KFVS12's Jacquin leaving for job with drug manufacturer

~ The television station is conducting a nationwide search to replace her.

KFVS12's Amy Jacquin has been a friendly, familiar face on local television airwaves for more than a decade, offering up popular segments like "Does it Work Wednesday," as well as hard news stories and inspirational profiles of people from across the region.

The reporter-anchor will sign off for the last time at the end of the 5 p.m. "Heartland News" on Nov. 11. After 11 1/2 years, Jacquin is leaving KFVS to work for GlaxoSmithKline, a pharmaceutical company.

"She's an amazing talent," said general manager Mike Smythe. "I really hate to see her go. But she wants to move on and do something else."

Jacquin said the types of stories she's most proud of are those that leave people feeling positive or with a need to take action. But she's had to cover some heartbreaking stories as well, such as a fatal fire in Parma, Mo., where several children died.

"We were there when the parents arrived," she said. "It can be hard. You're supposed to be impartial, and your writing should reflect that. But when you see people experiencing such emotion, it's hard for you not to experience it, too."

In her new job, she will be a pharmaceutical sales representative in Southeast Missouri, dealing in four kinds of drugs, including those treating diabetes and erectile dysfunction.

She's not leaving the CBS affiliate because she's unhappy with the job. She said she's just feeling a greater need to have a flexible schedule, something the world of TV news cannot offer.

"This business requires a lot of time, physically at the station and during your supposed off hours," she said. "I just need a little more control over my schedule."

Jacquin said her father died last year and her mother's getting older. She wants to be able to move to Washington, Mo., where her mother lives, should she ever need to.

She admits she'll miss her co-workers and the people she got a chance to meet every day as part of her job. She'll also miss the creativity involved in putting a story together.

Despite that, she doesn't expect to return to television news.

"I'm leaving with the intent that this is going to be a career change for me," she said. "But I'm wise enough to never say never. I'm never going to close the door permanently."

Smythe said the station is conducting a nationwide search to replace Jacquin. He and KFVS' news director recently went to Dallas, home of Talent Dynamics, a placement firm for television talent. Smythe said they looked at 100 candidates from across the country.

He was impressed, he said, that 51 of the candidates had heard of KFVS and said they would like to work there. Smythe said they also have some good internal candidates. He hopes to have someone hired by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Jacquin said she has mixed emotions about leaving.

"I'm very blessed to have had a good relationship with so many of the viewers," she said. "I hope as people see me, they still come up and talk to me. That's what I've enjoyed so much about being in the news business, is the interaction with everyone."

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137