by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
With all the changes in local television, it’s hard to keep track of the on air personalities without a scorecard.
Tracy Sadeghian, an investigative reporter from Buffalo, is the newest face at Ch. 12 and Ch. 25, while John O’Connor is the new anchor at Ch. 30 and Ch. 47.
“We felt we already had a great investigative team,” said Mike McCormick, news director for Ch. 12. “But with Tracy we had an opportunity to take us into even bigger things. Investigations is the place we like to be; it’s our brand. We’re trying to grow what we already have.”
Sadeghian’s interest in journalism stemmed from her work with the Better Business Bureau in western New York state. While she was uncovering a telemarketing sweepstakes fraud, the art history major who dreamed of becoming a curator, shifted her focus to news.
“That’s when I decided I wanted to be the one that cracked these stories,” she said. “What got me involved was the ability to make a difference. There’s gratification in doing a story that impacts people and they learn something. There’s nothing better than helping someone who’s been wronged by the system.”
Whether it’s exposing crooked mechanics, nursing home abuse or corporate corruption, her aim is to be the one breaking the story. Persistence, attention to detail, good listening skills, patience and resourcefulness are the qualities she believes a good reporter must possess.
“You have to be very organized and have to know what elements you’re looking for,” said Sadeghian. “You’ve got to find a way to break through the barriers to get what you need. You have to think on your feet to avoid obstacles and have a plan B, C and D. If you’re a curious person, it’s the perfect field.”
Although she’s only been with the station for five weeks, she’s not a newcomer to the industry. Shortly after graduating from the University of Missouri, Sadeghian interned with the ABC affiliate in her hometown of Buffalo. She also did broadcast work in the Midwest and for National Public Radio in Jefferson City, Mo. She spent most of her life in the Northeast, but had vacationed in Jacksonville. Her fondness for the beach was one key in her decision to relocate.
Currently, Sadeghian has a stack of 10 stories on her desk.
“I like unearthing the truth, getting answers, the public service aspect,” she said. “I love learning something new every day and I enjoy meeting new people every day. I like getting out and seeing what’s going on.”
Her other interests hinge on her passion for the outdoors. Tennis, hiking, snow skiing and going to the beach are all favorite pastimes.
John O’Connor
anchor
With a rich timbre to his voice, anchor John O’Connor greets viewers twice nightly in their living room. That’s how he likes to present his newscasts — like he’s right there talking to his audience.
“I try to have a warm, conversational style,” said O’Connor. “Straight news writing sounds stilted.”
Delivering news on Ch. 30 and Ch. 47, O’Connor is the night guy. He comes in at 4 p.m. and doesn’t end his day until well after midnight.
Beginning in the afternoon, he helps write the newscast, edits text and checks facts.
At the station since July 1, O’Connor previously spent six years on the air at an NBC station in Orlando. His face has also appeared on television screens in Tampa, Salt Lake City, Louisville and Asheville, N.C.
A self-described gypsy, O’Connor decided to make his move a little shorter this time and stay in Florida.
O’Connor didn’t initially choose journalism, majoring in political science at North Carolina State University. During his upperclassmen years, O’Connor worked at the college TV station.
“That’s when I got the bug,” he recalled. “It’s a fun atmosphere. A newsroom is an exciting, dynamic place. Typically, there’s an interesting collection of personalities, too.”
He works closely with co-anchor Paige Kelton to produce the broadcast.
“I could tell right away that she would be easy to work with,” he said. “That’s a luxury in this business. There can be personality conflicts.”
After taking a year off to run his own business, O’Connor became heartsick for his old beat. Through contacts in the industry, Ch. 30 heard he was looking for a job.
“It’s satisfying to deliver the day’s events to the community,” he said. “There’s always the deadlines. It’s a challenge to get as much information as you can before it’s time to deliver it, coupled with making sure the information is correct. What I enjoy most is flying by the seat of my pants, breaking news on the set without a teleprompter.”
Off the set, O’Connor enjoys motorcycles, golf and cooking pasta.
The father of two children, O’Connor is just plain dad to them.
“There was a point when they thought it was cool that I was on TV but they’ve gotten pretty blase about it,” he said.