Austin out as WGEM News anchor

For the second time in 33 days, WGEM-TV has terminated the employment of one of its male on-air anchors.

Dylan Austin, anchor of WGEM’s 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts, was reportedly told Monday by management his services were no longer required.

Ben Van Ness, vice president and general manager at WGEM, was asked by Muddy River News for a comment. He replied by email, “Out of respect of all parties involved, WGEM will not comment on personnel matters.”

WGEM’s comment to staff said “Dylan Austin is no longer employed” at WGEM, management “would not discuss it” and “they wish him well.”

Austin did not respond to multiple inquiries from Muddy River News.

Austin, a Warsaw, Ill. native and a graduate of Western Illinois University, had been at WGEM since 2011 when he was hired as a weekend sports anchor. He moved to the co-anchor slot with Natalie Will on WGEM’s morning show in 2015, then was named the co-anchor of the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts with Alexandra Carter in 2018. His first work in the market was for KHQA-TV.

Carter was let go by WGEM in May 2020. Makenzi Henderson took over the evening co-anchor spot in October 2020.

Austin’s departure comes on the heels of WGEM’s September 30 firing of morning show anchor Don Dwyer and three other employees for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. That vaccine mandate came from WGEM’s new corporate ownership group, Gray Television from Atlanta.