Mearl Purvis grew up on the traditions that have molded her into an award winning journalist and a community engaged person. Fairness, family, gratitude and compassion.
Her stories often examine the lives of the unsung heroes and heroines making a difference in their communities. Ask her what her favorite past time activities are and with enthusiasm she will say reading to school children, enjoying art and music and interior design.
Her pride and joy is daughter Margaret Williams, a leading community activist in her own right, who directs one of the nations’ largest and most prestigious non- profit organizations dedicated to eradicating hunger.
Mearl has won eight Regional Emmy Awards, the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award, the equally prestigious George Foster Peabody Award and the J.C. Penny Missouri Award. The graduate of Jackson State University in Jackson, MS Mearl was trained to be a well-rounded journalist and learned how to write, edit, produce as well as anchor.
Her career assignments have been vast and impressive. A documentary on the life of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte took her to Paris, France and the French countryside. A personal trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia ended with a special report after Mearl toured Tuol Sleng, the Genocide Museum, where Pol Pot’s murderous regime killed more than 12,000 people. From the horrors of what hatred can destroy to the power of what love can create, she calls her private moments with the Dali Lama – a ‘soul makeover’. Mearl has shared a stage with four world leaders including Desmond Tutu, Mikhail Gorbachev, U. S. presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.
Before starting her impressive tenure here in Memphis, Mearl reported and anchored in Charlotte, NC; New Haven, CT; Nashville, TN; and, Jackson, MS.
She can be seen weeknights at 5, 6, 9 and 10 pm on FOX13 evening newscasts, and she invites FOX13 viewers and fans to always say hello while she is out in the community.
Valerie Calhoun is co-host of the Emmy Award-winning newscast, Good Morning Memphis.
Valerie is in the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame. She has won multiple Emmy Awards for her investigative and feature reporting.
Valerie is from East Tennessee but Memphis is home now.
She joined WHBQ-TV in December 1995. Prior to that, Valerie honed her journalism skills at smaller markets in the Carolinas, Alabama, and at WCYB-TV in the Tri-Cities.
Valerie is on the advisory board for Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy and volunteers as a horse leader and side walker during the fall, winter, and spring sessions.
She is a former board member at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Valerie is frequently called to host and emcee events in the community. Some of the events she hosts each year include the Memphis Business Journal’s Super Women in Business Awards, Macy’s Meet the Experts, the Jockeys and Juleps fundraiser, and author events at Novel.
If you have a story idea, feel free to send Valerie an email above!
What is the best way to describe veteran and award winning anchor reporter Greg Coy? He is always on the pursuit of the big story, the better live shot, the perfect way to anchor a newscast and the best way to tell a story to the viewers. It explains why Greg has worked in various major markets to learn and then apply his talent where there are opportunities for professional development.
His greatest talents might be his leadership skills to mentor young journalists on staff with advice and a strong work ethic. He understands the need to grow with the industry and leveraged his journalistic skills to become an anchor, host of a regional network show, co manager of the broadcast and provider of content for on line media.
What drives him? Meeting complete strangers, gaining their respect, telling a story that stands out in a newscast are not challenges to him but opportunities. The location could be either Frankfurt, Germany, the local farm or a media junket for a visiting celebrity, each is important to him and the viewer. It is reflected in his work and personality on and off camera.
He's been quoted saying, "I have the best job in the world, why not love it unconditionally."
Lauren joined FOX13 News in October 2016 as a reporter.
Before moving to Memphis, Lauren was a multimedia journalist and weekend anchor at WDAM-TV in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Lauren graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in August 2015 with a Master’s of Science in Broadcast & Digital Journalism.
As a graduate student, Lauren had the opportunity to live in Washington, D.C. and work as a D.C. bureau reporter covering Capitol Hill for KARK-TV in Little Rock, Arkansas and KNWA-TV in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
She is also a proud Wahoo! Lauren graduated from the University of Virginia in May 2014 with a double major in English and African American Studies.
