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Central Arkansas TV Stations Report Post-Sweeps Shifts

2 min read

With the May sweeps period now in the books, several TV stations around Arkansas are making staff adjustments.

Both in central and northwest Arkansas, reporters and anchors are shifting assignments, and at least two reporters are leaving the state.

At Little Rock’s KLRT-TV, Channel 16, Susanne Brunner has taken on the anchor seat for the station’s “Good Day” morning show. Meteorologists Pat Walker and Natalie Walters also appear on the program, which airs from 7-9 a.m.

“Susanne has done a tremendous job over the last two years and is deserving of this new opportunity,” Fox16 News Director Austin Kellerman said in an article on the station’s website. “I think viewers will enjoy waking up with the combination of Susanne, Natalie and Pat. All three are dedicated to what they do and serving Central Arkansas.”

Brunner has worked as a reporter and weekend anchor since joining the station in 2013 and has also hosted the Fox16 Job Alert segments. She said in the station’s story that she was “thrilled about the opportunity.”

“Our team understands what mornings are like for our viewers: getting ready for work, preparing kids’ lunches, feeding the dog,” Brunner said. “We promise to not waste their valuable time. So we will give them plenty of weather, headlines, let them know what time it is and give them something to smile about on their way out.”

Brunner replaces Deedra Wilson, who left the station at the end of May for the NBC affiliate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The joint newsroom at KLRT and KARK-TV, Channel 4, is also losing another reporter.

Melissa Schroeder, who joined the newsroom in April 2013, will be leaving next month. Kellerman said her last day will be June 12.

Warren Korff, news director at WEVV-TV in Evansville, Indiana, said Schroeder was chosen as one of three anchors to lead that station’s morning show. WEVV has not had a newscast since 2001, but after changing ownership, a new newscast will launch in August.

Across town, KTHV-TV, Channel 11, is also losing a reporter.

News Director Dave Parker said in an interview that multimedia journalist Kevin Trager is moving to WSMV-TV in Nashville, Tennessee, after two years in Little Rock. Trager’s last day was May 22.

For those wondering about whether there are any post-sweeps changes going on at KATV-TV, Channel 7, the answer is apparently not.

News Director Nick Genty said there was nothing to report at the station since the addition of Stacey Spivey, a general assignment reporter, last month.

“Everybody’s still in their same spots and [we] don’t foresee any changes on the horizon,” Genty said.

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