After more than 20 years as a reporter and news anchor at WISN-TV (Channel 12) in Milwaukee, Patrick Paolantonio has announced his departure from the ABC affiliate at the end of July.
Joe Paolantonio is the esteemed anchor of Channel 12’s weeknight newscasts at 5, 6, and 10 p.m.
According to an emailed statement from WISN-TV President and General Manager Jan Wade, Patrick will be departing at the end of the month due to family reasons. With over 22 years of service to WISN 12 News, Patrick has made numerous contributions that are greatly appreciated. The team wishes him the best in his future endeavors and thanks him for all of his hard work and dedication.
Wade announced that the station would conduct a comprehensive search for his replacement both internally and nationwide.
In 2002, Paolantonio joined Channel 12 as a reporter, after being recruited from WOLO-TV in Columbia, South Carolina. He quickly rose through the ranks, earning a promotion to co-anchor the weekend morning newscast within a year of his arrival. He remained in this role for an impressive 12 years.
Paolantonio transitioned to working nights in 2015, taking on the role of co-anchor for Channel 12’s 5 p.m. newscast, in addition to reporting responsibilities. Over the next year, he expanded his duties by becoming a co-anchor for the 10 p.m. newscast. In 2018, he further increased his workload by adding co-anchor responsibilities for the 6 p.m. newscast.
Channel 12 news is losing another one of its long-standing anchors as Paolantonio departs in two months. This news comes just two months after Joyce Garbaciak left her anchoring job at the same station in May. Garbaciak has since shifted her focus to “special projects.”
According to the Milwaukee Business Journal, Paolantonio’s departure has been confirmed.
The departure of news anchor Patrick Paolantonio from WISN-TV (Channel 12) in Milwaukee has been reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.