Former Channel 2 Action News political reporter Bill Nigut is returning to TV after a 10-year break.
He will be senior executive producer of “On the Story,” a new half-hour news program on Georgia Public Broadcasting that will air at 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays starting in January.
Nigut said he wants the show to delve into stories with more analysis and depth than local TV news usually does. He also plans to cover topics around the state that are often overlooked such as agriculture, medicine, international commerce and the arts.
“What we’re going to do is take a deep breath and spend a good amount of our time putting stories into the larger context,” Nigut said. “We want to take the time to have thoughtful conversations with community leaders, experts and other journalists.”
The show is still seeking a host and may add other staff to fill what will be a 10-person crew, said Mandy Wilson, spokeswoman for GPB.
Since that is skeletal compared to local TV networks, Nigut hopes they will fill gaps using technology and social media.
Nigut spent 20 years as a political reporter at WSB-TV until 2003, when he became founding president of the Metro Atlanta Arts and Culture Coalition. He held that position for three years. He has spent the past seven years as Southeast regional director of the Anti-Defamation League. He will leave that post next month and join GPB on Nov. 20.
He said he is amazed how many people, even after a decade, still recognize him. “I find it flattering that people miss me.”
But he has no plans to be on air: “I’m through with being on TV.”
