LONG-TIME alternative and modern rock station WDRE (92.
7 FM) confirmed Friday that it is replacing about half its on-air staff, including morning host Donna Donna. Starting today, the station launches a two-week "History of Modern Rock" feature, which will pre-empt most regular shows. Around the end of the month, says spokesman Dan Zako, the station will unveil both a new deejay lineup and "a new direction.
" Besides Donna Donna and her sidekick Hilary, dismissed deejays include mid-day personality Malibu Sue and evening jock Gary Cee. "They're some of our dearest friends," says Zako, explaining that essentially, new Program Director Russ Mottla and the station feel they just want a new, fresher sound. In a sense, 'DRE is the victim of its own success. For years it was the major commercial outlet in this area for what was then called "alternative rock.
" Then, in the last year, other stations have begun playing modern and alternative artists most importantly, powerhouse Z-100 and WDRE's ratings have slipped. "Now we want to get back to being on the cutting edge," says Zako and that edge lies further out than it did two years ago. Zako declined to specify exactly what music or artists the station might be moving into, but the programing stakes are particularly high because 'DRE operates the Modern Rock Network, which simulcasts programing to stations in several markets. In fact, the launch of that network led some fans to suggest that because 'DRE now had to please a broader spectrum of listeners, its programing was becoming safer and more conservative. Whether the "new direction" addresses such concerns, we'll know soon. Some clues to that direction may be found in the "History of Modern Rock" special, which is WDRE-produced and in a way echoes WRKS' recent "Twelve Days of Kiss-Mas" wherein 'RKS created a two-week music bridge between old and new formats. STERN JUSTICE: If you run Court TV, do you cut away from the O.
J. Simpson coverage on Jan. 30 to visit the Howard Stern trial? That's the date set by a Jersey judge to hear the complaint by Lori Gedon of Norwood, N.
J. that she got 1,300 unwanted phone calls to her 800 number after that number was flashed on the screen during a joke routine on Stern's Channel 9 TV show in 1992. She figures her damages (the recipient pays for all those 800 calls) at $60,000. Stern's attorneys argue that he's not liable for the actions of his fans. Maybe she'd get more sympathy if she threatened to jump off a bridge. AROUND THE DIAL: Ruth Mesinger is the guest tonight on "Issues and Answers" over WKDM (1380 AM). She will be discussing her possible run for mayor, as well as Latino issues in the city. . . . WHTZ (100.
3) has a new general manager: Clancy Woods.