02/18/2026
♥️
Turns out, being told you will likely never speak again can really shape a career!
As I'm sure all of our loyal Channel 4 viewers have heard by now, our Michelle Wright WTAE is stepping into her much-deserved retirement at the end of the month. Our morning news has been shaped for decades by Michelle. She is every bit as trustworthy, warm, and sincere off camera as she is behind the desk. I’ve known Michelle since I was in high school, so she has always been more than a colleague to me. She has shaped me — not just as a journalist and broadcaster — but as a person.
She taught me the importance of working hard in this industry. Steadiness. Consistency. Patience. How to stay calm in the chaos. And the importance of showing up every single day.
As she'll finally turn off that middle-of-the-night alarm clock, I am honored to continue building on the legacy she leaves behind as I fill the role of Morning News Anchor for Pittsburgh's Action News 4. I'm deeply grateful for the example Michelle's set and the trust our station has placed in me to carry her legacy forward.
* By the way, there’s a much longer “Michelle” post coming next week before she leaves!
This moment is even more meaningful to me than just a career milestone - it's proof that barriers don't get the final word.
Many of you know my story — it’s one I’m never shy to share when asked. But when certain milestones pass, I'm reminded how far this journey has brought me.
Thirty years ago this month, while sitting in a hospital room my parents were told I would likely never talk again after bacterial meningitis left me 100% deaf in both ears. In that moment, the only thing that mattered to my parents was that I had survived.
What followed were numerous surgeries, a cochlear implant, and years of speech and hearing therapy. Eventually, I got my voice back… and I really haven’t stopped talking since. In fact, in elementary school, teachers told my parents I talked too much - which I, obviously, took as a compliment!
At a young age, I learned the importance of communication. When you can’t rely on hearing the way most people do, you learn to pay attention differently. You read lips. You study expressions. You truly listen. You prepare harder. You double-check details. You don’t assume — you confirm. You understand that being understood is never automatic. Communication is something I worked for. It’s never been something I’ve taken for granted. I always tell people: if you’re speaking to me, you can be sure I am fully focused on hearing you and understanding you.
Broadcasting live television might not be the path most people would imagine for someone who is 100% deaf — but here we are. There's a lot of power in perseverance, belief, a strong support system, and not letting your limitations define your future.
That perspective is something I've carried with me every morning, and will continue in my new role. This role is built on trust — on clarity, accuracy, and listening to a community. It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly, and one I’m deeply honored fill.
I've loved waking up with all of you over the last 7 years on WTAE-TV Pittsburgh and thrilled to keep it going in my new role alongside our star morning team!
