entertainment Editor for The Grand Rapids (MI) Press, overseeing Music as well
as the Weekend and Entertainment sections, also writing an Entertainment column and writing the Going
Gonzo blog on Local Entertainment. His column lists his top choices for things to do and see in the area
each week.

He says it is better to reach him in the morning because it's an afternoon paper. He gets annoyed when
PR pros try to get stories written about their clients. He prefers PR pros to say something like, "Hey,
here's this artist. If you're interested, I can get you an interview with him or her." In other words, he
prefers the soft sell to the hard sell.
Twitter Handle: @MichiganGonzo
Deadline: N/A

Blog
Come Heller High Water
Mr. Andrew Heller, Blogger
Mailing Address: Phone: N/A
540 Saginaw St Fax: N/A
Flint, MI 48502 Email: andrewhellercolumn@gmail.com

Beat/Title (Additional): General Columnist, City News

Pitching Tips:
Preferred Order: E-mail
Profile:
Heller is a Contributing General Columnist for The Flint Journal and a Blogger for Andrew Heller: Come
Heller High Water blog covering City News. Contact via e-mail.
Deadline: N/A