Lauren Weppler-Geissler has almost 20 years’ experience in local TV news as a reporter, anchor, executive producer, assistant news director and now news director at WTOL, Tegna’s CBS affiliate in Toledo.
Weppler-Geissler agreed to allow News Blues to share her post from LinkedIn as a guest commentary,
News Blues reserves the right to publish guest commenatries. If you’d like to submit material for a guest commentary, email Paul@NewsBlues.com.
Weppler-Geissler provided this rationale for her post:
As journalists I feel we are really good in the moment, but we don’t always look back and reflect on the execution of the story. That’s what this post was intended to do.
“If I Knew Then, What I Know Now”
As journalists, there are always those stories you look back on and think — wow, if I had another run at that one, I’d approach it differently.
For me, one of those moments was during a major breaking news event in Myrtle Beach, when a fire tore through multiple housing units in Carolina Forest. Dozens of people lost their homes. Miraculously, no one was hurt — which was incredible given the devastation we saw that day.
But if I could have a “do-over,” here’s what I’d do better:
Connect more deeply with those affected — tell their stories one by one, not just the collective loss.
Explore the environmental impact — the fire’s aftermath extended far beyond the flames.
Keep following up — weeks, months, even a year later. Those stories deserve longevity.
Brand the coverage differently — give it a name, a focus, something that lives beyond the headline.
Follow the change — what safety measures or policies came from this tragedy?
Experience is a powerful teacher. Every story shapes the next — and every “I wish I had” moment makes us stronger, sharper, and more empathetic storytellers.
What’s your ‘do-over’ story?
About Lauren Weppler-Geissler:
About
I’m proud to be the longest-serving female News Director in the history of WTOL 11 and WUPW FOX36 in Toledo, Ohio. I started here in 2017 as the Assistant News Director and was promoted to News Director three years later. Today, I have the privilege of leading a newsroom of more than 60 incredibly talented journalists. I’m passionate about building a collaborative team that supports one another and works with purpose. We often spend more time with each other than with our own families, so I strive to make our newsroom a place where people feel valued and inspired to do great work.
I began my career in 2007 in front of the camera as an MMJ and weather anchor at WTAP-TV in Parkersburg, West Virginia. That first job laid the foundation for everything that came after—I learned how to hustle, problem-solve, and be resilient. I’m grateful for those early years working as a one-man band.
From there, I moved on to anchor evening newscasts at WVNS in Beckley, West Virginia, and later became an anchor and reporter at WMBF in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. While in the Carolinas, I realized I wanted to play a bigger role in shaping a newsroom’s success, which led me to take on a leadership position as a morning Executive Producer.
One of the things I’m most proud of now is watching others grow—whether it’s within our station or across the company. I no longer find fulfillment in individual wins but in helping the people around me reach their potential.
During my time in Toledo, our team has earned several major awards, including regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, multiple Emmys, and honors from the Associated Press. In both 2020 and 2022, WTOL 11 won First Place for News Excellence and the First Amendment Award from the Associated Press Media Editors.
I aim to always lead with a servant’s heart. I care deeply about the work we do—and just as deeply about the people doing it.
When I’m not at the station, I’m spending time with my family and running to a sporting event to support my kids on the sidelines.
- Guest Commentary
November 11, 2025If I Knew Then, What I Know Now: A TV Journalist Reflects on Getting a ‘Do-Over’
By Paul Greeley
817-578-6324, Paul@NewsBlues.com
Lauren Weppler-Geissler has almost 20 years’ experience in local TV news as a reporter, anchor, executive producer, assistant news director and now news director at WTOL, Tegna’s CBS affiliate in Toledo.
Weppler-Geissler agreed to allow News Blues to share her post from LinkedIn as a guest commentary,
News Blues reserves the right to publish guest commenatries. If you’d like to submit material for a guest commentary, email Paul@NewsBlues.com.
Weppler-Geissler provided this rationale for her post:
As journalists I feel we are really good in the moment, but we don’t always look back and reflect on the execution of the story. That’s what this post was intended to do.
“If I Knew Then, What I Know Now”
As journalists, there are always those stories you look back on and think — wow, if I had another run at that one, I’d approach it differently.
For me, one of those moments was during a major breaking news event in Myrtle Beach, when a fire tore through multiple housing units in Carolina Forest. Dozens of people lost their homes. Miraculously, no one was hurt — which was incredible given the devastation we saw that day.
But if I could have a “do-over,” here’s what I’d do better:
Experience is a powerful teacher. Every story shapes the next — and every “I wish I had” moment makes us stronger, sharper, and more empathetic storytellers.
What’s your ‘do-over’ story?
About Lauren Weppler-Geissler:
About
I’m proud to be the longest-serving female News Director in the history of WTOL 11 and WUPW FOX36 in Toledo, Ohio. I started here in 2017 as the Assistant News Director and was promoted to News Director three years later. Today, I have the privilege of leading a newsroom of more than 60 incredibly talented journalists. I’m passionate about building a collaborative team that supports one another and works with purpose. We often spend more time with each other than with our own families, so I strive to make our newsroom a place where people feel valued and inspired to do great work.
I began my career in 2007 in front of the camera as an MMJ and weather anchor at WTAP-TV in Parkersburg, West Virginia. That first job laid the foundation for everything that came after—I learned how to hustle, problem-solve, and be resilient. I’m grateful for those early years working as a one-man band.
From there, I moved on to anchor evening newscasts at WVNS in Beckley, West Virginia, and later became an anchor and reporter at WMBF in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. While in the Carolinas, I realized I wanted to play a bigger role in shaping a newsroom’s success, which led me to take on a leadership position as a morning Executive Producer.
One of the things I’m most proud of now is watching others grow—whether it’s within our station or across the company. I no longer find fulfillment in individual wins but in helping the people around me reach their potential.
During my time in Toledo, our team has earned several major awards, including regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, multiple Emmys, and honors from the Associated Press. In both 2020 and 2022, WTOL 11 won First Place for News Excellence and the First Amendment Award from the Associated Press Media Editors.
I aim to always lead with a servant’s heart. I care deeply about the work we do—and just as deeply about the people doing it.
When I’m not at the station, I’m spending time with my family and running to a sporting event to support my kids on the sidelines.
NEW TV Jobs Posted to News Blues, November 10
https://newsblues.com/2025/11/10/new-tv-jobs-posted-to-news-blues-november-10/
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