The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia

TV Director Leigh Pullekines
NBC 10 control room, Bala Cynwyd
2016

Leigh Ingram Pullekines is a member of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and currently directs live newscasts and special programming for both WCAU-TV & WWSI-TV, the respective NBC and Telemundo O & O’s in Philadelphia.

A more than 20-year veteran of the company, Leigh was promoted to a Director in 2004 after being a Technical Director since 1997. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Neumann University taking great joy in teaching Television Production.

Growing up in Virginia, Leigh attended James Madison University majoring in Spanish with an emphasis on International Business. She was named #65 in the top 100 alumni in the Montpelier Campus Magazine when celebrating the University’s centennial birthday. It was there, in Harrisonburg, VA, that Leigh began her career working part-time at WHSV-TV.

In 1991, Leigh accepted a full-time position at WRIC in Richmond, VA; a job where she would direct a variety of community affairs shows while learning every aspect of television production. Within three years, Leigh would find herself moving yet again, this time to NewsChannel8 in Springfield, VA, a 24-hour news operation that would hone and refine her talents. She directed daily newscasts and several sports shows including seasonal stints dedicated to the Washington Redskins and the DC United Soccer team.

In 1997, Leigh made the move to WCAU-TV in Philadelphia as a Technical Director, eager to work on the most advanced switcher at the time, the Grass Valley 4000. It took seven years for an opportunity to return to directing news and Leigh eagerly accepted it. She has directed hundreds of newscasts in English and Spanish for both NBC10 & Telemundo62 as well as special programs that include both the Phillies and the Eagles Championship parades, several Senate & Mayoral debates, telethons, and a yearly Christmas show produced at Longwood Gardens that garnered her multiple Emmy awards.

Perhaps her most memorable experiences as a director came during 36 hours of straight coverage of Hurricane Sandy, a true test of anyone’s mettle. Her outstanding efforts were profiled in a national publication, the DGA Quarterly journal.

Among Leigh’s other accomplishments, she served on the NATAS board from 2010-2014 and was the first recipient of the NBC10 Employee of the Quarter Award in 2014. Currently, she works in the new state-of-the-art Comcast Technology Center directing for both NBC10 and Telemundo.

When not at the station, Leigh enjoys teaching Television Production at Neumann University and traveling to see friends and live music. She is also a board member of H-TEAMS, a non-profit organization that promotes education, art and music in her hometown of Havertown, PA. She works year round on the Havertown Music Festival which includes 30+ musical acts and 4 stages.

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com