Channel
Surfing
by Laura Nachman
[email protected]
February 21, 2001
Toni Yates, WB-17 news anchor and host of the upcoming special “Unsung Heroes,” honoring the best of the Philadelphia African-American community, knows first hand how a good role model can influence one’s life. Growing up in Jacksonville, Florida, both of Yates parents were in politics, and she was exposed to many television professionals. “In sixth grade, my father had to go to the local television studio, and I went along. I met anchorwoman Tracey Gaffney, who was one of the first African-American television personalities in Jacksonville. After she invited me back to the studio the next day I knew I wanted to work in television.”
Yates graduated with a degree in communications from Florida State University and joined WB-17 in 1994 as a weekend anchor. She is now the weekday anchor along with Mike Dardis.
As Tracey Gaffney was for her, Yates wants to be a positive influence on young people in her community. She speaks to schools and organizations “as often as my schedule will allow.” At the end of my presentation, I leave the station’s phone number and tell the students if they call, I’ll give them a tour. A few take me up on it.”
Yates also is a role model for her two daughters, Austyn, 6, and Alexis, 5, who live with her in South Jersey. Yates is divorced from CN8 anchor Arthur Fennell who according to Yates says he’s “a confirmed bachelor now.” He lives nearby and they now have “a wonderful friendship.” Yates is engaged to Philadelphia firefighter Chuck Harvey whom she met while reporting on a story in August 1998. A wedding date isn’t set.
Highlighted
"Unsung Heroes" will include Helen Allen of the St. Barnabas
Mission, Tony Lewis, youth pastor for The Salvation Army West
Philadelphia Corps Community Center, Elvira L. Rodgers, director of
major gifts for United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Tina
Wright, a social work
supervisor at the Support Center For Child Advocates. Yates said,
“it’s important for kids to see what real people are doing to make a
difference – not just entertainers and athletes.”
“Unsung
Heroes” airs from 8-9, on Saturday, March 10th on WB-17.
Recent events in NBC-10
medical reporter’s Cherie Bank’s life are enough to make her sick.
Bank, whose
house burned down in January, almost got burned again
as someone attempted to steal her wallet while she was eating lunch in a
restaurant near the station on City Line Avenue.
Bank’s editor and lunch companion, NBC-10 editor, Kathy
McDermott confronted the thief who hit her before fleeing across City
Line Avenue where she was later arrested.
Thousands of viewers spent Valentine’s night with Allen, Kobe, and Shaq, as the Sixers big victory over the Los Angeles Lakers broke ratings records for Comcast SportsNet. The game had an average 7.8 rating – making it the highest rated Sixers game in Comcast history. Each ratings point equals 26,000 households.
TV12 will broadcast live from the Philadelphia Art Museum, where WHYY members can meet some of the stations’ personalities and view many of the museum’s galleries and exhibits on Wednesday, March 14th at 8 PM.
Fans of Jerry, George, Kramer and Elaine can rejoice as Fox-Philadelphia signed on for the second run of “Seinfeld” reruns. It airs weeknights at 7:30.
Laura Nachman can be
reached at her web site, “Brady Residence,” www.geocities.com/bradylady