Media Frenzy

By Rob Holbert Managing Editor

Another one bites the dust.

After just three-and-a-half months, WPMI-TV anchor Raquel Eatmon has left the station. Inside sources tell Lagniappe Eatmon turned in her resignation Aug. 3 and would be done after the evening broadcast that night.

Eatmon , a former beauty pageant winner and anchor at a Dallas CBS station, joined the NBC affiliate in mid-April. Along with newcomer Greg Peterson, Eatmon helped replace anchors Drexel Gilbert, Peter Albrecht and Kim McCrea, who were fired abruptly in March.

Eatmon’s departure comes on the last day for morning show anchor Scott Walker, who has taken a position at WESH in Orlando. Walker was the last of the station’s weekday anchors remaining from last year. The last several months have seen a mass exodus from the station, including anchors Albrecht, Gilbert, McCrea, Walker, Sandra Shaw, meteorologist David Glenn and reporter Nicole Patrick. Reporter Richard Allyn also left WPMI after his boyfriend was arrested for allegedly sending threatening e-mails to the station.

A call to WPMI Station Manager Bob Franklin was not immediately returned in order to confirm the reason for Eatmon’s departure. However, Lagniappe was sent an internal e-mail from Franklin to the staff regarding Eatmon’s departure. The letter stated: 

“It’s with sadness that I let you know that Raquel Eatmon is leaving NBC 15 as of today. While we will miss Raquel’s professionalism, we support her personal decision to return to her family in Ohio.

“Greg Peterson will continue to anchor the News at 5, 6 and 10 while the search for a new co-anchor begins.”

Eatmon’s photo and biography were removed from the station’s Web site Friday. They were there late morning Friday, but were gone by late afternoon. Also gone were the photos at the top of the Web page showing Eatmon and Peterson along with meteorologist Jim Loznicka and sports anchor Pat Greenwood.

An insider speaking on condition of anonymity said Eatmon was unhappy at the station and upset with the public backlash WPMI has experienced in the wake of the firings of Albrecht, Gilbert and McCrea. Attempts to reach Eatmon were unsuccessful.

Rob Holbert is Lagniappe managing editor. Contact him at rholbert@lagniappemobile.com.

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