BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Former KERO news director, anchor, and reporter Ron Fineman died Saturday morning at a Santa Clarita hospital. He was 54.

Fineman was battling colon cancer since he was diagnosed in 2003.

He spent almost 15 years in the Bakersfield media, first working as a talk show host at KNTB in 1981. He then switched over to television, reporting and anchoring the news for KERO before taking over as news director.

After working in Bakersfield, Fineman worked part-time at KNX radio in Los Angeles. He also created a website called "On The Record," which critiqued the Los Angeles broadcast news media.

Fineman is survived by his wife, Christy; his son, James; and his brother Ken.