Harding out as WPXI news director

UPDATED BELOW: WPXI general manager Ray Carter said he and news director Corrie Harding have come to a mutual decision that Harding will leave his role at Channel 11 effective immediately.

Harding joined WPXI in 2005 after working as an assistant news director and managing editor at WBNS in Columbus.

Carter told the news staff at 4 p.m. today.

"The ratings are not terrible, it's not as though we're in such a position that we're hemorraging audience," Carter said. "There are just times in business as there are in professional sports that you need to make a change for the good of the team or company. In this case, both Corrie and I have agreed to make a change."

WPXI's No. 2 in the newsroom, Melissa Knollinger, left the station under mutual agreement two weeks ago, Carter said. While a search for Harding's replacement is conducted, Carter, who spent 16 years as a news director, will be in charge of the newsroom.

"The opportunity for somebody who has as much experience in news [as I do] to go into the newsroom and spend the better part of my day in there will give me a good opportunity to see what's effective and what works and what still needs some attention," said Carter, who joined WPXI as GM in 2001 after working as news director at Cox-owned WSB in Atlanta. Cox also owns WPXI.

The timing of the change might seem to link it to the station's coverage of the G-20, except that WPXI did a pretty good job with that event. (It was WTAE that was not quite up to snuff.)

"No, in fact our G-20 coverage was terrific," Carter said. "The numbers were fabulous. The news department operated at the highest level for G-20. We are very pleased with our performance for that. It's more of a cumulative situation. Both Corrie and I have come to an agreement that it's in both our interests to go our separate ways."

Harding did not respond to calls seeking comment.

After deadline for the print edition I heard from Harding about his departure from Channel 11.

"Ray and I had a great conversation and came to a mutual decision," he said. "Ray runs the television station and needed to make the decision he feels is right and I need to make the decision I feel is right for me, too. The good part about it is he and I have had an incredibly good relationship and were able to work through it so everything is good. That's how I feel right now.

"I feel like I have a lot of give and I'll figure out a way to do that," Harding said, "whether it's here [in Pittsburgh] or somewhere else."

I've been meaning to write a state-of-the-stations column for a couple months now. Looks like there's more reason to do it now. Soon...