Patti McGettigan leaves WOOD for WISH

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Patti McGettigan, the News Director for WOOD TV8 since April 2001, accepted the News Director position at LIN sister-station WISH in Indianapolis.

McGettigan's last day in Grand Rapids will be July 10, and she'll start in Indianapolis the week of July 20.

The announcement was made simultaneously in both newsrooms.

WOOD TV8 General Manager Diane Kniowski said, "We are excited to keep Patti in the LIN family. We know she will maximize her talent at WISH-TV. I'm confident that our capable news team will continue to deliver excellent news content."

“While at WOOD-TV, Patti did a great job leading the charge to develop a strong multi-platform news brand to meet the ever-changing needs of today’s news viewer,” said Jeff White, the President and General Manager of WISH. “I look forward to Patti bringing her journalistic integrity, competitiveness and collaborative spirit of change to our 24-Hour newsroom continuing WISH-TV’s leadership in all our media platforms.”

Choking back tears in remarks to the newsroom, McGettigan said she "absolutely loves" WOOD TV8 after spending nearly 20 years at the station. "I know I wouldn't be going where I'm going if it wasn't for all the hard work each of you do everyday."

WOOD-TV’s news organization and McGettigan have received numerous honors including the Michigan Association of Broadcasters’ “Station of the Year” for 5 years in a row, as well as many Edward R Murrow, Emmy, Associated Press and Gracie Allen awards. McGettigan is most proud of the Radio and Television News Directors’ Association’s “Unity award,” presented to her news department as recognition of their ongoing commitment to covering the diversity of the community they serve.

“I am humbled to be given the opportunity to help lead the legacy of excellent journalism that continues to be produced by WISH-TV,” said McGettigan. “I’m thrilled at the prospect of embracing the new technologies which will allow us to grow as a multi-platform operation, and I’m excited to call Central Indiana home.”