It was in 2005, that Carolyn Mungo left the glitz and glamour of the Houston TV reporting world an entered the rough and tumble, often political world of TV news management. (That's enough of my noir writing experiment.)
Simply put, Mungo was a reporter at KHOU 11 and moved over to Fox 26 KRIV to be the managing editor about seven years go. In 2009, she ascended to the assistant news director role at the Fox owned and operated station.
I was alerted last Friday that it was Mungo's last day at KRIV.
"I can say I am very excited about my future," Mungo mysteriously told mikemcguff.com.
While Mungo is remaining mum for now, sources tell me her contract and non-compete were up and she is moving on from KRIV. To where, I don't know yet, but I understand she has several opportunities out there.
According to her old channel 11 bio, Mungo started at KHOU in 1999 and picked up a ton of awards while there such as 12+ Emmys, the Texas Associated Press' "reporter of the year" in 2001, a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for best documentary and two Gold World Medals from the New York Film Festival. It says she began her career in Austin and worked in Minneapolis and Phoenix before moving to Houston.
In her role, Mungo is responsible for overseeing the stations’ operations across all platforms, community outreach efforts, and driving results for advertisers.
She will continue to report to Brad Ramsey, senior vice president of media operations, who oversees multiple TEGNA stations and the company’s sports rights agreements.
Mungo has been WFAA’s vice president and station manager since 2019, overseeing content, marketing, production, community impact, and technology. Before that, Mungo served as executive news director for seven years and led the WFAA content team through several significant stories that captured national attention, including coverage of an Ebola outbreak that paralyzed Dallas for six weeks and the critical and sensitive coverage of the downtown Dallas protest in 2016 in which five police officers were killed.
“No one is better suited than Carolyn to lead the WFAA and KFAA team into the future,” said Ramsey. “Carolyn’s exceptional leadership and proven track record of building a trustworthy media brand across this region will continue to ensure our viewers and advertisers are well-served.”
“I am honored to carry on the leadership of this talented team,” added Mungo. “I’ve had a lifelong passion for great journalism and serving local communities and am so proud to be able to continue that mission right here in DFW in this new role.”
Under Mungo’s leadership, WFAA has been honored with ten National Edward R. Murrow awards, including WFAA’s first for Overall Excellence in 2023, two duPont-Columbia awards, and three IRE awards for excellence in investigative journalism. WFAA received a National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation Service to America Award in 2022 for the station’s ongoing commitment to raising adoption awareness. Five of the last seven Station of the Year awards from the National Press Photographers Association have been awarded to the WFAA team.
Earlier in her career, Mungo worked as an Emmy and Murrow-winning reporter in Austin, Minneapolis, Phoenix, and Houston at KHOU 11 before moving into leadership positions with FOX 26 KRIV.
She has served on the national advisory board for the Poynter Institute for Media Studies and is a frequent speaker and storytelling coach. In 2018, she was named News Director of The Year by Broadcasting and Cable. In 2019, she was inducted into the Illinois State University Broadcast Hall of Fame, and in 2023, she was inducted into the Lone Star Emmy Silver Circle for her outstanding contributions to the broadcast industry. She currently serves on the board of the Texas Association of Broadcasters.
Fox 26 KRIV announced via The Insite that former interim news director and managing editor Carolyn Mungo has ascended to the assistant news director role at the O and O:
Congratulations to Emmy award winning journalist Carolyn Mungo. She was appointed to the position of assistant News Director at FOX 26 news this week. Mungo previously served as the managing editor of the news department. KRIV Vice President of News Tom Doerr described Mungo as a true leader in the news division who deserved the appointment as his second in command. READ MORE
Congrats to Mungo. Everyone always talks highly of her. You might remember Mungo from her TV reporting years at KHOU 11.
Broadcasting & Cable or B&C has named WFAA Dallas' Carolyn Mungo News Director of the Year 2018:
News Director of the Year goes to Carolyn Mungo of Tegna’s WFAA Dallas. The market had massive stories to cover this year, including a Senate race that much of the nation eagerly watched, flooding, immigration and a police officer fatally shooting an innocent man. Mungo oversaw WFAA’s top-flight coverage of them all, competing against network-owned rivals.
Bonjour. I literally got off an 11 hour flight from Paris, France yesterday at 2pm and was already getting tips on Carolyn Mungo's new job as WFAA news director (more on that below). I'll have some videos and photos of my trip in the coming weeks by the way.
