As we get ready to usher in 2012, let’s take one more look at the biggest broadcasting stories that FishbowlNY covered in 2011.

In January, Scott Clark closes out a brilliant career at WABC, retiring after nearly a quarter-century at Channel 7.

Maurice DuBois makes his debut as WCBS/Channel 2 lead anchor when he is promoted to nights opposite Kristine Johnson. Chris Wragge shifts his energy to The Early Show, but that wasn’t the last we would hear from him.

Also as 2011 began, veteran radio talk host Curtis Sliwa adds an afternoon shift to his Apple/WNYM duties.

In February, among the notable events, WNBC/Channel 4 welcomes home Shiba Russell from Boston. She was named weekend anchor with David Ushery. Russell fueled speculation that she was Sue Simmons’ “heir apparent,” as the main (if not exclusive) fill-in for the legendary anchor, who started at Channel 4 in 1980.

On the radio, Craig Allen, a veteran in his own right, agrees to a three-year extension as WCBS 880’s chief meteorologist. Two months later, Allen marked 30 years at the station.

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Here’s a look at what FishbowlNY stories made the most buzz this week.

1. Occupy Wall Street Protestors are Not Geraldo or Fox News Fans, October 10
2. The Atlantic‘s November Cover is a Rarity, October 12
3. Longtime WCBS-FM Midday Jock, ‘Consummate Pro’ Bill Brown Dies at 69, October 12
4. Spin Adds to Team, October 11
5. Meredith Acquires Every Day with Rachael Ray, October 12
6. ‘New York Not Gone Forever’ as Former WPIX Talent Lolita Lopez Starts as KNBC Reporter, October 10 
7. The New York Times’ Editors Don’t Care About Salad Dressing, October 11
8. Meteorologist Craig Allen Increases Workload at WPIX, October 11
9. Taking Taxi to the Top at WEMP, October 10

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While we await the resolution of Jim Watkins‘ fate at WPIX, Lolita Lopez takes matters into her own hands!

The versatile Channel 11 air talent bolted for KNBC in Los Angeles where she starts on Monday as a general assignment reporter.

Lopez began at WPIX in 2001 in that same role. But she added weekend sports anchor to her resume. Eventually, when top sportscaster Sal Marchiano was dumped in 2008, Lopez was promoted.

However, when news director Bill Carey (who joined WPIX in 2009), dropped sports from the newscasts earlier this year to make his station stand out, Lopez’s trip at Channel 11 went full circle to street reporter.

Lopez, the highly visible sports anchor at the time of the unprecedented move, isn’t sure how it will affect viewers in the long term.

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We have more details on the West Coast plans for Lolita Lopez. The WPIX/Channel 11 veteran has been named a general assignment reporter with KNBC in Los Angeles. Our sister site TVSpy reports that Lopez’s first day is October 10.

Lopez, as we reported earlier this week, was relieved of her WPIX contract for the KNBC opportunity.

TVSpy has more on the story, including comments from Lopez’s new boss, Vickie Burns, KNBC VP of News.

Versatile WPIX on-air talent Lolita Lopez has left Channel 11. She told her Facebook followers this morning: “As you might have guessed after 10+ years I have left PIX and NY for sunny CA. My heart is heavy but full and excited for a new adventure!”

A WPIX spokeswoman confirms that Lopez is moving to Los Angeles for a “job opportunity.”

Lopez joined WPIX in 2001 as a general assignment reporter. Her biggest splash came in 2005 when she moved to the sports division, initially as weekend anchor. Ultimately, Lopez would be named the main sports anchor, giving viewers “Lolita’s Lineup” nightly.

By March 2011, though, Lopez’s career at WPIX had come full circle, with the station’s decision to dismantle the entire sports department, she again became a news reporter.

A two-time Emmy winner for her sports work, Lopez sought to be released early from her contract, according to the Daily News.

FishbowlNY attempted to reach Lopez for comment.

The changes are subtle, but if you look carefully they scream at you. In recent weeks, WPIX and WNYW viewers have noticed something different when it comes to how the sports portion of the newscast is produced.

On the PIX News at 10, the latest in a series of changes has news director Bill Carey dropping its sports department.

Instead, news anchor Jodi Applegate (Jim Watkins on weekends) spends a minute in the control room reading the scores and narrating a few highlights.

Carey says PIX (which carries Mets’ games) has never been a destination for viewers seeking sports information.

“Our station doesn’t have a sports profile … We never did a sportscast in the 6:30 news while it was on the air,” Carey tells FishbowlNY. “We don’t do sports in the morning show.”

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It appears to be the end of an era in New York TV News. Tribune-owned WPIX/Channel 11 is poised to dump its sports department. With it, the New York Post reports Lolita Lopez (left), the station’s sports director, is getting reassigned.

The paper said it wasn’t certain if sports coverage would fall into the laps of the news anchors or if it would be outsourced.

“I hope it’s not the start of a trend, but I’ve heard of other stations around the country doing the same,” former longtime WNBC sports anchor Len Berman (below) says. ”I’m a firm believer in local sports and I don’t believe local sports is diminished by ESPN. But I know there are many in management who don’t agree.”

This would mark the first New York City TV station to forgo a sports department.

Of course, Channel 11 has a long history attached to sports. First, for decades of Yankee baseball, and more recently WPIX has been the home for Mets games.

This is the latest change for news director Bill Carey, hired in November 2009. His biggest splash, to this point, was the overhaul of the 10 p.m. newscast in October 2010. Anchor Jodi Applegate, formerly from News 12 Long Island, was brought in.

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There are a zillion different year-end countdowns and awards. Well, before too many days go by, here’s one more.

These are the “Barmash Awards” given for the best talent and newscasts in New York TV news. This is by a committee of one—me.

Best Newscast (early morning)

Today in New York (WNBC): Darlene Rodriguez and Michael Gargiulo, Chris Cimino (weather), and Megan Meany (traffic)

Despite only being together for a couple of years, this is well-oiled machine. They have a terrific balance of good personality and good news sense. The Rodriguez and Gargiulo anchor team took some time to establish their chemistry—but by 2010 became the gold standard for dawn patrol. Another important plus is Cimino, doing that shift for more than a decade. He is one the best forecasters, not just at the station, but could easily hold is own among the “prime timers” as well.

Many more “awards” after the jump.

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If you haven’t seen the PIX News at Ten in the past two weeks, what’s staring back at you might be surprising.  

Gone are the desks and chairs.

Gone is the familiar studio set.  Yet another staple of the TV news biz–the two anchor format with Jim Watkins and Kaity Tong at the helm–has been uprooted in favor of Jodi Applegate flying solo, something she has rarely done throughout her career.

The station built the new look in the newsroom, allowing Applegate to be free of the usual TV news constraints. If nothing else, WPIX management, led by news director Bill Carey, should be recognized for trying to break with the norm. Unfortunately, there’s not much else.

More on the WPIX new appearance after the jump Read more