Jennifer Copeland, left, and Abby Weppler sit at the anchor desk Wednesday, September 3, 2014, during rehearsal of the new "First at 4" 30-minute newscast that begins at 4 p.m. Monday on WSBT-TV. (SBT Photo/GREG SWIERCZ)
MISHAWAKA -- With an hour and a half of local news before the CBS Evening News at 6:30 p.m., some might believe that WSBT-TV already offers enough local news in the early evening.
But John Haferkamp, WSBT news director, thinks that isn't the case. And that's but one of the reasons the station is starting a 4 p.m. weekday newscast beginning Monday anchored by Jennifer Copeland.
"We certainly feel there is a need and an audience for this newscast," Haferkamp said, citing workers who get off at 3:30 and parents who are running kids to sport practices and other school events the rest of the evening.
"I want to stress ... this is not going to be the same news," Haferkamp said. "A first reaction might be, 'It's just going to be the same stuff at a different time,' That is not the case. We may have repetition in the story we are covering but not in the way we are covering the story."
And certainly, not in how they do the newscast. Copeland will be standing much of the time on the new set. Weather will be a part of each of the five segments. Breaking news will play a major role with Rick Schutt cutting in to deliver it. But both Copeland, who did similar shows in Charlotte, N.C., and Minneapolis, and Haferkamp believe the show will first allow people to catch up on what's happened already that day locally, nationally and internationally.
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