ABC7/WABC-TV New York’s Emmy® Award-winning annual half-hour breast cancer series returns with a new special, “Breakthroughs For Breast Cancer,” airing Friday, Oct. 7 (12:30 p.m.), with a rebroadcast on Sunday, Oct. 9 (5:00 a.m.).
Hosted by Eyewitness News anchor Liz Cho, this year’s “Breakthroughs For Breast Cancer” special highlights the latest developing treatments, cutting-edge advances, and breakthroughs made through the stories of women whose lives have been changed.
Special interviews and spotlights include the following:
“Good Morning America” anchor Amy Robach, a vocal advocate for cancer research, recounts her story of getting a life-saving mammogram and encourages other women to be vigilant.
An African American breast cancer survivor who has teamed up with the American Cancer Society and made it her mission to make sure other Black women know the genetic risk of breast cancer and how to increase their chances of survival.
A Long Island woman recounts how she pushed for her local hospital to offer her an innovative new state-of-the-art procedure — the robotic surgery that helps reduce scarring and recovery times for women with mastectomies and reconstructive surgery — and how her efforts are helping women recover faster.
A new procedure that drastically reduces chronic conditions caused by breast cancer surgery and helps to eliminate the pain and swelling of lymphedema, saving some women years of suffering.
About WABC WABC-TV has been the leader in local news and entertainment programming in the New York City area for more than 60 years. Producing more than 45 hours of live local news and weather each week, Channel 7 “Eyewitness News”is the most watched local news in New York and the United States. WABC-TV also produces “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” weekdays at 9:00 a.m., which is seen in more than 200 markets across the U.S. Quality news and programming, cutting-edge technology, and ongoing community outreach are the hallmarks of excellence that have consistently kept WABC-TV New York’s No. 1 station and the most-watched television station in the nation.
WABC News Executive Marilu Galvez Named President and General Manager of ABC7/WABC-TV New York
Emmy® Award-winning journalist and WABC executive Marilu Galvez has been named president and general manager of WABC-TV, replacing Chad Matthews who stepped into the role of president, ABC Owned Television Stations, earlier this year. In her new role, Galvez has overall management responsibility for ABC7/WABC-TV and its ancillary businesses.
“I have worked with Marilu for more than 20 years in various roles, and her wealth of experience in news and community engagement makes her the perfect person to lead WABC-TV now and into the future,” said Matthews.
“It’s a great honor and privilege to lead New York’s and the nation’s No. 1 station – a station I have been a part of for almost 20 years,” said Galvez. “As WABC-TV’s new leader, I am deeply committed to supporting the incredibly talented individuals who make Channel 7 exceptional in every way. Together, we will continue to expand and deepen our connection with our tri-state audience and, more importantly, continue to tell impactful stories and deliver vital information across our platforms that reflect and inform the communities we serve.”
Galvez most recently served as vice president of Community Engagement and Development for WABC-TV, and she is also the committee lead for the Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution Networks’ Diversity Equity and Inclusion team. As vice president of Community Engagement and Development since 2018, she is responsible for community outreach efforts and for growing relationships with key service organizations in the tri-state. She aligns news, programming, marketing and on-air talent with cause-related events and campaigns, and leverages opportunities with advertiser support.
Through strategy and innovation, her leadership has helped expand and elevate a multicultural presence at the station. She is an active member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and was named one of the Top 10 Latina Corporate Executives of the Year by LATINA Style in 2019.
As Diversity Equity Inclusion lead, Galvez reports directly to Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution President Debra OConnell, helping to unify DEI efforts across Networks – ABC, ABC Owned Television Stations, Disney Channel, ESPN, FX, Freeform and National Geographic – with a focus on the company’s key strategic pillars. Prior to serving as Networks’ DEI lead, she was the committee lead for OTV Belong, the diversity and inclusion team for ABC Owned Television Stations.
Prior to joining WABC in 2001, Galvez worked as a production assistant and assignment editor at Telemundo, an assignment editor at WNYW and an assignment manager at WNBC.
