WLWT and Hearst Television announced Friday that Nicole Aponte is joining WLWT News 5 as a reporter this June. Aponte is a graduate of Syracuse University with a degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism, and a minor in Policy Studies.Aponte brings experience as a senior reporter and anchor in upstate New York covering everything from breaking news to local elections, with a focus on community-driven storytelling. Aponte’s work has earned multiple regional, state, and national awards, most notably a second-place finish at the 2023 Hearst National Television Championship in San Francisco, California.“We are excited to have Nicole join our group of talented and experienced reporters in Cincinnati. Her passion for journalism and storytelling makes her the perfect fit for the WLWT News 5 Team,” said WLWT News Director Jeff Benscoter.An avid runner and reader, Aponte is always on the lookout for a perfect cup of coffee. She is looking forward to making Cincinnati her home. “I can’t wait to join the talented team at WLWT and report from the communities that make Cincinnati so special,” said Aponte.About WLWTFor over 75 years, WLWT has been Leading the Way as the first TV station in Cincinnati, and the first NBC affiliate in the country. WLWT serves the community by delivering local news, weather, sports, and entertainment programming on WLWT 5-1 NBC, WLWT 5-2 MeTV, WLWT 5-4 Story Television, WLWT 5-5 Get TV, online at WLWT.com, through the WLWT App, and streaming on Very Local. WLWT is owned and operated by Hearst TelevisionAbout Hearst TelevisionHearst Television owns and/or operates 35 television and two radio stations serving 27 media markets across 39 states reaching 24 million U.S. television households. Through its partnership with nearly all major networks, Hearst Television distributes national content over more than 120 video channels including programming from ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, MY Net, MeTV, Estrella and more. The radio stations are leaders in Baltimore news/talk and rock music listenership. Its Hearst Media Production Group unit produces original programming across linear and streaming platforms for domestic and international distribution. Its Very Local app, free to download on household OTT devices and available across popular streaming services, offers 24/7 access to local news, weather and an array of local and regional programming. Hearst Television is recognized as one of the industry's premier companies and has been honored with numerous awards for distinguished journalism, industry innovation, and community service. Hearst Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst.