NWA_TV_guy

If you stay in a hotel west of Interstate 110 on the Miss. Coast (western Harrison County, Hancock County and possibly Pearl River County), you are certain to have New Orleans stations on cable. Any to the east (western Harrison County, Jackson County and possibly George County) is probably Mobile/Pensacola. That is all in addition to the local stations. Stone County would only carry the local stations...maybe also Hattiesburg/Laurel stations.

I'd also say that Emmis Communications wasn't the best owner, but it was a start towards something better and they really stepped up after Hurricane Katrina when their entire building was flooded and had to be gutted, etc. Tom Benson stepped in with the financial support, but I'll never feel like Louisiana Media Company had the understanding of a true newsroom, which as we all know trickles down the line to what we see on television and our mobile devices. Many people don't like Raycom, but they stepped in at the right moment. That's what is lacking from WGNO -- leadership and commitment.

WWL is undoubtedly the best in the market in all time slots; WDSU continues to be a strong competitor; WVUE has its weak moments, but has made a nice comeback recently and even closing in on WDSU in some timeslots; and WGNO is the ugly stepchild. New Orleans is more than large enough to handle a newscast on that many channels, but Tribune doesn't seem to have any interest in that market (or most of their markets).

NWAT originally started several years ago with one show on Saturday and featured stories that aired during the week. Their news department has not the the best that I know of, but in recent years it has declined to the lowest that I know of. They're always SO far behind the others in ratings as well.

Tribune's WGNO-TV has ditched yet another newscast for its "News With A Twist" format. New Orleans' ABC affiliate now only has a TRUE local newscast from 5:00 a.m. until 7:00 a.m. and again at 11:00 a.m. during the week and 5 & 10 p.m. on Sunday. "News With A Twist" is a news magazine format that is on at 5, 6 & 10 p.m. weekdays and 6 & 10 p.m. on Saturday "that focuses on lighter stories and commentary and utilizes a mostly unscripted format."

David Bernard is well known to many South Floridians from his time at WFOR-TV as chief meteorologist, but most recently he returned to his former stomping grounds -- New Orleans -- where he was the morning meteorologist at WWL-TV prior to moving to WFOR-TV. He has recently been the weekday morning meteorologist for WVUE-TV in New Orleans where he replaced Chris Franklin whose contract was not renewed by WVUE-TV and Raycom Media management. Now David will make another move at the FOX affiliate as Chief Meteorologist. He will be replacing longtime Chief Meteorologist Bob Breck. Bob's retirement is effective beginning March 2, 2016 after 35-years at the station. Shelby Latino will become FOX 8's new weekday morning meteorologist. She has worked in Greenville, MS and Fresno, CA and is a graduate of Mississippi State University. Bruce Katz will remain in his current time slots on weekdays and Nicondra Norwood will remain the weekend meteorologist. http://www.fox8live.com/story/30902123/your-weather-authority-prepares-for-the-end-of-an-era

Michael Neelly named president, general manager of WAPT-TV JACKSON, Miss. —Michael L. Neelly, a longtime Hearst Television news executive most recently serving as a news director in Cincinnati and Louisville, has been promoted to president and general manager of WAPT-TV, the Hearst Television ABC TV affiliate serving the Jackson market. The appointment, effective January 1, 2016, marks a return to Jackson for Neelly, an Ole Miss alumnus who was a photojournalist and producer in Jackson during the early 1990s. He succeeds Stuart Kellogg, who recently announced his year-end retirement after serving as WAPT’s president and general manager since 1991. “For the last fifteen years, Mike has successfully led two Hearst Television news operations to new heights, building award-winning newscasts, increasing audience, and launching new digital products,” said Jordan Wertlieb, Hearst Television’s president. “His accomplishments, coupled with his strong leadership style and deep Mississippi roots, make Mike an excellent successor to carry on the overall growth and commitment to the local community that has been a hallmark of the WAPT team during Stuart Kellogg’s tenure.” Neelly has served since 2012 as news director at WLWT-TV, the Hearst Television NBC affiliate in Cincinnati. While there, he helped establish “Making a Difference for Our Youth,” a multi-platform initiative spotlighting issues facing young Cincinnatians, the resources available to them and how viewers can help. He also led a rejuvenation of the news operation, overseeing staff expansion and creating an investigative unit. In recent ratings periods WLWT has ascended to the top of Cincinnati newscast ratings in key demographics and earned a 2015 Regional Emmy Award for Special Achievement: News Excellence -- the market’s first station to receive the award. Before WLWT, Neelly served for a dozen years as news director at WLKY-TV, Hearst’s CBS affiliate in Louisville, KY. During his tenure, WLKY became Louisville’s news leader, achieving unprecedented ratings growth and earning more than 135 national and regional journalism awards. Between his time at WLWT and WLKY, Neelly himself has been honored with five regional Emmy Awards for News Excellence. He joined WLKY in 1997 as assistant news director. Prior to Hearst, Neelly served as an executive producer at stations in Fort Myers, FL, and in Portland, ME. He began his television journalism career in 1989 as a freelance photographer for ESPN, CBS and WTBS Sports before moving to Jackson and becoming a producer. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Mississippi at Oxford. Source: http://wapt.tv/6184BRWia

"Stuart Kellogg, president and general manager since 1991 of WAPT-TV, the Hearst Television Inc. ABC TV affiliate serving the Jackson, Mississippi, market, will retire at year-end 2015. The move caps nearly a quarter-century at the helm of WAPT and four decades in television that began as a weathercaster in his alma mater’s town of Syracuse, N.Y. Kellogg’s successor will be announced at a future date." FULL STORY: http://m.wapt.com/news/stuart-kellogg-to-retire-as-president-general-manager-of-16-wapt/36077784?utm_campaign=16%20WAPT%20News%20Jackson&utm_medium=FBPAGE&utm_source=Social

Looks like Chris Franklin's contract wasn't renewed and its reported his last day is November 20. If this is true then David will be the weekday morning meteorologist. My apologies if this was already replied to. I didn't see a reply.

I found the new staff on WHPM's website and discovered through research that the newscast for the Meridian station and Hattiesburg station is actually not in-house but is probably going to be recorded. http://www.mygtn.tv/story/11414354/about-us