Director's Cut Alert: Kris Pickel To Co-Anchor Channel 3 News At 6 & 11 P

Kris Pickel

WKYC has announced that Kris Pickel, an Edward R. Murrow Award Winner, will join Channel 3 News.

“I am pleased to announce that reporter and anchor Kris Pickel will be joining the WKYC news team in early April,” announced Brooke Spectorsky, President and General Manager of Channel 3. “She will co-anchor our 6pm and 11pm newscasts with Russ Mitchell.”

Currently the weekend 5 and 10pm anchor at KOVR in Sacramento, California, Pickel is the recipient of several prestigious awards in broadcast journalism including an Edward R. Murrow, Associated Press and multiple Emmys for reporting.

“As the breaking news leader in the market, it was imperative that we chose a co-anchor for Russ who had a similar depth of reporting skills,’ stated News Director Rita Andolsen. “Kris is a skilled and tenacious journalist who is as strong in the field as she is on the anchor desk.”

Pickel is a Sacramento native who began her career as an editor at KCRA in Sacramento followed by anchoring, reporting and producing in Grand Junction, Reno and Tucson. As the main anchor in Tucson for nearly a decade, Pickel was extremely active in community events. She was the honorary co-chair for the Southern Arizona Chapter of Go Red for Women and made it a priority to be involved in a wide scope of activities motivating students.

“I'm very excited about joining Russ Mitchell. How often is a team created that combines twenty years of national experience with twenty years of local? I know we'll enhance each other strengths, and I really look forward to enjoying the quality of life that Northeast Ohio offers. Cleveland is a terrific TV news market, and WKYC is a station that sets the bar high. I know that Russ and I will have a chance to do some remarkable things.”

Pickel is married to award-winning videographer Carl Lemon. They are the proud parents of two boys, Clark and Bruce.

Read more articles on the Director's Cut Blog