NYSBA Selects Hall of Fame Class of 2025
- The New York State Broadcasters Association
- Aug 5
- 7 min read
The New York State Broadcasters Association, Inc., announces the addition of six new inductees into the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place at our gala luncheon in the Rainbow Room, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York City, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
Regarding the class of 2025, David Donovan, President of the New York State Broadcasters Association, stated, “The Hall of Fame Class of 2025 sets the 'gold standard' for broadcasters throughout New York State. The inductees represent a lifetime of achievement serving their profession and communities throughout the Empire State and our nation. We are honored to have them join the Hall of Fame.” Here is the class of 2025:

Kaity Tong – Journalist, Anchor – WPIX-TV, New York City
Kaity Tong launched her broadcasting career at KCBS News Radio in San Francisco. That led to a TV news reporting job at Bay Area Station KPIX. Then it was off to Sacramento’s top-rated NBC Affiliate, KCRA, as weekday anchor.
In 1981, Kaity headed east to New York’s WABC as weekend anchor/reporter. She eventually co-anchored the 5 and 11 pm newscasts with such greats as Roger Grimsby, Bill Beutel, and Tom Snyder.
Kaity joined WPIX a decade later and remains there today. Thirty-five years later, she’s received several regional Emmy Awards and the prestigious Governors’ Award, the highest honor a chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences can bestow.
Committed to her community, Kaity’s been recognized by various Chinese American organizations, children’s agencies, and women’s groups.
Kaity is a naturalized citizen and was thrilled when presented with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. It celebrates our nation’s diverse heritage, commends excellence in community service, and believes in the American spirit.

Norm Silverstein – President, CEO - WXXI Public Media Rochester (retired)
Norm Silverstein retired from WXXI in 2024, after nearly 30 years of dedicated service at the helm of Rochester’s public media stations. Under his leadership, WXXI built a reputation for collaboration and community service. When he joined, it was operating one television station and two radio stations. Today it operates four public television channels, a cable channel for the City of Rochester, and seven public radio stations. WXXI acquired the Little Theatre, formed the Rochester Area Media Partners with the purchase of CITY Magazine, and secured an additional FM signal for NPR and WXXI News. Silverstein established WXXI as a trusted source of news, educational information, and cultural entertainment. He successfully guided WXXI into the digital age.
Silverstein led the two most successful Capital Campaigns in the history of WXXI. The 21/21 Vision Campaign in 2004 raised $12 million, and the Go Public Campaign in 2016 garnered $18 million.
During his tenure, WXXI has received numerous New York State Broadcasters Association Awards, Telly Awards, New York Emmy Awards, and Edward R. Murrow Awards. WXXI launched the healthcare TV series, Second Opinion, which ran for 18 seasons on PBS stations across the country. The station produced numerous documentaries highlighting Rochester's rich history and culture. One of Silverstein’s proudest accomplishments has been WXXI's national Move to Include™ initiative, a partnership with the Golisano Foundation that uses the power of public media to promote inclusion.
A recognized leader by public media throughout the country, Silverstein chaired the Association of Public Broadcasting Stations of New York (APBS) and the Finance Committee of the New York State Broadcasters Association. He is a former board member of America's Public Television Stations (APTS) in Washington, the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, the New York State Council for the Humanities, and the Regional Advisory Board of Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield. Silverstein was also the past Treasurer of the Board of Greater Public, the only national non-profit organization offering comprehensive development and marketing expertise to public radio and television stations.
Before joining WXXI in 1995, Silverstein served as Senior Vice President of Maryland Public Television (MPT). He was a broadcast news correspondent in Washington, D.C., and served as Deputy Press Secretary and a senior aide to the Governor of Maryland.

Bill Evans – Owner, Program Director & Meteorologist - WLNG 92.1 FM, Sag Harbor
Bill Evans is the Owner, Program Director, Chief Meteorologist, and Morning Show Co-Host for WLNG 92.1 FM in Sag Harbor, NY, and WFRM 94.5 FM in Sagaponack, NY. He is a 20-time Emmy Award Winner and a 5-time NY Times Best Selling Author. Bill is also a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for Distinguished Public Service.
For 30 years, Bill was the Senior Meteorologist for WABC-TV Channel 7 Eyewitness News, WPLJ Radio 95.5 FM with "Scott & Todd in the Morning," and 77 WABC AM Radio with "Imus in the Morning."
He was also heard on the ABC Radio Network and ESPN Radio. He has appeared on ABC's “Good Morning America,” “ABC News” with Peter Jennings and then with David Muir, “LIVE! with Regis and Kathie,” then "Regis and Kelly," then “Kelly And Ryan," "ESPN's SportsCenter," The Discovery Channel's "How Stuff Works,” "The View,” "The Good Wife" and "The Unexplained" with William Shatner.
Bill has appeared on the New York stage, playing himself in "The Radio City Christmas Spectacular" at Radio City Music Hall. He's also appeared on Broadway as The Candlestick "Lumier" in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast." He has performed stand-up comedy on "The Punch Line Circuit," "Comedy Nation," and "Dangerfield's."
Bill has received an "Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters" from Dowling College in Oakdale, NY, and an "Honorary Doctorate of Science" from Centenary College in Hackettstown, NJ, and was awarded Beneath the Seas "Diver of the Year." Bill is a member of the Friars Club, the American Meteorological Society, and the NY Broadcasters Association.

