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| Sharron Melton |
The newly relocated show will debut a new set of on-air anchors and reporters except for Maggie Flecknoe who continues with channel 39 where she has been providing local morning cut-ins for the station..
So who are the new faces of CW39's local version of Morning Dose? According to an internal email obtained by mikemcguff.com, we have the answers!
Sharron Melton – ANCHOR
The first personality needs no introduction as she is very familiar to Houston viewers from her tenure at mornings on abc13 KTRK which ended in 2015. In fact, anchor Sharron Melton has been the subject of my number two overall post of all time!
The San Antonio native came to Houston's channel 13 in 2007 from weekend anchor duties at WSVN Miami. Prior to that, she was an anchor at WPMI Mobile, Alabama and KOBR Roswell, New Mexico. The award winning journalist got her start as a radio reporter for the Agriculture Communications Network in Texas. The Texas A&M grad also has a Master's degree in television communication from Eastern New Mexico University.
Since her KTRK days, Melton has launched her podcast “Sharing the Sugar with Sharron” where she interviews some big names about the importance of giving back to their communities.
She knows something about that.
Melton is a proud member of the International Women’s Forum Houston Chapter, the National Association of Black Journalists and has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council in Houston and Steering Committee for Women of Wardrobe with Dress For Success Houston.
Houston Woman’s Magazine named her one of the 50 Most influential Women in the City of Houston.
Shannon LaNier – ANCHOR
Shannon LaNier has most recently worked as a weekend morning anchor at Fios1 News in New York. Before that he was a multi-media journalist (One-Man-Band) at News 12 Networks.
After graduating from Kent State University, he made his New York City debut as a segment producer for the WCBS CBS2 Morning Show.
As a teenager in Cincinnati, LaNier got his first television job on “Real Exchange,” an Emmy Award winning talk show focusing on issues important to young people.
LaNier co-authored the Random House Inc. book Jefferson’s Children: The Story of One American Family along with photojournalist Jane Feldman. The book follows his journey to uncover the history behind his heritage as a 9th generation direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings.
LaNier remains an active member of his church, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and the National Association of Black Journalists.
He’s married to his college sweetheart, Chandra, and they have three children - Madison, McKenzie and Carter.
Maria Sotolongo – METEOROLOGIST
My Dallas-Fort Worth readers will recognize Maria Sotolongo from her six years at FOX 4 KDFW's "Good Day," where she was not only a meteorologist, but also an entertainment reporter.
In 2007, Sotolongo stepped away from morning television to be a full-time mother - since moving to Houston.
During that time she also produced two documentaries. "Breathe,” about home births, earned her a Remi Award at Houston’s Worldfest.
Like many Houstonians, Sotolongo and her family were flooded by Hurricane Harvey's waters after the dam releases. Her desire is to share her journey and inspire changes so this doesn’t happen again. She most recently finished a documentary on Harvey called “Changed: When the Dams Opened”.
Before her time Dallas, Sotolongo did weather and entertainment for Telemundo’s “Primera Edicion.”
Her TV career started at just age 19 working for Telemundo’s nationally syndicated music video show, “Ritmo Latino” where she landed interviews with the likes of Julio Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez.
Sotolongo has two degrees, in Communications (University of Houston) and in Broadcast Meteorology (Mississippi State University).
Shane Allen – REPORTER
Another Dallas transplant, Shane Allen started his TV career in 2001 in Beaumont, then Austin and finally to the Metroplex. His bio says he has done everything from running newsrooms to anchoring newscasts. He comes to Houston from producing the syndicated version of Morning Dose at KDAF.
For his work, Shane has been awarded a National Edward R. Murrow Award, an EMMY Award, several regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, the national Society of Professional Journalists’ medal for excellence in reporting, as well as the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters / Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Award for outstanding work in issues related to public information.
Shane is also certified and has been trained by the Texas Office of Attorney General and the Texas Bar Association in the Texas Public Information Act.
Courtney Carpenter – REPORTER
In my Flecknoe profile, I revealed that KBTX Bryan - College Station reporter Courtney Carpenter was coming to KIAH.
She has been with KBTX since February of 2016.
Carpenter started in local TV at KRBC Abilene.
It was golf that got Carpenter's foot in the TV door.
She began playing golf competitively at a young age, eventually attending Dallas Baptist University on a scholarship.
After graduation, Carpenter got the opportunity to intern with CBS Sports and travel each week with the PGA Tour. She assisted in production of CBS golf coverage for several tournaments.
So that's what I know now. Stay tuned for the debut Monday morning running from 6 to 9am.
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