Radio/TV Notes
March 3, 2018
Chris Potter (cr: Josh Raulerson)
Post-Gazette journalist Chris Potter joins WESA (90.5) to lead an initiative focused on government and accountability.
“Chris is a top-notch writer and editor, and we’re glad to have him join our newsroom,” news director Patrick Doyle said. “In his two decades of covering government, he’s repeatedly sought to hold our politicians and officials accountable to the public; we’re looking forward to have him continue that work at WESA.”
A staff writer covering government and politics at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Potter has also appeared on a variety of local and national TV and radio broadcasts – including WESA’s The Confluence – to discuss Western Pennsylvania politics. Prior to joining the Post-Gazette in 2014, Potter spent 17 years at Pittsburgh’s City Paper, including 10 years as editor. He is an Allegheny College graduate, with a degree in English. He will lead a four-person government-focused team that will include current WESA reporter An-Li Herring; candidates for the two additional reporting positions are currently being recruited.
On Thursday, March 8, WQED-TV (13) will host Hitting Home: Women • Families • Opioids LIVE Town Hall Meeting. The program will air on channel 13 and stream on the station’s website.
Now in the third year of its heroin and opioids initiative, WQED convenes a panel of leading voices in the opioids awareness community. This time the focus is on the rising number of women who are opioid addicts – and the resulting impact on families and society. The live, televised event includes a diverse studio audience, social media participation, and online streaming.
Host Lisa Washington moderates a panel discussion with local experts on the front lines of the crisis locally. The town hall includes scenes from WQED’s recent documentary Broken: Women • Families • Opioids which was recently honored by the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Award for Outstanding Public Affair Program.
The Post-Gazette reported Friday that Valerie Smock, meteorologist at WPXI, is set the leave the station to move closer to family. Smock joined the station in 2013. She gave birth to a son last year and returned from maternity leave in September. No departure date has been announced.
Am I alone in having concerns that a reporter working for a station that is, in part, government-funded is going to be put on the government accountability beat? Can we really expect his work under those circumstances to be even-handed?