BRIEFLY . . .

XTRA-AM (690) has hired former KGTV (Channel 10) North County bureau chief Hal Brown to guide its fledgling news operation. Brown, who will serve as the station’s news director, also has worked for KOGO-AM during its short-lived attempt to do a news-talk format and KSDO-AM, among other San Diego radio stations. XTRA is expected to switch to news-talk within the next 30 to 60 days.