Michael Evans (journalist)

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Michael Benjamin Evans (born April 4, 1957) is an American journalist. He currently serves as anchor of WKBW-TV's five o'clock newscast.

[edit] Personal Life

Michael Evans was born in Brooklyn, New York. He attended college at New York University and received a masters degree in journalism and a bachelors degree in technology.

Evans has three kids. He has two daughters and one son. Married twice, currently divorced, Evans live in New York State with his youngest daughter.

[edit] Career

Evans' journalistic career began in 1979, at the age of 22. He landed a job at the NBC affiliate WKNZ in Phoenix, Arizona. Michael reported news and co-anchored during the weekend. He stayed there for three years.

In 1982, Michael moved to Philadelphia, where he worked as a freelance reporter. For seven months, Evans floated around from station to station, until he found his way back to New York City. In October of 1983, Michael Evans began reporting for Abc's Nightline. He would anchor there for four years.

During his four year run at Nightline, Evans reported the assassination attempt of President Ronald Reagan and the fall of the Berlin Wall Other stories include the 1986 attacks on the Sears Tower. He received three Emmy Awards within his four year run at the station.

In 1988, Evans joined ABC World News. He reported news there for only two years. Evans left when an anchor position opened at WKBW-TV. Evans joined Eyewitness News team in 1991 as a general assignment reporter and weekend morning anchor. Within ten months, Evans would work his way up to lead anchor at eleven o'clock. In January of 1992, Evans debuted on he 11 PM newscast, where he anchored the news solo for three years.

[edit] Constant Reshuffling at WKBW

Between 1993 and 1995, Michael Evans would move back and forth along the anchor seat. In May 1993, Evans was switched to the noon and six o'clock newscasts. At this time, Louis Phelps replaced him at eleven o'clock. However, at the request of top executives, Phelps was dropped from the station. Once again, Evans assumed the role of top anchor at the station.

In 1995, Michael Evans' job was extended as long time 5 pm newsanchor Luis Dellagrossi suddenly passed away. Needing a quick replacement at the atation, Michael became the anchor at 5 and 11 PM. For seven months, Evans filled this slot. Dana Allen succeeded Evans at 5 pm. Evans later became the anchor of the 6 PM news block.

In 1997, Evans was finally joined at 6 and 11 PM by Ranee Plagge, making her the first female to serve as top anchor (Amina Houstant the second). The two would continue to work together until April of 2004, when Michael Evans was replaced by Charles Derek, in response to Evans' request for a lighter workload. Now, Michael is the anchor of the 5 PM newscast only and the host of Up Close, a popular political show throughout the ABC afilliates.

In 2006, Ranee Plagge was permanently replaced by Amina Houstant. Plagge now works with Evans at 5 PM.

Michael Evans has now been with the station for eighteen years. While one of the top personalities at the station, Evans is not expected to stay much longer. In several interviews, he announced that he was planning to leave within the next two years. With his substituting as anchor for ABC News, Evans could seek a job with the international network. Evans just signed another one year contract with WKBW in January.