Kevin Kirkaldie has been named creative services director of three Nexstar Broadcasting stations in Tennessee: WPTY and WLMT in Memphis and WJKT in Jackson.

Kirkaldie comes from WWBT-WPUV, Raycom Media’s stations in Richmond, Va. He has been marketing and creative services director since 2011. Before that, he served in the same role at WSLS in Roanoke. He has also worked at WUSA in Washington D.C. and KMTR in Eugene, Ore.

“I look forward to bringing over 20 years of multi-media marketing and branding experience with me to the stations in Memphis/Jackson as we seek to deliver the most compelling local news, weather, and entertainment programming, expand our community involvement and grow our marketing solutions for our advertising partners,” Kirkaldie said in a statement.

Just days after The Weather Channel’s announcement it would name significant winter storms, the Washington Post is reporting broadcast meteorologists are questioning the move.

The Post reports the idea may stem from good intentions, but wonders whether a broadcasting outlet should be in charge of weather forecasting,

It’s a bold (even arrogant?) move, because – in a sense – TWC is laying claim to custody of the nation’s major winter weather events.

The article quotes several local meteorologists who view the move with skepticism,

Andrew Freiden, a broadcast meteorologist in Richmond, (WWBT) put it bluntly: “Weather Channel to name Winter Storms! First Thought: “Who died and made them King?!”

Read more

After a two-year hiatus from television, Julie Bragg will join WTVR this Summer, Richmond Magazine reports.

Bragg, who used to be an anchor for Richmond NBC-affiliate WWBT, will begin at CBS-affiliate WTVR on August 6 as the 5 and 5:30 p.m. co-anchor. She will be paired with Lorenzo Hall, who is currently a reporter and weekend anchor for the station.

“She loves the broadcasting business,” WTVR general manager Stephen Hayes said. “We believe that’s what she was meant to do.”

The 5 and 5:30 p.m. newscasts are currently anchored by Sam Brock and Stephanie Rochon. Beginning in August, Rochon will continue to anchor the 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts, while Brock will be a fill-in anchor and will work on other projects for the station, according to Richmond Magazine.

Gene Cox is returning to Richmond local television this summer, Richmond Magazine reports.

Cox signed off from WWBT last year after 33 years at the NBC-affiliate. Since then, he has been sitting out a noncompete clause in his contract. He will begin at ABC-affiliate WRIC on a temporary basis beginning August 1.

“I’m laying myself out there,” he told Richmond Magazine. “It’s up to them, and it’s up to me. If it clicks, I’d like to stay.”

Cox will co-anchor the 5:30 p.m. newscast with Amy Lacey. He replaces Christina Feerick, who will remain at the anchor desk for the 5, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts. [h/t NewsBlues]

Meteorologist Sagay Galindo is leaving WAVY to follow her husband, who is in the Navy, to the west coast.

Galindo, who grew up in the Hampton Roads area, joined WAVY in 2010.  She announced her departure during the NBC-affiliate’s morning newscast on Sunday (video above). Read more

WWBT morning meteorologist Andrew Freiden is having some trouble coming to terms with his new schedule.

In the above video promoting the launch of a 4:30 a.m. newscast on the Richmond NBC-affiliate, Freiden jokingly stops short each time his script mentions the early hour.

“Just rewind that a little bit,” he said. “I’ll think happy thoughts! Like instead of saying 4:30, I’ll think I’ll be saying sunshine and roses, or something. I’ll be thinking rainbows.” Read more

WWBT is shuffling its evening anchor lineup as longtime newsman Gene Cox steps aside after more than three decades with the Richmond NBC-affiliate.

Curt Autry (near right), who currently anchors the 5:30 and 11 p.m. newscasts, will move into Cox’s familiar spot at 5 and 6, joining Sabrina Squire. 4 p.m. anchor Ryan Nobles (far right), who also handles the WWBT-produced 10 p.m. newscast on WRLH, will take over for Autry at 5:30.

“Gene has been a good friend and mentor since I arrived at NBC12, I’m honored and humbled to be following in his footsteps,” Autry said about replacing Cox, who announced in April that he would be leaving the WWBT anchor desk.

“I am excited about a new career challenge,” Nobles tweeted yesterday, announcing his move to 5:30.

“Why are you eating my hair?” WWBT general assignment reporter Tara Morgan asked a camel who had just attacked her during a stand-up shot (video above). Maybe the camel was trying to get famous.

The blooper video has been bouncing around online over the past week, landing the reporter and the camel on “Inside Edition” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and raising the profile of Morgan, who has been with WWBT since 2002.

While there are plenty of instances of local news gaffes becoming viral hits, the camel video is unique in that it’s being heavily promoted by Morgan as well as the station. Read more

Gene Cox, who has been a fixture of Richmond TV for over three decades, announced on Wednesday that he will be leaving the WWBT anchor desk.

Cox, 70, currently anchors WWBT’s 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts alongside Sabrina Squire. The pair has been working together for 27 years, making them one of the longest running anchor teams in the country.

“Gene is an important part of the NBC12 News family and has given us and his viewers a legacy of superior journalism and commitment that we intend to continue,” said Kym Grinnage, WWBT’s vice president and general manager, in making the announcement. Read more

A tweet sent out this week by WRC reporter Craig Melvin (above) has landed onetime Virginia senator George Allen in the middle of yet another racial quagmire as he tries to regain his old senate seat in the 2012 election.

Melvin, who is black, tweeted that Allen, whose political career crumbled a few years back after he used a racial slur during a campaign speech, had asked him for the second time in five months, “What position did you play?”

“I did not a play a sport,” Melvin tweeted, pointedly. The intimation being of course that Allen kept asking Melvin about his sports history because he is black. Read more