Raleigh-Durham - TVSpy

WRAL Partners With Fayetteville Observer

Merrill Knox — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:35:46 +0000

WRAL, the CBS affiliate in Raleigh-Durham, is launching a news partnership with The Fayetteville Observer.

The station has relocated its Fayetteville bureau to the Observer‘s newsroom. The new bureau will debut on the air on the 5 p.m. newscast Friday.

“The Observer has a long tradition of outstanding local coverage, and we’re excited about growing a partnership with the newspaper that will benefit our viewers and their readers,” WRAL president and general manager Steven Hammel said in a statement.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

WTVD Meteorologist Shaves His Head On Air After Successful Bone Marrow Donor Drive

Merrill Knox — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:10:24 +0000

WTVD meteorologist Don Schwenneker shaved his head on the air this week after the ABC O&O signed up hundreds of potential donors at a bone marrow donor drive (video above).

Schwenneker promised to shave his head if more than 250 people signed up to be potential donors. The ABC O&O called the cause “near and dear to the hearts of the ABC11 family,” noting that a station staffer recently lost his son to leukemia.

The drive was organized by WTVD and Be the Match, the organization “Good Morning America” anchor Robin Roberts — who had a bone marrow transplant last year — champions.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

WNCN Political Reporter Kim Gernardo to Join Governor McCrory’s Office

Merrill Knox — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:43:06 +0000

WNCN political reporter Kim Gernardo is leaving the Raleigh-Durham NBC affiliate for a job as the director of communications for North Carolina governor Pat McCrory.

Gernardo has worked at WNCN for 14 years. She will begin in her new role on Wednesday.

“She has made a mark in this community by making it her business to know the Legislature inside and out,” news director Andrea Parquet-Taylor said in a statement. “We wish Kim well in her new endeavor.”

Jim Romenesko points out that Gerado sat down with McCrory for a one-on-one interview two weeks ago.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Button Pops Off Greg Fishel’s Suit During WRAL Forecast

Merrill Knox — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 17:01:38 +0000

WRAL chief meteorologist Greg Fishel was in the middle of his Friday evening weather forecast when a button popped off his suit jacket (video above).

Fishel was reporting on a high-pressure system, and standing underneath a graphic that said “PRESSURE,” when the button popped. “I just popped a button! I have never done that in 31 years of broadcasting, which means I’ve got a little too much here,” Fishel said, patting his stomach.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Anchor Anna Laurel Leaving KMPH For WTVD

Merrill Knox — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:13:35 +0000

Anna Laurel is leaving KMPH in Fresno for WTVD in Raleigh-Durham, according to the Fresno Bee.

Laurel, the weeknight anchor at KMPH, has worked at the Fresno Fox affiliate since 2009. She joins WTVD, the ABC O&O in Raleigh-Durham, after the November sweeps period.

KMPH general manager Jack Peck told the Fresno Bee that he is looking nationwide for Laurel’s replacement.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Reporter Erin Hartness Says Goodbye to WRAL

Merrill Knox — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 10:52:56 +0000

Reporter Erin Hartness is signing off today from WRAL, the CBS affiliate in Raleigh-Durham.

Hartness is ending her 13-year career in television to join Duke University, where she will be public relations manger for the Fuqua School of Business. She has worked at WRAL since 2007.

“Erin really worked her beats, enterprising and breaking stories,” news director Rick Gall said in a statement. “Her determination and dedication are impressive. Her insistence on accuracy and perspective in stories is admirable.”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Shae Crisson Leaves WTVD for Atlanta’s WSB

Kevin Eck — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:07:15 +0000

Shae Crisson, weekend anchor for WTVD in Raleigh-Durham, announced she’s leaving the station for WSB, the ABC affiliate in Atlanta.

Crisson, who announced the move via facebook, wrote a goodbye letter to fans saying,

Thank you for letting me tell your stories – through laughter, tears and prayers, we have made it through. Please know I’m leaving on a good note for a great opportunity at WSB-TV (still abc) in Atlanta. I know you’ll be kind to the next reporter here so he/she will stick around for a long time too. We’ll stay connected (sing our promo – keeping you connected) and stay classy Raleigh! . -Shae.

Crisson, who previously worked at WSLS in Roanoke, began her career at WLUC in Marquette, MI. Tomorrow will be her last day at WTVD.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

WRAL Demos New Mobile Emergency Alert System

Kevin Eck — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:50:49 +0000

WRAL , the CBS affiliate for Raleigh-Durham, will be the first commercial TV station to try out the proposed Mobile Emergency Alert System (M-EAS) pushing rich media emergency alert content to those with mobile handheld devices.

“No other system has the capacity to deliver on-demand emergency messages to so many people simultaneously,” WRAL told TVNewsCheck.

Unlike the wireless alerts already available to anyone with a mobile device, M-EAS will provide interactive on-demand emergency information via video, audio, maps, texts and photos to anyone with a cell phone even if they don’t have a data plan or internet access.

