A pair of longtime on-air personnel at WTVG-TV, Channel 13, morning anchor Jeff Smith and sports reporter and weekend anchor fill-in Joe Nugent, have left the station.
WTVG management declined to comment on Smith’s exit, but in a statement to The Blade via Twitter, Smith said, “I hope I did them proud.”
“I devoted each day to give my best in my work as a journalist, as a broadcaster, and as a member of the community,” said Smith, a Temperance and Sylvania native. “I graduated this year with a master’s degree, and I’m looking forward to making further contributions in this great region and beyond.”
He added: “You always want to go out on top, and I can say, unequivocally, when I look back at my time on 13abc and the morning news, we spent a majority of it at No. 1.”
Nugent is leaving WTVG to become sports director at WOWT-TV in Omaha, Neb. Both stations are owned by Gray Television.
Mel Watson, WTVG-TV, news director, said Nugent “told great stories and became a beloved sports personality in Toledo sports,” during his time at Channel 13. “I would like to thank Joe for his work, particularly over the past four months, helping us cover the COVID crisis. He is a team player and he will be missed.”
Watson said both on-air positions will be filled at a date to be determined.
First Published July 24, 2020, 5:30 p.m.