It seems like returning to America was like returning to a new world when it concerns TV stations. I normally like to call TV stations The Fortresses of Solitude, because much like Superman's getaway, info from the inside can hardly penetrate the outside walls. Meaning, without third party blogs, we never know who is coming and going as far as personnel.
But suddenly since I announce I'm slowing down this blog, I'm noticing that a bunch of stations have posted internal news on their own websites. It's like a major awakening has happened where TV stations realize they have websites where they can control their own messages, cutting out middlemen like myself.
Finally kiiitv.com is reporting that Dan Robbins is taking over as vice president and general manager of KIII-TV and new sister channel ME-TV. READ MORE
TV stations have no problem telling other people's business everyday, but they don't like looking inward for stories. The lack of transparency is why it is important there are blogs out there talking about these businesses who use our public airwaves. Remember, TV stations don't own the channel they broadcast on. This semi-openness is a step in the right direction for media outlets.
However, as one reader pointed out to me, where is reporter Allison Triarsi on KHOU 11's bios page? Guess we won't see a khou.com article on that.
UPDATE
I hear that Allison Triarsi just had a second child and is joining my world of stay at home parenting. She is also starting a business with her husband. Congrats to them.
The Lone Star EMMYs have announced the inductees to the chapters Silver Circle for 2023.
"I'm floored," Dave Strickland, one of the 2023 honorees, told mikemcguff.com. "What an honor to be associated with some of the legends of Houston and Texas Broadcasters. I have had a great run and worked with some of the very best. It's just an incredible honor."
I had the honor of working for Strickland when he was the abc13 KTRK Houston news director. He also went on to lead the KPRC 2 newsroom.
Other 2023 honorees include anchor Raul Peimbert of Univision 45 KXLN.
"Raul is very deserving of being inducted into this prestigious Society of Honor," Martha Kattan, Vice President of Content TelevisaUnivision, Inc. told mikemcguff.com. "It is a testament to his dedication, commitment and passion to excellence in Spanish language broadcast journalism. What an honor and blessing to work alongside such a respected, trustworthy and recognized Hispanic journalist in the United States. We are extremely grateful to have Raul Peimbert in the Univision family and congratulate him on this very special recognition."
Kattan is a 2017 inductee of the Silver Circle.
Former Houston TV journalist (KHOU 11/FOX 26 KRIV) and now WFAA 8 Dallas-Fort Worth General Manager Carolyn Mungo is also joining the Silver Circle.
"I’m blessed to have built a career in this crazy business," Mungo told mikemcguff.com. "I’m proud to be a journalist and still love what I do. Pretty good deal."
Outside of the local television news world, Ron Kabele of Texas Parks and Wildlife is also inducted.
"The Silver Circle honors media professionals who began their careers in television at least 25 years ago, either in a performing, creative, technical or administrative role within the industry or in an area related to television such as TV journalism education, advertising, promotion, and public relations. They must also have made a significant contribution to the Lone Star Chapter television for at least part of their 25-year career. The Lone Star Chapter of NATAS has been honoring and celebrating our Silver Circle members since 2003."
You can see those already in the Silver Circle here.
The Lone Star EMMY Chapter awards show will take place November 11, 2023 at the 713 Music Hall in Houston.
Bob Morford has been named Assistant News Director of KRIV FOX 26, announced Tom Doerr, the station’s Vice President and News Director. Morford assumes this position Monday, August 6th.
In making the announcement, Doerr stated, “Bob is an accomplished news manager with more than 30 years of experience. His track record of excellence speaks for itself. Bob will be a tremendous asset to our station and leader in the newsroom.”
Added Morford, “This is a tremendous opportunity. I look forward to working with the very talented news team here at FOX 26 to continue their commitment to meeting the changing news needs of our viewers.”
Most recently, Morford served as News Director at WCPO-TV in Cincinnati, OH for the past eleven years. Prior to that, he held News Director positions at several stations, including KNXV-TV in Phoenix, AZ, WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh, PA and WLWT-TV in Cincinnati, OH. Morford began his career in news at KBIA-FM in Columbia, MO as an anchor.
Morford holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Missouri.
(The following post was from a release Fox Broadcasting sent to me)
Dan Lauck, a former KHOU 11 reporter, has died at the age of 72 after a decades long battle with Parkinson’s disease, the TEGNA station is reporting.
Thinking about Lauck and his journalistic craft conjures thoughts of a different time in television news. It was another era. Anyone who was there will know the difference between now and then.
