Role: Host, Wisconsin’s Midday News
Hometown: Elm Grove, Wis.
When did she join WTMJ? February 2024
Follow on:
- Twitter (X): @jessicatighe
- Facebook: Jessica Tighe
- Instagram: @jessicatighe_tv
Five Fun Facts About Jessica Tighe:
- Jessica was featured in a few Milwaukee commercials as a kid including one for Mel Schlesinger Chevrolet and Golden Guernsey Dairy.
- Her dog’s name is Baxter. While he did “bark twice” when she moved back to Milwaukee, he’s not named after the dog in “Anchorman.”
- She was Editor-In-Chief of the Spartan Banner newspaper at Brookfield East High School and the first person to add color to the front page.
- Enjoy spice? Jessica grows her own peppers to make a homemade hot sauce.
- Jessica is a foodie! One of her favorite pastimes is discovering new restaurants.
- BONUS: Jessica once took a 24-hour trip to Paris.
Bio:
Jessica Tighe is an Emmy-nominated journalist who grew up in Milwaukee. In fact, Brew City is where her passion for journalism first flourished. “I remember listening to the legendary 620 on the radio as a kid, being a weather helper at Summerfest, and later turning my first investigative news report as an intern in this city,” she says.
Jessica now has nearly two decades of experience in newsrooms across the country. She spent seven years as a morning news anchor at the CBS affiliate in Milwaukee. She’s covered some of Milwaukee’s toughest and best times in recent memory, from the unrest in Sherman Park to the opening day of Fiserv Forum. Jessica also traveled to Pennsylvania to give the community its first look at Milwaukee’s controversial streetcar, The Hop, being built.
Before Milwaukee, Jessica worked in the Quad Cities along the Iowa/Illinois border. The Iowa Broadcast News Association honored her for the breaking news report she did on her very first day. She also spent time anchoring in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Her first gig right out of college was in West Virginia.
Jessica graduated from Indiana University and admits she cheers for the Hoosiers when it comes to college sports, but it’s all about Wisconsin when it comes to pro teams. “I started going to Bucks games a kid. Now I’m an even bigger fan! My husband and I love grabbing dinner and then heading to the games. I also own stock in the Packers. I walk the dog in my Brewers hat. You get the idea,” she laughs.
Jessica has a deep love for the community, an appreciation for its past, and enthusiasm for the city’s future. Now she brings her talents to 620 WTMJ as co-host of Wisconsin’s Midday News. Greg Matzek and Jessica bring you the local, state, and national news stories every weekday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. It’s a great chance to get updated in the middle of the day by two hosts who truly know our community.
