Q: We joined WABE after moving to Atlanta and have attended quite a number of the station's events. After the first two or three events, we noticed something odd. It was rare, if ever, that we saw or met any of the on-air personnel from the station. Might you be able to find out what the station policy is when it comes to WABE's on-air personalities appearing in public? Is it prohibited? Is there some clause in their contracts that relieves them of such duties? — Don H. Berghaus, Chattahoochee Hills
A: WABE encourages its on-air personalities to appear at the station's events and other events in the Atlanta area, John Weatherford, the COO of Public Broadcasting Atlanta, told Q&A on the News. "We try not to cause our people to have 18-hour days, but it's in everybody's best interest to do as any many of those appearances as possible," Weatherford said. He said show hosts Rose Scott and Lois Reitzes attend many events, and Steve Goss, the host of "Morning Edition," goes to as many as possible despite having "to get up at 4 a.m." WABE hosts "Behind the Sounds," which allows people to meet the station's on-air personalities. Not attending or hosting events is the "antithesis of what we try to accomplish," Weatherford said.
Q: Does Cheryl White, the traffic lady for Channel 5, still work there? I haven’t seen her in several weeks?
— Betty Byers, Fairburn
A: White's last day with Fox 5 was Dec. 28. She had been with the station for 15 years and was the long-time traffic and weather anchor for "Good Day Atlanta."
Andy Johnston wrote this column; Rodney Ho contributed. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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