Galvez received her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Maryland University College in 2021. She is a board member for the nonprofit humanitarian organization American Red Cross and the nonprofit STOMP OUT Bullying. She is also a strong supporter of the Boys & Girls Club, WABC anchor Sade Baderinwa’s Get Reel Foundation and all of Disney’s VoluntEars program initiatives.
About WABC WABC-TV has been the leader in local news and entertainment programming in the New York City area for more than 61 years. Producing more than 45 hours of live, local news and weather each week, Channel 7 “Eyewitness News”is the most-watched local news in New York and the United States. WABC-TV also produces “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” weekdays at 9:00 a.m., which is seen in more than 200 markets across the U.S. Quality news and programming, cutting-edge technology and ongoing community outreach are the hallmarks of excellence that have consistently kept WABC-TV New York’s No. 1 station and the most-watched television station in the nation.
About ABC Owned Television Stations Disney Media Entertainment & Distribution’s eight owned ABC stations are multiplatform leaders in local news and information. Collectively No. 1 across all U.S. television, reaching 23% of households and more than 34 million Total Viewers and 62 million digital visitors a month, with a record of 2.2 billion minutes streamed, the eight stations are comprised of WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KGO-TV San Francisco, KTRK-TV Houston, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV Fresno. WABC-New York has remained the No. 1 station in the country for 19 years. The stations also deliver locally sourced storytelling to more than 17 million viewers across America through its multiplatform lifestyle network, Localish. The station group has received numerous prestigious awards. Most recently, in 2022, the station group was recognized as a finalist by Fast Company’s World Changing Idea for creating “Our America Equity Report.” In 2021, WABC was awarded 17 Emmy® Awards and several stations collected seven regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, including “Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” and the prestigious national award for “Overall Excellence.” The entertainment brand “On the Red Carpet” won Broadcast & Cable’s “Best Lifestyle Show In 2020, the stations received five Broadcast & Cable awards, including in the 2020 Best in Local TV Awards category as Station Group of the Year for its innovative and next-generation news reporting, and in the major market category for 2020: Best News Coverage, Best Digital Multiplatform or Website, Best Investigative Reporting Station Group and Best Public Affairs Programming, illustrating the Group’s strength and ever-increasing growth and reach in the multiplatform space.
‘On the Red Carpet at the Oscars® 2022®’ Captures the Fan Experience and Rolls Out the Red Carpet for the 94th Oscars® Pre-Show Kicks Off Sunday, March 27, Live on ABC
Pre-Show Red Carpet Begins at 4:00 p.m. EDT/3:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. PDT and Streams Live at OnTheRedCarpet.com (1:00-5:00 p.m. PDT), With an ‘After the Awards’ Recap (9:00-11:00 p.m. PDT), ‘After Dark’ (11:35 p.m.-12:00 a.m. PDT) and an ‘On The Red Carpet After the Awards’ Streaming Special on Monday, March 28 (7:00 a.m. PDT) at www.ontheredcarpet.com
‘On the Red Carpet’ Teams Up With Disney Movie Insiders to Capture the Fan Experience Live With ‘Ultimate Movie Fans’ Viewing Parties Across the Country
“On the Red Carpet at the Oscars® 2022” presents a live star-studded and fan-fueled pre-show on Sunday, March 27 (4:00 p.m. EDT | 3:00 p.m. CDT | 1:00 p.m. PDT), followed by “On the Red Carpet After the Awards” (9:00-11:00 p.m. PDT) and “On the Red Carpet After Dark” (11:35 p.m.–12:00 a.m. PDT). Airing after the Academy Awards®, both post-shows will recap the awards, fashion and parties, with the next-day streaming special “On The Red Carpet After the Awards” on March 28 (7:00 a.m. PDT). With 7.5 hours of live Oscar® pre- and post-show coverage, the red carpet event will air in 84 markets and across 200 territories worldwide. The star-studded red carpet event will also be available to stream at ontheredcarpet.com. “The Oscars®” will air live on ABC and broadcast outlets worldwide on Sunday, March 27, at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT.
