http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEsEIJd7mp8
At this time last year, KGW’s Abbey Gibb was shivering in Spokane’s cold and laboring at that market’s woebegone NBC affiliate, KREM. She was just a recent San Diego State, Magna Cum Laude, Valedictorian, journo grad with a dream to anchor in the big leagues and a Society of Professional Journalists award for excellence in coverage of an escaped mental patient. Abbey had spent the three years prior anchoring weekends and reporting weekdays, covering everything from devastating wildfires to the city’s worst snow storm in history.
She was waiting for her chance, any chance in a big market. Well, Fortune smiled upon Abbey in January of 2011 and she was off to Portland for her shot at a major market. She started out as a general assignment reporter, but talent like this can’t stay in the background for long. By year’s end she was anchoring all weekend long, morning shows and nightly news, and Pdx was officially in love with her.
With her extreme good looks, reassuring delivery, warm sense of transitional humor, dignified deportment and blonde(ish) hair spun on the looms of the Gods, Gibb is the fastest rising star in 2011 Portland TV news. She is the freshest face on the most dominant news station. (KGW is so far ahead of KOIN and the other sad sacks of local news that they’ll never catch up. They shouldn’t even try.)
Gibb speaks Chinese, having spent some formative years in Taiwan. Before Spokane, she was brightening up dismal Idaho Falls and working as a reporter, news anchor, and weather anchor. While there she won the Idaho Press Club Award for Best Medical Feature for a story on meth-addicted mothers. She enjoys snowboarding and going to the beach. Here is a photo of her preparing to chop down a Christmas tree. And here are some screen captures from a fan site taken during her time in Spokane.
Gibb is enjoying her time in Portland. In her Twitter profile, she says, “As a lifelong yogi/vegetarian, I’m thrilled to live in a city that finally understands me!”
And thus far, Portland is thrilled to have her. And it may not be for long. Talent like hers will always be in demand in larger markets, even on the national shows. By this time next year she could be the toast of New York, LA or replacing Brian Williams on the nightly national feed. Best to enjoy her weekend newscasts while she’s still here.
