A pair of Pittsburgh TV journalists have tied the knot.
WPXI-TV anchor and reporter Amy Hudak married WTAE-TV reporter Jim Madalinsky on Saturday, marking the culmination of a media love story that began at WHAM-TV in Rochester, N.Y., and survived the couple’s staggered move to Pittsburgh. The ceremony and reception were at the Fox Chapel Golf Club.
Hudak and Madalinsky took time to chat with the Post-Gazette about their nuptials Monday while on the way to the airport for their honeymoon in Napa, Calif. The 35-year-old Madalinsky grew up in North Fayette.
“This city has always been home for me and after the ride Amy and I have been on the last few years, I feel so lucky to be able to get married here and share a little piece of that with everyone,” he said.
They met in 2015 when Hudak, 32, of Cheshire, Conn., took a job at the western New York TV station. Madalinsky had been working there for about a year. She was seated next to Madalinksy on her first day at WHAM, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Their relationship was complicated when Madalinsky landed a job at WTAE and moved to Pittsburgh. Maintaining a long-distance relationship “really tested us,” Hudak said. They actually split up for about six months, but that turned out to be a blessing in disguise, she said.
“I think it was exactly what we needed, to realize we needed each other. I really realized I could not live without Jim.”
Things got much easier when Hudak joined WPXI. One might think that working for rival stations could put a strain on their relationship, especially for two journalists who both describe themselves as fiercely competitive. But they say that hasn’t been a problem.
Hudak said they make it a point to not talk shop at home, which “makes our personal life a little more special.” Madalinksy also noted that they work opposite shifts in different parts of the region.
“No matter what, we were a team first and that will always come first,” he said.
The wedding went off without a hitch despite what’s been a particularly rainy summer in Pittsburgh. Though the previous few days had seen some downpours, their wedding day was cloudy, humid and, most importantly, dry.
It was the “nicest reunion imaginable” of folks representing their past and present career stops, Hudak said. A Rochester contingent joined their family, friends and colleagues from WPXI and WTAE in celebration.
“[I]t was just magical being in the same room as all our family and friends,” she said. “It was the first time in years that we were all able to be together, all the family under one roof sharing a meal and dancing together. That made it so much more special given everything everyone’s been through the last year and a half.”
In case you’re wondering, Hudak isn’t sure if she’ll change her last name for TV. She knows Madalinksy will be supportive of whatever she decides “because he understands it’s my identity and brand.”
As they take some time to themselves, the newlyweds are thankful for all the love their love story has received from Pittsburghers.
“Jim and I always want to be very transparent with our viewers,” Hudak said. “We want to share this side of our life with them. The Pittsburgh community is such a tight-knit, family-oriented community, and we’re grateful we get to share this little glimpse of our life with them.”
Joshua Axelrod: jaxelrod@post-gazette.com and Twitter @jaxelburgh.
First Published: July 13, 2021, 9:23 a.m.
