Anchor Scott Schneider is leaving WXIX-TV soon… And news director Kevin Roach and investigative reporter Hagit Limor are gone from the staff, although Limor may freelance some for Channel 19.
Main co-anchor Schneider; award-winning former WCPO-TV investigative reporter Limor; and former WLWT-TV anchor-reporter Amy Wagner were hired by Roach shortly after he arrived in March 2013. He was revamping Channel 19's newsroom staff after the announced departure of anchor Ben Swann.
Now more changes are coming under WXIX-TV Vice President-General Manager Debbie Bush, hired in February to replace Bill Lanesey.
Searches are being conducted for a news director and a male co-anchor for Tricia Macke, Bush says. The goal is to fill both jobs by the end of September, as the new TV season starts. Channel 19’s investigative reporting also will be seen more often in the future, Bush says.
Schneider, who says he will leave by early October, has anchored with Tricia Macke since April 2013. His contract was not renewed, so he’s been interviewing for TV jobs in many cities this summer.
Wagner left in May after two years to become Thomas More College public relations and communications director.
Before coming to Channel 19, Roach was an Associated Press vice president and AP’s Director of U.S. Broadcast News (2008-12). He had previously overseen Channel 9’s investigative I-Team as an assistant news director (2002-05); served twice as news director at Dayton’s WDTN-TV (Channel 2); and worked for LexisNexis in Miamisburg and Minnesota-based Internet Broadcasting. He left Channel 19 August 14.
Limor, who had worked with Roach at Channel 9, was hired two years ago to ramp up the “Fox 19 Investigates” franchise after Swann’s departure -- while she was a full-time assistant professor of electronic media at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
The former national Society of Professional Journalists president says switching to freelancing “will allow me to manage my time better" while pursuing tenure at UC this year. “For now, yes, you’ll see less of me on air but that may be temporary. This break is giving me the chance to put together my tenure packet at the university,” Limor says.
Bush, a former TV news reporter, anchor and news director, says Fox 19 remains committed to investigative reporting with a three-person unit -- reporter Jody Barr, a producer and photographer. She wants to air more investigative stories “to be seen more regularly.” She also wants to boost the newsroom’s digital content.
The key word in her Fox 19 News Now philosophy is “now,” she says.
“We’re not a news department. We’re a content department. And we have to provide content to people when and where they want it – or they’ll go elsewhere to find it,” she says.
Editor's Note: Hagit Limor and Kevin Roach are both members of the Cincinnati Public Radio Board of Directors.
