Reporter Orko Manna leaves KCRA 3, calling it a ‘tough decision.’ Where’s he headed next?
The same reasons that brought KCRA reporter Orko Manna to Sacramento have motivated his departure from the capital city for an opportunity in another market.
Manna, who worked at Channel 3 as a reporter and fill-in anchor, started Monday in Houston at CBS-affiliate KHOU. He came to Sacramento from Las Vegas to challenge himself and develop his skills in a different area, Manna said in an interview. Through his three-year stint, he bonded with co-workers and developed true friendships, he said, making it even more difficult to move away.
“It was a really tough decision,” Manna said after departing the station on Oct. 1.
He arrived in Sacramento during the pandemic but noted the social distancing measures did not limit his ability to tell stories.
Reporting in Sacramento taught him how to cover a large region — the most expansive area he’s ever covered in his career — while also honing his storytelling skills and developing his ability to connect with sources, he said.
A memorable story Manna recalled working on involved a local Russian group called Voices of Russian Opposition in which Russians living in Sacramento sought to support Ukraine in the war against Russia. A woman from Ukraine thanked him for his work after watching that segment that ultimately won an Emmy, he said.
“The Emmy win was great, but knowing our work ... can impact someone and they can feel something from it, that was amazing,” Manna said.
Manna’s departure marks the fourth on-air journalist to leave KCRA in four months. Meteorologist Mark Finan retired in June after serving with the station for 33 years, calling his choice to roll up the green screens “bittersweet.”
Reporter and anchor Brittany Hope left Channel 3 in August and is now reporting for KNBC in Los Angeles.
Evening anchor Ty Steele, who did not respond to several requests for comment, announced in September he was leaving California for another opportunity in news.
This story was originally published October 14, 2024 at 12:00 AM.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly listed the number of on-air journalists who have recently left KCRA.