While in college, Lauren interned at WUSA*9 News in Washington D.C. and WVIR-TV in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Lauren is proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the National Association of Black Journalists.
She believes video journalism has the power to educate, spread awareness, and create positive change. She hopes her job as a reporter will help her to be a part of that change.
Lauren grew up in an Army family and has lived in several states and overseas. She calls Northern Virginia home, and is excited to live in Tennessee and report stories in the Memphis area.
Jeremy Pierre comes to the Bluff City from the Crescent City, where he was prepped at the storied St. Augustine High School. Continuing his education in the city of New Orleans, he graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication, broadcast concentration.
Jeremy launched his reporting career as an intern at NBC affiliate WDSU Channel 6. After working in his hometown, he then went on to become a general assignment reporter at KNOE in Monroe, La. News has always been a passion for Jeremy, and he strives to produce fair, accurate and balanced stories. He particularly enjoys sharing stories from the communities he serves.
Jeremy is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and the National Association of Black Journalists. He serves as a mentor in NABJ’s high school journalism program. In 2013, he was named NABJ Region V student journalist of the year, and he was the first recipient of the Ted Holtzclaw Journalism Excellence Award in the NABJ multimedia short course.
A musician at heart (drummer), Jeremy feels right at home in Memphis. And, is excited to share the stories of people from the area.
Tom's mom is a retired teacher and dad is a retired U.S. Air Force Navigator which makes him an Air Force brat!
Tom was born in Kokomo Indiana and lived there for about 1 year before moving to Hawaii then California (the first time). From there he moved to mainland Japan. Atlanta while his dad was in Vietnam. Back to California for elementary school, Okinawa Japan for junior high school, and then moved to Slidell, Louisiana, just outside of New Orleans for high school.
He went to College at Mississippi State, and graduated from there in 1987.
Tom bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish.
2013 marked Tom's 25th year in the television news business!
He says he's been blessed to work with the best, and the best currently work right here at FOX13 and where he continues to be inspired.
Kirstin joined the FOX13 news team as a reporter in October 2018.
Before coming to Memphis, Kirstin was the Government Reporter for Spectrum News in Charlotte, NC, a statewide hyper local cable station. During her time in Charlotte, she covered some of city’s biggest stories -- including the passage, fallout and repeal of House Bill Two, the officer-involved shooting death of Keith Scott, along with the protests that followed, and the historic election of Mayor Vi Lyles.
Kirstin was also a regular guest on WFAE’s Charlotte Talks, an hour-long live radio news roundup show.
Kirstin also worked in Hagerstown, MD at WDVM (formerly WHAG-TV), where she covered the Maryland General Assembly and at NPR and NBC News in Washington, D.C.
In 2015, Kirstin was one of 10 journalists nationwide selected for the Emerging Journalists Fellowship with the Journalism and Women Symposium (JAWS). She’s also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).
Kirstin grew up in Raleigh, NC and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – GO TAR HEELS! When she isn’t reporting, Kirstin is excited to meet viewers throughout the Memphis community and explore the rich history and culture of the Mid-South!
She’s also a foodie, so all restaurant suggestions are welcome! Connect with Kirstin on social media and if you have a story idea, send her an email at kirstin.garriss@coxinc.com.
Siobhan knew from a young age that she wanted to become a journalist because of her passion for writing.
Siobhan, is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina.
She graduated Summa Cum Laude from North Carolina A&T State University with her BA in Journalism and Mass Communication. There, she received the “Most Outstanding Graduate Award” in the journalism department.
Siobhan started at FOX13 Memphis in August of 2018.
Before coming to FOX13, Siobhan took on the role as the director of marketing and communications for a Tennessee State Representative’s district office from 2016-2018 where she coordinated community outreach initiatives in Memphis and worked in media relations.
Before coming to Memphis, Siobhan worked as a reporter/anchor at WJRT in Flint, Michigan.
Before that, she was a reporter/ fill-in anchor at WCBI in Columbus, Mississippi where she received the Mississippi Associated Press Award for her spot news coverage on a Starkville, MS fire that took the lives of nine people.
