Weekend Anchor-Reporters

[Junk Junk]

I feel guilty for asking, seeing as how I'm not paying for a Newblues account. But they are reporting that an Atlanta station is losing 2 weekend anchor-reporters.

Does anyone have the skinny?

 

[jsb19]

Amanda Rosseter and Anissa Centers are leaving WSB.

 

[Junk Junk]

Thanks.

Did not see that coming at all. I guess that makes room for Linda Stouffer to anchor.

Any word on why those 2 are leaving 2?

 

[the_widows_son]

Amanda Rosseter and Anissa Centers are leaving WSB.

really? they are two of the best, sad to see them go. I found Tara Jones on facebook, check her out, life looks great for her after channel 2. is there still a web site out there that tracks former Atlanta TV folks?

 

[telewatcher]

I am surprised that Amanda is leaving as it seemed that she was the permanent fill-in for Carol in the mornings as well as the permanent morning weekend anchor. WSB seemed to like her and use her quite a bit. I don't think WSB knew what to do with Anissa once they hired her as they didn't use her much at the anchor desk. Anissa didn't seem to fit the mold that WSB has for its staff. I am wondering if they have had second thoughts about Justin Farmer as Fred seems to sub for John Pruitt quite a bit. Justin definitely needs a little more experience as he doesn't seem comfortable behind the anchor desk.

 

[Mr11WXIA]

I don't like the idea of Justin being John Pruitt's replacement. He doesn't seem to "fit" in the anchor chair. John Bachman is MUCH more professional in his looks and delivery. Fred Blankenship is extremely talented and capable of filling John's shoes when he retires. Has anyone seen an official announcement when John will step down and retire?

 

[ExNuYawker]

Anissa Centers must not be gone yet. She was reporting during todays Noon news.

 

[younglee981]

Anissa..NO!!!!!thats my boo!!..if so i wish her the best of luck.

 

[telewatcher]

Wasn't Gulstan Dart being groomed to be his successor a few years ago? If my memory is correct he had taken over the 5pm newscast before moving to Cox's station in Seattle. I am not aware of them giving a definite date on John's date or his plans.

 

[Junk Junk]

Wasn't Gulstan Dart being groomed to be his successor a few years ago? If my memory is correct he had taken over the 5pm newscast before moving to Cox's station in Seattle. I am not aware of them giving a definite date on John's date or his plans.

You are correct. I remember when John retired from the 5pm, he signed off by saying that he agreed to do the broadcast on a temporary basis, replacing the retiring Don Farmer. I thought it was interesting at the time that when Gulstan left, John chose to return to anchoring the 5pm again.

I've enjoyed seeing Fred Blankenship anchoring in the evening, and I wish they would bump him up. Justin, while perfectly competent, is a bit of a snooze.

As for weekends, I think they should let Bachman anchor solo and ask Linda Stouffer to do weekend morning and noon in the interim, although I wouldn't mind seeing her anchor alongside Bachman...

 

[telewatcher]

I agree that Fred does a nice job in the evenings. Since Jovita is being groomed for Monica's job, I don't see them giving Fred the job permanently. I am not sure how to say this and be politically correct but I don't see WSB having two african american anchors in the evening. I think they will always want to have one caucasian. I think that they feel they will hurt their viewership no matter how good the team would be. I personally think that Jovita and Fred would make a great team. This is not only WSB but all of the stations in this market. They are more comfortable with the color 'contrast'.

 

[Rick Rose 2.0]

Cox just did it in Charlotte for their main evening newscasts, so I would not rule it out.

 

[Junk Junk]

You guys are taking the words right out of my mouth! Telewatcher: you've echoed my initial concerns about the traditional anchor pairings in Atlanta. So it's nice to hear from RickRose about the precedent set over at WSOC.

This would be my ideal lineup if Fred was chosen to eventually replace John Pruitt:

Mornings: Carol Sbarge (and maybe Justin Farmer - Carol has proven capable of carrying a show solo)
Noon and 5: Fred Blankenship and Jovita Moore
6 and 11: John and Monica

Fred and Jovita could eventually assume the 5, 6, and 11 with Carol and Justin doing mornings and noon.

I know this is all hypothetical, but in my ideal world...

 

[younglee981]

You guys are taking the words right out of my mouth! Telewatcher: you've echoed my initial concerns about the traditional anchor pairings in Atlanta. So it's nice to hear from RickRose about the precedent set over at WSOC.

This would be my ideal lineup if Fred was chosen to eventually replace John Pruitt:

Mornings: Carol Sbarge (and maybe Justin Farmer - Carol has proven capable of carrying a show solo)
Noon and 5: Fred Blankenship and Jovita Moore
6 and 11: John and Monica

Fred and Jovita could eventually assume the 5, 6, and 11 with Carol and Justin doing mornings and noon.

I know this is all hypothetical, but in my ideal world...

Sounds like a plan to me...its 2009 that racial issued gone away but then again we are in the south.

 

[bernieofga]

I still see Amanda and Anissa are still here? Wonder if they are really leaving?

 

[telewatcher]

Here is some information on Amanda's departure.

Rosseter to leave WSB-TV
06/17/2009

Weekend anchor Amanda Rosseter will be leaving Atlanta's WSB-TV on July 26. No replacement has been named. Rosseter joined WSB-TV in September 2007 and was promoted to the weekend anchor position in February 2008. She previously served as an anchor at NECN/New England Cable News in Boston. For additional information, please call 404-897-7000.

 

[telewatcher]

I just found this on a website called 'vocus'. This was announced by them on the 15th of June.

Television
Changes at WSB Atlanta
WSB-TV
(404) 897-7000
newstip(at)wsbtv.com
www.wsbtv.com

Two staffers are leaving Atlanta’s WSB. Weekend morning anchor Amanda Rosseter has announced that she is leaving the station at the end of this month to enter the public relations field. She has been with WSB for two years. Reporter Anissa Centers, who has been with the station for a year, is also leaving. No replacements have been named as of yet.

WSB-TV is an ABC affiliate that serves the Atlanta area.

http://www.vocus.com/invocus/movesarchives_invocus_com.html

 

[en passant]

I haven't seen Anissa all week. I wonder if she is already gone?

I assume Darren Lyn and George Howell were the replacements for Anissa and Amanda's reporter positions.

Since this thread got people talking about WSB anchors, I thought I'd throw a question out there: Why did WSB have Fred Blankenship anchor the 5am news and then the 5pm news this week? I know they did the same thing at least one other time when John Pruitt was off a couple months ago, but I don't understand why Justin can't do 5pm when he fills in at 6pm and 11pm. John, Jovita and Monica have done 5, 6, and 11, so what's the big deal? Monica even did the 5, 6, and 11 on Friday.

Why make Fred pull double duty? I think Fred does a good job, but it must be a tough week for him to do both newscasts. I've seen WSB take Fred off mornings and have him fill in at 5, 6 and 11. It seems like it would have been easier to have Justin, John Bachman, or Richard Belcher fill in at 5pm. Or even have Monica and Jovita do the 5pm.

 

[bernieofga]

Its official, Amanda has finally signed off on WSB weekend anchoring. She said she is going to St Josephs Hospital to be a media relations or speaker for them1

 

[Junk Junk]

Its official, Amanda has finally signed off on WSB weekend anchoring. She said she is going to St Josephs Hospital to be a media relations or speaker for them1

A wee-bit premature? I'm watching her anchor the noon news (it's 12:19). I'm assuming she'll be done at the conclusion of this newscast...