Bouncing From the Burgh to the Big Apple
WPXI (Pittsburgh) Anchor/Reporter Joe Arena is leaving the station for the island….Long Island.
Arena joined WPXI 10 years ago as the weekday morning anchor. Three years ago he was demoted to weekend morning anchor and weekday reporter.
Now, he’s leaving the station to become the main anchor at News 12 Long Island.
He described his new job as the “full package” in terms of allowing him to work for the station he grew up watching, move closer to his brother and 81-year-old mother, and get back in the lead anchor chair. That didn’t seem to be in the cards for him in Pittsburgh, though Arena made it clear there is no bad blood between him and WPXI brass.
“There are no hard feelings at all,” he said. “It’s timing in this business. You have to do what’s best for your family and your future. ... This opportunity was available somewhere else. It would’ve been great if it was available here, but that’s the business.”
His last day at WPXI will be June 26th.