Lauck was one of those standout Houston television news reporters. His news stories looked like a local version of 60 Minutes packages.
Back then, as a young KTRK special projects reporter, I would tune over to channel 11 nightly to learn about TV storytelling, NPPA style...you know the old BELO (KHOU's owner at the time) way of doing things. While I never met Lauck, I would consider him one of my teachers.
Unfortunately Lauck was forced to retire early in 2007 due to Parkinson’s disease.
"I have Parkinson's in my right hand and essential tremor in my left, which makes a race to see which hand can shake the fastest under stress," Lauck told abc13 health reporter Christi Myers in 2009.
That made the pressures of television news difficult.
Former KHOU 11 reporter and now WFAA Dallas station manager, Carolyn Mungo, remembers Lauck as a great writer and someone with great character.
“When I landed in the [KHOU] newsroom, I was fairly new and told him how I sometimes got writers block out in the field,” Mungo said on KHOU.com. “He told me if I ever needed help to call him. So, one day I’m out doing a long form story in east Texas and it hit. Writers block. So, I called him. He said give me five minutes. He called me back and gave me the most perfect idea and a phrase that made the piece. Dan had a story to turn on deadline that day, too, but he never said, ‘I’m in a rush’ or ‘I don’t have time.’”
"In a business full of egos this guy did not have one," former KHOU 11 sports director Butch Alsandor commented on my LinkedIn post for Lauck. "He was incredibly talented but was always humble and kind. A great reporter but more importantly he was an outstanding human being. Everyone he crossed paths with will miss him."
"He was a solid reporter and super nice person," former abc13 KTRK assistant news director/reporter Don Kobos commented on my Facebook page. "When you were covering a story that Dan was also covering, you knew he was going to touch all the bases so you better bring your A game. Prayers to Dan’s family."
"Dan was incredibly kind and subtly charismatic," former abc13 KTRK Mark Garay commented on my Facebook profile. "I fondly remember our chats during downtime or waiting for pressers to start, and his unique brand of friendliness. He carried an unmistakable aura of true professionalism and he was a worthy competitor."
"I was a huge fan of Dan, as a person, and a reporter," former Houston anchor Katie McCall commented on my LinkedIn post. "He was so gifted as a writer and storyteller, but he was also an outstanding human being. Dan was kind, smart, clever, funny, and warm. Rest in Peace, Dan. Thank you for making our world better. "
"Such a loss," former KHOU investigative reporter and now CBS correspondent Anna Werner commented on my LinkedIn post. "Dan was such an incredibly talented writer and reporter, and a lovely person. One of the best, not just in Houston, but anywhere."
"Dan was a natural storyteller with a knack for drawing you in and making you feel as if you were right there, in the story," former KPRC 2 anchor Linda Lorelle commented on my LinkedIn post for Lauck. "He was truly gifted. I didn't get to know him well during my days anchoring at KPRC, but I always looked forward to his reports. Sending prayers to his family. Rest in peace, Dan."
"Dan was the greatest writer I ever worked around," former KHOU reporter Michael Zientek commented on my LinkedIn post. "Even with his own deadline looming, he was always willing to look at other reporters’ scripts and provide ways to improve them, and he always made the script better. Thank you Dan."
In his retirement, Lauck was a volunteer coach for his daughter, Courtney's, high school basketball team.
He was also active in the Houston-area Parkinson's Society, a group which supports Parkinson's patients and their families.
Lauck joined KHOU in 1994 from KMOL San Antonio (now News 4 San Antonio WOAI) where he was an investigative reporter. Before that, he was a feature producer for CBS Sports and an ESPN freelance producer.
The wordsmith reputation Lauck earned might have roots in his print background. He was first a Kansas newspaper sportswriter, then New York's Newsday sportswriter, followed by a news reporting role at the Washington Post.
With Lauck's level of work, the awards came calling. He had three regional Edward R. Murrow Awards and six regional Emmy Awards for feature writing and in-depth reporting. Not to mention Texas AP, UPI and Katie Awards.
Lauck is survived by his wife Meg and his three daughters.
This morning, as KHOU announced Lauck's death, the station uploaded some of his television work you can watch below.
Not a positive last few days for Texas broadcasting.
Rumors starting surfacing Tuesday that the Fox 26 News Director was out and the fact Belo was doing some cutting. Both appear to be true.
