Is Wendy Chioji becoming the Katie Couric of Orlando?
She will be the first woman to solo anchor a 6 p.m. newscast in Orlando when WESH's anchor reassignments take effect Jan. 29. Channel 2 hopes to make "WESH 2 News at 6 with Wendy Chioji" a showcase for one of the area's veteran anchors.
"She is our most trusted and recognized anchor: she can get interviews others can't," said WESH ND Barbara Maushard. "Wendy will put her years of reporting experience and community connections to work to present viewers with a one-of-a-kind newscast."
Said Chioji: "This is an opportunity few journalists ever get. I look forward to bringing Central Florida viewers important stories they won't see anywhere else ... and do it in a unique and different way."
The new format reminds us of an earlier era in television when anchors used to have their names as part of their newscast titles -- as Chioji will at WESH. (Anyone remember "The
Ralph Rennick Report" on WTVJ or "
Wayne Farris and the News" on WCKT in Miami?)
So, WESH goes back to the past for its 6 p.m. news. Will the future bring more viewers to WESH, or will Chioji's new newscast end up in the same ranking as Couric's in the evening news ratings?
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