Bob Priddy has been the news director of the Missourinet since its founding in November, 1974. He’s the author of five books and is working on two other book projects. His coffee table book, The Art of the Missouri Capitol: History in Canvas, Bronze and Stone, was published in May, 2011. He has led efforts to bring live debate from the legislature to the internet, and to bring live broadcasts of the Missouri Supreme Court arguments to our web page. He is a frequently called-upon public speaker and is widely recognized for his knowledge of Missouri history.
Bob is the only two-time Chairman of the Board of the Radio-Television News Directors Association, the only international organization that speaks exclusively for broadcast journalists. He’s dabbled in archaeology, likes to ride his bike when he can, hopes to learn to play the hammer dulcimer someday, and hates yard work.
Bill Pollock has been with Learfield Communications since December of 2001. He most recently, took over as Sports Director for the Missourinet in August of 2007. Prior to joining the Missourinet, Bill worked for Learfield Sports for six years where he oversaw affiliate relations for radio stations on some of the top college football and basketball Radio Networks in the country, including The University of North Carolina, Oklahoma University, and The University of Iowa. Bill also worked in radio sales in Jeffeson City, MO and was a program director and morning show host for KTXY in Columbia, MO in the late 90′s prior to joining Learfield Communications.
Bill and his wife Deanne have two children, Ryan and Allyson. In his spare time, Bill likes to coach baseball and softball. Bill was born and raised in Chicago and while he promises to never mention this fact on the air, he is in fact a lifelong Cubs fan.
Jessica Machetta started her news career at KJLU in Jefferson City while a student at Lincoln University. From there, she became an anchor and reporter for KLIK and KFRU in Jefferson City and Columbia, where she also wrote for Business Times. After working in Senate Communications at the Missouri Capitol, she worked as associate editor of the Keynoter newspaper, a sister paper to the Miami Herald, in Key West and the Florida Keys. Living in the Southernmost islands, Jessica covered multiple hurricanes, feral chickens, Hemingway’s six-toed cats, drag queens, Gov. Jeb Bush, Hugh Hefner’s endangered marsh rabbits, Cuban rafters, historic ship wrecks … basically none of which will aid in her coverage of Missouri issues. Jessica has also written articles and taken photos for various magazines and her studies and and career have taken her to Cuba, France, Mexico, and beyond. After running three weeklies on Fort Myers Beach, she moved back to Missouri and joined the Missourinet news crew. Jessica lives in Columbia. She is somewhat of a tech nerd and enjoys music, art, boating, fishing, diving … really anything that involves the outdoors or hitting the road for yet another adventure.
Mike Lear joined Missourinet in June of 2011. He spent the previous 13 years at his hometown radio stations in Moberly, MO. Beginning as a programmer, he worked his way up to Farm Director and later was named News Director for KWIX and KRES (legendary stations in central Missouri). He has spent extensive time reporting state and national news and politics from a “local angle.” His days in local radio have also made him somewhat of an expert on covering severe weather. Outside of work, Mike dabbles in music, playing guitar, singing and writing for a rock band and is a youth softball coach.