Kathy Williams is out at KRIV with managing editor and former Channel 11 KHOU reporter Carolyn Mungo filling in. Is Mungo the permanent choice? READ MORE
Plus Belo is reportedly cutting 150 jobs, not matching 401Ks and cutting management compensation by 5%. Belo owns KHOU Channel 11 Houston, WFAA Channel 8 Dallas-Fort Worth, KENS San Antonio and KVUE 24 Austin among others. READ MORE.
(Thanks Randy, Bob, Ray and everyone else who sent in info!)
Malini Basu is joining WFAA 8 Dallas - Fort Worth as a reporter from Boston 25 News WFXT.
"I couldn't be more excited to live in the same city as my family," Basu tweeted. "I've been waiting for this perfect opportunity for years."
Houston television viewers will recognize Basu from her time at KHOU 11 as a reporter from 2012 to 2015.
"Congrats girl," tweeted KHOU 11 anchor Shern-Min Chow. "You’ve paid your dues in Bean town!! Come home to Texas!!"
Since Basu was in Massachusetts, she picked up EMMY Awards to become a three time winner. One EMMY award-winning story took Basu all the way to El Salvador where she conducted interviews with convicted murderers from her station's viewing area.
Before Houston, the St. John’s University grad worked for:
- NBC Connecticut WVIT
- WLNE reporter/fill-in anchor
- WSYR freelance reporter
- WPTZ/WNNE reporter
- FOX 5 News field producer/writer
- NY1 News news assistant/photographer
According to her bio, Basu was born in Kolkata, India and raised in Queens, NY. She speaks fluent Bengali.
Other former Houston reporters working for WFAA
Basu will not be the only former Houston TV reporter now working for WFAA channel 8 in DFW.
Take a look at the TEGNA station's bio page and you will see former H-Town TV journalists like Sonia Azad (abc13 KTRK), Demond Fernandez (abc13 KTRK), Kevin Reece (KHOU 11) and Jason Whitely (KHOU 11).
As the unofficial Houston bureau of the TV trade industry, many of my posts have a life beyond this blog, but this Dallas post seemed to have a big life on its own.
I got in touch with Castellucci (possibly on his iPhone) and asked him about the special, Phoning It In, that has received so much attention as of late. WATCH THE SPECIAL HERE
Mike McGuff: Why did you decide to shoot a special with an iPhone?
Mike Castellucci: Occasionally I was shooting and editing stories on the iPhone for our 4pm broadcast and was enjoying the way they were looking. I had done a few half hour special in the conventional way and I knew I could do it. I started thinking that it’s nearly impossible to be the first at something in TV anymore, but this could be it.
MM: What were the challenges?
MC: I think the biggest challenges quite honestly involved the structure. I really wanted to drive home the fact that I was doing it alone with one phone. I also wanted to talk about the elephant in the room...the fact that this type of technology is coming and being used like it or not. So, discussing it with some humor, (Mark Muller, our chief photographer, was terrific) was a goal. Technical challenges were few. I never could really zoom in to anything and make it look good, so I would just get close. (Can’t really show the crane operator without climbing up the dang ladder!)
MM: Do you suggest any apps or equipment?
MC: The only app I used was a free time lapse app that now is standard on the 6. I did it on a 5, and sure enough, the line near the end of “27 minutes ago this phone was IN, now it’s probably outdated” really fits!
95 percent of the time, I had a wide angle attachment on it. It’s called the olloclip, just slides over the camera lens. About 50 bucks I think.
The audio is clear thanks to an attachment you plug in to the headphone jack. I plugged that in to a wireless transmitter I’d put in my pocket and put a wireless microphone on my subjects.
I used a suction cup clamp for driving, a small tripod, an L.E.D. light, etc.
MM: Do you think this is the future of TV? A reporter and an iPhone?
MC: Is it the future of TV? Well something else may come along by then, but there are so many MMJ’s these days, that it certainly is a possibility. I really like the fact that our parent company Gannett is open to innovation, and I’m thankful I have bosses like Mike Devlin and Carolyn Mungo who give me the opportunities.
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After I wrote the original post, Lionel “Chris” Pinon who is a City of Houston Department of Public Works and Engineering webmaster (and former Photojournalist at Univision 45 KXLN) sent me an iPhone produced video he shot for work.
The Dallas Mavericks today announced a new multi-year broadcast rights agreement with TEGNA to bring all Mavericks games not exclusively televised nationally to approximately 10 million people in Texas, for free over-the-air, nearly tripling the current number of households the Mavericks can reach across the state.
