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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%.†
*Based on April 2020 Nielsen survey
†Based on May 2019 – April 2020 Nielsen data
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Media Contacts:
6abc WPVI-TV
Mike Monsell
mike.monsell@abc.com
