John Martin, left, will co-anchor with LaTrice Currie, center, meteorologist David Karnes, right, and the Channel 3 reporting staff.A Colorado newscaster already familiar with Chattanooga is joining the WRCB-TV/Channel 3 morning show.
John Martin is taking the spot formerly held by longtime anchor Jed Mescon, who left for a job as vice president of public relations, marketing and development at Erlanger hospital.
Martin, who will move to Chattanooga at the end of May, grew up in Knoxville, but his father was raised by his late grandparents in Sale Creek, and Martin spent summers at their home. After high school, Martin attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as a psychology major, but he left to take a media job in Knoxville before he graduated.
His brother, David Martin, a UTC graduate, writes a weekly editorial column for the Times Free Press.
"Even though this is considered a move to a new city, coming back to Chattanooga feels like coming back home," John Martin said in a news release. "I'm excited to rediscover this town. I'm excited to meet its people. I'm excited to be a part of it and I just can't wait to get there."
At WRCB, Martin will co-anchor with LaTrice Currie, meteorologist David Karnes and the Channel 3 reporting staff.
Martin began his TV career in Knoxville, eventually landing at WBIR-TV, the city's NBC affiliate, as a photojournalist and feature reporter. After six years there, he moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., to join KXRM-TV, the city's Fox affiliate.
He left the station to take a job as communications specialist for Steve Bach, the mayor of Colorado Springs, but when Bach decided not to run for re-election in 2014, Martin returned to KXRM.
"Even after moving from Knoxville to Colorado, I would come back a couple times a year to visit my brother in Chattanooga," Martin said. "I love going to McKenzie Arena to cheer on the Mocs basketball team. At least one trip a year included a game at Finley Stadium."