THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 5, 1996 TAG: 9611050320
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY BONKO, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 33 lines
WVEC-TV news director Keith Connors has denied radio reports that longtime anchor Barbara Ciara will be replaced on the 11 p.m. newscast.
The story originated with Jack Howard of WNIS radio last weekend when Howard - who co-hosts a noon-to-3 p.m. show Sundays - told listeners that WVEC was planning to move Ciara from the 11 p.m. newscast to the 10 p.m. show seen on WPEN-TV.
Nothing like that is planned, said Connors, who only recently came to Norfolk from Rochester, N.Y., to succeed David Cassidy as news director. He praised Ciara's work with Channel 13 and said he expects her to be with the station for years to come.
Ciara also co-anchors a joint WVEC-WHRO venture, ``This Week in Hampton Roads,'' which airs Friday at 9 p.m. on Channel 15, the local public television affiliate station.
Howard, however, is sticking to his story.
``What I said on the air about Barbara is absolutely accurate,'' he said Monday. ``She is a friend and colleague. I'm concerned about her future at WVEC.''
Monday afternoon, newly arrived WNIS talk-show host Zach Martin picked up where Howard left off, spreading the word that the ABC affiliate is planning to demote Ciara. Many callers on both WNIS shows expressed their support for Ciara.
If Velma Scaife, who co-anchors the 10 p.m. newscast with Mike Lewis, moves to the weekends, there will be an opening on the WPEN newscast. Regina Mobley was recently promoted from weekend anchor to 6 p.m. co-anchor. by CNB