“On the Red Carpet at the Oscars” will be hosted by ABC7 Los Angeles entertainment reporter George Pennacchio, who will welcome Hollywood’s stars on the red carpet at Hollywood’s Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. He will be joined by 6ABC/WPVI-TV Philadelphia entertainment reporter Alicia Vitarelli and ABC7/WABC-TV New York’s entertainment reporter Sandy Kenyon who will share his annual Oscar winner predictions.
“On the Red Carpet” celebrates movie lovers with correspondent Karl Schmid who will join fans’ watch parties that are broadcasting from across the country showing their love for movies. Adding to the fan experience, “On the Red Carpet” teamed up with Disney Movie Insiders, the official loyalty program of The Walt Disney Studios, to reward fans with opportunities to earn points toward exclusive movie rewards.
Fashion and celebrity influencer Nicky Hilton will join the red carpet with supermodel Roshumba Williams and ABC7 meteorologist Leslie Lopez to take a close look at this year’s designs, trends and fashion from the red carpet.
After the Academy Awards, Pennacchio will host “On The Red Carpet After The Awards” (9:00-11:00 p.m. PDT) at the Governors Ball; correspondent Schmid will broadcast from the Vanity Fair party, and ABC7 reporter Christiane Cordero will be live at the Elton John Foundation Gala.
During “On The Red Carpet After Dark” (11:35 p.m.-12:00 a.m. PDT), entertainment correspondents will deliver a recap of the Oscar events, from red carpet interviews to winners and fashion.
“On The Red Carpet After the Awards,” the streaming special hosted by George Pennacchio on Monday, March 28 (7:00 a.m. PDT), will recap Oscar Sunday with the “On the Red Carpet” correspondents ABC7 anchor Brandi Hitt, ABC7 meteorologist Leslie Lopez, 6abc Alicia Vitarelli and fashion correspondent Roshumba Williams. It will be available to stream live at ontheredcarpet.com
“On the Red Carpet” will air across ABC Owned Television Stations and ABC affiliates, garnering over 60% U.S. coverage with added international coverage.
Follow @OnTheRedCarpet on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok for additional exclusive content including fashion galleries, interviews and more.
About KABC Los Angeles ABC7 Los Angeles is Southern California’s No. 1 local news and information source. ABC7 is a leader in digital and social audience engagements and was the first station in the Los Angeles market to regularly broadcast news in high definition and also the first local television station in the United States to surpass 3 million Facebook followers. The station’s offices and studio are located in Glendale, California.
About ABC Owned Television Stations Disney Media Entertainment & Distribution’s eight owned ABC stations are multiplatform leaders in local news and information. Collectively No. 1 across all U.S. television, reaching 23% of households and more than 34 million Total Viewers and 62 million digital visitors a month, the eight stations are comprised of WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KGO-TV San Francisco, KTRK-TV Houston, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV Fresno. The stations also deliver locally sourced storytelling to more than 17 million viewers across America through its multiplatform lifestyle network, Localish. In 2020, the stations received five Broadcast & Cable awards, including in the 2020 Best in Local TV Awards category as Station Group of the Year for its innovative and next-generation news reporting, and in the major market category for 2020: Best News Coverage, Best Digital Multiplatform or Website, Best Investigative Reporting Station Group and Best Public Affairs Programming, illustrating the Group’s strength and ever-increasing growth and reach in the multiplatform space.
ABC7/WABC-TV New York premieres “Broadway Backstage: Spring Preview” on Saturday, March 19 (7:00 p.m.), with a rebroadcast on Sunday, March 20 (5:30 a.m.). The half-hour special is a sneak peek of the most popular musicals and plays debuting on Broadway this spring. Eyewitness News anchor Michelle Charlesworth and Tony®-nominated Broadway, TV and film performer Norm Lewis host the preview special.
The special highlights Broadway “firsts” such as meeting the stars making history as the first-ever Black women to play leading roles in both “Phantom of the Opera” and “Wicked,” with Emilie Kouatchou playing Christine and Brittney Johnson playing Glinda.
Special interviews and spotlights include the following:
Actress Vanessa Williams stars in the comedy “POTUS” about the women who surround and support the president.
