NEW ORLEANS — WWL-TV has named New Orleans native Tyrianne ‘Nicole’ Waivers as its news director, it was announced Friday by General Manager Tod Smith.
A graduate of Loyola University’s communications department and Edna Karr High School, she has served as the executive producer of the 10 pm news for the past year after previously serving as an executive news producer at WFAA in Dallas.
Waivers, who returned to New Orleans for a few weeks in 2021 to help with WWL’s Hurricane Ida coverage on loan from WFAA, says that return rekindled her affection for the city.
“I love New Orleans like I’m married to it,” she said at a newsroom meeting introducing her as the latest station news director. “Louisiana is my home. The food, music, and culture run through my veins. I watched WWL-TV as a child. I can think of no greater honor than to lead this newsroom.”
“As a native New Orleanian, she grew up watching WWL-TV, so she understands the legacy and standards of excellence tied to the station’s history. Most importantly, she cares deeply about New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana,” said Smith.
WWL-TV has been fairly stable in its news management with only a handful of news directors over the past five decades, including Phil Johnson, Jim Boyer, Joe Duke, Sandy Breland, Chris Slaughter, Bill Siegel and Keith Esparros. Stability has been a cornerstone in the newsroom.
“I have some big shoes to fill,” she said.
In the past year, Waivers has overseen many station projects, including its Wounded City documentary on crime in New Orleans and its causes.
During her time at WFAA, Nicole led coverage on a range of history-making news events including live digital election coverage for WFAA as well as a multi-city digital post-show for the 2018
Texas Senate Debate between Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke. Nicole also helped to spearhead WFAA's Murrow-award winning coverage of a deadly school shooting at Timberview High School in 2021, and the Dallas Police ambush of 2016.