Siobhan started her career in radio at 1510 WEAL Gospel when she was in college; also known as one of the top gospel radio stations in the country.
She also interned at CBS News in New York.
Before making her way in front of the camera, Siobhan was a production assistant at WXII-TV in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Two months later, she was offered her first on-air job at WCJB in Gainesville, Florida.
In her spare time, she enjoys motivational speaking, reading, traveling and spending time with her family.
She also has a passion for mentoring youth.
Siobhan is the Council of Presidents Chairperson for the National Association of Black Journalists and former president of the Memphis Association of Black Journalists.
Darrell grew up in the Mid-South. Well, south Arkansas, to be exact. So, he feels like he understands the language and the culture here as much as anyone. Darrell graduated Arkansas State University in Jonesboro in 1991, where he even played football for 2 seasons. But broadcasting, not the grid-iron, was his calling.
He began as a sportscaster in Montgomery, Alabama, moved on to Huntsville, Alabama, and then went to New Orleans to work for the FOX affiliate there for more than a decade. As a sportscaster, Darrell covered almost everything, from Division 1 college sports national championships to the '96 Olympics to Superbowls. He even worked on the "NFL on FOX" as a sideline reporter.
Darrell made the transition to the news desk in 2004 as a morning news anchor for 3 years. While in New Orleans, Darrell earned the label "Katrina Survivor". He was there when the storm hit and covered the city and the region's recovery until 2007 when he moved to Orlando where he spent 3 years as an evening news anchor. But when the opportunity came, Darrell decided to come home and join the FOX13 family.
He and his wife love the people, the culture, and mostly... yes, mostly THE FOOD the Mid-South offers! When you see him around town, don't be shy. Say hi! Just don't ask him about all of those field goals he missed back in college. It's still a touchy subject.
Ernie co-hosts the Emmy Award winning Good Morning Memphis. He joined FOX-13 in 2004 as weekend anchor. In 2005, he moved to the early morning schedule, joining the Good Morning Memphis team.
Five years later, FOX-13 made history with the launch of its' 10pm newscast, with Ernie as solo news anchor. He has reported live from regional disasters like the flooding in Nashville and the deadly tornado in Smithville, Ms.. He kept midsouth viewers informed from Washington D.C., with live reports during President Barack Obama's first inauguration. Ernie's investigative reports have traced the origins of the foreclosure crisis, exposed rural speed traps, tracked down deadbeat drivers who collectively owe Memphis millions in unpaid parking tickets, and exposed weaknesses in Tennessee's monitoring of sexual offenders. Ernie co-created the groundbreaking "Memphis in Black and White," a comprehensive, ongoing series aired by FOX-13, about race relations in Memphis.
In April of 2012, after two years on the evening shift, Ernie returned to Good Morning Memphis.
He's previously worked in Ohio, Illinois, Atlanta, Baltimore, Nashville and Chattanooga, and is a graduate of Michigan State University.
Jonathan joined the FOX 13 news team as a reporter in August 2018.
Before moving to Memphis, Jonathan spent time in Hattiesburg, Mississippi as a sports anchor/reporter at WDAM.
Jonathan began his journalism career on the print side, covering high school and college sports for the Abilene Reporter-News in Texas.
He also co-hosted a basketball radio show during his time in the Lone Star State. Jonathan has written for outlets such as the Philadelphia Daily News, Wilmington News Journal and Dime Magazine.
Jonathan was born in Philadelphia and raised in Delaware (big time Philly sports fan). He graduated from Lincoln (PA) University with Bachelors in Mass Communication before earning his Masters in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from Syracuse University.
Jonathan is excited to continue his journalism career in Memphis and looks forward to telling great stories about the great people in the Mid-South.
Jonathan is a hoop head so outside of work, you will probably find him at a local gym looking for the next basketball run. If you have a story idea, send him an email at jonathan.marshall@coxinc.com.
