Thursday, February 25, 2010
Reporter Joy Sutton leaves WDBJ to become HCA spokeswoman
Sutton, who was the TV station's health reporter, said she hopes to continue educating the public about health care.
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The health reporter for WDBJ (Channel 7) is leaving the station to become a spokeswoman for HCA Southwest Virginia.
Joy Sutton began her career 11 years ago at CBS affiliate WDBJ as an intern. She will begin her new role as the marketing and communications manager for the health care system, which includes Lewis-Gale Medical Center, March 29. Her last day on the television news station will be March 13.
HCA initially approached Sutton about the newly created position.
Because she is making a transition from reporting health news to representing a health care organization, she said in the meantime she will not report on stories involving HCA or its competitors.
"I would never do anything that I felt was biased or unfair," she said. "I pride myself on that."
Sutton said she will use her journalism background at HCA to continue to help educate the public about health care. That theme was echoed by her new boss.
"With Joy's passion for health care and pragmatic approach to reporting, she will strengthen our capabilities in educating the public on important health issues," said Victor Giovanetti, president of HCA Southwest Virginia.
WDBJ news director Amy Morris said viewers will likely still see Sutton reporting the news for the next couple of weeks.
"We'll see how it goes," Morris said. "If it feels just too weird, we'll pull her off and have her do general assignment reporting or pull her off the air entirely."
Morris said she tried to persuade Sutton to stay but that her departure allows the station to re-evaluate how health news is covered.
