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Meteorologist Megan Hatton Leaving WFLA

Merrill Knox — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 10:10:16 +0000

Megan Hatton, the weekend morning meteorologist at WFLA, is leaving Tampa NBC affiliate and moving to Houston.

Hatton is joining her husband, a director at ABC O&O KTRK, in Texas. She joined WFLA in 2007 as a weather producer and fill-in meteorologist.

“WFLA was Megan’s first on-air weathercasting job, and she has grown enormously in that role. I know she’s going to join her husband in Houston, but if I was a news director there with a need for an accomplished meteorologist, I would hire her,” WFLA news director Don North said in a statement.

Hatton is the second WFLA meteorologist to announce her departure for Houston this week. Brooks Garner is joining KHOU.

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John Rogers Joins WFLA From WALA

Merrill Knox — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 10:04:58 +0000

John Rogers is joining WFLA, the NBC affiliate in Tampa-St. Petersburg. He will be a reporter covering Manatee and Sarasota counties.

“Sarasota and Manatee counties are important areas of coverage for News Channel 8. And, we think it’s vital to have a reporter who actually lives in the area where he works,” news director Don North said in a statement. “John will live in Sarasota, where he’ll have the opportunity to really get to know the community.”

Since 2009, Rogers has been a reporter at WALA, the Fox affiliate in Mobile, Ala. Prior to that, he worked at WCTV in Tallahassee.

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Sportscaster Jason Jennings Joins WFLA From WRAL

Merrill Knox — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 11:43:52 +0000

Jason Jennings is joining Tampa NBC-affiliate WFLA as a weekend sports anchor and reporter.

Since 2005, Jennings has worked in his hometown as sports reporter and photographer at WRAL, the CBS-affiliate in Raleigh-Durham. He signs on at WFLA on August 20, according to Tampa Bay Online.

“Jason will fit right in covering the local sports scene in Tampa Bay,” WFLA news director Don North said in announcing the hire.

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Tampa’s WFLA to Launch 7 p.m. Newscast

Merrill Knox — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:26:29 +0000

Tampa NBC-affiliate WFLA has announced the launch of a 7 p.m. newscast beginning July 30.

The newscast’s debut coincides with the start of the Olympics, which will air on NBC. It will be anchored by Jennifer Leigh, who currently anchors WFLA’s 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts, and one other person who has yet to be hired, according to the Tampa Tribune.

“There are plenty of options for news out there, but we don’t think there are people watching hour after hour of news,” WFLA news director Don North said. “We are looking at plenty of people who are not able to see the news before, because they were driving home.” continued…

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Samara Sodos Leaving WFLA: ‘I Was Looking for a Career That Felt a Little More Stable’

Merrill Knox — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 10:24:03 +0000

Reporter Samara Sodos is leaving WFLA after 12 years at the Tampa NBC-affiliate to join the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office as a public information officer.

“I was looking for a career that felt a little more stable,” Sodos told Eric Deggans of the Tampa Bay Times. “I feel like all the skills I learned in this job will help me there.”

Sodos joined the station in 2000 from WSLS in Roanoke, where she was a reporter, anchor and producer. She began her career as an associate producer for WTMJ in Milawaukee. Her last day at WFLA will be September 7. continued…

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Tampa’s WFLA Adds Hourlong Newscast at 11 a.m.

Merrill Knox — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:54:46 +0000

Next week, Tampa NBC-affiliate WFLA bring an hourlong 11 a.m. newscast back into the station’s daily programming.

WFLA had an 11 a.m. newscast until 2009, according to Eric Deggans of the Tampa Bay Times. The newscast, which will replace infomercials currently airing in the 11 a.m. hour, will be anchored this time around by Gayle Guyardo (pictured) and Rod Carter.

WFLA news director Don North told Deggans implementation of the new newscast has been planned for months and didn’t require a new hire to launch.

“There’s a lot of news which could be going on in the middle of the day and we don’t want to miss out,” he said. “You think about news coverage differently when you know there’s an hour there.”

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WFLA News Truck Overturns on Highway

Andrew Gauthier — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 09:49:26 +0000

A news crew for Tampa’s WFLA was injured Wednesday afternoon as their microwave truck overturned along a stretch of highway in Sarasota.

Reporter Jackie Barron and photographer Jim Hockett were driving along Interstate 75 when the truck’s rear left tire blew out, according to a report from The Tampa Tribune. The truck flipped to its side, eventually skidding to a halt on the side of the road.

The accident happened just before 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday as Barron and Hockett were returning from an assignment in Venice.

Following the crash, Barron and Hockett were taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries.

“Both of them are in pretty good shape,” WFLA news director Don North said.

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