Contact: Justin Welnack 601-922-1607 ext177 [email protected]

Final: For Immediate Release

VETERAN ANCHOR ERIN PICKENS MOVES ACROSS TOWN! ERIN PICKENS JOINS THE 16 WAPT NEWS MORNING TEAM STARTING MONDAY

Jackson (September 25, 2015) – WAPT-TV announces Erin Pickens as the new anchor for “16 WAPT NEWS” on weekday mornings. Beginning Monday, September 28th, Pickens will join current anchor Keegan Foxx, rounding out a team that also boasts rising star meteorologist Brittany Bell and newsroom anchor specialist Marcus Hunter.

16 WAPT General Manger Stuart Kellogg says, “Keegan and Erin have great chemistry together, you can feel the energy jump off the screen. Erin has such a warm and inviting personality. It’s a team viewers in Central will agree, is The One to Watch.”

While 16 WAPT NEWS is Pickens’ new home, she’s been a viewer favorite in the market for nearly 13 years. Now she joins a news team that ranks #1 in Jackson Metro, according to Nielsen ratings.

“We’re proud to have two of the best journalists in Mississippi side by side to give our viewers the best morning news team in Jackson,” commented 16 WAPT News Director Ben Hart.

Pickens has worked in television news -- both in front of the camera and behind the scenes -- in her hometown of Memphis, TN, and in Greenville, MS, and Jackson, TN. Pickens received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Memphis and a Master of Science in Communication from Mississippi College. She is a professor at Tougaloo College in the Mass Communication department. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Junior League of Jackson, and the LeFleur’s Bluff Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Erin was in the 2009-2010 class of Leadership Greater Jackson and was the 2014 Summer Reading Ambassador for the Jackson Public Schools district.

WAPT-TV is owned by .

Hearst Television, a national multi-media company, owns and operates 30 local television stations and two local radio stations, serving 26 television markets across 39 states, and reaching approximately 21 million U.S. television households. The company broadcasts more than 60 video channels, featuring local and national news, weather, information, sports and entertainment programming, and local community service-oriented programs. The stations operate digital on-line and mobile platforms, reaching more than 25 million monthly unique visitors that extend the company’s brands and content to local, national and international audiences. Hearst Television is recognized as one of the industry's premier companies, and has been honored with numerous awards for distinguished journalism, industry innovation, and community service. Hearst Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst Corporation. The Company’s Web address is www.hearsttelevision.com.

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