WTOL–WUPW news director C.J. Hoyt says he’s leaving the Toledo CBS and FOX affiliate.
Hoyt told the Toledo Blade he and his wife want to be closer to family in Texas and Louisiana. Hoyt added, “I love the news, and I love what I’ve been able to do with Raycom.”
Raycom named Hoyt news director in 2011. He previously worked as news director at WFIE in Evansville, Ind.
His advance notice will give General Manager Brian Lorenzen time to find the next news director before the November sweeps period, he said.
Lorenzen, who could not be reached for immediate comment Monday, knew about his decision.
The two had talked about it, and “it wasn’t a surprise for him,” Hoyt said.
Nielsen ratings for February and last November indicated more viewers watched newscasts from WTVG-TV, Channel 13, which is The Blade’s media partner.
WTOL, for example, attracted 50,000 viewers age 2 and older, while 62,000 watched WTVG, and 5,000 watched WNWO-TV, Channel 24, during the 5-to-6 p.m. local news block.
During his time as news director, Hoyt spearheaded the effort in 2012 to combine the WTOL and WUPW newsrooms.
“The proudest thing is when we took over production of the Fox newscasts,” he said.