Two KJZZ executives placed on leave during investigation

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The top executive at KJZZ in Phoenix and a senior manager were placed on leave Thursday as the station’s licensee conducts an investigation.

Jim Paluzzi, KJZZ’s VP, division of public service, and Mark Moran, associate general manager of news and editorial content, were put on paid administrative leave “pending the conclusion of investigative processes,” according to a letter to staff posted by KJZZ. The letter was written by Chris Bustamante, president of Rio Salado College, which houses the station and is one of the colleges within the Maricopa County Community College District, KJZZ’s licensee.

Bustamante said the proceedings are confidential. “The District and I intend to follow the processes to their conclusion, and to conduct fair, unbiased reviews of the relevant facts before reaching final decisions,” Bustamante wrote in the letter.

The community college district is investigating the two executives after anonymous allegations were shared with the district’s chancellor, according to The Arizona Republic. The chancellor “immediately ordered an investigation,” according to a spokesperson quoted in the article.

Paluzzi did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. Current’s efforts to reach Moran were unsuccessful.

Bill Shedd, former associate GM at KJZZ, will run the station on an interim basis as acting VP, Bustamante said.

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