Melvin Runecraft

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Melvin Runecraft
Born August 25, 1953 (1953-08-25) (age 71)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Alma mater University of Milwaukee
Occupation news anchorwoman
Years active 1968-present
Home town Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Television
  • WMYX (Ind., later Fox, ABC, now Fox) (1970-1992)
  • USNCD (1992-2008)
  • WXWI (Fox, now ABC) (2009-present)
  • WZWI (Ind.) (2009-present)
Spouse Cheryl Lawton (m. 1970)
Children

Melvin Rueben Runecraft (born August 25, 1953) is an American evening news anchor for ABC affiliate station WXWI-FTV of Milwaukee currently anchors WXWI's 5 p.m. broadcast and WZWI's 6 and 9 p.m. broadcasts with Kelly Ling.

Early Life and career[edit]

Career[edit]

Anchorman[edit]

Runecraft began his television career in 1970 as the 9:00 PM anchor on then-independent station WMYX (channel 9, now a Fox affilite) where he remained until 1992.

USNCD[edit]

From USNCD to WXWI[edit]

Melvin Runecraft made his debut on then-Fox affiliate WXWI (now an ABC affiliate) on March 9, 2009. For Runecraft's arrival, NoSirGifts spent $5 million in renovations. In addition to that cost, WXWI also signed Runecraft to a lucrative three-year, $300,000/year contract, tripling his USNCD salary. The total cost for everything (renovations, negotiation right paid to WXWI, signing Runecraft) was over $20 million.

WXWI's 5:30 and 9 p.m. newscasts moved to WXWI's independent sister station WZWI when WXWI switched from Fox to ABC in 2012. In 2014 and 2015, WXWI/WZWI's 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10 p.m. newscasts consistently gained higher ratings than WMW and WMKE. But in 2017, ratings dipped and WMYX's 5 and 9 p.m. consistently beat WXWI at 5:00 p.m.

Melvin Runecraft co-anchors with Kelly Ling for WXWI's 5, 6, and 9 p.m. newscast since March 2009 while WXWI's 4 and 10 p.m. are anchored by Cyndi Smoot and Lee Ann Hackson, continuting the a two-woman anchor team that NoSirGifts began to encourage their stations to pair two females for their evening newscasts (or at least the early afternoon and late newscasts).

Queen of the Willis[edit]

Personal life[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]