Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2009 > March > 24 > Entry
KXAN’s Ellen McNamara bound for Florida
Upbeat KXAN traffic reporter Ellen McNamara will soon hit the road for Florida, putting Austin in her rearview mirror.
After almost three years of guiding Central Texas commuters to work each morning, McNamara is off to Tampa, where she’ll co-anchor the soon-to-launch weekend morning newscasts at ABC affiliate WFTS. Her last day on the air here in Austin is April 1.
“I have always wanted to anchor and report,” she said. “This is the perfect combination for me.”
Execs at KXAN aren’t sure just yet how the station will fill McNamara’s spot. At least initially, news director Michael Fabac anticipates morning anchors Chris Willis and Sally Hernandez will pitch in and share traffic duties.
“I’m really pleased for Ellen,” Fabac said. “She’s a really great journalist.”
Since arriving here from Lubbock in 2006, McNamara has done a little of everything at KXAN, filing reports for the station’s evening newscasts and filling in on the anchor desk in addition to monitoring morning traffic.
“It’s hard for me to leave,” she said. “I have really good friends here, and I love my co-workers and the city.”
McNamara and fiance Marcus DeVere won’t be gone for long though. They’ll be back in town this summer for their wedding. DeVere popped the question on Austin’s Mount Bonnell.
Photo courtesy of KXAN
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Comments
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By Jimmy A
April 17, 2009 2:13 PM | Link to this
Ellen should have been the female co-anchor at KXAN long ago. She is crisp, articulate, intelligent and isnt cursed with an over-exaggerated, obnoxious sense of humor many broadcasters have these days. I'm sure her Uncle Bob is VERY proud of her! Plus she's the absolute prettiest Red Raider THIS Longhorn has ever seen! Congratulations, Ellen, we'll miss you.
By Jon
April 1, 2009 5:28 PM | Link to this
I can't wait for Saturday Morning! I live in the Tampa Bay area, and I'll be watching!
She definitely is a cute woman. FOX13's traffic reporter is smoking hot, also!
By Larry
April 1, 2009 8:31 AM | Link to this
Well, good luck to you. This will surely lead to bigger things for you. I'm an old guy, and I remember watching your Dad on the news. He was a real pro, and you are too. BTW, my in-laws were in tampa over Christmas....85, and sunny. Took the kids swimming. I just remember being cold over Christmas. Do well.
By Patty
March 25, 2009 12:24 PM | Link to this
Congratulations Ellen! Ever since I first saw you on KXAN, I thought you were being underutilized. You deserve an anchor position. You're going to be great and there will be many in Austin that will miss you. Best of luck to you in your new job.
By Michael
March 25, 2009 8:54 AM | Link to this
Hey TubThumper, did you watch KXAN before they hired her? I did. She is the first person who has done traffic for them, so I think it's safe to say that the position was created for her, not "out of sympathy." Having worked in news, stations will do anything to one-up the competition, so KXAN could say that they had Austin's only dedicated traffic reporter.
By Birk
March 25, 2009 8:34 AM | Link to this
Journalist? Since when does reading a telepromter and reading traffic reports make you a journalist? If that is the definition then we are all journalists.
By Michelle Valles
March 25, 2009 8:22 AM | Link to this
Ellen,
I wish you the bet of luck in your new endeavor. You are just going to love your new position. Much luck! Michelle Valles
By Steve A.
March 25, 2009 8:20 AM | Link to this
"It would be nice to think that they would hire Jason Hill but there may be a non-competitive clause in his contract stating that he may need to wait 6 months."
You can't invoke a non-compete when you lay someone off.
By Dan
March 25, 2009 4:21 AM | Link to this
I would be knocking at Jason Hills door. Someone at the "other " station really screwed up firing him!!!!!!
By TubThumper
March 24, 2009 8:37 PM | Link to this
Sorry to say I can't remember one occasion where traffic reports have ever helped. I think they gave her that job out of sympathy. You don't really need a separate person for friggin traffic.
By Express43
March 24, 2009 5:48 PM | Link to this
Austin is not a "large market," and yes reporters and anchors usually move on. But I watch all the news stations at one time or another, and have watched the parade of anchors over the past 28 years. Congrats to Ellen, and KXAN should consider Jason Hill.
By Barbara
March 24, 2009 5:44 PM | Link to this
It would be nice to think that they would hire Jason Hill but there may be a non-competitive clause in his contract stating that he may need to wait 6 months.
By Scott
March 24, 2009 4:48 PM | Link to this
Well, we all know what it takes to be a traffic reporter! I mean besides brains!
By adam brewer
March 24, 2009 3:57 PM | Link to this
We should bring up Crystal Kobza from Nacogdoches
SHE IS SMOKING!
By roos
March 24, 2009 3:19 PM | Link to this
I don't care if the anchors keep leaving, just as long as they don't take all the news with 'em. Although, these days, some of it is so bad that maybe it would be better if they did.
By Judy
March 24, 2009 2:23 PM | Link to this
Article: “Execs at KXAN aren’t sure just yet how the station will fill McNamara’s spot.”
Hellooo, the Statesman ran another article just 24 hour ago announcing that KVUE laid off Jason Hill from his anchor spot. Do they really need to look any further?
By keith
March 24, 2009 2:19 PM | Link to this
People need to understand that Austin is nothing but a jumping pad to bigger television markets. That's why most reporters/anchors don't stick around here for long (unless you're Judy Maggio or Ron Oliveria who no one outside of Austin wants). Why do you think Christin Haas left, among others....they went to bigger markets....oh well another hot reporter (ellen mcnamara) leaving for bigger and better things
By dallas
March 24, 2009 2:12 PM | Link to this
Congratulations to Ellen..I wish her luck. She looks likes a young Katie Couric.
By Nick
March 24, 2009 2:06 PM | Link to this
To paraphrase a bit from "Family Guy" -- what good does a TV traffic reporter do if you're already stuck in traffic when it's being reported?
By Jackhole
March 24, 2009 2:05 PM | Link to this
Don't go!!! Ellen is HOT!!!!
By Doran
March 24, 2009 1:09 PM | Link to this
Congrats to Ms. McNamara. We are sure she'll pump it up in Tampa. Besides, being a traffic reporter for three years in a city with no other televised traffic reporters has to be old after a while. This sounds like a good break for her.
By yourmama
March 24, 2009 12:44 PM | Link to this
why why are all the pretty news women have to
leave?kxan better make a better offer she deserve it.Anyway good luck and your fiance the lucky guy.
Now kxan if you lose Sally Hernandez I will delete you from my favorite news cast!!!!!!.