Wendy Bell, Lynne Hayes-Freeland Joining KDKA-AM Lineup

PITTSBURGH, PA - Veteran TV newscasters Wendy Bell and Lynne Hayes-Freeland are joining the KDKA-AM lineup beginning Jan. 3. The station also is expanding its local weekday news coverage to 8 p.m. and adding local morning newscasts on the weekend.

Bell will co-host the afternoon drive slot with longtime KDKA talk show host Marty Griffin from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Hayes-Freeland will be on the air from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“The new KDKA Newsradio 1020 will serve our community in a way that reflects the energy and pulse of Pittsburgh in 2019 and beyond,” Michael Spacciapolli, senior vice president and market manager of KDKA owner Entercom Pittsburgh, said in a statement. “These programming additions will help elevate KDKA as the go-to destination in Pittsburgh for news, weather, traffic, business, sports and opinion.”

Bell spent 18 years as a reporter and anchor for WTAE-TV, winning 21 Emmys and five Edward R. Murrow awards. Bell was fired in 2016 after writing a controversial Facebook post that she admitted could be considered racist. She later apologized for the post.

“KDKA is a powerhouse radio station and Marty Griffin is a trusted friend who, like me, loves helping people,” Bell said. “Spending four hours a day with a team that truly cares about this city is a tremendous honor and I look forward to the opportunity to serve our listeners.”

After beginning her career at KDKA-AM as a producer in 1976, Hayes-Freeland has been with KDKA-TV since 1977 as a reporter, producer and talk show host.

“Radio is a perfect place to learn, explore and grow, and I look forward to the chance to do just that with listeners just as curious as me everyday,” Hayes-Freeland said. “It feels great to be back home on KDKA.”

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