Dismissal of WPVM on-air personality has stirred upheaval

Jason Sandford

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

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Mountain Xpress has the story:

“The removal of an on-air personality at Asheville’s WPVM, a low-power FM station, and the subsequent resignation of the station’s manager has roiled some station volunteers and has the executive director of WPVM’s parent organization defending his move. 

“In the wake of the cancellation of the “7 Layer Dip” show co-hosted byGillian Coats and another station volunteer, another on-air personality has announced that he’s put his show on hiatus, and several other show hosts have protested by not speaking during their shows.

“Meanwhile, the station operations manager, Jason Holland, has tendered his resignation. Holland, the station’s only paid employee, didn’t respond to requests for an interview Tuesday.

“Wally Bowen, executive director of the Mountain Area Information Network, which holds the WPVM broadcast license, told Xpress Tuesday that he cancelled Coats’ show because of “a pattern of behavior that’s just antithetical to our organization’s mission and our right to carry out that mission.” Bowen said the program — a humor show that featured a selection of off-beat, older music — included some “questionable” content, but that that wasn’t the reason for his move.”