TV NEWS & VIEWS

WTNH Settles Anchor Mystery

WTNH-TV (News 8) has signed a new contract with Sonia Baghdady, and the station will retool its weekday morning show starting Monday, employing a new set, content, technology and pace, said General Manager Mark Higgins. Higgins addressed the mystery of the station advertising on its website for a news anchor in a way that seemed to take swipes at Baghdady.

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Former WLS Anchorman Struggling

One month after he was arrested and spent Christmas in jail on a variety of charges, former Chicago television newsman Kevin Roy says he’s thinking of making a bid for the White House to help change public attitudes about mental illness.

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News Directors in the News

John LaPorte takes the helm at WITI (his second Milwaukee news director post) while Jennifer Hardy returns to Reno to take over the KOLO newsroom. And, John Shelby becomes the fourth news director in five years at KRCG. More ND news at Rick Gevers newsletter.

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WNEP On Top

WNEP-TV, the ABC affiliate based in Moosic and broadcasting to all or parts of two dozen counties in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania, airs 11 local news programs each weekday. And all 11 of them earn ratings in the top nine nationally. According to the November 2011 Nielsen survey, Channel 16 has the highest-rated local newscast in the nation for its 5:30 a.m., 6 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts.

 

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Kurt Davis to WFAA?

WFAA8's ongoing search for a new news director may be nearing an end. Reliable sources say that Kurt Davis, executive news director at CBS affiliate KENS-TV since September 2003, has emerged as a leading candidate. KENS and WFAA8 are both owned by Dallas-based Belo Corp. The position became vacant when Michael Valentine accepted a Belo corporate position in late December

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WSVN Age Bias Case Reversed

A jury award of nearly $1 million to former WSVN health reporter Marilyn Mitzel for age discrimination at the hands of station management was wiped out Wednesday by an appellate court. The Third District Court of Appeal reversed the 2010 jury finding that Sunbeam Television Corp., WSVN’s owner, fired Mitzel three years earlier because she was too old for television, and ordered a Miami-Dade court to reconsider the case.


Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/19/2596332/reporters-age-bias-win-reversed.html#storylink=cpy
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John Bolaris Out at FOX Philly

The forecast looks like unemployment for John Bolaris. The Fox 29 meteorologist had been suspended since Dec. 22 but this afternoon a Fox  spokeswoman confirmed that, “We mutually agreed that it was time to part ways.” She declined further comment on the parting.

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Talent Moves at Napoli Management

Arran Andersen joins KMGH in Denver as sports anchor and reporter.  Most recently, he was host of the 4pm entertainment/news program at KVVU in Las Vegas. Mellisa Paul transitions from midday weathercaster to host of KXTV’s “Sacramento & Co," beginning at its new time 11am weekdays in January 2012. Erin Kennedy moves to WKYC in Cleveland to be the new morning anchor.  Erin spent the last five years at WPRI/WNAC in Providence, most recently anchoring the 5:30 and 10pm weeknight newscasts. Ron Reagan can be heard back on the radio for “Both Sides Now," a syndicated weekend show with views on the news. Ron and Mary Matalin exchange ideas, not insults. Sarah Arbogast joins KDKA in her hometown of Pittsburgh as traffic and general assignment reporter.  She was most recently working as a freelance reporter for WTAE. Jonathan Myers renews his agreement with WWL in New Orleans as the noon and 5pm meteorologist. Jonathan is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist. Kira Miner joins WBBH/WZVN in Ft. Myers as weekend morning weathercaster.  The Ft. Myers native has been freelancing for WINK. Heather Rowe renews her agreement with KOLD in Tucson as primary anchor. Stacey Deffenbaugh renews her agreement with WZVN in Ft. Myers as noon anchor and reporter. Michelle Carolla joins WMSN in Madison, Wisconsin as the primary anchor. She was most recently anchoring at WFXB in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. LoriAna Hernandez renews her agreement with KTBC in Austin as primary anchor. Marc Stewart renews his agreement with KMGH in Denver as a reporter. Lisa Fletcher joins Al Jazeera in Washington, D.C. as a freelance anchor. Fletcher has been freelance reporting for WJLA in D.C.

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