Amicia Ramsey joined the FOX13 News team in September 2019.
She is an experienced Breaking/General News and Lifestyle Reporter with versatile skills in live interviewing and gathering information and explaining content to a viewing audience.
She joins FOX13 from KMPH in Fresno, Ca where she covered a wide range of stories from wildfires, DACA dreamers, earthquakes and breaking news assignments. Her favorite stories to cover are about people who overcome the odds, social injustices and triumph over obstacles.
Some of her professional accomplishments include an Associated Press First Place Breaking Weather Award in 2016 and Meridian Star 'Readers Choice 2017 Best TV Personality' at WTOK-TV in Meridian, Ms.
Amicia was a student at the University of Missouri, Columbia. She enjoyed course hat detailed the dynamics of media from writing, shooting and editing video. In college she maintained journalism internships in competitive news markets in St. Louis, Milwaukee and Jacksonville, FL.
Amicia is a midwest native, the daughter of Pastors Arthur and Andrea Ramsey who continue to support her in a career. As a woman of faith her favorite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11.
While she has a true passion for people, her other interests involve mentoring youth and volunteering in her community. You can catch her live reports every weeknight on FOX13 News at 9 and 10pm. She also invites you to keep up with her on Facebook and Twitter for news updates and what's trending.
Shelia O’Connor joined the FOX13 family in August of 2019. She spent the past two years working for the NBC affiliate in Huntsville, Alabama.
Born and raised in Alabama, she is very excited to see what all the Bluff City has to offer.
An avid sports fan, Shelia new she wanted to go into journalism after constantly watching her favorite sports reporter, Erin Andrews, on ESPN.
Shelia graduated from the University of Alabama in May of 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications and Film. Needless to say, she is a huge Alabama fan (Roll Tide!)
When she’s not busy reporting, Shelia loves to travel, try new foods, and enjoys a nice running trail.
If you have any story ideas, food places to try, or want to share any of Memphis’ hidden gems, you can email her at Shelia.OConnor@coxinc.com
Jacque Masse joined the FOX13 news team in December of 2018.
She previously worked at KBMT Channel 12 news in Beaumont, Texas from 2016-2018.
In Beaumont, she covered Harvey when it flooded hundreds of homes across Southeast Texas.
She also anchored and produced for the weekend show.
Jacque is a proud LSU alumna! She graduated from the Manship School of Mass Communications in 2015.
When she isn’t at work she enjoys running, listening to live music and meeting new people. Her passion is to help people in the community by sharing their stories.
If you have a story idea email her at Jacque.masse@fox13memphis.com.
Dominique Dillon joined the FOX13 Memphis team as a reporter in October 2019.
Though she is a Cali girl, Dominique is no stranger to the South. She worked as an multimedia journalist and fill-in anchor at KTAL 6 in Shreveport, Louisiana for nearly two years.
She graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and minor in English. While at PVAMU, she was a member of the women’s soccer team.
Dominique has a true passion for mentoring aspiring journalists. Her other interests include working out, spending time with loved ones and traveling. She is also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.
Dominique is happy to call Memphis home and looks forward to reporting on the stories that matter most to people throughout the area.
If you have any story ideas, feel free to send her an email at Dominique.Dillon@fox13memphis.com.
Joey attended Scenic Hills Elementary in Frayser, Raleigh Egypt Jr. and Sr. High School in Raleigh, and then graduated from the University of Memphis with B.A. in Journalism.
He then completed his post-graduate studies through Mississippi State University and obtained his certification from the National Weather Association.
He's a true-blue fan of the Memphis Tigers, barbecue. Elvis and loves Memphis.
Joey is a member of the National Weather Association and Mensa, and the winner of two Mid-South Emmy Awards.
Brittani joined FOX13 in July 2015 as a meteorologist. She calls Tennessee her home, as she has lived in both Knoxville and Collierville for most of her life. If you ask Brittani why she got into meteorology, she'll tell you it's because of her fear of tornadoes when she was younger.
