WDSU Reporter Heath Allen Retires After 28 Years

Heath Allen

After 28 years at Hearst’s NBC affiliate WDSU New Orleans, reporter Heath Allen will retire on Sept. 30.

He started at WDSU in 1994.  During his tenure, he has been an assignment editor, an anchor and the news director before ultimately becoming a reporter on WDSU News This Morning.

“There is no greater ambassador for the people of Southeast Louisiana than Heath Allen,” said Mike Neelly, WDSU president and general manager. “Heath’s extraordinary career and commitment to our community is the gold-standard for what it means to be a local journalist.  I am honored to have worked with him and congratulate him on his well-earned retirement.”

Over the course of his career at WDSU, Allen has covered countless storms, breaking news stories and has been an instrumental voice for residents on the North Shore of New Orleans. His reporting on Hurricane Katrina was recognized by the state of Louisiana culminating with an invitation to the Governor’s mansion to receive an award for service. During Katrina, Allen and photographer Tom Fitzgerald embedded in St. Bernard parish documenting the storm, the levee-breaks and the historic flooding.

Allen also traveled the world covering major news events for WDSU News including coverage from Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Cuba and Haiti. His special reports brought important world events right to the doorstep of the residents of New Orleans. His reporting has earned him multiple awards including Emmy awards, Edward R. Murrow awards and Press Club of New Orleans awards, and he has twice been named reporter of the year by the Associated Press.

“Being a true storyteller is an amazing gift,” said WDSU’s News Director Melissa Dart. “Heath has that gift. He will go to any length to ensure he covers all angles of a story and to keep our community safe. That is just the kind of journalist he is, and he will be deeply missed.”

“What a privilege to be a part of Greater New Orleans, both sides of the lake and beyond,” Allen said. “I’m thankful to live and work in such a wonderfully diverse community. I’ve always loved telling people stories, personal stories, in the good times and the not-so-good.  There’s so much to learn from the honesty of kids, the courage of veterans and the wisdom of the elderly — those in the margins. I always look for the light. I’ve also been blessed to work with a great group of dedicated and talented reporters, photographers and managers through the years.  And there is no better company than Hearst. I care about this company, because they cared about me and my family, especially through Katrina. All in all, it has been a great run.”