Starting with the Mavs vs. Suns game on Oct. 26, TEGNA station KMPX Dallas-Ft. Worth (Ch. 29) will broadcast all games not exclusively televised nationally – 70 or more in the first season – for free over-the-air, with 15 or more games simulcast on WFAA Dallas-Ft. Worth (Ch. 8). The games will also be broadcast on TEGNA stations in Waco (KCEN and KAGS), Tyler (KYTX), Midland-Odessa (KWES), Abilene (KXVA), and San Angelo (KIDY).
WFAA becomes the official local broadcast partner of the Dallas Mavericks and will regularly take fans behind the scenes with extensive Mavericks coverage from lead sports anchor Joe Trahan. WFAA and TEGNA will lead local and regional advertising and sponsorship sales for all local games, and TEGNA will work with partner broadcast companies to announce additional Texas markets in the coming days.
“We are looking forward to giving Dallas Mavericks fans every opportunity possible to watch our exciting team build on the momentum of its incredible run to the NBA Finals last season,” said Patrick Dumont, governor of the Mavericks. “Our new agreement with TEGNA helps meaningfully deliver on that goal by broadcasting more games to more local homes than in any period in franchise history. Through our new partnership with TEGNA and our expanded relationship with WFAA, more Mavs fans than ever before will be able to watch the team they love.”
“We are excited to tip off the new season by bringing our games to more MFFLs across Texas,” said Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall. “It was a pleasure working with TEGNA last season to deliver additional viewing experiences for ten games. Building on the overwhelmingly positive feedback received, we look forward to providing millions more Mavs fans access to watch our games throughout the entire season. Stay tuned and let’s go Mavs!”
“This is an incredible day for Mavs fans and our partners across Texas, and we are grateful to the Mavericks organization for their partnership and trust,” said Brad Ramsey, senior vice president, media operations, TEGNA. “Mavericks fans, our audience, and our advertising partners had an unbelievable reaction to the 10 games we made available last season, and we are thrilled to build off of that momentum and make every game, home or away, available to more fans, in more homes.”
“Our team is passionate about giving our audience great local stories, and this further cements WFAA as the go-to place for live, local sports,” said Carolyn Mungo, vice president and station manager, WFAA. “Our team could not be more excited to help take the Mavericks viewership to new heights.”
Details on how to watch games by market can be found at mavs.com/broadcast. The Spanish-language content currently airing on Ch. 29 will be relocated to a different channel prior to the start of the Mavericks regular season, and KMPX will become a locally-programmed independent station, already owned and operated by TEGNA. Details on Ch. 29 will be communicated to fans and viewers ahead of the start of the season, including where to watch Ch. 29 by provider. Fans can visit wfaa.com/mavs for information on how to purchase or set up an over-the-air antenna to watch games free over-the-air.
Demond Fernandez leaves KTRK abc13 for WFAA 8 Dallas-Fort Worth
Demond Fernandez
After three years, KTRK abc13 reporter Demond Fernandez is exiting the ABC owned and operated station and heading up I-45 North.
That's right...Big D...and WFAA 8 news director Carolyn Mungo confirms to mikemcguff.com Fernandez is joining her legendary newsroom.
"I've enjoyed three awesome years in Houston," Fernandez told mikemcguff.com. "I'd like to thank the ABC 13 viewers, neighbors and community members across the area who trusted me to help tell their stories. I'm very excited about this new journey in my career."
Someone pointed out to me on Facebook this is a case of KHOU owner Gannett, stealing from the competition in Houston and moving it to its own station in DFW.
It's fitting that Fernandez makes the next stop of career in the Lone Star State, since he moved up to Houston from San Antonio's WOAI. Hey, he likes Texas.
Fernandez recently made some news at KTRK when the station reported he had a gun pulled on him while reporting a story.
Clearly nothing gets in his way of the scoop.
According to Fernandez's bio, he was at WOAI for six years. Before that he worked at WEYI Newscenter 25 in Flint, Michigan, as a weekend anchor, crime reporter, “On Your Side” investigator and Newscenter 25’s “Consumer Watchdog.” Fernandez got his start at WSYM Fox 47 News in Lansing, Michigan as a general assignment reporter by day and a student at Thomas Cooley Law School by night.
Since Fernandez will remain in Texas TV, maybe I'll get a chance to write about him in the future.
UPDATE: Fernandez says on Facebook he will leave in early June, no word on when he actually starts at WFAA.
