Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, December 26, 1994 TAG: 9412290041
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CODY LOWE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Lee Ann Necessary will move into the seat formerly occupied by Kalley King, co-anchoring the 5, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts.
Necessary is a 1989 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in journalism. She currently is serving as a news anchor at WCYB, the NBC affiliate in Bristol, Va.-Tenn.
Necessary is a native of Wilkesboro, N.C., but her father was born in Roanoke and grew up in Tazewell County.
Selected from more than 150 applicants, Necessary's familiarity with Virginia politics, geography and customs were a plus, said News Director Bill Foy.
Necessary has been in Bristol for about five years, Foy said.
"Our company has a sister station in that market, and they first alerted us to see Lee Ann," Foy said. "They told us she had a million-dollar smile, the kind that just lights up a set.
"But when you dig a little deeper than that, you find she's also an individual with strong reporting skills.
"She's every bit as at home in the field reporting a she is behind the anchor desk," Foy said. "That's one of the strengths that really impressed us." In the recent U.S. Senate election she was responsible for coverage of Oliver North's campaign, Foy said.
Necessary reports to the station in mid-January, but will probably not appear on-air until about Jan. 23, Foy said.
At WDBJ (Channel 7), Ron Jones has joined the reporting staff, taking over the Alleghany Highlands, Lexington-area beat formerly covered by Meg O'Conor.
Jones is a former police sergeant from Oakland, Calif.
"He had been doing all the TV work for the police department, handling media relations, doing crime tips," as well as some other TV work, said WDBJ News Director Jim Kent.
Though he was talented, "Oakland is a mighty big market and it was hard to break into a full-time job there," Kent said.
by CNB