Professional Experience

Amanda joined the WINK News team in October 2011.  She anchors week nights at 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM, and 11:00 PM on WINK-TV and 6:30 PM and 10:00 PM on WXCW.  Amanda previously served as the evening anchor at WDHN in Dothan, Alabama.

Awards and Recognition

Amanda's work on the anchor desk and in the field covering breaking news has been honored by the Suncoast Chapter of  the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), the Florida Associated Press, and the Florida Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

News Philosophy

To give a voice to the voiceless and hold the powerful accountable.

Hobbies, Interest & Community Involvement

Amanda volunteers and contributes to several annual events for charitable organizations including Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida, Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, Healthy Start of Southwest Florida, Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida, and the Southwest Florida Reading Festival. When she's away from work, Amanda enjoys reading, shopping, traveling, and cheering on the Florida Gators!

Education

Bachelor of Science in Telecommunication, University of Florida.

Likes best about Southwest Florida

Amanda was born in Fort Myers and raised between the Gulf Coast and Sebring in Central Florida, so it's great to be home!

Hometown

Born in Fort Myers, Fla., raised in Sebring, Fla.

Memorable Assignments

Amanda's work takes her all over Florida and the country covering stories of national importance. In 2016, Amanda covered the presidential candidates including two nationally televised debates and the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.  In 2017, she anchored WINK's coverage of President Donald Trump's Inauguration.

Interesting Fact

Amanda is a former Miss Florida Gator

WINK News Investigates: Swamped emergency rooms

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- Dozens of complaints from viewers over agonizing waits at Lee County emergency rooms sparks a WINK News Investigation. Natasha Sherod’s family rushed her to Lee Memorial’s ER in January for gallstones. Sherod told WINK News she spent eight hours in the waiting room and 24 hours on a gurney in the hallway […]

Murder victim asked for gun days before slayings on Fort Myers Beach boat

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla.- Newly released documents from the State Attorneys Office reveal how deputies say a couple on Fort Myers Beach died. Marilyn Spiegel and Harry Carlip were killed days before they were supposed to get married. Marilyn’s ex-husband Michael Spiegel, 70 is charged with two counts of first degree murder in their deaths. […]

4 cases of measles identified among travelers in Florida

TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Department of Health is working with other state and federal officials to monitor individuals who may have been exposed to measles cases across the state. In the past two weeks, four cases of measles have been identified and reported among travelers with unknown or no measles vaccinations who visited Florida. Two cases involved […]

Southwest Florida targeted by IRS impostors

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- Intimidating phone calls have thousands of people falling for a scam. Criminals impersonating IRS Agents are threatening people with court and even jail if they don’t pay up. The scam is happening in Southwest Florida. Several people have e-mailed WINK News asking for help. One viewer recorded the call. Florean Tipton says […]

GoDaddy sacks Super Bowl ‘puppy’ ad after online backlash

FORT MYERS, Fla.-The website-building company GoDaddy has decided to pull it’s Super Bowl ad, after online backlash. The commercial, called “Journey Home” features a golden retriever puppy named Buddy.  The puppy falls out of his family’s pickup-truck and treks through rough terrain and a thunderstorm to get home. That’s when the ad takes a turn. […]

Millions of genetically modified mosquitoes could be released

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) – Millions of genetically modified mosquitoes could be released in the Florida Keys if British researchers win approval to use the bugs against two extremely painful viral diseases. Never before have insects with modified DNA come so close to being set loose in a residential U.S. neighborhood. “This is essentially using […]

PolitiFact: Fact-checking Jeb Bush’s position on gay marriage and adoption by gays

FORT MYERS, Fla.- We’re still waiting to see if former Florida Governor Jeb Bush will commit to a Presidential Campaign, but his critics are already on the attack. The Democratic National Committee says Bush is against gay marriage and opposes gay couples adopting children. Jeb Bush served eight years as Florida governor. During that time, […]

PolitiFact: Rubio claims Cuba policy lacks democratic reforms

FORT MYERS, Fla.-Immediately after the announcement of historical changes in U.S.-Cuba relations last month, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, R-FL emerged as one of the most outspoken critics. “This president and this administration have let the people of Cuba down,” Rubio said. Senator Rubio claims no promises for democratic reform were made. “This president is the […]

PolitiFact: Fact-checking the State of the Union

FORT MYERS, Fla.- President Obama says the state of the union is ‘strong.’ During Tuesday night’s speech, WINK News checked the President’s points. From jobs to oil, we investigated to find out what’s face and what stretches the truth. It was a first for the President who spoke to the now Republican-controlled Congress. A recurring […]

Colorado pot revenues hit new high

FORT MYERS, Fla.-  Marijuana dominated headlines in 2014 both here in Florida and across the country.  Many states debated the medical benefits, and in states like Colorado, the economic boost from recreational sales of the drug. But did Colorado really rake in $60 million in marijuana-related money last year? A pro-pot advocate is using that […]