After announcing his imminent departure from WCCO-TV last month, Jason Derusha has revealed his new broadcast home: NewsTalk 830 WCCO Radio.
The 47-year-old will take over the weekday shift from 3 to 6 p.m. starting June 27, four days after his last shift as morning anchor on WCCO-TV. (While CBS once owned both television and radio stations, the network sold WCCO Radio to Entercom in 2017.)
“I have always loved the creativity, unpredictability and interactive qualities of radio,” Derusha said in a news release. “I can’t wait to bring to you my love for Minnesota and western Wisconsin, as well as my two decades of curiosity about our neighbors and our news to WCCO Radio. Not many people get a dream job. Well, let’s leave it. I’ve loved my time in television and can’t wait to dive into a new dream job in radio and podcasting.”
DeRusha’s arrival at the station will be accompanied by a few other changes to its lineup. Current afternoon hosts Paul Douglas and Jordan Green will remain at WCCO Radio, with Douglas becoming the station’s chief meteorologist, and Green joining Adam Carter on the 9 a.m. to midday shift. They fill a time slot that has been vacant since February, when host Cory Hepola left the station to launch what turned out to be an unsuccessful bid for governor.
The Chad Hartman Show will air from noon to 3 p.m. and Vinita Savkar will continue to host the morning, a position she assumed in January.
Derusha, a native of Illinois, joined WCCO-TV in 2003. She landed the role of Morning Anchor in 2013 after serving as a reporter for the station’s “Good Questions” segment and as the weekend anchor. Thanks to his active and frequent social media involvement, he has become one of the most high-profile names in local television news.
WCCO Radio Brand Manager Brad Lane said, “Jason is not only a beloved and trusted Minnesota broadcaster, but he also has the rare ability to talk to and connect with everyone.” “Whether it’s delivering breaking news, telling a family story or recommending a restaurant, people trust him as a friend, and that’s exactly what the legacy and future of WCCO Radio is all about.”
