WKYC has promoted Brennan Donnellan to news director from managing editor.

“While he’s only been at Channel 3 for 18 months,” said Brooke Spectorsky, president and general manager of the Cleveland NBC Affiliate. “He’s been instrumental in launching our new anchor teams of Russ Mitchell and Kris Pickel, Chris Tye and Erin Kennedy, and Lynna Lai and John Anderson. He’s a forward-thinking manager who expects the best from his team and fights for the resources to bring high-quality newscasts to viewers in Northeast Ohio.”

Donnellan has held news management positions in Atlanta and Boston.  He left his job as news director at Cincinnati’s NBC affiliate, WLWT in 2009.

[TVNewsCheck]

Erin Kennedy moves to WKYC in Cleveland to be the new morning anchor.  Kennedy spent the last five years at WPRI-WNAC in Providence, most recently anchoring the 5:30 and 10 p.m. weeknight newscasts.

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.

Lisa Fletcher joins Al Jazeera in Washington, D.C. as a freelance anchor. Fletcher has been freelance reporting for WJLA in D.C.

Arran Andersen joins KMGH in Denver as sports anchor and reporter.  Most recently, he was host of the 4 p.m. entertainment/news program at KVVU in Las Vegas. Read more

WKYC anchor Chris Tye will be shifting from the 7 p.m. newscast to the morning newscast this month, the Cleveland Plain-Dealer reports.

Tye will be paired with morning co-anchor Erin Kennedy. He replaces replaces Mark Nolan, who announced earlier this week that he is leaving the Cleveland NBC-affiliate after 18 years.

“He’s smart, high-energy, quick-witted, innovative, creative and an experienced reporter, and all those things will serve him well as he moves to the mornings,” WKYC news director Rita Andolsen told the Plain-Dealer.

Tye’s first day on the morning newscast — January 16 — will also be former CBS News anchor Russ Mitchell‘s debut as WKYC’s evening anchor and managing editor.

WKYC morning anchor Mark Nolan says he is leaving the Cleveland NBC-affiliate in the near future.

“After 18 years here at WKYC, I’m allowing my contract to run out and moving on,” Nolan told TVSpy in an email.

Nolan, who has been part of the WKYC morning newscast since 2007, co-anchors alongside Erin Kennedy. The date of his last broadcast is undetermined, but he says it will be before March 14, which is the last day of his contract.

Although he declined to say what his next step will be, Nolan said he will be doing some short-term radio work after he leaves WKYC.

Erin Kennedy, who is leaving Providence’s WPRI after six years anchoring the station’s evening newscasts, is set to join WKYC as a morning co-anchor alongside Mark Nolan.

“She’ll bring a fresh perspective to Cleveland mornings,” WKYC news director Rita Andolsen said, discussing the move with the station’s “Director’s Cut” blog. “We know that early newscasts are becoming even more important as people organize and begin their busy days, and we’re thrilled to have Erin’s help in creating an even more dynamic show. Having deeper resources at the anchor desk will give us increased flexibility to cover breaking news and weather.”

Kennedy will round out a morning team that, along with Nolan, includes meteorologist Hollie Strano and reporters Amanda Barren and Stephanie Coueignoux.  Read more

Erin Kennedy is leaving Providence CBS-affiliate WPRI, where she anchors the evening newscasts, according to GoLocalProv.

Kennedy joined the station in 2005 from KAMC in Lubbock, TX, where she was the morning anchor. In Providence, she anchors the 5:30 p.m. newscast on WPRI and the 10 p.m. newscast on sister-station WNAC, the market Fox affiliate.

Kennedy’s anchor job is posted on the WPRI website. The station is seeking a “high-energy, engaging talent who is a strong storyteller and can handle breaking news situations … If you just want to read the news, this is not the job for you.”