Mark Curtis takes news anchor job in Rhode Island

Veteran newsman Mark Curtis, a Danville resident, has accepted a position in Providence, R.I., anchoring ABC6 News Weekends for WLNE-TV, it was announced today by ABC6 General Manager Steve Doerr. Curtis will be part of the station’s Investigative and Political Unit.

“Mark brings a lot of journalistic firepower to our team,” noted Doer. “We’re delighted to add someone of Mark’s skill level and experience to our organization.”

Curtis is well known in the San Ramon Valley as a long time journalist with KTVU-TV in Oakland from 1993 to 2007. Since then he has been running Mark Curtis Media, specializing in freelance news reporting, public relations and political analysis. He was appointed to the board of San Ramon Regional Medical Center in June and often volunteers his time as emcee at programs given by nonprofit groups in the area.

“I am so torn about leaving Danville, my home of 11 years. I just love this town and its people. But this is a great professional opportunity for me,” Curtis said Sunday night. “My family will remain in Danville through summer, as Allie is completing her senior year at Monte Vista and Patrick is finishing eighth grade at Los Cerros.”

Curtis covered the 2008 Presidential campaign, traveling the country with the leading candidates of both parties as a blogger and political analyst. His book, “Age of Obama: A Reporter’s Journey with Clinton, McCain and Obama in the Making of the President 2008,” was released during Inaugural week 2009 by Nimble Books Inc.

“I have lived all over the United States, from Wisconsin, to Florida, Washington, D.C., to California,” Curtis stated. “I am a political junkie by trade.”

Curtis said that his passion for politics began in the early ’90s when he spent time as a Congressional Fellow, working in the House Judiciary Subcommittee of Rep. Charles Schumer (D, New York), as well as for Sen. Herb Kohl (D, Wisconsin). His duties included planning for Congressional hearings, budget and issue research, developing press contacts and legislative strategies.

Before coming to KTVU, Curtis covered Washington, D.C., as Capital Correspondent for Cox Television.

Curtis grew up in Milwaukee and graduated with a degree in broadcast communication from Marquette University. He received a master’s degree with honors from the University of Florida in Gainesville, and is completing his doctorate in Educational Leadership at St. Mary’s College.

“We will always come back to visit, and I will remain involved in some local nonprofits such as the Boy Scouts, Sentinels of Freedom and the YMCA, in an advisory capacity,” said Curtis. “Thank you, Danville, for all you have meant to me and my family these past 11 years.”