After graduating from Collierville High School, Brittani spent four years studying journalism at the University of Tennessee. A geography class renewed her interest in weather. When Brittani graduated from UT, she set her eyes on Mississippi State, where she received her second degree in Geoscience.
In her final year at State, Brittani was given a great opportunity at WABG in Greenville, MS to work as a weather forecaster. Upon graduating, Brittani moved to Tallahassee and became the weekend meteorologist at the #1 station, WCTV. It was there that Brittani came into her own. She covered ice events, tornadoes, major flooding, and tropical storms.
In her spare time, Brittani loves to read and watch sports. Oh, and eat. Because of this, she has a love/hate relationship with the treadmill. She is happy to be back home in the 901, and hopes to be a positive influence on girls across the Mid South.
Elisabeth joined the FOX13 weather team in April 2018 but isn’t new to the Memphis area. She grew up in Collierville, TN and graduated from Collierville High School before attending Mississippi State. There she obtained a degree in meteorology and gained a love for broadcasting.
After college she moved to Columbus, GA to work for WTVM. While there she covered all types of weather from record flooding to crippling ice and tornado outbreaks. Although she loved her time in the Peach State, the saying holds true “there’s no place like home”. She’s thrilled to be back in Memphis with her husband to eat all the BBQ her heart desires.
She splits her fall and spring between cheering on the MSU Dawgs and the Memphis Tigers with some Memphis Grizzlies action in there, too. Follow along with Elisabeth on Twitter and Facebook.
Yasser Kishk joined FOX13 in January 2020 as a weekend evening meteorologist and part midday meteorologist. He grew up not to far from Memphis in the charming city of Oxford, MS where he found his love and passion for weather for as long as he can remember. Weather events that shaped the Mid-South like the ice storm of 1994, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Super Tuesday Tornado Outbreak of 2008, the heavy snowstorm of 2011, and the April 2011 Super Outbreak that spawned 360 tornadoes across the southeast also shaped Yasser’s drive and passion for weather.
Yasser graduated Oxford High School in 2010. Yasser attended Ole Miss the following fall and transferred to Mississippi State University in the fall of 2012 to pursue his life long passion and dream of becoming a meteorologist. He graduated with his broadcast meteorology degree from MSU in the spring of 2014. He became a member of both the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association in 2012 and became a National Weather Association Seal of Approval holder in 2020. The NWA grants Seals of Approval to broadcast meteorologist who meet established criteria for meteorological competence and effective communication in their weather forecasts. Less than 400 broadcast meteorologist across the country are NWA Seal holders.
Yasser started his career as the “original intern” for Nashville Severe Weather in May 2013 forecasting daily for middle Tennessee and blogging the forecast while helping @NashSevereWX grow their following on Twitter by the thousands. In October 2014, Yasser left Nashville Severe Weather to start his broadcasting career at KOTA Territory News in Rapid City, SD where he was part of helping to launch the weekday morning show. While out west Yasser covered blizzards, droughts, wild fires, flash floods, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms with grapefruit size hail. His most notable weather event he covered while there was the Mother’s Day blizzard of 2015 when 13.6” of snow fell in Rapid City and Lead, SD picking up 20.8”. He could tell you stories for days as the weather was absolutely wild out there.
In October 2016 Yasser continued his career in Fort Wayne, Ind. to launch the an entire station, Fort Wayne’s NBC and was an integral part of the weekday morning show covering anything from lake effect snow to deadly heatwaves. Yasser helped the station achieve great success winning awards from the Associated Press like, “Station of the Year” and the highest honor in the Emmys, the award for “Overall Excellence.”
In June 2019, Yasser added meteorologist freelance work with Spectrum New 1 Ohio in Columbus, OH. By November 2019 he was also doing freelance work for Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI. In December 2019 he left Fort Wayne’s NBC to continue doing more freelance work for both Spectrum News 1 Ohio and Wisconsin until January 2020.
