WGCL

“Michaelsen has built a solid reputation of leading quality newscasts and storytelling,” WGCL general manager Trey Fabacher told staffers in an email. “Rating increases have been seen very quickly at almost every post he has held. He is also very skilled in listening and learning about newsrooms and culture and making the right adjustments to place them in the best situation to be successful.”

Michaelsen, who comes to WGCL from Cincinnati ABC affiliate WCPO, started his career as a photojournalist. continued…

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During his time at WGCL, Ludgood served as news director and as executive producer. He is a former vice president of CNN International who has also worked at WNCN in Raleigh, WXIA in Atlanta and WTVM in Columbus, Ga.

Ludgood begins Tuesday at the Fox O&O.

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WGCL investigative reporter Jeff Chirico was punched in the chin and knocked to the ground while reporting a piece for the Atlanta CBS affiliate.

Chirico’s was investigating Richard Wilder, who reportedly began operating a business in Gainesville just weeks after he was charged with seven counts of theft by deception and once count of racketeering. While reporting the story, Donald Wilder, presumed to be Richard’s father, approached Chirico and threatened him, punching him in the face and knocking him to the ground.

WGCL says Chirico was not seriously injured. His full report airs tonight on WGCL’s 11 p.m. newscast.

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At least one person is dead after a tornado touched down in Adairsville, Ga., Wednesday afternoon. Footage of the tornado was captured by WSB reporter Ross Cavitt, who had just arrived on the scene and was reporting from about a quarter mile away (video above).

All four Atlanta stations — ABC affiliate WSB, CBS affiliate WGCL, NBC affiliate WXIA and Fox O&O WAGA — have been in continuing coverage of the severe weather for several hours. The area remains under a severe thunderstorm warning. [via CNN]

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Eric Ludgood

“Eric Ludgood is no longer with WGCL in Atlanta,” a Meredith spokesperson told TVSpy.  “We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

Ludgood had been assistant news director at WGCL before leaving for three months in 2010 to work as news director for WNCN in Raleigh, NC.  He returned to WGCL as news director in February 2011 replacing Steve Schwaid.

WGCL vice president and general manager Trey Fabacher told TVSpy the station would begin its search for a news director, “very shortly.”

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Justin Lock

“My wife and I and newborn son are moving back to Charleston, SC where we want to raise our family,” Lock told TVSpy, ” Charleston is where we met and got married.”

Lock, whose last day will be today, started at WGCL in March of 2010.  He began his career in Hastings, NE and has also worked in Charleston and Philadelphia.

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Jack Walsh

Walsh joins WUPA from rival WGCL, where he has been the local sales manager since 2009. Prior to that, he was the general sales manager at Atlanta’s WATL.

“Jack is one of the most highly regarded local television executives in the Atlanta market,” CBS Television Stations president Peter Dunn said in announcing the hire.  “His deep roots in the advertising community, relationships with local business leaders and reputation as a skilled manager and great motivator will serve us well as he takes on the responsibility of overseeing one of the top CW affiliates in the country and our talented team of employees in Atlanta.”

Walsh replaces Tom Candeo, who was recently named general manager of WWJ, the CBS O&O in Detroit.

Read the full release from CBS after the jump. continued…

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WGCL

The weekend shows will feature two hosts: reporter Jocelyn Connell and Paul Ossmann.

Ossmann, who worked at WXIA-TV and WAGA-TV over 24 years, is currently serving as the weekend meteorologist for CBS Atlanta. He used to host “Good Day Atlanta” on WAGA-TV from 1992 to 1998.

The pair do not know each other well but Ossmann, who has worked at CBS Atlanta since January, said she’s “very bubbly, very friendly.” She has filled in for Tracye Hutchins, the host for the weekday “Better Mornings.”

The new show begins tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. and will air at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday.

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Mike Brooks

“This will be a great opportunity to return to my home state and my old friends,” Brooks told TVSpy via email. “They have a great group of journalists at KOKH, a terrific news director, and I look forward to joining the team.”

Brooks was most recently a freelance anchor at WFTX in Fort Myers. Prior to that, he was morning anchor at WGCL in Atlanta. Brooks, who signed off from WFTX on Friday, will be anchoring KOKH’s 9 and 10 p.m. newscasts alongside Jamie Cerreta.

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Steve Schwaid

Schwaid joined WTXF last July. He was previously the vice president of digital content for Meredith Stations, as well as the news director for WGCL, the CBS-affiliate in Atlanta. Prior to that, Schwaid was news director at WCAU in Philadelphia, WTOG in Tampa, WVIT in Hartford and WGME in Portland, ME.

A spokesperson for the Fox O&Os was not immediately available for comment.

>Update: A station spokesperson has confirmed that Schwaid’s last day at WTXF will be Friday. A nationwide search is underway for his replacement, the spokesperson said.

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Huckabee has over two decades of forecasting experience, including ten years at WGCL in Atlanta.

“Laura understands weather is the most important element in our morning newscast,” said Brian Sather, KHBS-KHOG’s president and general manager, announcing the move. “I’m confident from day one viewers will enjoy her comfortable delivery and informative local forecasts.” continued…

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Meredith’s local media group brought in $78 million during the period, with a 5% rise in non-political advertising revenue and a 70% increase in digital advertising.

“Our Local Media group is doing an excellent job of increasing ratings and translating them into advertising revenues, consistently ranking us among the leading station groups in advertising revenue gains,” Meredith local media group president Paul Karpowicz said in a statement. continued…

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Daniels first joined the Hartford CBS-affiliate in 2005, working as a general assignment reporter before becoming a weekend anchor in 2008. She left in 2010 for a reporting job at WGCL (both WFSB and WGCL are owned by Meredith).

Daniels had been filling in at the WGCL anchor desk recently but she says that the offer of a full-time anchor spot is what persuaded her to return to WFSB.

“I’m thrilled to be back,” Daniels told TVSpy today via email. continued…

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Meredith’s local unit took in $84 million for the period, compared to $97 million for its Q2 last year.  The company attributes the decline to a decrease in political advertising compared to a year ago–Meredith recorded  $21 million less of political advertising revenue for the quarter.

Non-political advertising revenues rose 9% in the second quarter, with Meredith’s stations in Atlanta (WGCL), Hartford (WFSB), Las Vegas (KVVU), and Portland (KPTV) performing the best. continued…

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Ossmann was chief meteorologist at WXIA, where he worked for over a decade, when the NBC-affiliate decided to let his contract expire last year.  Before WXIA, Ossmann worked at Atlanta’s Fox station, WAGA.

“We’re happy to add Paul’s experience and expertise to an already strong team of meteorologists,” WGCL news director Eric Ludgood said, in announcing the hiring.  “This further cements our commitment to providing the most comprehensive television weather coverage in Georgia.” continued…

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