Interviews with “swing” actors from “The Music Man,” who were praised by Hugh Jackman for “saving the day” during the pandemic
Actress Debra Messing shares how her character ages 90 years on stage in “Birthday Candles.”
Revealing interview with Jesse Williams from “Take Me Out”
Married couple and actors Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick share an inside look at their Neil Simon play, “Plaza Suite.”
Actress Jane Lynch reveals why her new role as Fanny Brice’s mother in “Funny Girl” touches her heart.
About WABC WABC-TV has been the leader in local news and entertainment programming in the New York City area for more than 60 years. Producing more than 45 hours of live, local news and weather each week, Channel 7 “Eyewitness News”is the most watched local news in New York and the United States. WABC-TV also produces “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” weekdays at 9:00 a.m., which is seen in more than 200 markets across the U.S. Quality news and programming, cutting-edge technology and ongoing community outreach are the hallmarks of excellence that have consistently kept WABC-TV New York’s No. 1 station and the most-watched television station in the nation.
ABC30/KFSN-TV Fresno Special ‘Children First: Family, Food and Fitness’ Airs This Sunday, March 20 (6:30 P.M. PST), To Raise Awareness for National Nutrition Month
Viewers Can Stream Live on ABC30’s Connected TV Apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku
ABC30/KFSN-TV Fresno, the No. 1 source for local news in central California, will air “Children First: Family, Food & Fitness on Sunday, March 20, at 6:30 p.m. PST for National Nutrition Month.Action News anchors Graciela Moreno and Jason Oliveira host the special focusing on local programs connecting families with nutritious food and promoting fitness. Viewers can also stream “Children First” live on ABC30’s connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku.
According to Feeding America, 12 million children experience food insecurity in the United States.
Local stories include the following:
ABC30 takes a look at food deserts in Tulare County and local programs that connect children and families in rural areas with produce
Doctors discuss childhood obesity and dispel myths about certain food one may think is healthy
Culinary expert chef Shayna shares tips on how to convince children to eat fruits and vegetables
Fresno Metro Ministry teaches families how to add healthy ingredients to family meals
A Tulare County physical education teacher is inspiring kids to stay active on and off campus
Free Zumba classes being offered to parents
Children First is a year-round effort focusing on challenges and opportunities among the youth in Central California. The program shows how the average person can make a difference in a child’s life and highlights local organizations working with children. The Children First campaign includes half-hour programs like “Family, Food & Fitness,” 30-second public service announcements and special stories on Action News. ABC30 thanks its partners Educational Employees Credit Union, Tulare County Office of Education and Valley Children’s Healthcare for putting Children First in the Central Valley.
About KFSN KFSN-TV ABC30 is the No. 1 source for local news in central California, both online and on the air. The station has dominated the local news ratings in the San Joaquin Valley for decades as a leader in multiplatform audience engagement. KFSN-TV is an ABC owned television station based in Fresno, serving Fresno, Madera, Merced, Mariposa, Tulare and Kings counties.
WPVI To Produce and Broadcast ’THON™ – 50 Years for the Kids®,” a Celebration of the World’s Largest Student-Run Philanthropy on Saturday, Feb. 19 (7:00 P.M. EST)
The Half-Hour Special Will Air on 6abc Philadelphia, ABC7/WABC-NY, an ABC-Owned Station and the No.1 Station in the Country, Along With Other Northeast Affiliates Set To Air the Historic Telecast
6abc/WPVI-TV Philadelphia will produce and broadcast “THON™ – 50 Years For The Kids®,” set to air Saturday, Feb. 19, 7:00 p.m. EST, in honor of Penn State’s THON, the world’s largest student-run philanthropy. For five decades, THON has held a dance marathon that is now 46 hours of dancing to raise money for children battling cancer. The highly popular and successful initiative that began in 1973 has raised more than $190 million. All money raised benefits Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, the exclusive underwriter for the broadcast, in Hershey, Pennsylvania. “THON – 50 Years For The Kids” will be hosted by 6abc’s Walter Perez, Alicia Vitarelli and Ducis Rodgers.
