Jackie Hyland (pictured, right) who was cut loose from New York City’s WPIX in March when her contract was not renewed, will debut September 27 as evening anchor on WRAL, the CBS-affiliate in Raleigh-Durham.
Hyland’s addition to the news team was announced by the station along with a handful of changes to the talent lineup. Hyland will be paired with longtime WRAL anchor Gerald Owens on the 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts; she will replace anchor Debra Morgan, who will take over the 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts from Pam Saulsby.
Saulsby, who has been with the station since 1991, is leaving to pursue “other opportunities outside of the station,” according to the WRAL release. She will continue to co-anchor the noon newscast until later this fall, but her final evening newscasts will be later this week.
Also on the move at the station is 5:30 p.m. anchor Cullen Browder, who will shift to full-time reporter once Owens and Hyland take over in that timeslot. “Cullen is an award winning investigative journalist,” WRAL news director Rick Gall said. “We feel our viewers are best served by having him on the street full time exposing waste and wrongdoing.”
WRAL will also debut a renovated newsroom and new weather reporting technology, including a 3D storm tracking system, on the same day.