Inside TWiT December 11, 2013

Changes at TWiT, Part 2

We are pleased to announce that Silicon Valley technology journalist Mike Elgan has joined TWiT as our News Director and the Lead Anchor of our daily news netcast, Tech News Today (starting January 2, 2014).

His hiring is part of a planned 2014 transformation and expansion of TWiT’s News Division, which includes our Breaking News coverage, as well as the launch of our new evening news show Tech News 2Night on January 13, 2014.

Between the late 1990s and 2003, Mike worked as chief editor for a variety of technology publications (including Windows Magazine), most of which he founded, co-founded or launched. For the past 10 years, Mike has written thousands of popular opinion columns that collectively reach millions of readers each month. He has consulted for publishing companies (including Ziff Davis) and Silicon Valley startups on the development of innovative new content and media. Mike has moderated hundreds of technology panels and events; appeared as a guest on BBC, CNN, CNBC, FOX News among others; and has been quoted by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR and hundreds of other publications and media organizations—including many TWiT netcasts.

Mike is thrilled to be joining the TWiT team, and we’re excited to have him on board!

Leo

Changes at TWiT, Part 1

I've known Tom Merritt for more than a decade - since the grand old days at TechTV. He's a trusted colleague and I consider him a dear friend. When Tom moved to LA last year we agreed to try having him anchor his shows from Southern California via Skype. We've been mostly happy with the result, but I've always felt that TWiT had lost something by not having Tom's leadership in the studio with us.

After some soul searching, I've decided that we do need an in-studio anchor for Tech News Today, and a News Director who can help us build the kind of organization you can count on for authoritative tech news and information.

So it's with a heavy heart that I'm announcing that we're not going to renew Tom's contract as host of TNT. His last show will be at the end of the month.

We will all miss him. I know he'll continue his brilliant career from LA. As you probably know, Tom and Veronica Belmont will be bringing Sword and Laser, their fantastic sci-fi podcast, to the Boing Boing network.

The superb team Tom has built for TNT, Sarah Lane, Iyaz Akhtar, and Jason Howell, will continue with the show, and you have my commitment that the standard Tom has set for authoritative, informative, and entertaining programming will continue on our network. I am sure you are all as sad about this announcement as I am. We all wish Tom continued success in everything he does.

Leo

Apple Media Event Coverage: Tues 10/22

On Tuesday, October 22 at 9:30AM, please join Leo Laporte, Sarah Lane, Andy Ihnatko, and Alex Lindsay for TWiT’s live coverage of Apple's Media Event in San Francisco.

Apple is expected to unveil its fifth-generation iPad and second-generation iPad mini, as well as new MacBook Pros.

Our live coverage will be followed by a special episode of MacBreak Weekly, which will further discuss the day's breaking news.

You can watch and listen at http://live.twit.tv/

Please note: Tech News Today will record an hour and a half earlier that day, at 8:30AM.

(All times PDT, GMT -7:00)

Iyaz Akhtar - Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Tech News Today and Know How... co-host Iyaz Akhtar did an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit this week.

Thanks to everyone who participated, and you can check it out here.