43
New anchor’s a natural fit
Photo
Lauren Lindvig came from WICS Channel 20 in Springfield, IL to join WFMJ 21 Youngstown. She is replacing Laurie Lehosky.
She was a natural choice, said the station’s news director.
YOUNGSTOWN — Lauren Lindvig will debut Monday morning as co-anchor on “WFMJ Today,” filling the seat that’s been empty since Laurie Lehosky left five months ago.
Lindvig, who last worked as a news reporter at WICS-TV in Springfield, Ill., has spent the past few weeks getting acclimated to her new city and “WFMJ Today” colleagues, including co-anchor Scott Schneider.
Moving to the desk position is a challenge she’s eager to tackle. “I’ve been sharpening my skills as an anchor,” she said.
Hundreds of people applied for the job, but Lindvig was the obvious choice, said Mona Alexander, news director of WFMJ.
There is no scientific manual for hiring an anchorwoman for a morning TV newsmagazine, explained Alexander. “It’s an intuitive process,” she said. “I just know when someone is right.”
She is obviously pleased with her choice. “[Lindvig’s] personality is so warm and genuine,” said Alexander. “She’s enthusiastic and vivacious and energetic. I’m so glad she’s here. I’m impressed with her wit, her warmth and intelligence.”
The task of filling the position began with selecting the first round of contenders. That is done by poring over demo tapes — three- or four-minute samples of on-air segments.
Alexander pointed to a corner of her office where boxes and boxes full of demo tapes sat, all sent in by applicants for the “WFMJ Today” position.
It takes a trained eye to spot the standouts from such a large pool. Lindvig’s demo caught Alexander’s eye because her sense of fun was so evident.
The try-out stage is also, to an extent, a judgment call. “You bring them in under artificial conditions and say, ‘Would you mind having instant chemistry?’” said Alexander.
Lindvig made the choice easy.
“She fit in from the beginning, like a hand in a silk glove,” said Alexander.
When Lehosky left the show in May, she split up her six-year partnership with Schneider, who has handled anchor duties solo ever since. “The men [Schneider, meteorologist Mark Monstrola and sportscaster Mike Ackelson] did a great job holding it together in the interim,” said Alexander. “They called it ‘the man show’.”
Although Youngstown and Springfield, Ill., are roughly equal in market size (Youngstown is No. 109, Springfield is No. 83), Lindvig said the two cities are quite different.
“It feels bigger, more urban, in Youngstown,” she said. Springfield is the state capital and is also an important center for agriculture.
Lindvig said she immediately noticed how proud Youngstowners are of their town, and said the city’s reputation isn’t fair. “The national media paint a picture that is not even close to what it’s like here,” she said.
Linddvig is a native of Hoffman Estates, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. A graduate of the University of Missouri, she was once a competitive figure skater and still skates. She is also an avid golfer. Lindvig began her career at KOMU-TV in Columbia, Mo.
“WFMJ Today” airs weekdays from 5-7 a.m.