The 30-minute special will air on 6abc and its 24/7 streaming channel. Viewers will tune in during the dance marathon’s 25th hour of dancing. Celebrating the history and purpose of the event, the special will air live video from State College where THON takes place.
“I am so thrilled to be working with Penn State Health and 6abc on this program highlighting the 50 years of THON,” said Kate Colgan, executive director of THON. “This organization and the work that it does is one of the most incredible things that I have ever experienced, and I am ecstatic to be able to share its story with so many.”
The program will also be syndicated to other Pennsylvania television markets that include Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Scranton, and lastly New York, expanding linear viewership to roughly 11% of American homes who will now have access to watch the historical program. Additionally, the program will be offered across 6abc’s 24/7 streaming channels, allowing viewers, regardless of the market they live in, to stream the program on their mobile or connected TV apps through Roku, Android TV, Fire TV and Apple TV.
The stations simulcasting the program include the following:
WABC New York (an ABC-owned television station)
WTAE Pittsburgh
WHTM Harrisburg -Lancaster -Lebanon -York
WNEP Wilkes Barre – Scranton
WATM Johnstown-Altoona
“All of us in the Penn State community are awestruck by the scale and impact of THON, and the remarkable accomplishments of Penn State students year after year, for half a century,” said Eric Barron, president of Penn State. “Our students have built an unparalleled movement in the fight against pediatric cancer. This special will expand THON’s message and fundraising to even larger numbers. I know viewers will be inspired by the magic our students create and the incredible families they serve.”
“Through our news coverage, we have shined a spotlight on THON for more than 10 years, so it brings all of us immense joy to produce a televised celebration that showcases the extraordinary dedication and accomplishments of these student volunteers,” said Bernie Prazenica, president and general manager of WPVI. “We hope this live broadcast will extend THON’s message to a whole new audience of supporters.”
THON is a year-round effort to raise money in the fight against childhood cancer. Each spring, new student leadership is selected; and, in the summer, the student volunteers conduct outreach with smaller fundraising efforts and pay visits to Four Diamonds families impacted by childhood cancer. In the fall, the planning for the dance marathon kicks into high gear with students mobilizing all the team captains, and THON Weekend takes shape.
THON is programmed and produced entirely by Penn State students who configure the Bryce Jordan Center, build the stage, manage the concessions, and handle all the custodial duties. And, of course, the estimated 700 student dancers stay on their feet for 46 hours straight.
“The hard work and generosity of everyone involved with THON ensure that young people battling cancer can receive the most advanced care at our Children’s Hospital at no cost to their families,” said Dr. Yatin Vyas, chair of the Department of Pediatrics and pediatrician-in-chief at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. “The money raised for Four Diamonds helps our physicians, clinical researchers and scientists in their efforts to better understand, treat and cure pediatric cancers.”
About Four Diamonds Four Diamonds’ mission is to conquer childhood cancer. Since its creation in 1972, Four Diamonds has helped more than 4,800 children and families by covering 100% of medical bills for every Four Diamonds family. Four Diamonds also supports a robust pediatric cancer research program at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital and Penn State College of Medicine, which is dedicated to seeking improved treatments and cures for childhood cancer to benefit every child around the world. For more information, visit FourDiamonds.org.
About 6abc/WPVI-TV Philadelphia For over half a century, 6abc/WPVI-TV Philadelphia has been broadcasting to viewers in the Delaware and Lehigh Valleys, an area covering southeastern Pennsylvania, northern and central Delaware and southern New Jersey. As the No. 1 station in Philadelphia for almost 45 years, 6abc Action News delivers local news, information, traffic and weather to more than 3 million homes. Action News captures over half of all Adult 25-54 news viewers on an average day*. In the past year, Action News has won 2,633 out of 2,662 newscasts in Households for a winning percentage of 98.9%.†
Adding to its true-crime slate, ABC Owned Television Stations announced the release of the trailer to the ABC7/WLS-TV-produced documentary, “Stolen: The Unsolved Theft of a $3,000,000 Violin,” today, ahead of the Feb. 3 streaming premiere on ABC7 Chicago App, and connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku.