WRAL has put together a video (watch after the jump) showing the viewer what the system looks like.

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Reporter Stacy Davis Signs Off From WRAL

Merrill Knox — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:12:43 +0000

Stacy Davis is saying goodbye to WRAL after four years at the Raleigh-Durham CBS-affiliate.

Davis has accepted a position as public information officer for the nearby town of Clayton, NC. “I thrive on telling stories, and I see this job as one of the best story‐telling jobs around,” Davis said in a statement. “I’ll be telling Clayton’s story.”

“We’ll miss her ability to land key interviews, make ordinary stories extraordinary, and deliver compelling live shots,” news director Rick Gail said in a statement.

Davis’ last day at WRAL is today.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Pam Saulsby Joins WNCN as Evening Anchor

Merrill Knox — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:08:50 +0000

Raleigh-Durham NBC-affiliate WNCN will have a new evening co-anchor next month: Pam Saulsby, until last year was an anchor at rival station WRAL.

Saulsby signed off from WRAL last year after 20 years with the CBS-affiliate. In her new role at WNCN, she will co-anchor the 7 and 11 p.m. newscasts alongside Penn Holderness (pictured with Saulsby) and chief meteorologist Wes Hohenstein, as well as produce reports for the station.

“We are thrilled to have Pam join our team,” news director Andrea Parquet-Taylor said in a statement. “Her deep roots and passion for storytelling in this community make her an outstanding choice. Penn and Pam are a dynamic duo committed to the things that truly matter and helping people everyday.”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

WRAL Pressured by Gun Rights Group After Report on Concealed Weapons Permits

Merrill Knox — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 11:35:26 +0000

Raleigh-Durham CBS-affiliate WRAL is under fire after it included a searchable database of concealed weapons permits in a report on gun laws in the region.

The report, an examination of concealed weapons permit rates in rural areas, was published on July 12. Grass Roots North Carolina, a gun-rights organization, has mounted a campaign against WRAL and reporter Mark Binker.

Steve Hammel, WRAL’s VP-GM, told the News & Observer that the station didn’t publish any information that was not already available to the public.

“We’ve released public records that anyone out there can easily obtain,” he said. continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Caroline Foy Welch Named President-GM of WTVD

Merrill Knox — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:22:58 +0000

Caroline Foy Welch has been appointed president and general manager of WTVD in Raleigh-Durham, effective immediately, the ABC O&O announced today.

Welch has worked at WPVI, the ABC O&O in Philadelphia, since 1992. Most recently, she was the station’s vice president of programming.

“Caroline Welch’s proven commitment to excellence in local TV programming, along with the wide-ranging expertise she’s gained working closely with management and staff across-the-board at WPVI-TV, made her the ideal choice for the top post at WTVD-TV,” Rebecca Campbell, president of the ABC O&Os, said in a statement. continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

John Idler Named President-GM of WLS in Chicago

Merrill Knox — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 16:08:11 +0000

John Idler has been named president and general manager of WLS, the ABC O&O in Chicago, ABC announced today.

Idler joins WLS from WTVD, the ABC O&O in Raleigh-Durham, where he has been president and general manager for five years. The new position returns him to WLS, where he was vice president and general sales manager from 2004-07.

“John Idler’s outstanding track record in Raleigh-Durham and his earlier local TV management experience in Chicago demonstrate a consistent commitment to excellence in community service and station operations,” Rebecca Campbell, president of the ABC O&Os, said in a statement. “We all congratulate John on his promotion as he returns to WLS-TV in Chicago as President and General Manager.” continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

WNCN to Host Democratic Gubernatorial Debate

Merrill Knox — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:36:03 +0000

WNCN, the NBC-affiliate in Raleigh, will host a Democratic gubernatorial debate tonight.

The hourlong debate, presented in partnership with the League of Women Voters of North Carolina, will be moderated by political reporter Kim Gernardo. It will air at 8 p.m. on WNCN and stream live on the station’s website.

“Our commitment is to provide voters with as much information about where each candidate stands on the issues that impact their lives on a daily basis so that they can make smart and informed decisions,” news director Andrea Parquet-Taylor said in a statement. continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Longtime WRAL Sports Anchor Tom Suiter Inducted Into NCHSSA Hall of Fame

Merrill Knox — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:32:51 +0000

WRAL sports anchor Tom Suiter was inducted over the weekend into the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.

Suiter has worked at the Raleigh-Durham CBS-affiliate since 1971. In 1981, he created “Football Friday,” a weekly show that features high school football highlights which he still anchors today.

The longtime sports anchor said he was “very honored” by the induction but said he was not sure he belonged in the Hall of Fame, recognizing “the coaches, the administrators, the athletic directors — those are the men and women who are around the kids every day,” according to the Technician Online. continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.