Morongo BasIn Broadcasting Corporation, operators of Radio Station Z107.7 FM and online publication Z1077fm.com, have finished a major restructuring in their newsgathering and publishing operation.
Publisher Gary Daigneault has named Jef Harmatz of Yucca Valley as the News Director for both the on-air and online operations. The over-the-air news from studios in Joshua Tree enjoys a listenership of about 20,000 while the online publication gets 100,000 visits per month.
Harmatz, 38, moved to the Yucca Valley area in 2017, drawn by the Hi-Desert’s beauty and opportunity. He has worked as a journalist, cartoonist, chef, and delivery driver. He is known nationally for his writing and comics in publications like TimeOut, Popula, Roadtrippers, Solrad and Spiralbound, and for his album covers for Third Eye Blind and Sir Sly. He is also known for his pop-up barbecue restaurant Hot Dog Panic.
Harmatz started at Z107.7 News as a Beat Reporter in 2021 and is currently the weekday News anchor as well as the co-host of Z107.7’s “Morning Show with Cody and Jef”. He takes over as News Director November 15, 2022
Radio Station Z107.7 FM and Z1077fm.com is the only locally owned and operated News Agency in the Morongo Basin. They began operation in 1989. They produce seven on-air Newscasts a day, seven days a week at 7:00 8:00, 9:00, Noon 4:00, 5:00, and 6:00. Z107.7 News has been named one of the top three small market newscasts in the state by the Radio Television News Association.
