A Move Toward Youth (Surprise!) at WDBJ7

Chris Hurst

WDBJ7 in Roanoke has named young reporter Chris Hurst, most recently at a station in eastern Washington state, co-anchor of NEWS7 at Six and NEWS7 at Eleven when long-time anchor-reporter Keith Humphry retires later this month.

In recent weeks, WDBJ7 has lost much-honored news director and Roanoke native Amy Morris and popular anchor Natasha Ryan. Ryan moved up the ladder to Seattle, and Morris, who was fired, jumped all the way to WABC in New York, that network's flagship local station.

WDBJ7 has dominated the news ratings in this market for many years and this move appears to be toward youth. In recent ratings releases, younger viewers have preferred WDBJ's competitors. Humphry and Jadhon are both old by television standards where diapers are often the preferred after dinner wear.

Hurst will share the NEWS7 at Six anchor desk with Jean Jadhon and co-anchor NEWS7 at Eleven with Hollani Davis. Humphry did not do the later newscast. Hurst has a broadcast journalism degree from Emerson College in Boston.

“I’m incredibly honored by this opportunity to serve our viewers in this new role,” says Hurst. “I don’t think there is any replacing Keith Humphry; his experience and ability cannot be replaced. I'm going to try to bring a different energy and experience to our viewers in the years to come.”

“Chris has a real talent for storytelling and is a great communicator as well as a hard working journalist,” said WDBJ Television President and General Manager Jeff  Marks.“We [believe] he fits well.”