The true-crime documentary features what is deemed as the world’s greatest violin, a Davidoff Stradivarius, that was stolen 25 years ago from renowned violinist Erica Morini and is still missing. The theft is on the FBI’s list of top 10 unsolved art crimes.
Days before Morini died in 1995, the violin was stolen from a closet in her 5th Avenue apartment in New York City.
The hourlong documentary features individuals who were close to Morini along with interviews with the FBI, well-known violinists and experts who examine the fate of the Davidoff Stradivarius, the beauty and uniqueness of its creation, and whether its sound will ever be heard again.
The production team behind “Stolen” include Zach Ben-Amots, and Jordan Arseneau as executive producers, and Justin Allen, and Matt Knutson as producers.
About ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago is the No. 1 local news source and most-watched television station in Chicago. With top-rated daily newscasts spanning decades and the largest social media presence in the market with more than 2.3 million Facebook followers, ABC7 Eyewitness News provides breaking news, investigative reporting, weather, politics, traffic and sports in the multiplatform space to Chicago, the suburbs and northwest Indiana. Named Best News Operation by the Associated Press for four consecutive years, the station produces 41 hours of local news weekly and Chicago’s only local weekday entertainment talk show, “Windy City LIVE,” as well as its highest-rated New Year’s Eve special. ABC7’s award-winning programs such as “Heart and Soul,” “The Ñ Beat” and “Asian Influences” showcase the city’s diversity, while being the only Chicago station producing and broadcasting parades representing Chicago’s rich cultural history. In addition to producing town halls focused on current social issues, the station has a long and proud tradition of broadcasting political candidate debates keeping Chicago’s electorate informed. ABC7’s outreach efforts include annual partnerships with the Red Cross for life-saving blood drives and, most recently, spearheading an effort to raise more than $1.5 million for area food pantries.
About ABC Owned Television Stations Disney Media Entertainment & Distribution’s eight owned ABC stations are multiplatform leaders in local news and information. Collectively No. 1 across all U.S. television, reaching 23% of households and more than 34 million Total Viewers and 62 million digital visitors a month, the eight stations are comprised of WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KGO-TV San Francisco, KTRK-TV Houston, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV Fresno. The stations also deliver locally sourced storytelling to more than 17 million viewers across America through its multiplatform lifestyle network, Localish. In 2020, the stations received five Broadcast & Cable awards, including in the 2020 Best in Local TV Awards category as Station Group of the Year for its innovative and next-generation news reporting, and in the major market category for 2020: Best News Coverage, Best Digital Multiplatform or Website, Best Investigative Reporting Station Group and Best Public Affairs Programming, illustrating the Group’s strength and ever-increasing growth and reach in the multiplatform space.
WPVI Philadelphia Elevates News Veteran Rick Williams to New Role As 11 P.M. Action News Anchor
6ABC/WPVI-TV Philadelphia President and General Manager Bernie Prazenica and Vice President of News Tom Davis named Rick Williams as anchor of its late evening 11 p.m. newscast, beginning Jan. 12, 2022. Williams replaces the legendary Jim Gardner, who is stepping down from the role in 2022.
“I’m delighted that Rick Williams will anchor Action News at 11 p.m. following Jim Gardner,” said Prazenica. “Rick is uniquely qualified by his 30+ years of experience in anchoring Action News in the morning, noon and evening. His knowledge of our region and deep roots in our community make him the perfect choice.”
In addition, Williams expressed his admiration of Gardner and enthusiasm about his new role: “It’s no small thing to be able to follow a news icon and, in many ways, a role model. Jim set the journalistic bar very high at 11 o’clock, and I hope I can maintain the same standard of excellence … while also having a bit of fun with my evening colleagues. It’s going to be exciting!”
A Philadelphia mainstay for more than three decades, Williams will team up with Ducis Rodgers and chief meteorologist Cecily Tynan, the latter with whom Williams spent five years anchoring the morning newscast together from 1997-2002. Currently co-anchoring Action News at 5 p.m. and Action News at 10 p.m. on PHL-17, Williams has kept 6abc viewers informed for more than 25 years as an anchor and reporter. He also reports for Action News’ weekly “Crimefighters” series. Williams previously co-anchored Action News Mornings, helping to create a dominant early morning program.
