Roger Simmons

Roger Simmons

BIRDS, WORDS, PICTURES + SOME TV

Menu
  • Home
  • All Posts
  • My Bird Catalog
  • About this Site
  • Orlando TV News/History
Menu

About Roger Simmons

Hi, I’m Roger. Welcome to my site.

I’ve been interested in all media since ever since I can remember. I think my fascination with television started in the third grade when I was living in Miami.  A classmate invited me to join him in the audience for a taping of the popular “Skipper Chuck” show on WTVJ-Channel 4. I then made the rounds of all the local Miami kids shows, including South Florida’s version of Bozo the Clown.

After briefly leaving the Sunshine State to go to high school in Boise, Idaho, I returned to attend the University of Central Florida with the intention of going into broadcast journalism. But a funny thing happened — I found out I loved newspaper reporting more than TV reporting.  I went on to become a print journalist but remained interested in television news — keeping tapes of local and national broadcasts I thought were cool or noteworthy. Those tapes help form some of the Orlando TV history that became RogerSimmons.com — a website/blog I launched in March 2001.

Over the years, the site has grown and changed in many ways. A big thank you to all the individuals who have contributed photos or stories to help document Orlando’s TV news and history.

Currently, I live in Orlando with my wife and our son. I’m the Managing Editor at the Orlando Sentinel and OrlandoSentinel.com – the region’s most popular local news website. I’ve been honored to be a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in breaking news along with the rest of the Sentinel newsroom as well as earn a Suncoast Emmy nomination while at the Sentinel.

But please note — my site/blog is NOT in any way related to the Orlando Sentinel, OrlandoSentinel.com or any other Tribune Publishing Co. website. The views expressed here are mine only and not connected in any way with my employer.

(P.S.: In addition to television memorabilia, I also have a rather large collection of historic newspapers — some of which are more than 200 years old. But I don’t have a website for them — yet.)

Top Locations

Orlando Wetlands

Posts about visits to Orlando Wetlands

UCF Arboretum

Posts about visits to UCF Arboretum

Merritt Island

Posts about visits to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Lake Apopka

Posts about visits to Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive

Fort DeSoto

Posts about visits to Fort DeSoto Park

Galleries

A Sandhill Crane colt glows in the sunset at Orlando Wetlands Park.

Roger's Favorites

An ever-changing collection of my favorite pictures

Belted Kingfishers

Photos of Belted Kingfishers across Central Florida.

Oystercatchers

Pictures of American Oystercatchers at Fort DeSoto Park

Spoonbills

Pictures of Roseate Spoonbills at Orlando Wetlands


MORE GALLERIES

Categories

  • Across Florida
  • All
  • Anchors
  • Backyard
  • Backyard
  • Beyond Florida
  • Birds
  • CF News 13
  • Fort DeSoto Park
  • Hal Scott Preserve
  • Internet
  • Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
  • Lake Eola Park
  • Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
  • Newspapers ads for TV stations
  • Not Birds
  • Orlando Magic
  • Orlando Radio
  • Orlando TV
  • Orlando Wetlands
  • Photo Galleries
  • Public Broadcasting
  • Sun Sports
  • UCF Arboretum
  • Uncategorized
  • WAWA-47
  • Weather
  • WESH-2
  • WFTV-9
  • WKCF-18
  • WKMG-6
  • WMFE-24
  • WOFL-35
  • WRBW-65
  • WRDQ-27
  • WUCF-24
  • WVEN-26

Topics

Amy Kaufeldt Awards Barbara Maushard Barbara West Belted Kingfisher Blast From The Past Bob Frier Bob Jordan Bob Opsahl Bright House Cale Ramaker Casey Anthony Daily Buzz Danny Treanor David Pingalore Digital TV Jacqueline London Jim Payne Jim Van Fleet Lauren Rowe Little Blue Heron Mark McEwen Martha Sugalski Martie Salt News 13 O-Town Alumni Orlando Wetlands Park Ratings Roseate Spoonbills Shawn Bartelt Skip Valet Stan Knott Tom Sorrells Tom Terry Tony Pipitone Vanessa Welch Weather Wendy Chioji WESH-2 WFTV-9 WKCF-18 WKMG-6 WMFE-24 WOFL-35 WRDQ-27

©2023 Roger Simmons