Reporter, fill-in anchor departs WISH-TV

Emily Kinzer, a reporter and fill-in anchor, has left WISH-TV Channel 8 after two years with the station.

Kinzer, who worked on WISH's "Daybreak" morning news show, said on social media posts last month she could not yet comment on what or where her next job would be. She could not be reached for comment.

Emily Kinzer

“I have some bittersweet news to share with you. After two years at WISH-TV I have decided to leave Indianapolis to pursue other opportunities. I had no idea when I first moved here how special this place would become to me. I’ll forever be grateful for the friendships I’ve made here, experiences I’ve had, incredible coworkers, and of course, loyal viewers who have let me in their homes and shared countless stories. I feel fortunate to have called central Indiana home for the past two years,” Kinzer said in a statement on social media.

“I’m excited to take a little time off to spend with family and friends before jumping into my next adventure. Keep in touch and stay tuned,” Kinzer concluded.

Kinzer, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, and graduate of Middle Tennessee State, joined WISH in January 2017, and became known for her feature stories, although she also covered hard news.

Kinzer came to WISH from WBND-TV Channel 57, an ABC affiliate in South Bend. Before that, she was a reporter and studio producer on WGNS News Radio in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

WISH-TV officials did not immediately respond for comment. 

“The best jobs you leave are the ones where they’re tearful because they’ve been so wonderful,” Kinzer said on air at the tail end of her last broadcast on Jan. 22.

“I appreciate the creativity that [WISH morning news show] Daybreak has allowed me to have because as most of you know my personality is fun and bubbly and I like to laugh and cut up as much as possible,” she said surrounded by fellow Daybreak members. “Granted, we have the breaking news, and I have to be serious, but what I enjoy the most are those happy stories and I appreciate that I’ve been able to tell those.”

“We’re going to miss that happy energy that you bring every morning,” WISH morning anchor Kylie Conway told Kinzer. “You can always count on Emily to show up with a smile and have something funny to say.”

WISH is owned by Irving, Texas-based Nexstar Media Group Inc., which informed federal regulators in late January that it planned to sell the station if its proposed $4.1 billion acquisition of Tribune Broadcasting received approval.