Yasser is a first generation Egyptian-American who in his free time enjoys storm chasing, traveling, cooking, working out, and outdoor activities. He is thrilled to be serving the region he calls home and not dealing with the winters up north anymore.
If you have a story idea, weather question, or a school visit from Yasser e-mail him: Yasser.Kishk@fox13memphis.com
Jacqueline Fell came to the Washington Bureau in June 2012 from Orlando, Florida.
As Cox Media Group's Washington Correspondent, she's responsible for covering important local stories in Congress, the White House and explaining how decisions made by federal agencies impact viewers.
Jacqueline enjoys focusing on matters related to aviation and transportation, as well as veterans issues.
While in DC, Jacqueline has covered some major news stories, including President Obama's second inauguration, the Pope's visit and the Navy Yard mass shooting. She also was at the Supreme Court when major rulings came down on the Affordable Care Act, gay marriage, and immigration.
Growing up in Baltimore, Md., she had an early interest in journalism and hosted a news magazine show in high school. Jacqueline reported and anchored in upstate New York, Flint, Mich. and Dayton, Ohio. She spent much of her career in Orlando as the lead reporter on the Casey Anthony case.
Jacqueline's inside-the-courtroom-Twitter coverage has been recognized with various industry award nominations.
Blair Miller can be seen weekdays covering news from Washington, D.C. Prior to joining the Washington Bureau, Blair was a weeknight anchor in Boston. Blair covered the 2016 Presidential election extensively, reporting from both political conventions and traveling across the country to report live from the Presidential Debates and primaries. Blair regularly reports from the White House and Capitol, covering President Donald Trump.
He recently produced and anchored primetime programs, "Boston's Bravest" that focused on occupational cancer in the fire service and the Emmy Award-winning "Deep Sea Drug War" that took Blair to the Pacific Ocean with the US Coast Guard to see their crackdown on major drug cartels. Blair recently appeared as a guest on the Dr. Oz show and was invited to the White House to talk about his reporting in "Boston's Bravest."
Prior to being in Boston, Blair was a main evening anchor in Charlotte, North Carolina. Blair's reporting has taken him to the scene of major news stories including the Boston Marathon Bombings, the Virginia Tech Shootings, and the Super Bowl. In addition to covering live breaking news events, he has traveled the world with the US Military reporting from Afghanistan, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Ramstein, Germany. Blair has also landed numerous exclusive interviews with newsmakers including Presidents and political candidates.
Blair has received many honors for his reporting and anchoring including seven Emmy awards. He has been honored extensively by local fire departments for his coverage of "Boston's Bravest." He was also named Anchor of the Year by the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters.
Blair recently joined the Board of Directors of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a charity for Wendy's that focuses on help foster care find families across the United States and Canada. It's a passion that hits close home for Blair, considering he and his husband adopted their three children. Blair also sits on the Board of Directors for the Rescue Ranch in Statesville, NC, a non-profit foundation by NASCAR driver Ryan Newman and his wife, Krissie to help improve the lives of animals and educate the public.
Blair is a graduate of Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. He lives in Northern Virginia with his husband, along with their three children and boxer dog, Laguna.
Samantha Manning joined Cox Media Group's Washington D.C. Bureau in October 2019.
She's responsible for covering important developments from Capitol Hill, federal agencies and the White House that impact local viewers.
Samantha previously worked as a reporter for the Cox station in Orlando (WFTV), and as an investigative reporter for the Cox station in Jacksonville, Florida (WJAX/WFOX). During her five years in Florida, Samantha covered the 2016 Republican National Convention and the 2016 Democratic National Convention. She also provided in-depth coverage of the multiple recounts in contested Florida races in the 2018 midterm elections which led to recognition by the Florida Society of Professional Journalists for best political coverage.
Samantha was a political reporter in Knoxville, Tennessee covering the Tennessee General Assembly prior to her time in Florida. She also often hosted a weekly political affairs show that dove into political topics and held lawmakers accountable.
Samantha is a New York City native having grown up in Brooklyn and Staten Island. She attended Hofstra University.
