#MediaMonday – Mike Ross

As you probably know by now, each Monday we post a blog to help our readers get to know the media just a little bit better. Whether it’s to better understand a reporter’s beat or to hear a fun story that you can connect with – these blog posts can be considered your first “networking” opportunity of the week.

This week’s #MediaMonday features Mike Ross, national director of news operations at iHeart Media.

So, Mike, time to share!

What do you want to tell the blogosphere about yourself today?

I started working in radio in the late 1980s in Southern California, where I was able to play Top 40 music, read some news and do a little bit of everything.  Back in those days, you’d spend time in sales, marketing, even traffic and you were always pitching in where needed and never said “it’s not my job!” My travels took me through Tucson, Kansas and Washington, DC, before I landed in Phoenix about 25 years ago.  I spent time as a morning show host and new director of a financial station in town before moving on to Metro Networks as a writer for the brand new wire service known as “Metro Source.”

I started as a writer, worked my way to the producer’s desk, jumped into the managing editor’s office and was finally named National Director of News Operations about 10 years ago.  The company has been sold several times since I have been here but we are now part of the iHeart family and provide national, state and local content to more than a thousand affiliates.  I oversee nearly 200 employees from coast to coast out of our Phoenix operation and feel lucky to have this job.  We work very hard here but provide quality content to all kinds of different affiliates.

When I’m not working (which isn’t very often), I like to workout, play guitar, spend time with my kids and watch New York Giants football.