{"id":364553,"date":"2026-06-17T18:46:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T18:46:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/364553\/"},"modified":"2026-06-17T18:46:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T18:46:34","slug":"bay-area-tv-exec-tracey-watkowski-leaves-abc7-after-nearly-15-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/364553\/","title":{"rendered":"Bay Area TV exec Tracey Watkowski leaves ABC7 after nearly 15 years"},"content":{"rendered":"

A longtime Bay Area television news executive is out<\/a> after nearly 15 years as the station\u2019s news director.<\/p>\n

Tracey Watkowski, vice president of news at KGO-TV\/ ABC7, parted ways with the network<\/a> as internal emails revealed she and the station \u201cdecided to move in different directions,\u201d trade publication FTVLive reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It was not immediately clear what led to her departure<\/a> from the station.<\/p>\n

KGO News Director Tracey Watkowski and the KGO-TV have parted ways after nearly 15 years. ICA<\/p>\n

KGO General Manager David Wurtzel informed employees via email that \u201cafter recent discussions, Tracey Watkowski and the station have decided to move in different directions,\u201d according to FTLive.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a long-time member of our team and a leading voice in the newsroom, she will be missed. Over the course of her career, Tracey has been a steady and respected leader and a thoughtful newsroom advocate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watkowski (left) wrote a note to staff just minutes after her departure was announced, according to FTLive. X\/@watkowski<\/p>\n

Wurtzel added that the station was \u201cgrateful for her contributions over the years\u201d and wished her \u201cnothing but the very best in her next chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watkowski \u2014 who spent more than 20 years at KGO in total and more than 14 years as news director \u2014 followed up with her own note to staff just minutes after her departure was announced, according to FTLive.<\/p>\n

Watkowski spent more than 20 years at KGO and more than 14 years as news director. Linkedin\/@tracey-w-silva<\/p>\n

\u201cAs my time at KGO comes to an end, I want to express my sincere gratitude to each of you for your dedication, hard work and camaraderie,\u201d the note read.<\/p>\n

\u201cI take with me countless memories of ABC7\u2019s impactful work: major breaking news, investigations and exclusives, and all the big stories over the past 14 years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watkowski also praised the newsroom, writing that \u201cKGO has the best newsroom in the market\u201d and urging staff to \u201cstay committed to the core tenets of great journalism while covering the stories that matter to the Bay Area.\u201d<\/p>\n

The network declined to comment to the California Post and deferred to Wurtzel, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Watkowski also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. <\/p>\n

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