Darrell Franklin will transition from his long-time KFDX News 3 and KJTL Wichita Falls 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. evening co-anchor role with Carney Porter to become the Nexstar Media Group station's news director.
"I am just thrilled to have this opportunity to lead our newsroom into an exciting future that will be heavily impacted by our broadcast and digital commitments to our viewers," Franklin said. "While my responsibilities as News Director will eventually shift away from delivering the news to our viewers on air, I won’t be far away. I’ll still be here working behind the scenes to bring the same accurate, local content that impacts those viewers. It’s what they’ve come to expect over so many years from this number one station, and the plan is to very much keep that tradition of excellence alive."
"I have worked with Darrell for the last 31 years. I have witnessed his commitment and passion for local news," Wayne Reed, VP and general manager, said. "Most importantly, he has earned the respect of everyone who works with him. He will be a great teacher, coach, and mentor to all who enter the newsroom at KFDX & KJTL. I am excited to see what the future holds for Darrell Franklin as the new News Director."
Franklin has been with KFDX for 33 years, spending 31 of those in the news department.
He joined the station in February 1992 as a studio camera operator. Within a year, Franklin transitioned to directing weekend newscasts.
In January 1994, he moved from production to the newsroom, where he began reporting and later producing. By the summer of 1996, he took on the role of weekend anchor and producer while continuing to report.
In October 2005, Franklin became the anchor for Texoma's Fox KJTL's News @ 9. In January 2012, he took over as the full-time anchor for KFDX 3 News @ 10, later adding KFDX 3 News @ 5 and 6 to his responsibilities in March 2018.
A native of Iowa Park, Franklin graduated from Iowa Park High School in 1988 before earning his B.A. in Mass Communication from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls.
