ROCKINGHAM – In continuing to grow its digital newsroom to deliver Richmond County the news it deserves, The Richmond Observer is proud to announce the addition of Hayley Gordon to its “Live at 5” news team.
Gordon, who is an eighth grade English Language Arts teacher at Hamlet Middle School, brings a surfeit amount of on-air and broadcasting experience to The Richmond Observer’s flagship nightly news program.
A 2009 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Gordon is a Richmond County native who is excited to bring her knowledge, experience and big-time personality to viewers across the area.
“This is a great opportunity not only for me, but for the county,” Gordon said. “My broadcasting experience began when I was in high school at Richmond, and it’s something I’ve always enjoyed doing. I have both television and radio experience.
“I want to thank Lance Jenkins, Kenny Melvin and Kyle Pillar for the opportunity to be a part of such an exclusive team,” Gordon added. “As my grandfather, Jimmy Smith, served the area for 63 years with WAYN900-AM, I’m honored to be a part of The Richmond Observer, and promise to deliver the news with joy and integrity.”
Gordon will join the growing rotation of Live at 5’s regular nightly on-air anchors, and will also help run the Observer’s social media sites. She is set to make her debut on the Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, edition of the show. She will accompany other anchors including Jenkins, Pillar and Kelsey Rushing.
“Hayley has been a major asset and a staple in the Richmond County teaching community for a long time,” Pillar said. “She has shown time and again her strong leadership abilities, and is one of the most personable, humble people I have the pleasure of knowing.
“Her wit, charm and likable personality will fit it perfectly with what we are trying to accomplish,” Pillar added. “I have not a doubt in my mind that Hayley will help propel our newsroom to the next level. I can only promise great things from her as we bring her on board with The Richmond Observer and Live at 5.”
At HMS, Gordon is a Junior Beta Club adviser, and a member of the School Improvement Team. In 2013, she earned her Masters Degree in Instructional Technology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, which is another element she brings to the newsroom. She has been married to her husband, Chip Gordon, for nearly five years, and they are currently finalizing the grand opening of their own chicken farm business. The Gordons have a daughter, Kirkley, who turns two in October.
As The Richmond Observer is dedicated to hiring and employing local talent, it is also excited to announce the additions of Cleve Baxley and Matthew Harrelson to the sports department. Both have experience is sports reporting, and will be regular contributors covering local high school and community sports.
To stay current on all of Richmond County’s local news, sports, weather and more, visit our website www.richmondobserver.com, download our iPhone/Android app, or like our Facebook page.
