KTLA Hires Five, Including Courtney Friel and Jillian Barberie

By Merrill Knox 

KTLA news director Jason Ball has announced five new hires, our sister site FishbowlLA reports. Courtney Friel (pictured), Jillian Barberie, Steve Kuzj, Kimberly Cheng and Olsen Ebright are all joining the Los Angeles CW affiliate.

Friel and Barberie both most recently worked at rival KTTV, the Fox O&O in Los Angeles. Friel, an entertainment reporter, signed off in February after her contract was not renewed. Barberie, a co-anchor of “Good Day LA,” left KTTV in September.

FishbowlLA reports that Barberie will host an entertainment news program, “The Hollywood Mix,” which will debut in June. Friel will contribute as an anchor and reporter.

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Kuzj and Cheng both come from KNXV, the ABC affiliate in Phoenix. Ebright comes from rival KNBC, where he has been the social media lead and content producer since 2007.

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