Seattle reporter Charlie Harger is leaving KOMO NewsRadio after 19 years to join crosstown rival 97.3 KIRO as its news director.
Harger made the announcement on his Facebook page, calling it one of the “hardest things” that he ever had to do. He started as a part-time evening and overnight board operator and rose through the ranks to become one of the key figures in the day-to-day operation of the station.
“I was a newly married 27-year-old kid hired as a part-time evening and overnight board operator at KOMO,” he said. “I’m not exactly sure how I did it, but I worked my way up from there, thanks to the support and encouragement from co-workers. As trite as it may sound to say, they are family. Every single person there.”
Harger also announced that he will end his 20-year run as an instructor at Green River Community College.
“I had been a radio student there starting in 1996, and the college took a chance on me and had me start teaching the next generation of radio students.”
Harger’s last airshift is scheduled for Oct 1. He will be joining KIRO the following Monday.
