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Archive for the 'WTNH (News8)' Category


MyTV9 Star Decker Trains For The Weather


Brittany Decker, the 2011 Miss Connecticut winner and winner of the MyTV9 Star contest, is going to be taking a crack at meteorology.   As mentioned in a staff memo posted by our friends at The Laurel, Decker will begin the learning process to become a weather presenter with News8 and MyTV9.  Check out the memo below:

As I mentioned earlier this week, we have an AM Weather vacancy. I have already reached out to agents and the position will be posted shortly.

Meanwhile, our own Brittany Decker has quietly been interested in pursuing a weather career – and a meteorology degree – for the past few months. With that in mind – and with us looking for someone – Brittany will begin working with our Meteorology team to “learn the ropes” of weather. At some point in the coming weeks, we’ll look at how she is progressing and weigh her potential to join the News8 team. I bring this up because you will be seeing her working with Gil, SteveM & Erica in the studio quite a bit over the next few weeks, and figured you might get curious J

We’ll continue to look at other applicants even as we monitor Brittany’s progress. Meteorology is a very involved science, and the ability to tell a good weather story is something only a precious few can do well. My goal here is to find the person who can best be a part of our newsroom and weather team, both now and down the road, and I think we’ll do that.


Update: Baghdady and ‘TNH Reach Agreement


After a controversial job posting was reported on News8′s website nearly two weeks ago, news has emerged from WTNH that main anchor Sonia Baghdady and the station have signed a new contract.

According to TVSpy, the station’s main anchor signed a new contract following lengthy negotiations and swirling rumors about her departure, fueled in part by a job posting on the station’s website.

General Manager Mark Higgins told the New Haven Register that, “There was a rumor out there that the main anchors were going to leave,” adding, “it’s standard to post for a position… but it all worked out.”  The job posting has since been removed.


WTNH Ready to Bump Baghdady?


Late last week, a job posting was created on wtnh.com for a news anchor.  What can be assumed to be innocent enough, as many stations have jobs available, quickly turns interesting at the following line:

You’ll be anchoring most of your newscasts sitting next to this guy, Darren Kramer

News8′s primary anchor Sonia Baghdady is currently in the midst of contract negotiations.  Sonia Baghdady co-anchors alongside Darren Kramer and has not terminated her relationship with the station.  The job posting, in essence, is for a job that is already filled.

When TVSpy contacted News Director Erik Schrader, he informed them that Baghdady is still employed by the station but declined to comment about the job posting.  Interestingly enough, at his prior stint at Pennsylvania CBS ABC-affil WNEP, a job posting was also created for a filled job during negotiations with then-morning anchor Mindi Ramsey.  She later resigned from the station.  No word yet on the status of Baghdady’s job.


News 8′s Dr. Mel Passes Away

Dr. Mel Goldstein, beloved meteorologist at Connecticut’s NewsChannel 8, has died.  According to wtnh.com, Goldstein passed away at 66 after battling a sixteen-year long battle with Multiple myeloma.

“We not only lost a great journalist today, but a great humanitarian and close friend,” WTNH General Manager Mark Higgins said in an email sent to News 8 staff.  Dr. Mel became the chief met at WTNH in 1986, and was on the staff there until his retirement in August 2011.

“I mainly want to be remembered as I am– honest, helpful to others, always around when needed. I can’t think of a better tribute than that, and it is something for which I will always be grateful,” remarked Dr. Mel upon his retirement, “I have worked hard in an area that I truly love, and I will likely continue in some weather venue until I no longer have the energy to do so.”


WTNH Brings in New Met to Replace Fox

We reported recently that non-renewed WTNH meteorologist Geoff Fox had been pulled from on-air duties to wait out his contract due to a controversial Facebook group that had sprung up.  Now, WTNH has hired Fox’s replacement, a broadcast veteran with experience all over the country.

Steve MacLaughlin, seen above in his News 8 headshot, arrived in Connecticut on Thursday the 27th, just in time to cover the wild winter weather.  He came from New York CW affil and former ‘LVI stablemate WPIX, where he served as a fill-in meteorologist.  Prior to that, MacLaughlin spent time in Texas as the weekend meteorologist at KXAS, the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex’s NBC affiliate.  He also has spent time at Philadelphia’s WPHL (yet another former-WLVI sister station) and The Weather Channel.

Hit the jump for a press release from WTNH, which includes an overview of his decorated career, including his 2006 award for “Best Weathercast” from the Associated Press.

It is also worth noting that viewer backlash has spilled over into the new hire, with dozens of angry comments on the station’s Facebook page from viewers angered by Fox’s treatment.

Continue reading ‘WTNH Brings in New Met to Replace Fox’


WTNH: Facebook Group “A Distraction,” Fox Off-Air at 8

Former WTNH meteorologist Geoff Fox in 2010

Mark Higgins, a relative newcomer to Hartford’s WTNH Channel 8, has decided that enough is enough.  According to TVSpy, Higgins told non-renewed meteorologist Geoff Fox that he would not be returning to News 8.  This comes after initial reports that stated Fox would continue to remain on-air until his contract expired.

Higgins has been the general manager of WTNH and their sister station WCTX (MyTV9) since June 2009.  Since his hiring, the station has made numerous changes, including the decision to drop longtime branding NewsChannel8 in favor of a simpler News8 moniker.  The station has also made an array of talent shuffles, with Fox being most notable.  According to Fox’s blog, Higgins stated that Fox would not return to the airwaves because “all of this has become a distraction.”  Hit the jump for reaction from Fox himself.

Continue reading ‘WTNH: Facebook Group “A Distraction,” Fox Off-Air at 8′