Your local TV is likely to have someone different on it very soon.
Longtime anchors from La Crosse to Des Moines are changing as some of the main faces of stations are about to get new zip codes or careers entirely.
Jim Mertens is moving west. For the first time in almost 30 years, Mr. Mertens will no longer be on WQAD in Moline but will take his IFB to KCRG.
Mertens has done a variety of jobs at the ABC affiliate from reporter, weekend anchor, host of the 630p newscast to eventually working evenings in the main chair. I should also add he’s a fellow public TV host with work at WQPT on his LinkedIn profile.
Jim’s dedication to the station and the craft of journalism should be shouted far and wide. Even as former competitors, I always respected the work Jim did and it was obvious how his co-workers felt about him. He also served at the Iowa Broadcast News Association’s board president.
Mertens will replace Chris Earl who took over for Bruce Aune after his retirement.
Another main anchor is departing, but staying in town in Des Moines. Dan Winters announced in early May he was leaving the station. One of the reasons he cited for departure was to spend more time with his family. A perspective gained following the tragic death of his sister and nephew in early 2020. Winters was the replacement for John Bachman.
Self-promotion plug here: We’ve been doing oral histories with broadcasters all over Iowa including Bachman for the Archives of Iowa Broadcasting. Here’s the link to the YouTube page for interviews with Tim Fleming, Roger Riley, Kelly Neff, Mike Peterson, Bonnie Lucas, Denny Callahan and more.
Staying in the Des Moines metro market, Cynthia Foder announced her retirement from KCCI. Foder most recently served as the station’s chief political reporter.
Sabrina Ahmed also has left WOI and her position on the morning show. Ahmed again has young children and said she has a desire to spend more time with the twins.
And lastly Jennifer Livingston is leaving her morning anchor position in La Crosse at WKBT. The Wartburg College graduate and her husband Mike Thompson, the evening anchor at the station, cited life and station changes as the reason for the departure. Jen made national headlines in 2012 when a viewer wrote a comment about Livingston’s appearance. The response Jen made gained viral attention for how she addressed the comment.
Here is a full post written by Mike about the decision process to leave the station.
Public Paul & Media 