John Carlin

One of Roanoke's most familiar faces will soon return to the small screen.

Fox affiliate WFXR (Channel 21/27) announced Wednesday that John Carlin will return to its "Fox 21/27 Ten O'Clock News" program. He'll appear twice a month, every first and third Thursday, with a segment called "John Carlin's Virginia."

His first spot happens Sept. 21. "We'll be shooting the first story next week," Carlin said.

Carlin, who anchored the Fox show for 13 years, was also the news anchor for WSLS (Channel 10) for 21 years before leaving in November 2008 to take a job at public relations firm Access as senior vice president.

However, Carlin didn't settle there. In February he left Access to become director of public relations for Ferrum College. Soon after, he formed his own publicity firm, John Carlin Agency Inc. He'll continue to work for Ferrum and run his own firm while creating the segments for Fox.

"It's a little more than freelance and a little less than part time," he said. "It takes a bite out of my schedule, but I enjoy doing it."

Carlin said his approach will be reminiscent of the "On the Road" features done by legendary television journalist Charles Kuralt in the 1960s and '70s that highlighted people with interesting hobbies living in little-known places.

His first "John Carlin's Virginia" segment will be about a man who logs timber the old-fashioned way, using oxen and horses, he said.

Fox Creative Services Director Debbie Reardon said in a statement that she's pleased her station can once again showcase Carlin's storytelling ability. "He knows and loves this area and we know that he will bring a special new element to our newscasts and our viewers."