Pete Demetriou documentary in production at Freedonia

A new feature documentary will profile Los Angeles radio reporter Pete Demetriou, whose 50 years of emergency coverage have made him a familiar voice during wildfires, earthquakes and other crises. General Assignment: LA is now in production with Freedonia and is being developed with KNX and Audacy.

Why it matters: - Pete Demetriou has spent five decades giving Southern Californians fast radio updates during emergencies that can threaten lives and property. - General Assignment: LA is designed to show how radio reporting helps listeners understand unfolding crises in real time. - The film also launches a planned Freedonia documentary series focused on English-language news professionals whose work has broad public impact.

What happened: - Freedonia is producing a feature-length documentary titled General Assignment: LA about Los Angeles radio journalist Pete Demetriou. - The documentary is currently in production. - The film is being presented in cooperation with Los Angeles radio station KNX and its parent company, Audacy Corporation. - Los Angeles attorney Kim Swartz represents Demetriou. - The Law Offices of Steven J. Goldfisher represent Alexandra Datig.

The details: - Demetriou is a 27-time Golden Mike Award winner. - The film follows Demetriou in the field as he reports on breaking news. - The production team has documented Demetriou over the past year covering stories under difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions. - Demetriou has reported from wildfires, riots, bomb scares and shooting scenes. - Demetriou has often worn a bulletproof vest while working alongside police officers, firefighters and emergency officials. - Demetriou said radio news lets him provide an instant interpretation of his surroundings in "only 55 seconds or less." - Demetriou also cited his earlier experience as a Middle East war correspondent. - Greg Zekowski is directing the documentary. - Zekowski is a Los Angeles-based producer and director and a member of both the Directors Guild of America and the Television Academy. - Zekowski’s recent credits include The Anne Frank Gift Shop, On Fire starring William H. Macy, and The Walking Dead: Red Machete. - Roy Bodner leads Freedonia. - Bodner previously produced Dance, Baby Dance and Diamond Zero and co-produced Redemption. - Bodner’s background also includes executive roles at Peace Arch Entertainment and E! Entertainment Television, plus work with Disney Consumer Products, Universal Studios, Panasonic, Variety and the Los Angeles Times. - News producer Alexandra Datig and Front Page Index are handling location production and editing.

Between the lines: - The documentary is built around a reporter whose value comes from speed, clarity and trusted local presence during emergencies. - The project also doubles as a showcase for the role of radio journalism in a media environment dominated by video and social platforms. - By pairing Demetriou’s field reporting with a documentary format, Freedonia appears to be positioning the film as both a profile and a media-industry statement.

What's next: - Production on General Assignment: LA will continue. - Freedonia plans to use the film as the start of a larger documentary series. - The release timing for the documentary has not been announced.

The bottom line: - Freedonia is turning Pete Demetriou’s emergency reporting career into a feature documentary about the enduring power of radio news.