KSEE24 News has a new anchor, Eric Rucker.

He joined the KSEE anchor desk last week and will be partnered for now with Stefani Booroojian.

Nexstar-owned KSEE hired Rucker from Fox 40, its station in Sacramento. Rucker spent 12 years at the station, reporting and anchoring weekends. The Calaveras County native also has stops in Bend, Oregon, and Milwaukee on his resume.

Rucker called the move “a promotion” in his emotional Fox 40 sign-off.

“I am thrilled to join the KSEE24 broadcast and digital news team in Fresno and look forward to forging deep relationships within the community. I am grateful for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to join the team that brings Local News that Matters to Central Valley viewers,” Rucker said in a news release.

He replaces Alexan Balekian — who left KSEE in February. Balekian now works as a fundraiser for Community Health Systems.

KSEE vice president and general manager J.R. Jackson said Rucker will also host and produce “Sunday Morning Matters,” the station’s political and public affairs show. Balekian hosted the show until his departure. Booroojian hosted the show in the interim.

“The decision to part ways (with Balekian) was difficult, but mutual. I’m certain he will continue do great things in the community as he’s always done,” Jackson said.

Related Story: Alexan Balekian: Leaving Anchor Desk Is a Higher Calling Not Goodbye

Another New KSEE Reporter

Jason Takhtadjian joined KSEE last month as a reporter. He joined the station from KCAU, the ABC affiliate in Sioux City, Iowa. Both stations are owned by Nexstar.

Takhtadjian grew up in Las Vegas, having moved from southern California. He graduated from UNLV in 2020 before embarking on his TV career.

Benotti Hosts New ESPN Radio Show

Another new face (or voice) on the local media landscape is Phil Benotti, host of drive-time sports show “Behind the Bench” on ESPN 1430 AM. The show airs weekdays 3-6 p.m.

Benotti, a Fresno State grad whose parents still live in Fresno, joined the station after working as the sports director at KXMB-TV in Bismarck, North Dakota. He worked at KTWO-TV in Casper, Wyoming previously.

Benotti replaced Jose Gonzalez, who left for a similar role at a sports station in Sacramento.

Bee Like Us

GV Wire is an all-digital news publication, founded in 2016.

The Fresno Bee, first published in 1922, is joining the all-digital direction. Earlier this month, senior editor Christopher Kirkpatrick announced the news(paper) is reducing its print edition to three days a week — Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The remainder can be found online only.

“This transition will also allow us to invest in making our digital experiences better, including a big update to the digital edition that I’m excited to share more about soon, and a new tool for commenting on stories,” Kirkpatrick wrote.