In a thoughtful reboot of its on-air lineup, WWNY TV in Watertown, New York, details a series of changes that start rolling out on March 30. My take: these moves reflect a broader strategy to balance seasoned experience with fresh energy while staying deeply connected to the North Country audience.
Introduction: context and stakes
The station is saying goodbye to a longtime morning anchor who has roots in both the show and the community she serves. Makenzie Piatt, who has spent nine years as the morning anchor, is stepping into a role outside television news after welcoming her first child. Her departure is framed as a family-first decision, with WWNY emphasizing that she will still remain a part of the North Country through the next chapter of her life. What makes this shift particularly interesting is how it underscores a familiar tension in local news: the need to retain experienced talent who understand the market, while accommodating personal milestones that can reshape a career. Personally, I find that this kind of transition highlights the human side of newsroom life—where professional and personal journeys intersect, often influencing how communities connect with their anchors.
New roles and expanded responsibilities: the anchor reshuffle
- Les Shockley steps into a prominent new role, anchoring 7News This Morning alongside Beth Hall. Shockley is entering his eleventh year with WWNY and has already demonstrated versatility beyond the anchor desk, especially during Makenzie’s maternity leave last summer when he stepped up to deliver the morning news. This move illustrates a broader trend in local news: anchors who can wear multiple hats—on-air talent and internal operations—help keep a newsroom resilient when schedules shift. My takeaway is that Shockley’s blend of on-air presence and technical savvy makes him a valuable anchor for a station that prides itself on reliability and accessibility.
- He isn’t stopping there. Shockley will also produce and anchor 7News at Noon with co-anchors Diane Rutherford and Beth Hall, and he’s launching a live digital show at 9 a.m. on WWNY’s website called “It’s LIVE, It’s LOCAL, It’s LES!” What stands out here is the push toward multi-platform storytelling. In an era where audiences fragment across screens, having a single anchor who can also manage online formats helps create a cohesive brand experience across TV and digital channels. It’s a practical acknowledgment that morning audiences want immediacy and local specificity, regardless of how they tune in.
New Bedford of the newsroom: fresh faces and experience combined
- Garrett Domblewski will anchor First at Five on WWNY after John Moore moves toward semi-retirement. It’s a natural extension for Domblewski, who has spent a decade with WWNY and has been a staple of late-evening coverage on FOX28 and WWNY’s own late newscasts. In addition to anchoring, he also serves as Assistant News Director, which signals a continuity of leadership and mentorship within the newsroom. This shift resonates with the idea that strong late-evening news benefits from anchors who understand both the editorial texture of the day and the operational pulse of the station.
- Chad Charette is elevated to anchor 7News Tonight at 10 p.m. on FOX28 and 11 p.m. on WWNY. Now in his fourth year with the station, he’s recognized for storytelling prowess as a weekday reporter and for contributing to weekend broadcasts online and on-air. As he anchors the late-night editions, he will also stay connected to the field as a night-side reporter. The move highlights a classic pattern in regional TV: rising reporters move into anchor roles while maintaining field assignments to preserve the journalist’s edge and audience trust.
New producer talent and continuity in leadership
- Elizabeth Gabbert joins the newsroom as a news producer for the 10 p.m. editions on FOX28 and WWNY. Her background as a producer in Nashville, where she worked for a sister station, suggests a blend of regional sensibility with professional newsroom discipline. This addition is noteworthy because producers shape how stories land with viewers; Gabbert’s experience outside the market could translate into more dynamic pacing and story structure for late-night broadcasts.
- John Moore’s semi-retirement marks a gentle transition rather than a hard goodbye. He will step down as anchor of First at Five but continue reporting a couple of days each week from St. Lawrence County. Moore’s tenure has been a touchstone for many viewers, and his ongoing reporting duties will help preserve continuity for audiences who rely on his familiar presence. The choice to keep him involved in reporting signals WWNY’s respect for institutional memory and the value of seasoned storytelling in an evolving newsroom landscape.
Why these changes matter for viewers and the North Country
What many people don’t realize is how much a morning and evening lineup signals a station’s priorities. WWNY’s adjustments show a clear emphasis on adaptability, cross-platform storytelling, and leadership development. The move to pair Shockley with Hall for mornings, while expanding his responsibilities to a noon newscast and a digital show, demonstrates a holistic approach to audience engagement: reach early risers with familiar faces and capture online audiences with fresh, personality-driven content.
Personal reflections and broader implications
- The transition for Makenzie Piatt may be bittersweet for longtime viewers who have grown up with her on screen. Yet the station frames her choice as a positive in the broader arc of community life, reinforcing the idea that local media is deeply woven into the fabric of its audience’s daily rhythms.
- Bringing in Elizabeth Gabbert from Nashville hints at a strategy of infusing new perspectives without sacrificing local relevance. It’s a reminder that the best local newsrooms often blend familiarity with fresh energy to keep reporting sharp and engaging.
- The blend of anchors, producers, and new digital initiatives signals WWNY’s readiness to meet audiences wherever they are, whether that’s at the kitchen table during a morning routine or on a smartphone scrolling through a live stream. The “It’s LIVE, It’s LOCAL, It’s LES!” concept encapsulates a modern, audience-first mindset that many regional stations are adopting to stay competitive.
Conclusion: a newsroom in transition, focused on service
WWNY’s personnel shifts reflect a newsroom prioritizing continuity, growth, and multi-platform storytelling. By honoring veteran anchors like Moore while elevating rising talents such as Charette and Domblewski, the station crafts a balanced lineup designed to serve diverse viewing habits. My takeaway is simple: in local TV, adaptability is a virtue, and a newsroom that can blend experience with invention is well-positioned to stay relevant in a rapidly changing media landscape.