Vice President of News Tom Davis added, “Rick is a veteran journalist who has been living and working in Philadelphia at 6abc for more than 30 years. Rick has a rare combination of being a great newsman and an even better person! He’s truly earned our viewers respect and trust.”
During his tenure at 6abc, award-winning Williams has also covered a variety of big events and interviewed various presidents, politicians and celebrities. One of his favorite assignments is hosting the 6abc Thanksgiving Day Parade alongside Cecily Tynan, which he has enjoyed every year since 2009. Among his numerous awards, Williams was also inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2010.
Williams arrived in Philadelphia in 1988 from WRAL-TV in Raleigh, North Carolina. Prior to that, he worked at WOWK-TV in Huntington, West Virginia; and at WUSA in Washington, D.C. He began his career in radio soon after graduating from Howard University with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism.
Although born in New York, Williams considers himself a true Philadelphian, spending much of his time helping to uplift the community and inspire young people in their academic endeavors. He currently sits on the board of Philadelphia Futures, a nonprofit organization which mentors college-bound Philadelphia students. He is also a board member of the Moorestown Theater Company and has taken the stage in a few musical productions with his family and friends.
About 6abc/WPVI-TV Philadelphia For over half a century, 6abc/WPVI-TV Philadelphia has been broadcasting to viewers in the Delaware and Lehigh Valleys, an area covering southeastern Pennsylvania, northern and central Delaware and southern New Jersey. As the No. 1 station in Philadelphia for almost 45 years, 6abc Action News delivers local news, information, traffic and weather to more than 3 million homes. Action News captures over half of all Adult 25-54 news viewers on an average day*. In the past year, Action News has won 2,633 out of 2,662 newscasts in Households for a winning percentage of 98.9%.†
ABC 7 Chicago Names Doug Whitmire and Nneka Nwosu Faison to Assistant News Director Positions, ABC 7 Eyewitness News
News veterans Doug Whitmire and Nneka Nwosu Faison will serve in the positions of assistant news director for ABC 7 Eyewitness News, it was announced today by Jennifer Graves, vice president of News, ABC 7 Chicago.
In their new assistant news director roles, Whitmire will oversee news gathering, day-of newscasts and operations. Faison will oversee digital, including ABC 7’s new streaming newscasts, specials and storytelling.
ABC 7 President and General Manager John Idler said, “The collaboration of two outstanding individuals sharing insight and experience will extend ABC 7’s legacy of excellence and continue to set the standard for great journalism in Chicago.”
According to Graves, “I’m thrilled to welcome Doug and Nneka to these critical news management positions. The combination of their leadership skills, news acumen, dedication to storytelling and commitment to the community make them the perfect choices to help lead Eyewitness News.”
Emmy® Award-winning producer Doug Whitmire has been an essential part of the ABC 7 Eyewitness News team for 18 years, joining the station in 2003. Since then he has risen through the ranks, serving each role with distinction, from news writer/producer and executive producer/morning news to his current position as executive producer of the 10 p.m. newscast. Under his leadership, ABC 7 Eyewitness News at 10 p.m. has been honored with four regional Emmy Awards for Best Newscast in the past five years.
During his tenure as executive producer, Whitmire has been at the helm of the station’s election night coverage, Chicago Cubs World Series Championship coverage and coverage of multiple tornado outbreaks that included open-ended coverage of breaking weather.
Whitmire started his career in broadcasting as a radio anchor/host and moved to television as a reporter/producer at WTVG-TV in Toledo, Ohio. He is a graduate of Bowling Green State University.
Nneka Nwosu Faison, a Harvard University Nieman Foundation for Journalism Fellow and Emmy Award-winning producer, joins ABC 7 from WCVB-TV in Boston. In her role as executive producer at WCVB-TV, Faison led the award-winning newsmagazine program “Chronicle” to double-digit growth in key demographics. During the pandemic, she also created several interactive show franchises including “History Quiz,” “Cooking at Home,” and “Viewer’s Choice.” She joined WCVB-TV in 2013 as a producer for “Chronicle” and was promoted to managing editor before taking over leadership of the show as executive producer.
