Veteran Pittsburgh Broadcaster, Executive Announces Retirement

PITTSBURGH, PA — Whether it was behind the microphone or behind the scenes, John Poister has had a profound effect on Pittsburgh newscasts for decades.

Poister announced in a social media post Friday that he was retiring from his role as news director at WHJB news director. According to his LinkedIn profile, Poister had spent the past seven years at the station.

Before that, he spent seven years as the media relations coordinator for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Prior to that, he was the vice president and general manager at Pittsburgh Business Radio, which provided all local programming for WMNY-AM 1360.

He also spent time at WPXI-TV as director of news coverage and content and at Renda Broadcasting as creative services director, where he produced commercials and promotional material for Renda Holdings WSHH-FM, WJAS, and WPTT.

When WPGH-TV/Fox started an evening newscast in 1996, Poister was hired as the broadcast's executive producer to help launch the newscast. While he was there, he was promoted to assistant news director and then news director. He spent more than six years at the station.

Prior to that, he spent seven years as WTAE-TV news director after spending six years there as the station's assignments editor.