TV Talk: WPXI reporter Amy Hudak marries WTAE's Jim Madalinsky

Pittsburgh TV stations are rivals in coverage and ratings but for two reporters at different local stations, it’s just a matter of doing similar work for different outlets. And given their respective beats, they don’t compete with one another on stories, which should make married life a bit easier.

WPXI-TV general assignment reporter Amy Hudak married WTAE-TV Westmoreland County bureau reporter Jim Madalinsky Saturday at Fox Chapel Golf Club in front of a pared-down-due-to-covid crowd of 100 family members and friends.

The pair met at WHAM-TV, the ABC affiliate in Rochester, N.Y., when Hudak was a new hire in 2016.

“I never thought I’d live in Rochester,” Hudak said. “In TV you take the job where you can. And on my first day of work my desk is next to this guy named Jim. I thought he was a really good reporter and super-down-to-earth and I think he felt a little bad for me being in a new city. He was always a nice, friendly colleague and over time we grew closer and closer. I think within a year we both knew, this is it.”

Taking some time off to marry my best friend! See you soon! ? pic.twitter.com/Vhuqqr3kLG

— Amy Hudak (@amy_hudak) July 9, 2021

Hudak said she and Madalinsky tried to hide their romantic relationship from colleagues.

“We did not want to be that couple and everybody found out and it ended up being the worst-kept secret ever,” Hudak said on Sunday. “It’s so funny because yesterday we took a picture with a dozen of our colleagues from Rochester and the main anchor we both worked with in Rochester officiated our wedding. It was a total full circle moment.”

As they sought to advance in broadcasting, the couple tried to find jobs in the same city — Madalinsky grew up in North Fayette ; Hudak is from Hartford, Conn. – but were not able to make that happen at the time. Madalinsky came to WTAE in 2018; Hudak went to a station in her hometown.

“I was completely devastated the day we left for jobs in different cities,” Hudak recalled. “I actually never thought we’d end up working in the same city. One of us considered getting out of news altogether because we didn’t think we’d be able to make it work. The day I got the call from WPXI it was the best thing ever. It was my career and my personal life just coming together in the best way possible.”

The couple got engaged in June 2020. And while many local reporters choose to live on the same side of town as their station is located, Hudak and Madalinsky have split the difference.

“I think it’s exactly 19 miles for me and 19 miles for Jim in opposite directions,” Hudak said.

While they try to maintain their individual identities in their work and personal lives — Hudak will decide over their honeymoon whether or not to change her name on-air at Channel 11 — the couple decided to share the happy news of their wedding on social media last week.

“This is such a family-oriented community and everybody is kind and welcomes us into their homes every single day,” Hudak said. “I couldn’t imagine not sharing that side of my life. If people are going to trust me (to tell their stories), I want them to know who I am.”

This isn’t the first instance of local TV reporters from rival stations marrying but it isn’t particularly common either.

Hudak and Madalinsky are off to honeymoon in Napa, Calif. They’ll be back on the air at their respective stations July 19.