Date:
9/23/2003
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
Reporter: Daniel Lucero
Eastern New Mexico University's Broadcast Center has changed the name of Scene 3 News to News 3 New Mexico . The daily 30-minute newscast is also under the direction of new faculty member John Kirby, instructor of communication – fresh off the boat (or car) from New York City.
News 3 New Mexico will serve the eastern part of New Mexico with local and statewide news. It will be a unique but professional news broadcast brought to the viewers by students, according to John. News 3 New Mexico will provide more local news, weather and sports information than ever before.
There will be one anchor, Abby Dunn, an ENMU junior, compared to the past when there were different anchor teams four nights a week. Students will perform more local reports and get a better understanding of reporting before becoming anchors, noted John – who has joined Eastern's noon-time hoopsters and reports that he is amazed at how cleanly the games are played compared to big-city YMCA contests where "there is at least one fight every day." (The point guard is currently on non-game-related injured reserve after hurting his back attempting to personally move a bookcase – apparently filled with copies of War and Peace – instead of using workstudy students.)
The name changed because, according to John, "When you make a lot of changes, the best place to start is with the name."
In New York City, John was an executive with Time-Warner and IBS International, a business television network. He also taught at two small colleges in the area. He used to be a political reporter and anchor for KSAT-TV in San Antonio, Texas, and with the Christian Science Monitor's "Monitor News Channel" in Boston. He also spent some time on-the-air, and in management, with the South African Broadcasting Company's New York City bureau.
John, who has a two-year-old daughter, Claire, with his wife, Margaret, said it was a pleasant change from New York to Portales.
" I enjoy the weather, Mexican food, the students, the nice people of Portales, and the pretty campus," said John. "The only culture shock has been how friendly everyone is."
John Kirby: New City Kid in Town
Aby Dunn, John Kirby: Beauty and the Director
