WSFA 12 News welcomes award winning anchor/reporter to news team

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - WSFA 12 News is pleased to announce that John O'Connor is joining the WSFA 12 News Team in January. John comes to WSFA 12 News with over 25 years experience in broadcast journalism working in Orlando, Jacksonville and Louisville. He is excited about returning to live in Alabama. O'Connor lived in Mobile for several years as a teenager.

"I am very much looking forward to becoming a part of the WSFA 12 News team. They demonstrate day in and day out why they are a News leader in Montgomery," O'Connor said.

"It's not often you're presented with an opportunity to join a legacy operation like WSFA 12 News, a flagship station at one of the leading Media companies in the country, Raycom Media. WSFA News sets a very high standard, and I can't wait to be a part of that."

He is a three-time Emmy award winner, including one for his work on a documentary on a heroin epidemic among young people in the Orlando area.

John has also covered many major national stories including traveling to Havana to cover Pope John Paul's historic visit to Cuba, the Monica Lewinski scandal, the Casey Anthony story, and has spent years covering NASA and the Space Shuttle program.

One of his most memorable experiences as a journalist was flying with the Navy's Blue Angels.

"Flying upside down in an F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft and breaking the sound barrier is easily one of my all-time favorite assignments," said O'Connor.

"I am excited and know John is excited about coming on board. He brings a wealth of experience, strong journalistic skills and I feel his addition will benefit our newscasts and our viewers," said WSFA 12 News, News Director Scott Duff.

"He will co-anchor the 5pm newscast with Valorie Lawson as well as half of WSFA 12 News First at Four with Sally Pitts and report each evening for the 10pm newscast."

"Having worked with John before in Jacksonville, Florida at WTEV and WAWS television I witnessed firsthand his dedication, professionalism and love for his craft" said WSFA 12 News' Vice President and General Manager Collin R. Gaston.

"I thoroughly enjoyed watching John each day and night in Jacksonville deliver the news with passion and look forward to him doing the same here in Montgomery come January."

John is a graduate of North Carolina State University. He stays active in the community and has worked closely with organizations such as The Muscular Dystrophy Association., Communities in Schools as a mentor, The First Harvest Food Bank and others.  John is the proud father of two daughters and is an avid motorcyclist and golfer.

You can read more about WSFA 12 News and its staff HERE.

WSFA 12 News has served the River Region for nearly 59 years and provides more than 37 hours of news per week in High Definition on WSFA 12 News and 24/7 on WSFA.COM and your mobile devices.

Raycom, an employee-owned company, is one of the nation's largest broadcasters and owns and/or operates 48 television stations in 36 markets and 18 states.  Raycom stations cover 12.6% of U.S. television households and employ nearly 3,500 individuals in full and part-time positions.  In addition to television stations, Raycom owns Raycom Sports (a marketing, production and events management and distribution company in Charlotte); Raycom Post (a post production facility in Burbank, California), and Broadview Media (a post production/telecommunications company based in Montgomery).

Copyright 2012  WSFA 12 News.  All rights reserved.