Vinnie Politan is leaving Atlanta-based HLN July 3 and joining the NBC affiliate 11 Alive as a morning anchor, I've learned exclusively.
WXIA-TV General Manager John Deushane confirmed the news to me but couldn't provide any details.
11 Alive sent a memo to staff today saying he will join Karyn Greer in the mornings starting the first week of August, effectively replacing Ted Hall, who left last year to return to Knoxville.
Politan referred comments to HLN, which released a statement: "Vinnie has been a tremendous asset to HLN over the years. We thank him and wish him only the best."
He currently hosts "HLN Now" from 2 to 5 p.m. weekdays. Other shows he has hosted for HLN in the past: "On The Case," "After Dark," and "Making it in America."
Politan graduated Stanford University as an undergraduate and received his law degree at Seton Hall School of Law. He started an an assistant prosecutor in the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, then practiced as a private attorney before switching to journalism.
He worked as as reporter and anchor for Central Florida News 13 in Orlando in the early 2000s and covered the disputed 2000 presidential election during the "hanging chad" controversy. He joined Atlanta-based Court TV (now TruTV) in 2001 as a correspondent and host, then oversaw the TruTV's court-based "In Session" programming, which went away last year. He split time between TruTV and HLN from 2009 until 20013. For a time, he also hosted a morning show on Sirius/XM radio.
Over the years, he has covered many of the highest-profile court cases including trials of Robert Blake, Lindsay Lohan, Casey Anthony, Jodi Arias and George Zimmerman.
HLN itself has changed management over the past year and rebranded itself as the "social media" network.
His departure signifies a continued move away from court-focused coverage, which tends to be feast or famine.
Last week, there were rumors that HLN might be merged with the edgy journalistic venture Vice.
Here is a sample of Politan's work on HLN:
And here's a touching tribute to his late father:
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