KCRG-TV9 Announces Hiring of New Evening News Anchor

A Cedar Rapids television station that's had very few changes in its evening anchor chairs over the years, has announced who will soon become part of the news team at KCRG-TV9. He's a face that many in eastern Iowa already know.

KCRG has announced that Jim Mertens will be joining anchors Beth Malicki, Nicole Agee, Meteorologist Joe Winters, and Sports Director Scott Saville on KCRG later this month.

Mertens has spent the last 27 years as a news anchor at WQAD in Moline, Illinois, in the Quad Cities. He's also hosted a pair of programs on the station: "News 8 This Week" and "The Cities". Mertens started his broadcasting career while still in high school at a radio station in his hometown of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He also worked at a pair of radio stations in Eau Claire, Wisconsin while in college and then moved to television at WEAU where he would become a weeknight co-anchor. Mertens then worked for six years as an anchor and reporter at WWMT in Kalamazoo, Michigan before moving to WQAD.

During his career, Mertens has been president of the Iowa Broadcast News Association and Northwest Broadcast News Association. He has also won numerous news awards in both Iowa and Illinois.

In a media release from KCRG-TV9, Mertens said,

“The pride and love I have for local TV news made KCRG-TV9 the perfect fit for me. I have a passion for journalism and sharing stories with the community that is mirrored at KCRG-TV9. I’m excited for the opportunity to explore more of Eastern Iowa, work with this amazing team of journalists and to build on the trusted local news that is a hallmark of KCRG-TV9.”

Mertens' first day on the air will be Tuesday, May 24. He'll appear weekdays on KCRG-TV9 News First at 4 p.m., as well as the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. evening newscasts.