After 14 years at WJCT Public Media, Melissa Ross has left the airwaves.
The host of WJCT News 89.9's daily “First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross” public affairs radio program is joining Mayor-elect Donna Deegan’s administration as director of strategic initiatives and liaison to the press.
The longtime journalist stood with 13 other appointees June 14 at City Hall as Deegan announced the executive team that will lead her incoming administration.
WJCT News Editorial Director Jessica Palombo said in an email that Ross’ last day as host was June 13.
Ross become a prominent news and public affairs voice in Northeast Florida after joining WJCT and launching “First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross” in 2009. She joined the statewide weekly “Florida Roundup” show as co-host in 2018.
She also was an executive producer at WJCT.
After the announcement at City Hall, Ross said the discussion about joining the Deegan administration started “a few weeks ago” and feels the new position fits her skill set.
When asked why now was the time to move from journalism to municipal government, Ross said, “I am just on board with Mayor-elect Deegan’s vision for the city of Jacksonville.”
“So, it’s a new chapter,” she said.
As for her “First Coast Connect” replacement, Ross said those conversations have already begun.
“I’m sure there will be a well-managed process to eventually bring in a new host,” she said.
“I hope that it’s achieved the goal that was set out for it 14 years ago to provide a platform for community conversations and that will absolutely continue.”
“And the brand is First Coast Connect. It’s about connecting the First Coast, and I’m sure that will continue,” she said.
At City Hall, Ross said her role will be to help execute the vision Deegan discussed during the campaign. She also will act as a mayoral spokesperson when the mayor-elect is unavailable.
According to incoming Deegan administration Chief Communications Officer Phil Perry, Ross’s salary will be $185,000 per year.
Under Ross, WJCT’s daily call-in program has allowed listeners from throughout WJCT’s Northeast Florida and South Georgia listening area to interact directly with and question city and state officials.
Ross furthered the local conversation on national news, local government corruption, business and climate change to profiles of local arts, culture, music and people.
She leaves journalism with 20 years of broadcasting experience in Cincinnati, Chicago, Orlando and Jacksonville, according to her bio on wjct.org.
As executive producer of “The 904: Shadow on the Sunshine State,” Ross and WJCT received an Emmy in the documentary category at the 2011 Suncoast Emmy Awards. The program examined Jacksonville’s status as Florida’s murder capital.
“First Coast Connect With Melissa Ross” received multiple national awards from Public Radio News Directors Inc. for best call-in program.
In a written statement June 14, WJCT Public Media President and CEO David McGowan said Ross has served in a vital role for WJCT Public Media and its audiences.
“During that tenure, First Coast Connect has emerged as our region’s most important conversation, facilitating the dialog between this community’s leaders in all fields and its citizens,” McGowan said.
“We have a deep appreciation for all she has done for Northeast Florida and for WJCT Public Media, and we wish her all the best in this next chapter as she joins the Deegan administration,” he wrote.
WJCT is a Daily Record news partner.
Palombo said Florida Politics Northeast Florida correspondent and WJCT JAXTDY contributor A.G. Gancarski, freelance multimedia host Catalina Selvagn and WJCT News reporter Dan Scanlan have been booked as interim hosts and there might be more.
Ross said she will appear as a guest June 23 on a WJCT News production in front of a live studio audience, a show she was previously scheduled to host.
“First Coast Connect has always been, and will continue to be, a trusted source of information and civil discourse for all manner of topics,” McGowan wrote.
“In the coming weeks, the show will be moderated by interim hosts hand-picked by our editorial team, as we begin the process of identifying a new permanent host.”