This was posted on Thursday, February 9, 2017 by Rodney Ho on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Reporter and weekend anchor Blayne Alexander is leaving 11Alive after six years for NBC NewsChannel affiliate service as a D.C. correspondent.
Her final day at the local NBC affiliate is Friday, two days after Brenda Wood's emotional retirement from 20 years at the station and 40 years in the news business.
Alexander, who regards Wood a mentor, said she will still be seen on 11Alive since her national oriented D.C. stories will be available to all affiliates nationwide.
"I'm excited about the new adventure," she said after the party. "But I love Atlanta. I love this community. I really felt like a part of this place. I care about this city. Atlanta will never be in my rear view mirror. I'll be back here all the time." For now, her husband is based here so she'll get an apartment in D.C. and they'll split between the two cities.
"As a journalist, it's the best time to be in D.C.," she said. "There will be a lot of news to cover. It will be a new challenge for me."
She starts her new job Feb. 27.
Alexander, an Oklahoma City native and Duke University graduate, began her career as a production assistant for NBC Nightly News in D.C. before working at a station in Augusta. She came to Atlanta in 2011.
