Posted by chicagomedia.org on July 24, 2009 at 15:31:56:
David Novarro to sit in on WFLD's morning news; Anne Kavanagh remains a contributor
David Novarro is set to fill in as co-host on the station's weekday morning news from 6-to-10 a.m. next Monday through Friday, a bit of deja vu for him yet also a possible sign of things to come.
Also, WFLD confirmed Friday that long-time reporter Anne Kavanagh, whose contract has expired, will remain with Channel 32 as a regular contributor.
Novarro, co-anchor of Fox-owned WFLD-Ch. 32's soon-to-end 10 p.m. newscast, will substitute for Patrick Elwood, who will be on vacation.
Elwood has been filling in on "Good Day Chicago" for Mike Barz, who left the station this week after an investigation into his behavior at an off-site farewell party for Channel 32 health reporter Margaret Shortridge, whose contract was not renewed.
Novarro, whose contract was to expire in September around the time WFLD eliminates the weeknight 10 p.m. broadcast, is considered the front-runner to ultimately replace Barz alongside co-anchor Jan Jeffcoat. Elwood is another candidate.
From 2000 until Channel 32 launched "The Ten" in 2007, Novarro was a morning co-anchor for WFLD. He came to the station after 19 years at ABC's New York flagship, WABC-TV.
Elwood has been a full-time staffer at WFLD since 2000 after a stint as reporter and anchor at Milwaukee's WTMJ-TV.
Kavanagh has been with WFLD since 1987, when she left Milwaukee's WISN-TV.
Channel 32, responding to the revenue squeeze all media outlets have felt of late, eliminated seven off-air positions earlier this week.
(Phil Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune)