Reporter Brendan Monahan has left WGGB-TV ABC 40/FOX 6 in Springfield, MA for a job with Baystate Medical Center in Springfield as the manager of public affairs.
"It was too good of an opportunity to pass up and it seemed like the right time for me to make the move," Brendan told The Republican newspaper. "I had the real urge to take on a new challenge and when this managerial role presented itself, I had to go for it."
Brendan has been with WGGB in some capacity since 2008 when he was a college intern at the station. In August 2010, he took on a full-time position as an assignment editor. The following December, he added general assignment reporter to his duties.
During his time with WGGB, Brendan has also spent time as a freelance reporter for Charter cable's "Worcester News Tonight" and WTEN-TV ABC 10 in Albany, NY.
in 2011, Brendan became a full-time investigative and general assignment reporter at WGGB. In addition, he also joined New England Cable News as a freelance reporter, a position he says he may continue with his new job, "but that is still being worked out."
WGGB news director Jim Tortora told The Republican Brendan was an enthusiastic reporter who will be missed.
"No one got more excited to cover breaking news than Brendan, who was on almost every big story in Western Mass. over the past few years. No matter the shift, the conditions, the travel, he was up for anything," Tortora said. "He has a genuine curiosity and interest in people that will serve him well in his new role with Baystate. We look forward to working with him in his new role."
Asked by The Republican's Robert Rizzuto why he is getting out of TV news, Brendan said the idea of moving from market to market to advance his career didn't appeal to him. "My home is here. I accomplished my goal of doing this on TV – was my dream as a little kid," he said. "I even had some things go national. I'm proud of it all and have no regrets."
Asked what he will miss most about being a reporter, Brendan said "I think I'll miss the spontaneity of the news cycle and launching at any point to go anywhere. And I'll especially miss the daily interactions with the photographers here in Springfield. Those are special relationships comparable to police officer and his partner. I'll remain friends with them but miss the interactions and musings that happen on daily basis."
A native of Western Massachusetts, Brendan is a 2010 graduate of Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT where he studied communication and media studies. While in college, Brendan interned with Dateline NBC and the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.
Brendan also told The Republican that his departure from WGGB during it's time of transition after being purchased by Meredith Corporation (which also owns WSHM-LD CBS 3 in Springfield and WFSB-TV CBS 3 in Hartford, CT) was a coincidence. He said that he left other job offers on the table before ultimatly choosing Baystate Medical.
"Channel 40, as you know, is in an interesting state right now but this is coincidental. In the past year, I was offered a contract here and had offers from stations in the mid-west to West Palm, Florida," he said. "I interviewed and in the end, didn't want any of those jobs. This is the job that felt right. And my home is here. I'm looking forward to my next adventure with Baystate and to continue to work with the community, just in a new role."
Brendan's last day at WGGB was Friday, he starts his new job at Baystate Medical Center on January 26.
