WPXI's McDermott quits for Florida anchor job
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Todd McDermott, seen here in a 2011 photo, talks to a floor person, as WPXI co-anchor Jennifer Abney reacts.
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WPXI morning news co-anchor Todd McDermott will have the luxury of sleeping in when he takes a new job beginning next week at WPBF, the Hearst television station in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Mr. McDermott, whose last day with WPXI's 4:30 a.m. morning news show is Friday, will anchor the 5, 6 and 11 p.m. broadcasts.
"It was a very, very difficult decision," said Mr. McDermott, who said he wanted to be closer to his daughter in Florida. "Family comes first."
His begins his new job anchoring the news Oct. 22 from Lynn University in Boca Raton, site of the final presidential debate.
"When I anchored in Washington [D.C.], I field-anchored from every State of the Union address," Mr. McDermott said. "It's a really great way to start."
His WPXI co-anchor, Jennifer Abney, has a new colleague at the desk with the Oct. 22 arrival of Joe Arena.
Mr. Arena has been a news anchor and reporter at CBS affiliate WIVB in Buffalo, N.Y., for the past five years.
In addition to handling the 4:30-7 a.m. shift, Mr. Arena will co-anchor the noon news with Peggy Finnegan. He was sole anchor at noon for WIVB.
He and his wife, Buffalo native Mary Claire, are expecting their first child in January.
They are eager to become familiar with the city, he said.
"Buffalo is a great town and Pittsburgh has that same type of Midwest feel to it," said Mr. Arena, who grew up in New York City.
They'll be shopping for a home Downtown, he said: "What we've noticed about Pittsburgh is, there's a reason to live Downtown. There's a pulse; it makes sense."
First Published October 10, 2012 11:22 am
