Statement: Robert Johnson joins NBC10 as a meteorologist, CNN found guilty in defamation case

Audrey Castoreno

Broadcast: FOX 55’s Terra Brantley announced she will be leaving WFFT-TV News as an anchor to pursue local nonprofit adventures. Brantley states that she will continue to help the Boys and Girls Club, Carriage House, IBE, Building Stronger Families and others.

Jim Williams officially has taken a step back from his position on the anchor desk at CBS Chicago after 22 years at the station. While he will not appear daily, Williams will continue to do occasional pieces for CBS News Chicago. Williams has anchored for the channel since 2002 where he has been a weekend anchor, a host for “Stories 2 Tell”  and a weekday anchor for the company.

"I've always loved this station. I've loved working here. I've loved my colleagues," he said. "It's been the privilege of a lifetime to learn here."

Williams also expressed "just how much I appreciate the audience, and I appreciate the opportunities that I've had, and I'm here at this point in my life because so many people were good to me. There were mentors, they encouraged me, they taught me how to do journalism, and I just can't thank them enough."

NBC News political team unveiled Yamiche Alcindor has departed from covering the campaign trail to become a White House correspondent. Aaron Gilchrist will remain as a White House correspondent. Gabe Gutierrez will also continue his role for the political team as a senior White House correspondent. Scott Wong will be reporting as a senior congressional reporter for NBC's political team. Sahil Kapur will continue her role as senior national political reporter. Priscilla Alvares will cover the new administration's immigration policies. Manu Raju will continue to be an anchor and chief congressional correspondent for Capital Hill. Elizabeth Vargas will fill the 7 p.m. for News Nation. ABC News announces Dr. Tara Narula will be the network's chief medical correspondent and will report on health and wellness news for the company.

Cincinnati ABC affiliate WCPO added KJ Jacob as a weekend morning traffic anchor and meteorologist. Prior, Jacobs was the weekend evening anchor for the WCNC an NBC affiliate in Charlotte, N.C., a weekend morning meteorologist at WTKR in Norfolk, Virginia, and a meteorologist at WPDE in Myrtle Beach, S.C., WOAY in Oak Hill, W.V. and WAFF in Huntsville, Alabama

Robert Johnson joins NBC10 (WCAU-TV) as a meteorologist for the First Alert Weather team on weekdays. Johnson worked as a meteorologist prior at  WTVD-TV and as an intern for news and weather at WPVI-TV and WTXF-TV.

“We are excited to have Robert join NBC10 and return to his hometown of Philadelphia,” said Elizabeth Flores, Vice President of News for NBC10 and Telemundo62. “His commitment to providing accurate and engaging weather coverage makes him a great addition to the First Alert weather team. As someone who grew up in our area, Robert has a unique understanding of our community and the weather patterns that impact the Greater Philadelphia region.”

Audrey Castoreno returned to the KENS 5 San Antonio replacing Sarah Forgany as a morning newscast as a co-anchor for the morning newscast from 5 to 7 a.m.. Before KENS 5, she worked for KWES in Midland-Odessa, KAVU in Victoria, and as an intern for FOX 26 KRIV Houston.

"Audrey will be an excellent addition to our stellar morning news team," added Tom Cury, KENS 5 president and general manager. "She has a wonderful ability to connect with the audience as well as with her co-anchors, which makes Audrey a joy to watch."

"Audrey is already well known to our morning viewers and has worked for years with Barry, Paul and Jessica," said Jack Acosta, KENS 5 news director. "Our morning news has seen significant increases in audience this past year, and we’re excited to see what’s next for this team."

Rashida Jones - Kena BETANCUR

Cable: MSNBC president Rashida Jones announced her departure from the cable channel. The incoming CEO of SPin Co. named Rebecca Kuler interim president after Jones left and split from NBCUniversal. 

“I’m really excited about what we’ve done. I’m excited about what’s next. I’m excited about what you guys are going to do next,” Jones told staff on an editorial call Tuesday. “I’m excited to watch it from afar, but I’m really excited that this is the right time for me, so I wanted to share that with you guys directly. You know how I also feel about telling you guys news as it comes in real time, but I wanted you guys to hear that from me directly.”

“Rashida has expertly navigated MSNBC through a years-long, unrelenting and unprecedented news cycle, all while driving the network to record viewership and making investments in nonlinear businesses,” Lazarus wrote. “MSNBC is well-positioned for the future, and I am grateful that she will continue to support us during this transition.

Allen’s Media Group confirms a weather hub that will combine most operations for local weather forecasting to improve the Weather Channel Brand. Local stations will continue to prioritize severe weather coverage, and the new format will improve it and utilize augmented reality.

In a release distributed via EIN Presswire and posted on multiple AMG station websites, the company says it is “rolling out a groundbreaking format for local weather coverage powered by The Weather Channel across local markets nationwide.”

“The number one most trusted news brand in America is leveraging its enormous resources including expert scientists, proprietary software, and award-winning technology to deliver best-in-class local weather,” reads the announcements sub-headline, a reference to the three years of YouGov survey data citing The Weather Channel as the most-trusted news source in the U.S.

Arpan Sura was announced as a senior counsel to the FCC Chairman on matters on the Wireless Bureau, the Office of Engineering and Technology, the Space Bureau, and the Office of International Affairs. Adam Chan has been announced as national security council and will serve as a senior advisor on all national security matters for the FCC Chairman.

cnn

Streaming: Warner Bros. Discovery’s CNN (DStv 401) was found guilty of defamation of Zachary Young, an Afghan refugee. The company settled before the jury calculated punitive damages and had to pay $4 million for loss of earnings and $1 million for pain and suffering to Young because Marquardt said “We gonna nail this Zachary Young motherf-cker.”

In a statement CNN said "We remain proud of our journalists and are 100% committed to strong, fearless and fair-minded reporting at CNN, though we will of course take what useful lessons we can from this case".

Warner Bros. Discovery’s CNN CEO Mark Thompson announced in a memo a 210-employee staff cut or 6% of its total staff to refocus on the global digital audience. While the company believes the total headcount to not fall much, they plan to invest $70 million in new digital plans. CNN hopes these layoffs will help with the rearrangement of its TV lineup and digital subscription products like broadening CNN’s digital streaming and lower production costs.

“I know that whatever the total number of job losses, the impact on the individuals involved can be immense,” Thompson wrote in the memo, obtained by CNBC. “The process of change is essential if we’re to thrive in the future, but I both acknowledge and regret its very real human consequences.”

NBC also announced plans to cut some staff due to beliefs that the news landscape will transition to fewer live viewers. This cut was made after the U.S. presidential inauguration and the company hopes to see an increase in viewership through streaming services and social media.