Weems leaves HNN, joins Communications Pacific

Sportscaster Francesca Weems has left Hawaii News Now and started today as an account executive at Communications Pacific.

“I’m looking forward to applying my skills in broadcast to this new venture,” Weems said. “There will be aspects including social media, marketing, media relations. A lot of working with clients on how they will market themselves and deal with crisis management. I’m excited to do something new and I thank (Communications Pacific CEO) Kitty Lagareta for the opportunity.”

Weems has not worked in public relations before, but “brings relevant experience to our firm,” Lagareta said.

“She is very talented, well educated, and brings relevant experience to our firm,” Lagareta said. “She will integrate quickly into our staff and I’m confident our clients will really enjoy working with her.”

Weems was hired at HNN as a sports reporter/anchor in March. The Kealakehe graduate was working at WLBT/WDBD in Jackson, Mississippi, after earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Cal and working part-time for various Bay Area outlets.

Weems and HNN president Rick Blangiardi both declined to comment on-the-record about why she left the TV job.

“I’m glad Fran has decided to stay in Hawaii,” Blangiardi said. “She can have a great impact on this state.”

When HNN’s Mark Carpenter left for San Francisco, the station hired Collin Harmon as sports director and moved Ian Scheuring to sports from a previous position as digital content producer. Those moves, along with the hiring of another new reporter at the same time as Weems, Taryn Hatcher, left HNN with a four-person sports desk.

It was not going to stay that way in a market where the other network affiliates have two sports reporter/anchors.

Weems personal saga as a homeless child in Hawaii was documented in this story.