OutSmart’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards media winners.
iHeartMedia names Eddie Martiny as a Division President.
City of Houston declares October 8th as Cindy Burbano Day.
Briah Lumpkins leaves the Houston Landing for The Charlotte Observer.
Dave Grabowski-Summers joins Houston Radio Platinum.
James Costello joins FOX 26 KRIV as a Local Programming Initiatives photographer/editor.
Daniel Herrera joins FOX 26 as a News Photographer from KFOX/CBS4 News El Paso.
WTRP AM/FM LaGrange, GA. adds “The Rowdy Ride Home” to the afternoon drive, effective Monday, 10/7/2024. KMOU-FM in Roswell, NM. KJFM-FM in Bowling Green, MO. and KHWL-FM in Lone Wolf, OK. are also recent affiliate additions to the Suite Radio PM Drive program. In other “Rowdy” news, Doug Lawrence adds post-production duties for “The Rowdy Ride Home” in addition to its companion program “Ridin’ with Rowdy.” Chris Zaharis joins Suite Radio as Producer of the Outlaw Dave Show, after a long and storied career with the world-renowned Bill Young Productions.
Malini Basu left WFAA 8 Dallas - Fort Worth last week. She has been a reporter there since 2021.
"I'm so grateful for my amazing coworkers, and my friends who helped me get to the legacy station," Basu posted on Facebook. "It's been a great run, but I'm ready for this next adventure, outside of news."
Basu joined WFAA from Boston 25 News WFXT where she reported for six years.
Houston TV viewers will recognize Basu for her time at KHOU 11 before that.
Other KHOU 11 reporters who left for WFAA (and still work there) include Kevin Reece and Jason Whitely. WFAA, VP and Station Manager Carolyn Mungo left FOX 26 KRIV for WFAA, but reported for KHOU for many years before that. Demond Fernandez and the recently departed Sonia Azad joined the station from abc13 KTRK.
Before KHOU 11, Basu worked for:
- NBC Connecticut WVIT
- WLNE reporter/fill-in anchor
- WSYR freelance reporter
- WPTZ/WNNE reporter
- FOX 5 News field producer/writer
- NY1 News news assistant/photographer
According to her channel 8 bio, the St. John’s University grad was born in Kolkata, India and came to the United States as a newborn. She speaks fluent Bengali.
While Trahan has some big sports shoes to fill, he already has 18 years with the WFAA 8 sports department. He also has 15 Lone Star Emmy Awards and two regional Edward R. Murrow Awards.
So Hansen says goodbye on September 2, 2021 and Trahan takes over September 3rd.
“I'm thrilled with this opportunity," Trahan said on WFAA.com. "The bar is set high and I'm looking forward to elevating what we do and continuing the great legacy of WFAA Sports. This is home for me and my family and I know firsthand sports means a lot to people of North Texas. When I’m at the hardware store or coffee shop the conversations are passionate and I know people care. I'll do my best to inform, entertain and have some fun along the away while being of service to our community.”
“We are so grateful to have someone of Joe’s caliber take on this role,” added WFAA Vice President and Station Manager, Carolyn Mungo. "His years of experience and knowledge of the market, combined with his natural ability to connect with an audience is a win for both our staff at WFAA and for all of North Texas. I can’t wait for him to grab the spotlight.”
Trahan came to WFAA in June 2003 from FOX 8 WVUE New Orleans where he was the sports director.
He previously worked for WCBD News 2 Charleston, SC as a sports anchor/reporter.
The Loyola University grad started working at WWL New Orleans as an overnight news write while still in college.
Trahan grew up in Houston and played basketball and baseball for Strake Jesuit.
John Criswell, who was an anchor/reporter for WFAA 8 Dallas - Fort Worth from 1973 to 1990 has died at the age of 83.
"In his 17 years at our station, John served as an important voice for both WFAA and the Dallas-Fort Worth metro as a whole," WFAA vice president and station manager Carolyn Mungo said in a statement on the station's website. "His legacy still lives on at the station today through the features he helped launch, such as the still-weekly Wednesday’s Child segment. He was a valuable part of the WFAA story, and he will be missed."
At WFAA, Criswell helped start the station's Wednesday’s Child and Crimestoppers segments.
In 1990, Criswell went "across-the-street" to KDFW and remained there until 1997.
The Dallas Morning News reports that Criswell went on to do work for CBS 11 KTVT and KTXD too before retiring in 1999.
, just slides over the camera lens. About 50 bucks I think.
