AddThis SmartLayers

Ex regional press man lands news anchor role in US

An award-winning former regional press reporter who moved to Mexico to be with the girl of his dreams has landed a new job as a TV news anchor in California.

Tristan Nichols, a former defence correspondent at The Herald in Plymouth, has become a news anchor for U-T TV, based in San Diego, after a seven-month wait to get a US visa.

He moved to live in Tijuana in Mexico in June 2012 after leaving The Herald when he met and fell in love with his now-fiancée Jacky, who he had been in email correspondence with for seven years.

Tristan worked for The Herald for more than 12 years, and won the Daily Print Journalist of the Year title at last year’s EDF Energy South West Media Awards for a series of reports from the frontline in Afghanistan where he was embedded with British troops for three months.

Tristan Nichols, left, is welcomed to his new role at U-T TV by JR Mahon, director of news and programming.

After moving to Tijuana, he got the role on U-T TV after researching local media in the San Diego area and contacting the company to find out about how its newspaper integrated with the television station.

Tristan, who has blogged about his move to Mexico, said: “This really is a dream move for me, and one which I would never have imagined in a million years.

“If someone had told me two years ago, when I was sat in a ditch in the middle of nowhere in Afghanistan, that in a couple of years’ time I would be a show host/anchor for a TV station in Southern California, I would have laughed.

“To be honest I’m still pinching myself to make sure I’m not dreaming. I’m excited by this role, and I’m looking forward to sharing my skills and experience, and enthusiasm for quality journalism, with U-T TV.”

Tristan’s new TV show will be launched in the coming months but he is currently reporting the news during the station’s PrimeTime slot, and anchoring the news cut-ins throughout every evening.

JR Mahon, director of news and programming at U-T TV, said: “Tristan fills a huge void missing in local news in San Diego.

“His experiences around the world will greatly benefit what we are trying to do here as we continue to innovate in multi-platform media integration. We’re delighted to have him join the U-T TV team.”

The U-T San Diego newspaper has a daily circulation of more than 300,000 and its TV station was launched in June 2012.

5 comments

You can follow all replies to this entry through the comments feed.
  • May 23, 2013 at 9:30 am
    Permalink

    Can I have a walk-on role in your bio pic, playing myself?

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)
  • May 23, 2013 at 4:01 pm
    Permalink

    ‘…and in latest news, the cop-killing hamster wrestled to the ground outside Burger King has given an exclusive interview to U-T TV…we’re back after this…’ Cuts to advert.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)
  • May 23, 2013 at 5:12 pm
    Permalink

    Congrats Tris. Soon you’ll have many leather-bound books and an apartment that smells of rich mahogany. And remembr, you’re more than a man, you’re an anchorman, just be careful with that teleprompter, especially if someone puts a question mark after “I’m Tristan Nichols”. Stay classy in San Diego and we’ll stay classy in Plymouth.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)