Sydney Wicker joined KCEN 6 Waco-Temple-Killeen in September 2024 as a sports anchor/reporter.
You can also catch her for "Wicker Wednesdays" on KCEN owner TEGNA's sister property, Locked on Baylor with Cam Stuart. As a Baylor alum who is very proud of how Coach Aranda turned the Bears around this season, this podcast is how I learned Wicker was hired at channel 6! On to the Texas Bowl in Houston!
I was in Waco recently, and I cannot believe how much it has changed over the years! I was walking around downtown, and even though the Magnolia Market at the Silos is closed Sundays, there were tourists just hanging outside of the gates!
Speaking of Chip and Joanna Gaines, I also saw The Hotel 1928, which was apparently an abandoned building when I lived there. I covered trials at the McLennan County Courthouse just down the street.
Wicker arrives from WCTV Tallahassee, Florida, where she has been a sports anchor since July 2023. She started her broadcasting career with WTOK 11 Meridian, Mississippi, as a weekend sports anchor.
The Colorado State University grad won a Hearst Award for her work as the school's CTV. She interned with Fox Sports for ‘The Herd,’ and ‘Undisputed’ with Shannon Sharp and Skip Bayless plus KKTV 11 News Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Before you write me to ask where ABC13 Houston KTRK reporter Daniela Hurtado is, we have the answer. She is taking time off to due one of the best duties a child can do, help her mother.
Funeral services have been announced for Timothy “Tim” Bristow, 59, the owner of freelance Houston TV photography service Metro Video Media Services, who was missing and later found dead in his car last week.
According to his obituary, Bristow graduated from Jersey Village High School, studied at the Art Institute of Houston, and earned a bachelor's degree in media and videography from the University of Houston.
Bristow worked for Metro Video Media Services for three years before buying the company in 1994. The television stringer company shot videos for Houston TV stations for many years.
Sybil Summers has joined 570 KLIF DFW (and 96.3 FM) with Clayton Neville on "DFW’s Morning News."
She takes over or Laura Sadler who recently left.
"I’m so excited to be filling your earholes with [Clayton Neville] every morning from 5-9am on 570 KLIF," Summers posted on Instagram. "Not excited about the 1am alarm though. It’s been a hell of a year, and there’s a lot more in store."
The Arlington native comes to KLIF with considerable North Texas radio notoriety, having worked in formats such as talk, sports, news, hot talk, CHR, classic hits, hot AC, and alternative.
Recently, Summers worked for 98.7 KLUV as an afternoon DJ from July 2019 to June 2023.
Before that, Summers worked for KVIL as a Middays personality for ALT 103.7 and before the station's format flip as mornings/middays for AMP 103.7 ("Fast in the Mornings" and "Mornings with Kannon and Sybil").
She also worked for 105.3 The Fan KRLD ("Ben & Skin Show" Sidekick & Producer and "Autoflex Leasing Show" host).
Michael Garfield was an influencer before the word was connected to online dancing and "get ready with me" moments.
"I had to do it the old-fashioned way," Garfield told mikemcguff.com. "I had to shake hands, knock on doors, and promote myself way before social media."
All that work is paying off as the broadcaster connected to the "High Tech Texan" brand is expanding his weekend 950 KPRC Houston show to Talk Radio 1190 KFXR Dallas and News Radio 1200 WOAI San Antonio (already airing in the Alamo City, hitting DFW airwaves this weekend).
With the syndicated radio show heading to other big-market Texas stations, Garfield's iHeartMedia boss, Bryan Erickson, told him, "It's a good thing you didn't call yourself the High Tech Houstonian."
That name never materialized because Garfield, AKA Garf to his fans, has been a statewide presence for many years, going back to where many people first heard of him, as the voice and face for then Time Warner Cable's "Road Runner" high-speed internet service. He would later contribute to WFAA 8 DFW.
Garfield's "High Tech Texan" branding moved from ad campaigns to the radio for the then eight Clear Channel Houston stations, including his now decades-running show on 950 KPRC.
In fact, at 23 years running, Garf's radio show is the longest-running local radio show in the history of the 100-year-old KPRC-AM. That gives Garf the second-longest tenure at the now-named iHeartMedia Houston radio stations, only behind Sunny 99.1 KODA morning host Dana Tyson.
Now that the long-lasting local show is going to North and South Texas, Garfield will introduce himself to the new listeners so they know he is beyond a potentially boring tech show about fixing computers.
"That's the last thing I will do or I have ever done," Garfield explained. "It's more about consumer lifestyle and products. I actually talk more about car and truck test drives and new recommendations than I talk about computers and laptops."
He certainly has the scoop on new auto releases. As a Texas Auto Writers Association member, Garfield no longer uses his personal car. A new one is delivered to his house every week for review. He estimates that in the past 15 years, he has test-driven more than 800 cars.
Beyond cars, Garfield delves into fashion trends and pop culture, all with a sense of humor.
"I answer many questions that people have before they go out and make purchases, large purchases, expensive purchases," Garfield told me. "But if you don't entertain them, I don't think a lot of people continue to tune in."
Even though he now joins the ranks of syndicated Houston radio show hosts such as Michael Berry and Jesse Kelly, Garfield avoids political talk.
"I do not engage in politics, but I, without a doubt, have my opinions, and I've probably ticked off a lot of Aggies over the years with my love for the Texas Longhorns," said Garfield, who attended the 2024 SEC Championship in a decked out University of Texas themed private jet. "That's about as controversial as I'll get."
While his radio career has steadily beamed through the airwaves, Garfield is also ready to supercharge his television resume.
"I started on TV," Garf said. "My first job was on QVC. I was the youngest show host ever to be on QVC at 24 years old. To be on national TV, you had to learn how to talk to viewers, position, and sell products."
