Well....Would You Look at That

Remember last week when FTVLive FIRST told you that WPIX News Director Mark Effron was going to be bounced?

Then Tribune PR person Jessica Bellucci emailed FTVLive to say that Effron was not gone.

FTVLive followed up that story telling you that we had an impeccable source that told us that Effron was leaving the station. 

Many doubted FTVLive's information, afterall a Trubune PR person said that our story wasn't true. So clearly, FTVLive must have got bad information....Right?

Well here is the internal memo that Mark Effron sent out to the staff Today:

When Larry Wert talked to me early last year about joining WPIX as VP/News Director, I made clear my intention to view it as a two year mission (coinciding with my--gasp--65th birthday). After this May, when we started to see the beginnings of a ratings turnaround based on the quality, aggressive  journalism we've been producing on-air and on digital platforms, I reminded Larry and Rich about my desire to transition into something that would allow me to continue to work in the field that I'm  so passionate about, but in a different way. I've been approached about both teaching as well as consulting and both have great appeal,  since they would allow me to give back--and also have more time to spend with my wonderful family, my writing, etc.

 So now begins the transition. This is a great time for me, and a great time for our news.  We've shown what we can do--and the audience is responding. While other newscasts are declining, we are gaining audience--surpassing both WNBC and WNYW at 5pm. We are becoming a digital force in New York. Our peers have recognized our work with all of the major awards: from a Murrow to countless Emmys, AP awards and more. I could not be prouder of what we've accomplished together or feel better about the direction we are heading in. I'll be here for awhile, helping Rich, steering the ship, and paving the way.

Thanks to all of the wonderful folks at WPIX who have made this part of the journey so satisfying:  Larry Wert, who has been a mentor and a colleague as well as a boss, and Rich Graziano.  Rich and I started out as a shotgun marriage, but ultimately became partners in crime--and lasting friends.