TV Talk: Weekend anchor Brittany Hoke leaves WTAE-TV
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WTAE-TV weekend evening anchor/reporter Brittany Hoke announced on her Facebook page she chose to walk away from her “dream job” at Channel 4 in favor of “freedom.”
In her lengthy post, Hoke wrote there are “a lot of” reasons for her departure — she does not name them — but offered this Cliff’s Notes summary: “When you are hired by someone, your transaction is, you do your best work for them and they pay you for it. We all have personal lives and families and we all go through hard times that may require stability or flexibility.”
Hoke declined an interview request, saying, “My legal counsel has advised me that I’m unfortunately not at liberty to discuss the circumstances of leaving and I must refer you to the edited post on my Facebook page. I feel good about my decision to step away and I’m looking forward to trying something new while focusing on my family.”
WTAE general manager Charles Wolfertz III said he would not comment on Hoke’s departure or who might take her place.
Hoke’s willingness to speak out to a degree, even while short on details, is unusual in the TV business.
Former WTAE weekend news anchor Jackie Cain, responded to Hoke’s post, writing, “Reading this brought back a pit in my stomach and a lump in my throat. I identify with all of it. I’m so proud of you for putting into words what I never had the courage to. Love you. And it does get better.”
Cain left WTAE in 2018 and is currently a news anchor at KSTP-TV in Minneapolis. Hoke joined Channel 4 in 2017 and was promoted to weekend evening news anchor in October 2018 after Cain’s departure.
In her Facebook post, Hoke indicates she has a new dream in the health and nutrition field, “that makes me excited to get up in the morning.”
She closed her post, writing, “Stay kind, even if — or especially if — you’re in a leadership role. Compassion and respect go a long way.”
According to her profile page on the Point Park University website, she is an alumna who grew up in Mt. Pleasant and attended Connellsville Area High School in Fayette County.