Do you know any former WCIA-TV Channel 3 news anchor? And where are they today?
WCIA-TV Channel 3 is a local station in Champaign, Illinois, that broadcasts news and local entertainment programs.
Over the years, it has enjoyed a diverse cast of on-air staff, who have helped transform it from a UHF TV station in the 1950s and 1960s to today’s modern channel.
Unfortunately, some of these personalities have left the channel, some for other TV stations and others for other opportunities.
Below is a look at some of the most notable former WCIA-TV Channel 3 anchors and their current whereabouts.
1. Martin Savidge
Martin Savidge is a former reporter and weekend anchor for WCIA-TV Channel 3.
He was most recently a CNN correspondent at the Atlanta Bureau and a fill-in anchor for CNN and CNN-I before being laid off in 2022.
Savidge received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University.
His first job in the media was at WCIA-TV in 1980, where he spent two years before moving to WMBD-TV, WKYC, Associated Press, WJW-TV, WNET, NBC, and CNN.
He is a multi-award-winning journalist, having received top honors such as a national Emmy award, a Peabody Award, and a Dupont Award.
Additionally, he has received nine local Emmy Awards, six Associated Press Awards, two United Press International Awards, two Headliner Awards, and others.
Martin Savidge has been married to Debi (Blis) Szalay since 1989). They have two children: Blis Savidge and Stehl Savidge.
2. Susan Barnett
Susan Barnett is a former WCIA-TV Channel 3 news anchor. She works as a brand ambassador for Algenist Skincare at QVC Live and as a Realtor at Kelly Williams Realty, Inc.
She is a former pageant queen famous for winning Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA at 17 and later Miss Pennsylvania USA, in addition to competing at Miss Teen USA and Miss USA pageants.
She graduated from the University of Delaware with a BA in Mass Communication.
After college, Barnett landed her first job as a journalist at WDTV 5 News. She then worked for several other TV channels, such as WCIA-TV, KDKA-TV, CBS Miami, and CBS Philadelphia, before leaving the media industry.
As a journalist, she won several awards for exceptional reporting, including six Emmy Awards and a Golden Quill Award from the Western Pennsylvania Press Club for best Television Public Affairs/Documentary.
She is married to Greg Persichetti, a surgeon, and they have three children together- two sons and a daughter.
3. Elaine Quijano
Elaine Quijano is a former on-air staff for WCIA-TV news anchor who is currently a correspondent for CBS News.
She attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
She then joined WCIA-TV as an intern before working her way up to become a reporter, producer, and later anchor.
Quijano is famous for covering major stories and breaking news.
Some of her top highlights include coverage of the Boston Marathon Bombing, the Invasion of Iraq, the 9/11 attacks, the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, the Beltway sniper attacks, and Hurricane Sandy (2012).
She also made history after the Commission on Presidential Debates selected her to moderate the 2016 vice presidential debate.
She became the first Asian American to moderate such a debate and the youngest journalist to do so since 1988.
4. Ryan Baker
Ryan Baker is a former sports reporter and anchor for WCIA-TV Channel 3. He is currently the morning news anchor for WBBM CBS Chicago.
Baker attended the University of Illinois, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. While in college, he was the student basketball manager of the university’s basketball team.
After college, he joined WICD-TV as a reporter, producer, and photographer before moving to WCIA-TV.
Since then, he has worked for several media outlets, such as KFMB-TV, WKMG-TV, WMAQ-TV (NBC 5 Chicago), and WBBM CBS Chicago.
Baker specializes in sports journalism. Some of his major highlights include covering the White Sox and Chicago Cubs’ World Series wins and the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
Ryan Baker is married to Jessica, and they have two daughters – Rose and Grace.
5. Lori Stokes
Lori Stokes is a former WCIA-TV Channel 3 news reporter and anchor who retired from broadcasting in 2022. Her last station was WNYW Fox 5 in New York.
She was inspired to become a journalist by her uncle, Carl Stokes, the first black mayor of Cleaveland and later the first black news anchor in New York City.
She attended Ohio State University before moving to Howard University, where broadcast journalism was her major.
After college, she worked as a production assistant at WDVM-TV and WUSA-TV before moving to WCIA-TV as a reporter and news anchor.
She has also worked for other outlets, such as WBTV, WBFF TV, WJLA-TV, MSNBC, WABCTV, and WNYW.
She became famous for covering several major news stories.
Some of her top highlights included covering the 9/11 attacks, the Boston Marathon Bombing, the Columbine School Shooting, Hurricanes Hugo and Sandy, and interviewing various presidents and celebrities.
Laura Stokes is divorced, having previously married Brian Thompson. She is the mother of two daughters, Nicolette and Alexandra Thompson.
6. Amanda Porterfield
Amanda Porterfield is a former reporter, anchor, and producer at WCIA-TV Channel 3. She is currently the 12 pm and 4 pm news anchor for CBS58 News.
She comes from a family of news people, including her grandfather, a news anchor, and her great-grandmother and uncle, who started WNOV radio.
She attended St. Mary’s College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal arts, sociology, and English Writing.
While in college, she interned at WLS-TV (with her grandfather) and WNDU-TV, which helped her gain journalistic experience.
After college, she worked for WTVC and WCIA-TV before moving to CBS 58 News in Milwaukee.
Porterfield is passionate about investigative journalism and has won the Best Hard News Story Award from the Illinois Broadcaster’s Association and the Social Justice Award from the NAACP for her coverage.
She specializes in covering crime news stories and hosts the Crime of the Week Segment at CBS 58. She is also a founding member and board member of Milwaukee Crime Stoppers.
Amanda Porterfield is a single mom to one son, Christian. She is also a dog mom.
7. Chris Widlic
Chris Widlic is a former anchor and sports director at WCIA-TV Channel 3. He is currently a sports anchor and reporter at WTTV CBS 4 Indianapolis.
He attended the University of Texas, where he studied broadcast journalism.
He got his first job in media as a photographer at WVVA-TV before working his way up to become a weekend sports anchor and, later, sports director.
Widlic specializes in spot coverage. Some of his top sports assignments include riding with the Colts during the playoffs and covering Super Bowls, Indianapolis Motor Speedway racing, and NCAA Tournaments.