Joyce Garbaciak and Patrick Paolantonio are taking on new weekday evening anchor roles at WISN 12, a media partner of BizTimes Media.
Garbaciak will join Kathy Mykleby on the anchor desk for “WISN 12 News at 6” and “WISN 12 News at 10.”
Patrick Paolantonio will team up with Toya Washington to co-anchor “WISN 12 News at 5” and will play an enhanced role on the 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts. The changes to the 5 and 6 p.m. anchor teams will take effect on Monday, June 15, 2015. Garbaciak will begin her new 10 p.m. anchor role on Monday, Sept. 14.
Garbaciak will replace anchor Craig McKee, who is leaving Channel 12 to become a news anchor at WCPO-TV in Cincinnati. McKee’s last day at WISN will be this Friday.
“We are very excited to bring Kathy and Joyce together at 6 & 10,” said Jan Wade, president and general manager of WISN 12. “Kathy has traveled the globe for 12 News, bringing viewers important stories and big interviews that have become her hallmark. Joyce’s experience is equally impressive, including Peabody and Emmy award winning reporting. These are two well-respected journalists who have wonderful passion for what they do.
“Patrick has been with 12 News for over a decade,” Wade said. “He’s very familiar to the WISN 12 audience and will be a wonderful addition to our evening newscasts.”
Garbaciak has been co-anchoring “WISN 12 News at 5” since September 2014. Garbaciak joined WISN 12 in 2006, serving as a contributing correspondent. Prior to her arrival at WISN 12, Garbaciak was a primary evening anchor at WITI, the FOX affiliate in Milwaukee, for 17 years. Garbaciak is a five-time Chicago regional Emmy award winner and the recipient of a George Foster Peabody Award and national Edward R. Murrow Award.
Co-anchor Mykleby has been a mainstay in Milwaukee since 1980, when she began her reporting career. Over the years, Mykleby has been the recipient of almost every local and regional award in broadcast journalism. Both Mykleby and Garbaciak have been inducted into the Silver Circle, a lifetime achievement honor bestowed by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
“I’m excited to add to my duties at WISN 12,” Garbaciak said. “Working with Kathy on the air will be an extension of the rapport we have now behind the scenes. Kathy is so well respected in the community and I appreciate the passion she brings to the job every day. I believe our combined experience enhances our credibility and gives viewers the context they deserve. Patrick has been such an important part of 12 News for so long and this is a well-deserved promotion for him. I appreciate his tenure in the market, his approach to news gathering, and his insight which will help guide our decision-making. I know this team will give viewers the professionalism they expect and deserve; I’m honored to be part of it.”
Paolantonio has been the co-anchor of “WISN 12 News This Morning” for 12 years.
“I am excited about the opportunity to work with Toya again; she is an incredible journalist, colleague and friend,” Paolantonio said. “The chance to work alongside Kathy and Joyce is also terrific; I have tremendous respect for the experience, talent and journalistic integrity they bring to our news team.”
Toni Valliere will remain the weekend evening news anchor. In the interim, she will fill in periodically on both the 10 p.m. and morning newscasts.
