TV Anchor/Reporter is Leaving 6ABC for Her ‘Dream Job’

6 ABC reporter and former CBS 3 anchor Jessica Kartalija is on the move again.

The anchor, who joined the Action News team as a freelance reporter last November, is leaving for another opportunity after less than a year at the station.

Kartalija tells The Philadelphia Inquirer she is taking a network correspondent position in New York City. She has not disclosed the network.

“My dream has always been to go to New York,” Kartalija told The Inquirer. “It took a lot of paying my dues and traveling, and here we are.”

Kartalija's TV Background

Jessica Kartalija joined Action News after being let go by CBS3 as part of companywide cutbacks in advance of the recently approved merger between parent company Paramount Global and Skydance Media.

Kartalija had spent six years as the main co-anchor of CBS3 with Ukee Washington.

Her departure came only months after she was named 2024 Television Broadcaster of the Year by the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters. Ouch!

Broadcasting continues to be a hard and often cruel business.

The Emmy-award-winning anchor came to Philly from WJZ-TV in Baltimore, where she anchored the 5 pm news.  

TV Anchor, Teacher, Actor

Kartalija had been teaching as an adjunct professor in the journalism program at Villanova University, a position she will have to give up as she moves on to NYC.

Jessica was born and raised in San Diego, Calif., but her family is originally from Pennsylvania. She graduated from The Pennsylvania State University, majoring in Broadcast Journalism and minoring in Spanish.

While in college, she completed a semester abroad, living in Spain, and became fluent. 

She's had acting roles in the HBO series Servant and House of Cards on Netflix, and in the movie Transformers.

Jessica Loved Action News

Although she only worked part-time for a short time at 6ABC, Jessia had only good things to say about her time in the Action News family, in an Instagram post.

My time at 6abc Action News has been nothing short of incredible. Working with some of the most talented journalists, producers, photographers and storytellers reminded me why I wanted to become a journalist.

Action News is more than a newsroom, it’s a TRUE family.

I’m beyond excited for this next chapter, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the Action News team 💙

Stay tuned 🍎

https://youtu.be/wH_iN1nt_Sw?si=o1hu-yCmsMYYp0K4