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Reporting the News:
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Friday, September 9, 2005

Anchor away: Metz leaves post

By MICHAEL HAUN
Staff Writer

DAYTONA BEACH — Claire Metz admits she's had a pretty good run.

In the world of television news, 18 years is a long time to occupy a seat behind the anchor's desk.

But today, that good run comes to an end.

Metz will sign off as a news anchor at WESH-TV Channel 2. Other faces will take her place at the NBC affiliate.

Such changes are nothing new. But in this area, just a small part of the much-larger Orlando TV market, Metz is one of the lone, truly local faces delivering the news.

She'll still be reporting, covering her home turf of Daytona Beach and its environs.

In an interview with The News-Journal, Metz, 48, just back from assignment along the Gulf Coast, spoke about her departure as an anchor, her new role as a reporter and how Hurricane Katrina has put all of these changes into perspective.

Q: How are you feeling about leaving the anchor desk?

The idea that it was ending just sort of left my mind (during coverage of Katrina’s aftermath). My little cog in the world doesn’t seem like much of anything. I don’t think it will hit me until I am not doing it any more. But in the big scheme of things, it’s nothing.

Q: You spent eight days on the Gulf Coast, reporting on the devastation left behind from Hurricane Katrina. What’s the most vivid image you came across?

I think it was the flattened landscape of Mississippi, as people went back to their properties, their utter heartsickness of all that they had lost. Those images will stay with me for a long time.

Q: WESH officials announced these staffing changes last month. What was your initial reaction to learning you’d no longer be anchoring?

It was a surprise. Our show was doing pretty well (in the ratings). When you get into TV, especially women, your survival is limited. That’s the nature of the beast. I feel incredibly lucky to have been there that long. For 18 years, they let me do what I feel I do pretty well. I think this was as difficult for my bosses as it was for me.

Q: What attributes do you think helped you stay behind that anchor desk for so long?

I think because I wasn’t the glamour girl on television, people kind of liked that. I was more of an everyman, and sometimes that works in the mornings. That was comfortable for people.

Q: Your new assignment has you reporting full time in our area. What are you looking forward to most?

Covering Volusia and Flagler (counties). That’s my soft spot. I hear from people who say ‘they’re not covering enough Volusia and Flagler.’ I want to touch as many of our areas as possible so that everyone feels somewhat represented (on television news).

Q: Anything you’re not going to miss?

After 18 years of getting up at 3 o’clock in the morning, that’s not going to be a heartbreaker. I’m not going to miss the drive either. I’m four minutes from work. That’s going to be fun.

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