He’s been a fixture in Milwaukee broadcasting for years and his soft spoken, diplomatic manner and relaxing demeanor has earned him respect but TMJ4’s Mike Gousha is retiring.

So who will replace him?

TMJ4 should look for someone with Milwaukee experience but if they’re looking for someone that could fill Gousha’s shoes, their pickin’s are slim.

A few newsmen stand out. Already, TMJ4 has Vince Vitrano who would be a good replacement. Vitrano has done a lot of solid reporting but recently has shown he has a great sense of humor. Some of his recent reports have given needed levity to newscasts otherwise dominated by a summer of violence. Vitrano has a style that can put a smile on your face.

We would hope that Joe LaBarbera at Fox6 could be wooed. LaBarbera stands out for some of his in depth reporting and his interest in public policy. Having attended a West Allis High school, LaBarbera is a local boy. Fox6 management has squandered their opportunities to develop LaBarbera’s talents in recent years but TMJ4 would be well served if they could woo him away from their rival station. LaBarbera would wow TMJ4.
Fox6 veterans offer good pickins since it’s a station that gets some impressive talent but doesn’t do well with developing it or promoting their own.

Both Len Stevens and Preston Rudie left Fox6 years ago for warmer climates and have both broadened their newsguy resumes.

Stevens grew up in Milwaukee and cut his teeth in the Milwaukee market but appears to have excelled as both a reporter and an anchor in South Carolina at their ABC affiliate station. If attitude is everything in the news world, Stevens is able to draw from others around him to bring a smile to a face. His impecable humor and wit would serve any station well.

Rudie, who grew up in the Princeton WI area, left his Milwaukee digs for Florida where he has broadened his resume to include work for the Weather channel as well as some in depth work and human interest stories with his coverage of Hurricane Katrina victims. His laid back sunny attitude would go far to fill Gousha’s shoes.

While there are others that have been or are in the media now that could do a nice job, TMJ4 should be careful to stay away from some of the more acrid reporters in the Milwaukee market. Choosing an angry partisan style reporter would provide a dis-service to viewers. We hope that TMJ4 management shows the wisdom to choose someone that will honor the legacy that Gousha has developed.