Scott McDonnell is the newest reporter at KMBC, the ABC affiliate in Kansas City.

“Scott is a very strong reporter who wants the big story,” news director Sherrie Brown said in a statement. “I know our viewers will like him personally and respect him professionally. He is laser focused on doing what reporters should do; tell stories that are compelling and relevant to our viewers.”

McDonnell previously worked at Central Florida News 13 in Orlando and Bay News 9 in Tampa. He has worked at WSEE in Erie, Pa., WSHM in Springfield, Mass. and WFSB in Hartford. He begins at KMBC on March 4.

Chris Martinez is the newest general assignment reporter at WBBM, the CBS O&O in Chicago.

“WBBM is a legendary television station that’s experiencing a renaissance,” Martinez said in a statement. “Joining this news team is a dream come true: I’m able to practice journalism in the part of the country where I’ve always wanted to live and be a part of a news organization that I’ve always admired.”

Martinez moves to Chicago from Tampa, where he has been a reporter and fill-in anchor at WFTS since 2003. He began his career as an associate producer for WCTV in Tallahassee and went on to work for Central Florida News 13. He begins at WBBM on October 15.

Joel Schipper is joining Central Florida News 13 as weekend anchor, the Orlando Sentinel‘s Hal Boedeker reports.

Schipper comes from WNDU in South Bend, where he is the weekend anchor. He will sign off from the station after six years on Saturday.

As weekend anchor, Schipper replaces Adam Longo, who joined KPHO in Phoenix. Schipper will anchor the weekend evening newscasts and report during the week for Central Florida News 13, according to Boedeker.

Adam Longo is leaving Orlando for Phoenix.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that Longo, who worked at Orlando CBS-affiliate WKMG before joining cable station Central Florida News 13 in 2009, has accepted a job at KPHO in Phoenix as a weekend evening anchor and weekday reporter.

His first day at KPHO is set for August 27th.

Longo, who spent a good chunk of his time in Orlando covering the Casey Anthony saga, was let go at WKMG in 2009, after a year and half there, when the station issued a round of layoffs. A few months later, he landed a weekend anchor job at News 13. Read more

Tim Geraghty, who has been the news director at Sacramento’s KXTV for the past three years, is set to become the senior director of news at Central Florida News 13.

The Orlando-based cable news channel announced today that Geraghty will join its staff on March 19th.

“We are extremely pleased to have someone of Tim’s caliber joining News 13. We have a great newsroom and we expect it will become even greater under his leadership,” News 13 vice president and general manager Robin Smythe said, announcing the hiring. “Tim has a strong understanding of local news and has a track record of paying quality attention to his viewers and delivering them a relevant product.” Read more

Lisa Bell, a former morning anchor at Central Florida News 13, is joining Orlando CBS-affiliate WKMG in January.

The Orlando Sentinel reports Bell, who left Central Florida News 13 in July after she was replaced on the morning newscast by Marla Weech, had to complete her contract with the regional cable channel before signing on with another station.

“She will report for the 5, 6 and 7 p.m. news and fill is as anchor wherever we need her,” WKMG general manager Skip Valet said. “She is a familiar face who has become a trusted source of news in our community.”

Leslie Hudson, a former meteorologist at Orlando NBC-affiliate WESH, is returning to Florida television on a freelance basis at rival station WOFL, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

“It’s very part time, but I am very excited,” she wrote. “Can’t wait to track the radar again! Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes, they worked!”

Hudson worked at WPBF in West Palm Beach and WSVN in Miami before joining Orlando’s Central Florida News 13 in 1998. She joined WESH in 2001, spending six years at the station. Most recently, she has worked as the weekend meteorologist for a local radio in Orlando.

Hudson will handle the weekend forecasts for WOFL beginning in December.

Scott Harris, an anchor and reporter who shaped local news in the Orlando market for four decades, died on Monday after a battle with kidney cancer. He was 64.

Harris worked as assistant news director at WESH and as a reporter for WKMG (then WCPX) before joining Central Florida News 13 in 1997. He was part of the 24-hour cable news channel’s launch team and helped establish its credibility in the market, serving as a reporter and anchor.

“He changed the way everyone did their jobs,” Jennifer Cook, an executive producer with News 13, told the Orlando Sentinel recently. “He was the mentor to everyone at the station. Everyone called him the Senator. He was the elder statesman of the group.”

News 13 remembers Harris in a video here, and WKMG has coverage here.

All five Orlando local stations are planning extended coverage this weekend for the release of Casey Anthony from jail, which is slated to happen at an unknown time on Sunday, July 17.

WOFL, WFTV and WKMG will all prepare for a potential release in the middle of the night, starting their coverage during the Saturday late evening broadcasts and going through midnight. All three stations will stay on the air at least 90 minutes and possibly longer as news warrants.

WESH will present live updates during primetime on Saturday and will have extended Anthony coverage on its evening broadcasts. Unlike the other three stations, WESH did not make a minimum time commitment for overnight coverage, but The Orlando Sentinel reported that regular programming will be interrupted for Anthony’s release.

Central Florida News 13 also plans live coverage of Anthony’s release from jail when it happens, supplemented by live hourly reports throughout the weekend.

The trial of Casey Anthony has been a huge ratings driver for Orlando stations since it began in May and TVs across the market were tuned in on Tuesday afternoon as the verdict in the case was read shortly after 2:15 p.m.

Cox-owned ABC-affiliate WFTV was the clear ratings winner for the jury’s high-profile decision, besting its rivals during the 2 p.m. half-hour when the verdict was read as well as the entire afternoon. Here’s a breakdown…

2 p.m. Half-Hour:

	Households	25-54 Demo
WFTV (ABC)	202,000	92,000
WOFL (FOX)	120,200	69,200
WESH (NBC)	75,500	45,200
CF News 13	66,900	43,200
WKMG (CBS)	57,000	27,000

Read more