In the North Country, a reshuffle behind the anchor desk signals a new era for WWNY, as the station rolls out several on-air changes set to take effect on March 30. The updates blend transitions, retirements, and new voices, all aimed at keeping viewers engaged while preserving the station’s local focus.
What makes this moment interesting is not just the roster shuffle, but how each move reflects WWNY’s approach to continuity, mentorship, and expansion of digital offerings. These aren’t mere replacements; they’re strategic adjustments designed to strengthen morning coverage, deepen investigative and storytelling capacity, and widen online engagement.
Makenzie Piatt marks the end of an era and the start of a different chapter. After celebrating motherhood, she is stepping into a position outside television news but will continue to call the North Country home. Her nine-year tenure as the morning anchor has been defined by the discipline of an early-morning routine and the grit required to navigate severe winter weather. Personally, I find that her decision highlights a universal truth: the pull of family can reframe career paths, even in high-visibility roles. The newsroom loses a familiar voice, but the audience gains a narrative about balancing professional ambition with personal life—an ongoing conversation in broadcasting today.
Les Shockley steps into a central role, pairing with Beth Hall as the new anchors of 7News This Morning. With 11 years at WWNY, Les has already proved his versatility by anchoring during Makenzie’s maternity leave last summer. What stands out here is the emphasis on internal mobility—rewarding a proven talent who understands both the station’s technical backbone and its audience. In addition to morning duties, Les will produce and anchor 7News at Noon with Diane Rutherford and Beth Hall, and he will launch a live digital show at 9 a.m. on WWNY’s website, titled “It’s LIVE, It’s LOCAL, It’s LES!” This addition signals WWNY’s commitment to the evolving digital-newscast landscape, where immediacy and local relevance increasingly collide with traditional broadcast slots.
Garrett Domblewski will anchor First at Five after John Moore steps toward semi-retirement. Now in his tenth year with WWNY, Garrett has been a familiar presence on 10 p.m. newscasts for FOX28 and 11 p.m. on WWNY, while also serving as the station’s Assistant News Director. His transition to First at Five embodies a natural progression—from late-night coverage to prime-time, enabling a smoother newsroom cadence and a fresh outlet for his leadership and storytelling skills. This move also reflects how WWNY leverages its internal leadership to stabilize key time blocks while preserving continuity for viewers who rely on consistent personalities.
Chad Charette’s promotion to anchor for 7News Tonight at 10 p.m. on FOX28 and 11 p.m. on WWNY brings a voice that’s closely identified with the week’s storytelling and weekend reporting. In his nearly four years with WWNY, Chad has built a reputation for strong narrative capabilities, which will now anchor late-night broadcasts and complement his ongoing responsibilities as a night-side reporter. The shift illustrates WWNY’s strategy of consolidating on-air talent to cover the breadth of the daily cycle—from late-night newscasts to weekend online and on-air presence.
Elizabeth Gabbert joins WWNY as a news producer for 7NEWS at 10 p.m. on FOX28 and 11 p.m. on WWNY, bringing experience from Nashville with a background at a sister station. Her addition signals WWNY’s intent to deepen production expertise behind the scenes, a move that can elevate the quality of every newscast by enriching the editorial and storytelling process. A strong production backbone often translates into sharper on-air delivery, more compelling visuals, and tighter pacing in the late-evening hours.
John Moore’s semi-retirement continues to unfold as announced earlier. He will step back from anchoring First at Five but will still contribute as a reporter a couple of days a week from St. Lawrence County. This arrangement underscores a culture of phased transitions, where legacy anchors gradually shift away from the daily grind while preserving institutional knowledge and continuing viewer trust.
Why these adjustments matter goes beyond the surface of who sits where. They reveal a newsroom that prioritizes a blend of tradition and innovation: honoring long-standing talent, elevating internal leaders, and expanding digital offerings to meet audiences where they increasingly consume news. The emphasis on live digital programming, flexible reporting roles, and diversified time slots is a clear signal that WWNY is aligning with broader industry shifts toward more nimble, viewer-centric news ecosystems.
From a viewer’s perspective, these changes can be welcomed as continuity with new energy. The personalities who guide morning briefings, midday updates, and late-evening reports are more than names on a screen; they become trusted companions in daily life. As WWNY reimagines its lineup, it also invites audiences to taste-test new formats, such as Les Shockley’s morning-foray into a live web show, which could offer deeper dives into local stories with an intimate, conversational style.
In summary, WWNY’s March 30 changes paint a picture of a local station that values both heritage and reinvention. The moves center on reliable on-air performance, strategic leadership, and expanded digital reach—elements that can collectively enrich how viewers in Watertown and the surrounding North Country stay informed, connected, and engaged. The takeaway is clear: meaningful newsroom evolution happens not just through new faces, but through deliberate, context-aware roles that amplify local storytelling and keep pace with how audiences want their news today.
