Her background’s in Detroit radio, but she’s found a home here in Oxford delivering community news for the local cable access television station.
Meet Ginger McGuire, one of the lead anchors for Channel 97’s ‘Oxford News This Week,? which airs at 6 a.m., 6 p.m. and midnight Monday through Friday.
‘I absolutely fell in love with the town of Oxford,? said the Ferndale resident. ‘It’s so quaint. Great town, great people.?
Oxford Community Television viewers who listen to the FM radio station 101.1 WRIF may recognize McGuire’s polished voice.
‘I’m currently the female imaging voice for WRIF,? she said. ‘Imaging means when you listen to WRIF and you hear the gruff guy come on and say ?101 WRIF,? I am the lighter, kinder, gentler female version of that.?
Her distinctive voice can also be heard saying things like ‘you’re caller Number 38? and doing promotions for the station.
McGuire is a graduate of Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts, but she never envisioned herself being a television personality.
‘I always hated being in front of a camera,? she explained. ‘I was never a big fan. I have a face for radio. I didn’t think I had a face for television.?
Sue Bossardet, who serves as an Oxford Village representative on the cable commission board, is quite impressed by McGuire’s performance.
‘Ginger is absolutely wonderful for Channel 97,? she said. ‘I think that she does a great job. She’s very informative and she reads (the news) like a pro.?
It was Channel 97’s program director, Jim Hughes, who convinced McGuire to try reading the local news.
The two met at 94.7 WCSX, where Hughes works part-time as a weekend on-air personality and McGuire used to work as the radio station’s webmaster and promotions coordinator.
‘Jim actually talked me into it,? she said. ‘I decided to give it a shot.?
‘I knew she had done some voice work and had a really outgoing personality. I thought maybe she could add a little more to our news,? said Hughes, who also anchors the news program.
Once she tried it back in July, she was hooked. ‘I fell in love with it,? said McGuire, who served as the Channel 97 co-host for Oxford’s Christmas parade Saturday.
Overall, Hughes said McGuire’s done an ‘exceptional? job. ‘She’s actually raised the bar for everybody, myself included,? he said.
Off the air, McGuire’s fallen in love with Oxford, from its people and architecture to its restaurants and quaint shops.
‘I really just enjoy every bit of it,? McGuire said. ‘It’s a small community. You can tell that everybody knows everybody. It’s a homey feeling when you come here.?
She finds the ‘innocence? of small town life quite appealing and refreshing.
When asked if she’s hoping her local gig will lead to bigger and better things professionally in television land, McGuire replied, ‘If it does, it does. That would be fantastic. If it doesn’t, that’s fine, too.?
She’s currently employed as the internet marketing manager for Hansons.
‘I’ve been in the web world since 1996,? said McGuire, who’s a self-professed ‘geek.?
When she’s not delivering the local news or working in cyberspace, McGuire is a voracious reader and enjoys a variety of music ranging from Bach to Black Sabbath.