WZMQ Adds Two Broadcast Veterans to Staff
January 5, 2024
WZMQ-TV (Marquette) has announced that veteran sports broadcaster Mike Ludlum is joining the News 19 Team. Ludlum’s career includes more than 35 years as a television anchor, sports reporter and sports director in the market. From 2007 until 2022, he served as President of the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. Ludlum graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Telecommunications.
He began his career in Marquette in 1987 and is highly regarded as the U.P.’s sports authority through his many years of covering local sports.
Ludlum joins WZMQ-19 after the new CBS affiliate was presented with the “Best Newscast” award in 2023 by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. He joins another well-known broadcaster, Sarah Blakely, on the 19 News anchor desk effective immediately.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have a sports journalist of Mike’s caliber joining our team. No one knows more about local sports, and his addition represents a new phase of our growth,” commented WZMQ News Director Trent Bailey.
Another local broadcast veteran is also now part of the WZMQ-TV staff.
Mark Nebel has joined the station's sales team. Nebel has 25 years of experience after beginning his career as an Account Executive at WLUC-TV in Marquette. He was later promoted to Sales Manager before becoming a sales manager for The Eagle radio group. He later accepted positions as General Sales Manager and subsequently Station Manager for Marquette station WJMN-TV. Nebel has also held management and sales positions with stations in Hawaii and Wisconsin.
“Mark is a professional who will put clients first with his tremendous local business knowledge and experience. WZMQ is fortunate to have him on our team,” said Chief Operating Officer John Christianson.