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Veteran Houston news anchor and reporter Jerome Gray has accepted the position of vice president and senior press officer for Metro.

Most recently anchor at KPRC (Channel 2), Gray’s contract with the NBC affiliate was not renewed late last year.

According to a Metro news release:

Gray, a media professional with more than 20 years of experience in Houston, most recently worked as a senior news editor and anchor at KPRC-TV, Channel 2. Most Houstonians became familiar with Gray’s Emmy-award winning work during his 17 years as a broadcast journalist at KHOU-TV, Channel 11.

“We’re excited that Jerome will be leading our press office, lending his expertise as we continue to improve the reputation of the NEW METRO as an agency that is open and transparent,” said George Greanias, the authority’s president & CEO. “Jerome understands that to achieve our strategic priority of becoming a trusted community partner, we have to work hand-in-hand with the media and be responsive to the needs and concerns of this community.”

“I am thrilled to be joining the NEW METRO team,” Gray said. “It’s a great opportunity to help share the story of what’s happening at the authority and how it benefits the community. I look forward to working with the media to convey accurate information regarding transportation issues and the NEW METRO.”

According the The Houston Press’ Hairballs blog, Gray will start at a salary of $170,000.

Gray was hired by KPRC from KHOU (Channel 11) in December 2005, shortly after Channel 2 faced protests by black groups over the demotion of anchors Linda Lorelle and Khambrel Marshall to lower-profile positions. Lorelle is no longer with the station; Marshall remains with Channel 2 as a weather forecaster.

Gray, a native of Philadelphia and graduate of Temple University, worked at radio stations in Philadelphia and at TV stations in Sacramento and Richmond, Va., before coming to Channel 11 in 1989. He has won more than three dozen journalism awards, including two local Emmy Awards, and hosted fund-raisers for SEARCH, Volunteer Houston and the Houston chapter of the Association of Black Journalists.

He is married with two children.

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