Gary Sapiane – General Manager, Morning Show Host - WLNG 92.1 FM, Sag Harbor
Gary Sapiane is from Westhampton Beach, Long Island, New York. Gary started in radio when he was a junior at Westhampton Beach High School. Gary's first radio gig was with WAPC Radio in Riverhead, Long Island, New York. Gary went on to be one of the owners of WKVO Radio in Havelock, North Carolina.
Gary actually read his first commercial on the air at WLNG when he stopped by to visit the late Paul Sidney in 1964. Gary worked weekends at WLNG in 1970, and in 1975, Gary started full-time. In 2008, after Paul Sidney had passed away, Gary became the station manager. In 2012, Gary became President of Main Street Broadcasting, Inc. Gary's hobbies include storm chasing (especially tornadoes), aviation, and riding the Cross Sound Ferry between Orient Point, Long Island, New York, and New London, CT, during Winter Nor'easters!

Matt Mulcahy - Journalist, Anchor & Managing Editor - NBC 3 News in Syracuse.
Matt is the Emmy Award-winning anchor/reporter and Managing Editor at NBC 3 News in Syracuse. He anchors NBC 3 News at 5:00, 6:00, and 11:00, and the CW 6 News at 10:00. His investigative reports lead the station’s I-Team. Matt has spent 39 years covering the news on television in upstate New York, including 35 years in his hometown of Syracuse. The Syracuse Press Club inducted him into its Wall of Distinction, the club’s highest honor.
He won five New York Emmys. Two for anchoring Best Newscast. An Emmy for best documentary, “Bosnia, Returning Home,” and an Emmy for writing the documentary “The Heidi Allen Files.” Mulcahy earned another Emmy for producing “The Map: Desegregated Schools.” He earned a total of 29 Emmy award nominations for anchoring, reporting, writing, and producing. Among the Emmy nominations are Best News Anchor in New York State and Special Assignment reporting. He has received multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards for Overall Excellence, best television news writing, and anchoring the best newscast at WSTM-TV. Matt has received several New York State Associated Press Broadcasters awards, numerous honors from the Syracuse Press Club, and also the New York State Broadcasters Association.
News stories have taken Matt across the country and overseas, including the Vatican for the Canonization of Syracuse’s Mother Marianne Cope, Lockerbie, Scotland, on the anniversary of the bombing of Pan Am 103, Bosnia with the 10th Mountain Division, and Ground Zero on the anniversary of the September 11th attacks. He created the award-winning Matt’s Memo blog on CNYCentral.com. Matt led the way in the integration of new media and social networking into local news. A past president of the Syracuse Press Club, he has taught at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
Matt and his wife, Jamie, founded the Shamrock Animal Fund in 2010 to help pay for the care of hundreds of animals. Their Healthy Pet Clinics treated more than 3600 pets in some of Syracuse’s most impoverished neighborhoods.

Bob Kovachick - Meteorologist - WNYT -TV, Albany (retired)
Bob Kovachick, now retired, was a veteran meteorologist with WNYT-TV, News Channel 13 in Albany. He worked in the Capital region for more than 40 years. He joined WTEN-TV in Albany in April 1977. He moved to WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh for two years. He returned to Albany and began his career at WNYT-TV in May 1988 as the station’s Chief Meteorologist. Bob was responsible for preparing and delivering daily weather forecasts for the 5, 5:30, 6, and 11 p.m. newscasts.
Bob acquired years of valuable experience in meteorology through employment at the Universal Weather Service in White Plains, NY, WTEN in Albany, and WTAE in Pittsburgh.
In addition to his responsibilities as a meteorologist, Bob frequently speaks to various organizations and spends approximately two days per week visiting youngsters at area schools and discussing the intricacies of meteorology. A graduate of Lyndon State College in Lyndon, Vermont, Kovachick received his B.S. in Meteorology in 1971. He has received the American Meteorological Society Seal of Approval in Television Weathercasting, and he is a professional member of both the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association.