TV News Potpourri

April 24, 2009 Off By Eric O'Brien

Rob Owen interviews WTAE-TV’s new News Director who took over a few weeks ago. Alex Bongiorno has her hands full at 4. She needs to hire a fourth weather person (and PBRTV wonders why Michael Haynes couldn’t just take the job since he’s filled the void for almost a year now), a weekend news anchor (to replace Jake Ploeger) and a sports anchor (to replace Jon Burton). Bongiorno says she hires not only for the station but also the viewers to make sure the person fits the city. So far though, she likes what she sees at WTAE.
Patrice King Brown (KDKA-TV) is still recovering from her torn ACL and has been off the air since the end of February. Brown is anxious to return to the airwaves and hopes to be back by the first week of May.
Karen Welles and WPXI have parted ways. Welles isn’t telling the PG anything other than she’s open to all offers in and out of TV. WPXI News Director Corrie Harding says the departure was a mutual agreement.