News 12 Announces New Additions After Familiar Faces Depart

LONG ISLAND, NY — Just weeks after viewers bid adieu to longtime familiar faces at News 12 due to Altice USA staffing shifts, new additions were announced Monday.

News 12 sent out a release stating that it had added to its "all star newsroom lineup," with several new anchors and reporters have joining on to work alongside long-time anchors.

Beginning on Feb. 7, Doug Geed, a 10-time Emmy Award-winner and 35-year News 12 veteran, will move to the 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts "to bolster News 12’s primetime evening broadcasts and help the network deliver on its mission to provide in-depth coverage on topics and stories that have become increasingly important to News 12 viewers," the release said.

He will also continue to report on general assignment and breaking news in addition to producing and hosting The East End, now in its 25th year on News 12, a release said.

Geed will be joined on the 10 p.m. broadcast by Mackenzie Maynard, an Emmy-nominated journalist who most recently worked at Hartford, CT's News 8 WTNH-TV with a focus on education reporting.

Also signing on will be Janice Lieberman, a journalist with experience at national news organizations including NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, and CNBC’s Steals and Deals; she will serve as a consumer reporter and anchor.

News 12 veteran and Long Island resident Rich Barrabi will spearhead the launch of the Alert Center on Mornings on 12; Barrabi joins Long Islanders Elizabeth Hashagen, Erin Colton, Elisa DiStefano and meteorologist Rich Hoffman on the morning broadcasts.

News 12 also recently introduced five-time Emmy award-winning meteorologist and Long Island native Addison Green to the network to anchor weather for Long Island and Westchester.

Krista McNally, another Long Island native who previously reported for News 12, returns to the network as a crime reporter. News 12 is also promoting Thema Ponton to a full-time anchor/reporter position. Macy Egeland will move to weekend mornings on February 12, anchoring for both Long Island and Westchester and contributing reporting on the morning and 5 p.m. newscasts, the release explained.

“These newsroom changes increase News 12’s journalistic commitment to reporting on the local stories that matter and that are affecting the safety, livelihoods and wallets of Long Islanders,” said Jacques Natz, general manager at News 12. “The mix of our veteran News 12 anchors with new accomplished anchors, reporters and meteorologists further strengthens News 12’s role in providing high-impact content in our award-winning newscasts.”

Viewers weighed in on social media about the news: "I’m not sure I like all the changes. I was very disappointed to see Jackie Lucas go . . . Any more changes and I may have to get my news somewhere else," one woman wrote.

"Happy to see that you didn’t toss Doug Geed like you did to every other person who has worked for your company. This is an absolute disgrace that you replaced talented reporters. Good luck with your viewership," another woman said.

And, said one man: "While I’m sure these people are highly qualified to do these jobs, they are not News 12. Over the years you have moved and lost so many great reporters and great people that this channel has now become just become another news station."

Earlier in January, at least four News 12 anchors and reporters announced on social media that they would be leaving Altice USA, stunning viewers and fans of their work.

"After nearly 16 years my time at News 12 has come to an end. It's still surreal and hard to digest," said anchor and reporter Jackie Lukas.

"That being said, wow, what a journey it has been. Even as a daily storyteller, it's almost impossible to put into words what this journey has meant to me," she wrote.

She added that the future remains uncertain: "So what is next? I'm not sure. I'm leaving all my options open, but for starters I'm going to enjoy my family and sleeping past 3:30 a.m. on weekends. I hope you will continue to follow me along my journey. . . and thank you again for all your love and support!"

Sportscaster Jamie Stuart also said in a Facebook video he had just finished his final sports broadcast, after 21 years. "The memories I have covering my favorite teams and telling your stories will last forever," Stuart said.

Christine Insinga, a News 12 reporter, said on Facebook that it was hard to believe she'd been working with News 12 LI for nearly 20 years.

"Before that I wore many hats behind the scenes as a freelance assignment editor, associate producer and production assistant. So it is extremely bittersweet to tell you that my time there has come to a close," she said.

Shari Einhorn wrote on Facebook: "It's really hard to say goodbye especially after so long. . .but here it goes. After nearly 28 years, my time at News 12 Long Island has come to an end. It's hard to believe and I'm still processing it all."

Speaking on those leaving after the news broke earlier in January, a spokesperson for Altice USA, which purchased Cablevision in 2015, said in a statement: "As News 12 continues to expand and strengthen its news organization, we are focusing additional resources to cover more hard-hitting investigative reporting and consumer-driven stories that our viewers want. As a result, we've created several full-time journalism positions to align with our programming content as we continue to deliver the best hyperlocal news coverage on Long Island."

But the news left many unhappy.

"It pains me to see so many award winning, popular and highly talented journalists leaving," Drew Scott told Patch. Scott is a former News 12 anchor and reporter who retired in 2017, dedicated to raising awareness after losing his granddaughter to an overdose.

"Altice should be doing everything to keep these familiar and much loved talents," he said.

It's not the first time Altice has been in the news for eliminating positions: In 2018, a lawsuit against Altice over News 12 staffing cuts made headlines.