Getting Out of Traffic *

Cincinnati TV News Traffic Reporters are Vanishing.

In a shift that reflects changing dynamics in the world of morning news, Cincinnati's television stations are grappling with the absence of dedicated traffic reporters in half of the city's morning newscasts. Longtime WKRC-TV traffic reporter Jen Dalton has transitioned to the Alert Center, leaving only Stefano DiPietrantonio at WXIX-TV as the sole full-time traffic reporter currently on the air.

WLWT-TV made the decision not to replace traffic reporter Alenna Martella, who departed in August of the previous year. Instead, the station opted to "repurpose the position into a broader news gathering and storytelling role," according to Brandon Frantz, WLWT-TV president and general manager.

Dalton, who succeeded Bob Herzog as Channel 12's morning traffic reporter, has taken on a new role at the Alert Center. The station's management emphasizes that traffic information remains crucial in the post-COVID era, with viewers now working from home. However, they are faced with the challenge of informing audiences effectively while dealing with limited staffing and the competition posed by traffic apps on viewers' mobile devices.

Tim Geraghty, news director at WKRC-TV, outlined the current plan for Dalton, which involves her reading stories previously presented by Good Morning Cincinnati anchors, including traffic updates. The station continues to display traffic cameras and reports on major traffic issues, but the approach has shifted, replacing on-screen visuals with cumbersome text information.

WLWT-TV's Frantz acknowledged the worsening traffic conditions post-COVID and affirmed the continued importance of traffic updates in their shows. In the absence of a dedicated traffic reporter, the station now utilizes its anchor team to cover traffic content, especially during event-driven needs such as shows and games.

Other stations are adopting innovative approaches to enhance traffic coverage. WCPO-TV uses meteorologists for traffic updates during Raven Richard's maternity leave, while Channel 5 introduced three new "WLWT Storm Tracker Max" vehicles equipped with multiple cameras and mobile weather technology.

H/T WXVU