WLKY

Branden A King
Sep 7, 2018 · 6 min read

I have chosen to learn more about CBS Affiliate WLKY news Louisville,Kentucky. I have chosen this station because I am curious about Southern news V.S Northeast news. I also think Kentucky is an interesting state.

I further got pulled in based on the achievements of their award winning staff. I have contacted some of them to help me in my quest of learning about their news station. Here are who they are and their bios.

Kevin Trager- Reporter

Picture and Bio from WLKY.com

Kevin is thrilled to be back in his hometown of Louisville working for the number one station in the city. In 2011 he started his broadcasting career in Wyoming and spent seven years reporting in television markets across America. From covering the world famous Cheyenne Frontier Days to “calling the Hogs” in Arkansas and experiencing the growth of Music City in Tennessee, Kevin has lived in some of the most unique and All-American places in the country but nothing quite compared to Louisville.

Kevin has spent his career covering stories that matter to every day men and women in the community. He has a passion for holding the powerful accountable and uncovering the truth, especially when it’s hard to find. He believes there has never been a more important time for journalists to build trust with the public, and he works hard every day to develop that trust.

In Nashville, Kevin’s investigation into a local judge’s conflict of interest with Airbnb rentals resulted in his resignation. His exposure of a dangerous bus stop prompted the local transit authority to alter routes. And his coverage of the 2016 Gatlinburg wildfire outbreak earned two Regional Emmy nominations.

Most importantly, Kevin has been a diehard UofL fan for nearly thirty years. His favorite former Cardinal is Francisco Garcia and he still hasn’t gotten over the Virginia loss in March of 2018 (and he probably never will). One of his greatest memories is watching the football team beat Florida State in the pouring rain in 2002.

Kevin and his wife Andrea live in the Highlands. She’s a Wyoming native so he’s excited to show her around the city. You can catch Kevin’s reports weekdays on WLKY News at 5 & 6. Story idea? Email him at kevin.trager@hearst.com

Stephon Dingle- Anchor/Reporter

Picture and Bio from WLKY.com

Stephon Dingle joined the WLKY Morning News team as an anchor in January 2018. He also reports on various stories affecting the Derby City.

Before coming to Louisville, Stephon was an award-winning reporter and fill-in anchor in Birmingham, Alabama. While there, he enjoyed owning and winning breaking news coverage as well as telling enterprise stories that had an impact on the communities he informed. He covered various national stories, including the Inauguration of President Donald J. Trump, the high-profile election of embattled former judge, Roy Moore, as well as the resignation of Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley after his alleged affair with his top aide and misuse of state funds. He received an award from the Alabama Broadcaster’s Association, as well as an Emmy nomination for his breaking news coverage of a Christmas Day tornado that devastated several families in southwest Birmingham.

Stephon developed his passion for journalism as a kid in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. Growing up in the city, he often credits his grandmother, the late Sheila Plato, who raised him, for his interest in TV news. She would wake him up every morning at 5:58 a.m. to tune in.

As he would get ready for school, they watched local CBS affiliate WJZ-TV with Don Scott and Marty Bass in the morning. Stephon would earn the nickname “Mr. WJZ” after he often rode his bike or roller skates to wherever police would go in his neighborhood, where crime was prevalent, and watch everything that happened before returning to his front porch to tell his grandmother everything that happened. Several years later, he would get his first internship at the very same station.

Stephon is a first-generation college student who played baseball at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and earned a B.A. in History. He went on to receive a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University in New York City.

As an active member of the National Association of Black Journalists since 2011, he was an NABJ Fellow, which allowed him to intern at NBC’s “Today” show as well as the New York Times Student Journalism Institute. Stephon also freelanced for News12 The Bronx, “Inside Edition” and was a news associate for CBS News, Washington, D.C. Bureau. Stephon made his on-air debut in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Stephon is very excited to be in Louisville and looks forward to trying out all the local food, feel free to send him your suggestions because he loves to eat.

Contact Stephon at Stephon.Dingle@hearst.com

A story by him below:

blob:https://www.wlky.com/1b1bf8b5-e23e-43d5-89dc-b6aa52b29439

Jennifer Weigel- Digital Media Manager

Picture and Bio from WLKY.com

No Bio or email available so emailed News Director

Aixa Diaz-Washington Bureau Reporter

Picture and Bio from WLKY.com

No email available so emailed News Director

Aixa Diaz joins our Washington Bureau as our morning correspondent.

Previously, Aixa worked as an anchor/reporter at WESH in Orlando, FL, WXII-TV in Winston-Salem, N.C., and WPTZ-TV in Plattsburgh, N.Y. All are sister stations of Hearst Television.

Throughout her career, Aixa has covered everything from local breaking news and severe weather to national and international stories, like the Virginia Tech massacre and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Aixa was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her family later moved to Raleigh, N.C., where Aixa was raised. She graduated summa cum laude from North Carolina State University with a bachelor’s degree in communication. She also studied at Boston University, where she earned a master’s degree in broadcast journalism. While there, she interned at WCVB-TV, also a Hearst Television station

Aixa has a passion for travel. She has visited Europe, Australia, China, Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and much of the United States. In her spare time, Aixa also loves spending time in the kitchen, experimenting with new recipes.

Aixa is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

Questions I’m having.

  1. How is the station run/ what’s a typical show?
  2. How is the social media set up?
  3. What is it like being a DC reporter?
  4. How is breaking news handled?

Those just being some examples. I am also looking for Southern news V.S Northeast news.

It appears as though there are a lot of human interest stories, but when there is a need to know story they certainly cover it. The posts seem very human like. Twitter seems to be posted on more than Facebook and also seems like a different person. Headlines are shorter on Twitter. I have liked on Facebook and followed on Twitter. Their website is very well set up.Tabs are organized nicely.

    Branden A King

    Written by

    Journalist for Northern Vermont University's News 7

    Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
    Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
    Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade