After more than two decades waking up before dawn to deliver the news to East Tennesseans, former WBIR anchor Abby Ham is embracing a new chapter while reflecting on a career filled with memorable moments, major news events, and deep community connections.
Speaking to the Bearden Rotary Club, Ham shared stories from her 23-year television journalism career, which began far from East Tennessee. After studying journalism in Arizona and discovering a passion for broadcast news during a television internship, she landed her first job in a small market serving Ohio and West Virginia.
There, Ham learned every aspect of television news, shooting video, editing stories, reporting, anchoring and even presenting weather forecasts. The experience, she said, provided invaluable training and taught her how to think on her feet during live broadcasts.
Her connection to Knoxville began when her parents relocated to the area while she was in college. Drawn to the region’s beauty and sense of community, Ham joined WBIR as a weekend anchor. Within months, she moved into the morning anchor role, where she would spend the next 20 years.
Among the earliest major stories she covered was the historic McClung Warehouses fire in downtown Knoxville. Ham recalled a now-famous live television moment during the coverage that generated phone calls and attention long before the days of social media.
Throughout her career, Ham covered some of the most significant events in East Tennessee history. She described the 2016 Gatlinburg wildfires as one of the most impactful stories she ever reported. Called into the station in the middle of the night as the fires intensified, she spent 16 consecutive hours anchoring breaking news coverage while information was arriving in real time.
“The stories of the people in that community were gut-wrenching,” Ham said, noting that the tragedy remains one of the most vivid memories of her career.
More recently, Ham was part of WBIR’s coverage of Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact on western North Carolina. Alongside longtime videographer William, she traveled into Asheville when few news organizations could reach the area. The team documented widespread destruction, personal loss and recovery efforts, producing stories that were viewed by more than a million people and later earned awards.
While Ham loved journalism and believes strongly in the importance of fair and balanced reporting, she acknowledged the demands of the profession. The early hours, constant deadlines and emotional weight of covering tragedies led her to consider a career change for years.
That opportunity came when she partnered with former co-anchor Heather Waliga to launch We Know People Media, a marketing and storytelling company focused on helping East Tennessee businesses connect with audiences through social media and video content.
Today, the company works with multiple local clients and continues to grow. Ham says the transition from newsroom to entrepreneur has been challenging but rewarding.
“It’s something we decided to do for ourselves,” she said. “That is extremely liberating.”
Though her role has changed, Ham remains a storyteller at heart. Whether covering breaking news or helping local businesses share their stories, she says her mission remains the same: connecting people through meaningful storytelling.
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