Weekend news anchor Ryan Houston from Jackson, Miss., will debut the week of Jan. 16 as co-anchor of WCPO-TV's "The NOW Cincinnati" with Tanya O'Rourke.
Houston replaces newlywed Julie Dolan, who after November sweeps to be with her husband and
An Arkansas native, Houston starts at Channel 9 this week. He's the first male African-American anchor hired by Channel 9 since main news co-anchor
For two years, Houston has co-anchored the 6 and 10 p.m. weekend news at WAPT-TV, Hearst's ABC affiliate in Jackson. Before that he was weekend anchor, political reporter and "government watchdog specialist at WRDW-TV in Augusta, Ga., where he won Associated Press awards for his investigations and anchoring," according to Channel 9's announcement. He earned a broadcast journalism degree from the University of Central Arkansas in 2010.
鈥淩yan is a high-caliber journalist who will have an immediate positive impact at 9 On Your Side," said Chip Mahaney, Channel 9 news director, in the media release. "His expertise in investigative reporting and fighting for his community will be a great fit for the station and the communities we serve.鈥�
Houston, oldest of four brothers, "dedicates his spare time to volunteerism, working with various agencies and churches," according to Channel 9's release. His WAPT-TV bio also said he likes "lifting weights and attending church."
Dolan, a Sycamore High School graduate, was hired in fall of 2014 for the premier of 鈥淭he NOW Cincinnati." The original Scripps program replaced the "Ellen DeGeneres Show," which switched to Channel 5.
