Some familiar faces are leaving and some new faces are arriving at Central Florida’s top-rated Eyewitness News. Here’s the rundown:
> Weekend evening meteorologist Arch Kennedy has been named the new chief met at WZTV-Fox 17 in Nashville. He went on air for the first time at WFTV on Aug. 13, 2004 — the day Hurricane Charley hit Central Florida. The station will fill Kennedy’s position and is currently looking for a replacement.
> Jodie Fleischer has been hired selected as a general assignment reporter by Atlanta’s WSB-ABC 2, the Cox sister station to WFTV.
> Josh Einiger is now reporting for WNBC-4 in New York. (Note: Earlier I mistakenly wrote that state Sen. Gary Siplin made Einiger a local legend by repeating "I love you Josh. I love you Josh" during an interview. The Siplin interview was with former WFTV reporter Josh Wilson, who now works for FEMA. Sorry about that.) And former weekend
Daybreak anchor Christina Arangio has been hired by WTEN-ABC 10 in Albany, N.Y., as its new 11 p.m. news anchor.
Daybreak anchor Christina Arangio has been hired by WTEN-ABC 10 in Albany, N.Y., as its new 11 p.m. news anchor.
Said WFTV News Director Bob Jordan in a news release: "We’re very proud of the great work that these individuals contributed to Eyewitness News over the past few years."
"We look at it as a blessing and a curse," said WFTV/WRDQ GM Shawn Bartelt in a news release. "Part of what comes with being a strong market leader in news is that other companies and stations across the county look at your talent first. The plus is that the most talented individuals available are also interested in coming to work for a strong station."
Among the new faces at WFTV:
> Weekend Daybreak Anchor and reporter Elizabeth Artz, who won several Associated Press Awards while at WVTM-NBC 13 in Birmingham, Ala.
> Reporter Vanessa Welch, who comes WTVD-ABC 11 in Raleigh, N.C. She was recently nominated for an Emmy for breaking news coverage and spent considerable time covering the John Edwards presidential campaign.
> Volusia County reporter Jason Allen, who comes to Central Florida from WBAY-ABC 2 in Green Bay, Wisc.
> Reporter Eric Rasmussen, who won an Edward R. Murrow Award and comes ABC O&O KFSN-30 in Fresno, Calif.
> Reporter Jeff Deal, who comes to WFTV from Albuquerque, N.M.
> And Andrea Conklin, who joins the Channel 9 team from the Texas border near Houston.