Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Wednesday, February 05, 1997 Page: 1C
Rising star co-anchor will stay at WBRE
Lauren Perkins’ star continues to shine at WBRE-TV. Since joining the local
NBC affiliate 13 months ago, Perkins has demonstrated that she’s an
outstanding reporter and a top-notch anchor personPerkins was hired in January
1996 to head the Channel 28 Williamsport bureau. She spent the first three
weeks on the job covering the devastating flood which claimed six lives in
Lycoming County.
During the following eight months, Perkins earned high marks with her
bosses at Channel 28 for her solid reporting skills. She spent Saturdays in
Wilkes-Barre, co-anchoring the 10 a.m. and noon newscasts.
Last October, Perkins left Williamsport to co-anchor WBRE’s 6 a.m. and noon
weekday newscasts. The 24-year-old Colorado native has taken full advantage of
the opportunity. Perkins has a strong on-air presence and a special knack for
delivering the news.
So much so, that it’s probably just a matter of time until she moves on to
a major television market. It wouldn’t be surprising if Perkins winds up on
network news in the not-too-distant future.
But for now, Perkins is staying at Channel 28. She recently signed a new
contract with WBRE, where she will continue to serve as a weekday co-anchor of
the news.
“Signing Lauren Perkins to a new contract had been one of my top
priorities,” said Terri Simonich, who took over as WBRE news director last
fall. “I think she’s an excellent anchor and is also a very talented
newsperson.
“I think anchoring is clearly Lauren’s strength,” Simonich added. “She has
an excellent voice that comes across very well to viewers. We’ve received some
outstanding comments about her work from viewers.”
Simonich declined to reveal any details of Perkins’ contract, including its
length.
“I make it a policy not to discuss those matters publicly,” Simonich said.
Perkins spent a year as a news anchor in Erie before joining Channel 28.
She didn’t mind leaving an anchor job to become a reporter.
“I really needed to get experience in the field and become accustomed to
deadline pressure,” Perkins said. “I think every anchor needs to be a reporter
first.
“I don’t think you can have one without the other,” Perkins said. “I
learned more in three weeks of covering the flood than I did in college and
Erie combined.”
Perkins is a native of Englewood, Colo., near Denver. She’s a graduate of
the University of Colorado.
According to Simonich, Perkins will continue to work on special projects.
Perkins’ latest assignment involves psychic hot lines and will air during the
11 p.m. newscast on Thursday, Simonich said.
“This wasn’t an investigation into the accuracy of the psychics,” Simonich
said. “We wanted to see how expensive it can be. We found that at $3.99 per
minute, it can be real expensive. The average caller probably winds up
spending $60 per call.”
Certainly, there was no need for Perkins to ask about her own professional
future. Anyone who has seen her on TV knows it’s bright.
* * *
There have been some management changes at WBRE that were prompted by the
recent departure of former operations manager Larry Stirewalt, who left the
station to go into private business.
Stirewalt’s position no longer exists, according to General Manager Art
Daube, who reorganized Channel 28’s management structure.
“There no longer is an operations manager,” Daube said. “Instead, we’ve
created three new management positions.”
Two of those positions have been filled, Stirewalt said.
Alex Kopacz, formerly a promotion department assistant, was named program
and operations director. Bob Bradley remains as production director, but his
position was elevated to management level.
Daube also created the position of promotion producer, which is also a
management post. Daube said he’ still interviewing candidates for that job.
“In essence, we’re replacing Larry with three people,” Daube said.
* * *
Channel 22 makes what it hopes will be a strong bid in the February sweeps
race with a two-part special report about the crash of TWA Flight 800.
On the 11 p.m. newscasts today and Thursday, anchor Kevin Daniels
interviews James K. Kallstrom, the FBI agent in charge of the crash
investigation.
According to News Director Kathy Cusanelli, Kallstrom will discuss the
latest developments in the ongoing investigation. It is the first interview
Kallstrom has granted to the news media in three months, Cusanelli said.
Van Rose is a Times Leader staff writer. His television column appears
every Wednesday.
TIMES LEADER FILE PHOTO News co-anchor Lauren Perkins has signed a new
contract with WBRE-TV Channel 28. The Colorado native joined the station in
January 1996.