Prior to WCVB-TV, Faison was a reporter/multimedia journalist for WTNH-TV in New Haven, Connecticut.
She has also taught a course called Video Storytelling for Social Media as an adjunct professor at Harvard University Extension School.
Faison was recently named one of Boston’s Most Influential Women in 2021 and was chosen as a “40 under 40” business leader in the Boston Business Journal. She graduated from Princeton University and received a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in New York City.
Whitmire will begin his assistant news director duties on Dec. 27, and Faison will begin her new role at ABC 7 on Jan. 24 after relocating from Boston.
About ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago is the No. 1 local news source and most-watched television station in Chicago. With top-rated daily newscasts spanning decades and the largest social media presence in the market with more than 2.6 million Facebook followers, ABC7 Eyewitness News provides breaking news, investigative reporting, weather, politics, traffic and sports in the multiplatform space to Chicago, the suburbs and northwest Indiana. Named Best News Operation by the Associated Press for four consecutive years, ABC 7 Eyewitness News produces “Chicago Proud,” a series of features that spotlights everyday heroes in and around Chicago. The station also produces the highest-rated New Year’s Eve special in Chicago, holiday kickoff special “The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival,” syndicated to a national audience, as well as the award-winning program series “Our Chicago,” which showcases the city’s diversity and highlights contributions in the Black, Hispanic, Asian, LGBTQ+ communities, among others. Every Friday, Windy City Weekend, entertains while giving Chicagoans everything they need to know about what’s happening in the city. ABC 7 is the only Chicago station producing and broadcasting parades representing Chicago’s rich cultural history. In addition to producing town halls focused on current social issues, the station has a long and proud tradition of broadcasting political candidate debates keeping Chicago’s electorate informed. ABC7’s outreach efforts include annual partnerships with the Red Cross for life-saving blood drives, one of the biggest one-day drives in the country and, most recently, spearheading an effort to raise more than $1.5 million for area food pantries.
ABC30/KFSN-TV Fresno Special ‘Children First: All About the Arts’ Airs This Sunday, Dec. 12 (6:30 P.M. PDT)
Viewers Can Stream Live on ABC30’s Connected TV Apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku
ABC30/KFSN-TV Fresno, the No. 1 source for local news in central California, will air “Children First: All About the Arts” on SUNDAY, Dec. 12 (6:30 p.m. PDT), and stream live on ABC30’s connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku. Hosted by ABC30 anchors Landon Burke and Vanessa Vasconcelos, the half-hour special will focus on arts in the local community.
According to Arts Education Partnership, creativity is one of the top five skills employers seek in a job candidate. ABC30 takes an in-depth look at how the arts can improve a child’s social-emotional well-being.
Local stories include the following:
Tulare County students prepare for the production of “Disney’sThe Lion King Jr.” The experience helps students connect, engage and learn team-building skills.
Video production students at El Diamante High School earn local and national honors with their sci-fi thriller “Incursion.”
ABC30 follows a music therapist at Valley Children’s Hospital to share how she is helping young patients cope through music.
McLane High School has a Hmong Dance group that educates others about their culture through dance.
Kingsburg High School’s band is back in formation, performing in front of crowds and helping students thrive!
Children First is a year-round effort focusing on challenges and opportunities among our youth in Central California. The program shows how the average person can make a difference in a child’s life and highlights local organizations working with children. The Children First campaign includes half-hour programs like “All About the Arts,” public service announcements (PSAs) and special stories on Action News. ABC30 thanks its partners Educational Employees Credit Union, Tulare County Office of Education, Valley Children’s Healthcare for putting Children First in the Central Valley.
About KFSN KFSN-TV ABC30 is the No. 1 source for local news in central California, both online and on the air. The station has dominated the local news ratings in the San Joaquin Valley for decades as a leader in multiplatform audience engagement. KFSN-TV is an ABC owned television station based in Fresno, serving Fresno, Madera, Merced, Mariposa, Tulare and Kings counties.
