TV Q&A: Is Katelyn Sykes back on the news?

Rob Owen | Wednesday, December 20, 2023 6:00 a.m.

Courtesy WTAE

Katelyn Sykes is a freelance reporter for WPXI.

Q: Is Katelyn Sykes back reporting the news? I thought I just saw her reporting for WPXI, Channel 11.

— PSU, via email

Rob: Sykes, who left WTAE-TV in November 2021 and took a job working in communications for the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Nursing, began working as a freelance reporter for WPXI-TV last week while continuing her job at Pitt.

“Katelyn is a talented journalist who knows our local communities well,” Channel 11 news director Scott Trabandt said in a statement. “We are always looking to improve our team with people who understand the important issues and topics of the moment, and Katelyn certainly fits right in.”

Q: I have been meaning to ask this question for years, but after reading your recent TV Q&A I have finally decided it is time: Why do you think so many people care who reads them their news? I never know which anchor is off or on, just so long as I get the report.

— Bill, via email

Rob: Hey now! Answering where X broadcaster went is how my bread gets buttered!

The general theory is that because broadcasters come into our living rooms on a daily basis, viewers form bonds with those broadcasters. Viewers feel like they know news anchors even if all they actually know is what those anchors project (some of those projections are more true-to-life than others).

The degree of interest in local news anchors varies by American city and region. Go to larger cities with younger populations (Seattle, Los Angeles), and you’ll often find much lower ratings for local newscasts and less interest in local news anchors. Smaller, older markets (Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Albany, N.Y.) tend to have higher local news ratings and more public interest in local news personalities.

Q: What is Bob Errey doing now that he’s not working on Pens games? Also, what is Royce Jones doing now? I miss them both.

— Karen, via email

Rob: I reached out to both Errey and Jones with Karen’s question but neither responded. Jones hasn’t posted to his public-facing Facebook account since September.

Q: With the announcement of the Pirates joining SportsNet Pittsburgh, will we ever see them expand and add a streaming subscription in the near future?

— Chris, Harmony

Rob: That certainly seems inevitable given the general thrust of mass media distribution, but no stand-alone streaming subscription offer has been announced.

Q: Are all the new “Doctor Who” episodes only on Disney+? What about BBC America?

— Rick, via email

Rob: “Doctor Who” is now a Disney+ exclusive, and new episodes no longer air on BBC America. I reported on the show’s plan to relocate in October 2022. The 2023 “Doctor Who” Christmas special debuts at 12:55 p.m. Dec. 25.