The QVC experience landed Garfield on KPRC 2 Houston mornings in the early 2000s before radio and the Road Runner ads
Now, you can find him down the dial at KHOU 11 as a live field correspondent with Deborah Duncan on "Great Day Houston." He will also fill in as the "Great Day" host one day next week while Duncan taking time off.
"TV has always been a goal, it's always been a dream," Garf admitted. "I love doing it and I hope I can continue to do it before I get wrinkly and gray."
Not that Benjamin Button, like Garfield, has to worry about aging quickly with his daily workouts and the great head of hair he says he inherited from his mother.
WOAI 4 signed on at 4:45 p.m. on December 11, 1949, to become San Antonio's first television station.
"Telenews with Austin Williams" at 6:15 p.m. was the Alamo City's first TV newscast.
The station changed its call letters to KMOL in 1974 but returned to WOAI in 2002.
Many legendary names have worked at the station, from Henry Guerra in the 1950s to sports legend Verne Lundquist in the 1960s. More modern names include Allen Hemberger, Lori Tucker, Randy Beamer, Deborah Daniels, Tanji Patton, Delaine Mathieu, Elsa Ramon, Don Harris, and David Chancellor.
Kathryn Bonfield has been named the new KHOU 11 Houston news director.
She brings over 30 years of experience in local television broadcasting, digital media, and streaming to the TEGNA-owned CBS affiliate.
Bonfield joins KHOU 11 after a 13-year tenure as News Director at Graham Media Group-owned News4JAX WJXT Jacksonville, Florida (Graham Media Group owns KHOU competitor KPRC 2).
During her time at WJXT, Bonfield transformed the station’s news operations, expanding local news programming to nearly 60 hours per week across TV and streaming platforms. She also established an investigative team and created a Senior Data Producer role to enhance investigative journalism. Through partnerships with Jacksonville University’s Public Policy Institute, she organized election debates and town halls.
Before WJXT, Bonfield was the assistant news director for WFLA 8 in Tampa for nearly four years and, before that, the news director for WCBD Charleston, South Carolina, for three years.
According to LinkedIn, Bonfield began her career with WFLA in 1992 as a news producer. For the next 12 years, she worked her way up to executive producer and eventually assistant news director.
KHOU notes that Bonfield is a champion of equity and inclusion, implementing strategies that strengthened newsroom culture and ensured diverse storytelling that reflected the entire community.
"Kathryn's leadership and commitment to high standards of local journalism will be a tremendous asset to our newsroom and the Houston community," said David Loving, President and General Manager of KHOU 11 in a release. "Her extensive experience across severe weather reporting, reaching audiences across platforms, investigative journalism, and community outreach make her an exceptional addition to our team."
"I am excited to join KHOU 11 and look forward to serving Houston's communities through dedicated, integrity-driven local news," added Bonfield.
A lifelong learner, Bonfield is pursuing a doctoral degree in Organizational Change and Leadership at USC. She graduated from the University of Florida and earned her master's degree from the University of North Florida.
A devoted rock fan, she has attended 14 Rolling Stones concerts. As a baseball enthusiast, she has visited 20 Major League Baseball parks, with plans to see them all. Bonfield leads an active lifestyle, enjoys traveling with family, and is rebuilding after Hurricane Helene impacted her Gulf Coast home. She was also inducted into her high school’s Hall of Fame for her career achievements.
Bonfield takes over for Liz Roldán, who left KHOU in October 2024.
KSAT 12 San Antonio meteorologist Sarah Spivey and anchor Sarah Acosta, co-workers, and best friends have been sharing their pregnancy journey on Good Morning San Antonio weekends and now in this "Pregnant Pals" YouTube video.
The two first-time moms, due about three months apart, talk about the challenges and joys of pregnancy, including fatigue, cravings, and the excitement of sharing the news with family and friends.
They are grateful for the support of their colleagues, viewers, and the San Antonio community.
Derek Rogers will join Gray Media as the General Manager and Director of Sales for KXII (CBS) and FXII (FOX) Sherman, Texas, on January 6, 2025.
"I am excited to join the strong team at Gray and at KXII," Rogers said in a statement. "I look forward to getting to know the clients and people of Texoma."
He succeeds Rick Dean, who is retiring after 39 years at the stations, including the last 23 years as General Manager.
Rogers has more than 25 years of experience in the media business, most recently as the General Manager at WCBI Columbus-Tupelo, Mississippi.
He began his broadcast career as a production manager at WCBI and served as the station’s production manager, promotions director, local sales manager, and general sales manager.
In 2014, after nearly three years as General Manager of 41NBC News WMGT Macon, Georgia, he returned to WCBI as its General Manager.
A graduate of the Mississippi State University School of Business, Rogers serves on the board of the Department of Communication.
He is the immediate past Board President of the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters, an EMMY-nominated producer, and the recipient of multiple AP and MAB awards, including Documentary and Achievement in Broadcasting.
The holidays are almost upon us, so what are some quick gifts you can buy on Amazon related to Texas TV, radio, or media in general?
Now, this idea didn't happen to pop into my head just because my 101 KLOL documentary "Runaway Radio" is now on DVD and would make a perfect Christmas gift. It is available on Amazon, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble websites.
No, I thought about the Texas television anchors, reporters, meteorologists, and other journalists who have worked hard on a labor of love like your favorite lowly Texas media blogger did with his 14 year in the making film.
This list is taken from books I have received releases from over the years, with a few bonus ones from before my blog existed. To show you how hard it is to be an author, some of the books I have featured over the years are no longer available.
Here are some Texas media gift options from Houston to Dallas to Austin to El Paso and surrounding areas in the Lone Star State!
