WSYR has chosen Rob Cartwright to lead its news team.

Cartwright, who most recently worked as assistant news director at KDAF in Dallas-Fort Worth, is set to join the Syracuse ABC-affiliate as its new news director early next year.

In announcing the hiring, WSYR vice president and general manager Theresa Underwood said Cartwright  “will add a new dimension to our staff and management team.”

Underwood recently appointed WSYR staffers Roger Mirabito to assistant ND and Jessica Purchiaroni to executive producer. Read more

The other shoe has dropped in the newsroom sex scandal at Syracuse’s WSYR as reporter Jennifer Lewke resigned this week, following the departure two weeks ago of news director Jim Tortora, her alleged lover.

According to CNYRadio, WSYR general manager Theresa Underwood sent the following email to staff on Thursday:

Please be advised that I have accepted the resignation of Jennifer Lewke. We wish Jennifer the best of luck in the future.

The alleged affair between Tortora and Lewke was reportedly brought to light when Tortora’s daughter sent a message to WSYR staff from his email account announcing: “Jim Tortora and Jennifer Lewke are having an affair.”

Lewke had been with WSYR for nearly six years and served as the ABC-affiliate’s “consumer investigator.” Her resignation comes at the close of May sweeps.

James Tortora has resigned as news director at WSYR after more than a decade with the station.

The Syracuse ABC-affiliate confirmed Tortora’s departure to The Post-Standard this week, but general manager Theresa Underwood would not comment beyond saying, “We really wish him well in his future. We wish him very much success.”

According to CNY Radio, Underwood sent an email memo to staff on Monday afternoon, announcing Tortura’s resignation and wishing him well in the future.  Assignment editor Roger Mirabito has been appointed interim news director as WSYR searches for Tortora’s successor.

WSYR perennially finished at the top of the local ratings heap during Tortora’s tenure, leaving some to wonder if there’s more to his departure than the performance of WSYR’s news team. There are rumors floating around that a personal issue may have led to his resignation but so far TVSpy has not been able to confirm anything. If you know more, shoot us an email at tvspy@mediabistro.com.

Syracuse’s WSYR introduced a new on-air talent lineup on Monday morning as part of a major image overhaul that includes a revamped logo and a brand-new, HD-optimized studio.

Earlier this month, WSYR announced that it would begin broadcasting its newscasts in HD and on Monday it became the first station in central New York to do so.

Tanja Babich, who has been with WSYR since 2007, began her new role as weekday morning anchor alongside Dan Cummings (above, right). Most recently, Babich was co-hosting the station’s daytime lifestyle show “Bridge Street.”

Christie Casciano moved from mornings to nights, where she joins Ron Wood for WSYR’s 11 p.m. newscast. She has also taken over anchoring duties for the station’s 10 p.m. newscast, which is broadcast on WSYR’s digital sub-channel.

“The changes solidify the anchor teams from sun up to sundown,” said Theresa Underwood, WSYR’s vice president and general manager. Read more