Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 3, 1994 TAG: 9411120015
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CODY LOWE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
King was forced to turn down a job offer at KSTP, the ABC affiliate in Minneapolis, Minn., three months ago because WSLS wouldn't let her out of her contract.
At the time, former station manager Jim DeSchepper "did come up with a compromise," King said: "After the end of the November book [ratings period], if I got another job offer from Minneapolis, I would be able to accept it."
As it turned out, the same morning co-anchor spot she had been offered in May is still open, and the station was willing to wait for her arrival. King's last day at the Roanoke anchor desk will be Dec. 2.
King, 29, is climbing to the 14th largest market in the nation. Roanoke is the 66th largest.
While she admits to a little nervousness about the move up, King says she's eager for the challenge.
The Minneapolis job will be her fourth in six years in the business. "I know the job doesn't change that much. There will be more pressure, more competition among media outlets. But once the initial butterflies go away, I'm not worried about it."
In addition to anchoring the Monday through Friday newscasts from 6 to 7 a.m., King will get to do reporting each day for the evening newscasts, a prospect she says she's looking forward to.
"I'm very, very sad to leave this area," King said. "If my family did not live in Minnesota, I honestly would not consider moving. ... This has been a great experience for me. I couldn't be more thankful for what they've done for me" at WSLS.
King isn't the only anchor in the market moving on the greener pastures.
Michelle Wright, 6 p.m. anchor at WSET-TV (Channel 13) also will be moving to a morning job - hers in Pittsburgh, the nation's 17th-largest TV market.
Wright, 28, has been at WSET since she was 18 when she got her start as an intern. She then moved up the ranks - at the same time earning a bachelor's degree in political science from Liberty University - as associate producer, producer, Roanoke bureau chief, weekend anchor and 6 p.m. anchor.
"This is my home. I was born and raised here. I love it," Wright said.
Pittsburgh was just too good to pass up, though.
"I'll be anchoring a two-hour morning show, from 5 to 7, on WTAE, the ABC affiliate." The job calls for her to be an anchor/reporter, but Wright said the reporting opportunities will depend on how busy her morning show responsibilities keep her.
The program is "straight news," not a talk show, Wright said. She will work with a weather reporter and traffic reporter, but - for now anyway - will be the only news anchor.
WSLS-TV also announced a series of management changes last week, including the hiring of a new station manager.
Randy Smith, who had been the station's general sales manager since March, was promoted to the vice president/general manager's position. He has been working for the station since December 1992.
Smith worked in sales management positions at TV stations in Alabama and Florida before coming to WSLS. He is a native of Charleston, W.Va.
He replaces Jim DeSchepper who left the station in August.
James E. Sparks, a 21-year employee of the station, moved up to general sales manager. Charles Boush becomes local sales manager.
by CNB