EXCLUSIVE: WPRO Honcho Headed for the Door
Friday, June 29, 2012
GoLocal has learned that WPRO-AM Program Director Paul Giammarco is leaving the station. No exact date for his departure is known right now but there is word he may be staying at the station for some period of time.
Giammarco, has been the PD since November 2005. According to his station bio, Giammarco has logged more than 30-years in the business and his first day on the air was February 6th, 1978 – the Blizzard of 78. He once owned and operated WNRI in Woonsocket from1984 to 1995. Giammarco is credited with making the FM simulcast of WPRO-AM to 99.7 FM a reality which makes WPRO the only FM news Talk station in the market.
On-Air Shuffle
Giammarco was also heavily involved in the decision to re-tool the morning show and put Tara Granahan and Andrew Gobeil in morning drive. That move was certainly questioned by insiders and outsiders because of the rating success the show was having when John DePetro hosting the morning drive show and Granahan was his side-kick/Executive Producer. Giammarco also was the one to help push for talk at night by taking one-time board operator and producer Matt Allen and giving him a shot behind the mic. Giammarco deserves credit for that because in a business where you need someone to give you a break – a chance – Allen got his break because of Giammarco.
Nervous Times On The Wampanoag Trail
The news about Giammarco leaving is only adding to the stress and questions inside the building these days.
Speaking of Allen, law enforcement sources tell GoLocal the investigation into how Allen got his hands on that Governor Chafee’s son drink fest State Police report is in full force. Station management, Allen, his producer “Maverick” and anyone else involved should really understand the depth and expertise of State Police investigators who are all over this. Make no mistake- they will find out who leaked that report and also if anything shady was done with the report before WPRO released it on the air and also on their website.
In November, the radio group layed of dozens in RI including digital reporter Bob Plain and icon FM host Art Spencer.
This aint Mayberry and Sherriff Andy Griffith.
And If Giammarco thinks by leaving – it makes the leaked Chafee report investigation go away – he is sadly mistaken.
No word yet on who will replace Giammarco. GoLocal reached out to him for comment but we have not heard back.
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