Emyle Watkins
Multimedia ReporterEmyle Watkins is a multimedia investigative journalist with experience in newspapers, web, TV and radio.
Emyle joined WBFO in March 2021 to cover the disability community - a topic area she believes deserves better coverage and investigative reporting focused on disability rights, community, culture, and access issues that impact people with disabilities. As someone who identifies as disabled and neurodivergent, herself, she wants to make sure the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities are accurately represented.
Buffalo-born and raised a short drive from the city, Emyle (pronounced like Emily, despite the spelling) got her bachelors degrees in Multimedia Journalism and Digital Media Arts at Canisius College.
Emyle’s journalism career began at the early age of 16, when she became the primary sports reporter/photographer for her hometown newspaper, The Springville Journal. Since then, she has also freelanced or had work published in other newspapers including The Buffalo News, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and The Public.
While Emyle started as a sports journalist, early on in college she realized she wanted to pursue investigative journalism as a way to make a difference for communities and hold those in power accountable.
In college, Emyle quickly moved into an editorial position at The Canisius Griffin, and served as the managing editor there, leading the investigative team, often looking into finances and covering student government/college administration. She also redesigned the newspaper’s website and print product to be more accessible to readers with visual disabilities.
As part of Canisius’ Video Institute, Emyle co-produced and was the reporter for the documentary “NewBorn: Maternal Resources in New York State,” which won a Telly Award in 2020. While on a fellowship at The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, she won a Pennsylvania Golden Quill by co-writing “There are Black people in the future,” a series of artist profiles.
Emyle interned at WBFO in 2020 and later became an associate producer on the digital and investigative teams at WGRZ -TV (Channel 2). There she helped develop stories on such topics as unsolved shootings in Buffalo, and how over 900 graves were lost in a Cheektowaga cemetery.
Follow @EmyleWatkins.
Email Emyle at ewatkins@WBFO.org
Desk (call only): 716-845-7000, ext 233
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Wind gusts of up to 55 mph, single-digit and more than a foot and a half of snow are all in the forecast for Buffalo.
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The U.S. Justice Department is seeking the death penalty for Tops shooter Gendron.
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On Tuesday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul shared her vision for New York in her State of the State address, which often previews what may be included in her budget proposal. WBFO’s Disability Reporter Emyle Watkins spoke with the head of a local disability services agency to get her reaction.
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Ahead of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's State of the State address, one disability organization is asking the state to make a change that could rescue important programs for people with disabilities.
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The Peace Bridge, Lewiston-Queenston Bridge and Whirlpool Bridge were closed Wednesday due to an explosion that killed two people on the Rainbow Bridge. The Rainbow Bridge remains closed as of Wednesday night.
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WBFO’s Disability Reporter Emyle Watkins spoke with Charles Fulco, science teacher, and NASA Solar System Ambassador, about how people with disabilities can start thinking ahead to enjoy the solar eclipse.
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On Sunday, U.S. Congressman Brian Higgins announced he will be leaving his office in February 2024. Higgins has served in the House since 2005, representing New York’s 26th congressional district. WBFO’s Emyle Watkins spoke with someone who has known Higgins since he got his start in Buffalo’s Common Council about his legacy.
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WBFO looked at how political apathy is shaping Cattaraugus County in a different way than the rest of Western New York.
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Delaware North committed to a $100,000 donation to support unified sports programs in local schools.
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If you’ve ever been to a fundraiser at a restaurant, you know it’s a chance to have a great time with friends and support a cause. But for a local woman with a disability, a trip to Tully’s Good Times in Cheektowaga for a Special Olympics fundraiser, ended up being a bad time, as she was left to eat her meal off of a chair.