Andrews leaving Ch. 13 for ProMedica

Melissa Andrews says the new job will allow more family time.

Melissa Andrews, weekend morning anchor and weekday reporter at WTVG-TV, Channel 13, is leaving the station after nearly three years.

Andrews, 28, accepted a job with Toledo-based ProMedica Health System as a corporate communications specialist, handling public relations, marketing, and advertising for the not-for-profit health care organization.

Her last day at Channel 13 is Dec. 13.

"This is definitely a different direction but something I have always been interested in," Andrews said. "I always thought that PR people had a great job. … I think I've seen a lot of news [media] make the same decision."

Andrews recently became a first-time mom, and the new job will afford her more time with her family, she said.

"My life has changed drastically since I came to Channel 13," Andrews said. "I have a family now [and] this definitely fits my family life better."

A graduate of Kent State University with a major in broadcast journalism, Andrews joined WTVG in March, 2007. She counts reporting on the Findlay flooding in August, 2007, and the Hunter's Ridge Apartments blaze in July, 2008 - both of which were picked up by CNN - among her more memorable experiences at the station.

But what she'll miss most about her time at Channel 13 is co-anchoring the weekend morning news program with Dave Holmes.

"I'm going to miss the interactions with our viewers," she said. "We're there Facebooking with them in the morning and having coffee together, and they're reacting to the stories we're sharing with them. That's the best part of my job."

Brain Trauring, WTVG news director, said the station will miss Andrews.

"It's a great opportunity for her to expand her professional career and still stay in the Toledo area," he said. "We sincerely wish her nothing but the best of luck. She's certainly done a terrific job here and we're sorry to see her go."

WTVG reporter Christina Williams will replace Andrews as co-anchor of the weekend morning news.

Contact Kirk Baird at: kbaird@theblade.com

or 419-724-6734