Staff

Mission Statement

Awards

Ted Simons, Host
Simons has worked in television and radio in the Phoenix area for more than 20 years, and got his start in TV here at Eight as a public affairs producer/reporter. He most recently hosted the afternoon drive news/talk show on KTAR radio. The long-time Valley journalist previously worked as news director/morning show host for KZON-FM and news/sports anchor/reporter at KPHO-TV. Simons was also sports director/anchor at KOFY-TV in San Francisco, Calif.
E-mail Ted Simons

Michael Philipsen, Manager of News and Public Affairs
Philipsen, who recently won the prestigious Edward R.Murrow Award for Best Newscast in the Southwest, brings 15 years of experience in television news to the Phoenix public television station. Prior to joining Eight, he produced the daily 5 p.m. newscasts for KPHO-TV5, the CBS affiliate in Phoenix. Philipsen also held positions at the ABC affiliate in Tucson and the CBS station in Lafayette, Indiana. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.
E-mail Michael Philipsen

Mike Sauceda, Executive Producer
Mike's voice may be as familiar as his work on HORIZON. In addition to his full-time duties as a HORIZON producer, Mike is a well-known news anchor on KTAR radio. Mike has been with HORIZON since 1990. He arrived with many years of local radio experience. In many ways, Mike represents the best in the classic (and disappearing) style of traditional reporter. He likes nothing better than digging and digging at a complex issue, then crafting it into a segment the community can understand and learn from. Mike is an Arizona native.
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Larry Lemmons, Producer/Reporter
Larry comes to Channel 8 from KACV, the PBS station in Amarillo, Texas. He hosted and produced Perspective, an interview program quite similar to HORIZON. Larry also taught Broadcast News at Amarillo College. Before his job at KACV, he served as anchor and reporter for KFDA, the CBS affiliate in Amarillo. Like his colleagues at HORIZON, Larry prefers a more substantive approach to news. Educated in theatre at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Washington in Seattle, Larry nevertheless found his calling in news. He's fascinated by people and by their motivations.
E-mail Larry Lemmons

Merry Lucero, Producer/Reporter
Merry joined the staff of HORIZON in 1994 coming from KCBS TV in Los Angeles. Merry is proud to be a part of a program that does the important work of educating the public about politics and other local issues. In addition to numerous broadcasting awards, Merry's work on HORIZON has brought her recognition from community groups such as the Governor's Council on Aging, and the Maricopa County Bar Association. While always working in the media, Merry has had a wide-ranging career from producing consumer investigations to educational video production to working in a professional children's theater company. Merry has a B.A. in Theater, Film and Television from UCLA.
E-mail Merry Lucero

Richard Torruellas, Videographer/Editor
Richard's dynamic videography style has long been a mainstay of HORIZON programs. In addition to HORIZON, Richard's photography work can be seen in many other award-winning KAET programs. Richard has a wall full of awards attesting to the quality of work he does at Eight/KAET. He is pleased to be able to dedicate the time to effectively tell stories with pictures and sound.
E-mail Richard Torruellas