Asheville Citizen-Times reporter Jon Ostendorff to join WLOS as investigative reporter

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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wlos_logo_asheville_2015Asheville Citizen-Times investigative reporter Jon Ostendorff announced Friday that he’s leaving the newspaper to join WLOS as investigative reporter there. I’m guessing that Ostendorff is filling the job left open by former WLOS investigative reporter Mike Mason, who dropped off the TV news with no explanation.

Gannett reporter Tonya Maxwell, who has been covering the environment for the Citizen-Times and its sister newspaper the Greenville News, will replace Ostendorff in Asheville (she’s been based in Greenville). Maxwell also worked for the Citizen-Times in the early 2000s.

There’s no word on whether a reporter will be hired to fill Maxwell’s environmental reporting position.

This isn’t the first time a Citizen-Times reporter has moved to WLOS. Maggie Lauterer worked as a reporter and columnist for the newspaper in the 1980s before joining WLOS. Her folksy reports profiling mountain people were quite popular. She decided to try her hand at politics in the 1990s and made a run for U.S. Congress, but was defeated by incumbent Charles Taylor.

Here’s Jon’s announcement via FB:

Today I am saying goodbye to my friends and colleagues at the Asheville Citizen-Times. Next week will be my last at the newspaper.
I have taken a job with WLOS News 13 as an investigative reporter. I am looking forward to this new opportunity in journalism in Western North Carolina.
The Citizen-Times has been my professional home for 15 years. I will miss my friends at the newspaper and at Gannett.
Thank you to all the editors, reporters and photographers who taught me the ropes and inspired me to grow as a journalist. You have been the best part of the job.
You will always be in my heart and I know I will see many of you again out covering the story.

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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4 Comments

  1. WNCRod May 6, 2015

    Congratulations to Jon. He’s a top-notch reporter, and I had the privilege of working with him for several years. I wish him all the best in his new role.

    Reply
  2. Matthew May 6, 2015

    Jon was one of the only writers at the C-T worth reading. He will make a fine addition to WLOS.

    Reply
  3. Unaffiliated Voter May 5, 2015

    Glad to see it is still acceptable to be known as an ‘investigative reporter’ as the media is so controlled by BIG media today. So many reporters are afraid to
    do their jobs and the publishers are happy with that.

    Reply
  4. Sarah May 4, 2015

    Congratulations Jon! you are a great investigative reporter and will be a terrific addition to WLOS!

    Reply

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