Debra Morgan, anchor and reporter for WRAL-TV5, will co-anchor the station's 5:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts with Jim Payne beginning July 8, WRAL announced Thursday. Morgan steps into the main anchor position vacated by Donna Gregory.
Gregory is moving to Minneapolis to anchor a new mid-day national newscast for United Paramount Network. Her last newscast will be Thursday, July 4. She has been with the station eight years.
Morgan currently reports for WRAL-TV5 and anchors the "News at 10" on WB-50, WRAL's sister station through a lease-management agreement.
Morgan graduated magna cum laude from the University of Miami with a double major in telecommunications and psychology. Before joining WRAL in 1993 as weekend anchor, Morgan anchored, reported and wrote newscasts for several stations in Florida and Ohio.
"Debra is one of the hardest-working people at the station. She has distinguished herself as both reporter and anchor, covering everything from plane crashes to elections," said News Director John Harris. "Debra's friendly and open approach makes her a natural for this position."
In addition to WRAL's 5:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. newcasts, Morgan and Payne will continue to anchor the "News at 10" on WRAZ-50.
WRAL also announced the expansion of news coverage. In conjunction with the CBS Television Network, WRAL's "Morning News" will expand by one full hour beginning August 12. The newscast, anchored by Bill Leslie and Renee McCoy and airing from 5:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., will provide the full range of local, national and international news and weather, including CBS News inserts. In addition, beginning June 29, WRAL will expand its 10 p.m. news offering on WRAZ to include Saturday and Sunday nights. The "News at 10" will be anchored by Kelly Wright and Betsy Sykes, who joins the station from WSYT in Syracuse
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