Michael Wooten Biography: WKBW Anchor, Age, Wife & Net Worth

Michael Wooten Biography: Emmy-Winning Anchor & Senior Reporter at 7 News WKBW Buffalo

Michael Wooten is an Emmy and Murrow Award-winning journalist currently working as a Senior Reporter and Anchor at 7 News WKBW ABC Buffalo (Buffalo, NY).

He joined the station in October 2023 and anchors the “Voices” segment at 5:30 PM while contributing to investigative reporting.

Prior to joining WKBW, Wooten was a longtime anchor and managing editor at WGRZ Channel 2 (NBC Buffalo) for 14 years. At WGRZ, he anchored the midday news and other newscasts.

Career Highlights:

• Award-Winning Journalist: He has received an Emmy Award for a story on hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for investigative reporting for his series on “Cell Phone Spying” at the Erie County Sheriff’s Office (2015).

He has also been nominated for multiple other Emmy and Associated Press awards, winning 1st place for Best Enterprise Reporting at the 2013 AP awards.

• Extensive Reporting Experience: Wooten has covered numerous significant events, including the 2009 crash of Continental Flight 3407 (his first story in Western New York), the fight for better airline regulation by the families of Flight 3407 victims, the 2012 Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooting, the school shooting in Chardon, Ohio, Hurricane events in Little Rock, Arkansas, flooding in the Denver area (2013), and “Snowmageddon” in Washington, D.C. (2010).

• Political Reporting: Earlier in his career at WSAZ-TV (NBC), he served as a political reporter and interviewed numerous national politicians, including then-Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton on the same day during the 2008 campaign.

• “Voices” on WKBW: Since joining WKBW, he hosts a 5:30 PM news program called “Voices,” which focuses on community leaders and members sharing their perspectives on local and national events.

• Collaboration with Investigative Post: Wooten and WKBW have partnered with Investigative Post, with their reporters periodically appearing on his “Voices” newscast to discuss their work.

Background and Education:

• Originally from a small town in West Virginia.

• Graduated Summa Cum Laude with Honors from Marshall University on a Yeager Scholarship, earning a degree in Broadcast Journalism.

• Studied at Oxford University in Britain and Universidad Antonio de Nebrija in Madrid, Spain.

• Began his television career at WSAZ-TV as a producer, later becoming a reporter and weekend evening anchor.

Personal:

• Lives in Buffalo near Downtown.

• Is a fan of the Buffalo Bills (unless they play the Washington Redskins) and the Buffalo Sabres.

Age:

Michael Wooten was born on November 8 in West Virginia, USA. He is of American nationality and identifies as White ethnicity.

Parents and Siblings:

Michael Wooten was born and raised in a small town in West Virginia. His father, Mike Wooten, played a significant role in his upbringing.

However, details about his mother have not been publicly disclosed. Michael grew up alongside his sister, Miranda McCarthy, who shared his childhood experiences.

Additionally, he is an uncle to two nieces and a nephew named Braxton McCarthy.

Wife:

Michael Wooten maintains a private personal life, and there is no publicly available information regarding his marital status or wife.

Height, Weight:

Michael Wooten stands at a height of 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters) and weighs approximately 78 kilograms (172 pounds).

Career and Background:

Michael’s journalism career began at WSAZ-TV, an NBC affiliate, where he started as a producer before advancing to reporter and weekend evening anchor.

A notable moment in his early career was interviewing then-Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton on the same day during the 2008 campaign.

In February 2009, Michael joined WGRZ-TV (Channel 2) in Buffalo, New York, serving as a news anchor and managing editor specializing in in-depth and investigative reporting.

During his tenure, he covered significant events, including the 2009 crash of Continental Flight 3407 and the Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooting in 2012.

After 14 years at WGRZ, Michael transitioned to WKBW-TV (7 News) in October 2023. In his current role, he anchors “Voices” at 5:30 p.m. and serves as a senior reporter, focusing on in-depth and investigative stories.

Michael Wooten has covered several impactful stories throughout his career. Some of his notable coverage includes:

• Continental Flight 3407 Crash: Michael reported extensively on the tragic crash in 2009, including the families’ advocacy for stricter airline regulations in Washington, D.C.

• Aurora Theater Shooting: He covered the aftermath of the Colorado movie theater massacre in July 2012.

• Chardon School Shooting: Michael reported on the school shooting in Chardon, Ohio, providing in-depth coverage of the event.

• Hurricane Harvey: He delivered live reports on the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

Net Worth and Salary:

Is Michael Wooten Married?

Michael Wooten has not publicly shared information regarding his marital status.

How Old Is Michael Wooten Anchor and Senior Reporter?

Michael Wooten celebrates his birthday on November 8. His exact date of birth is not publicly available.

However, based on his career timeline—graduating from Marshall University in 2006 and having over 30 years of journalism experience as of 2025—he is likely in his late 40s to early 50s.

Where Is Michael Wooten Anchor and Senior Reporter Working?

Michael Wooten is currently working at WKBW-TV in Buffalo, New York. He joined the station in October 2023 and serves as the anchor for the “Voices” segment at 5:30 PM.

Additionally, he holds the role of senior reporter, contributing to investigative journalism and community-focused storytelling.

Michael Wooten is active on social media platforms, where he shares updates about his work and engages with his audience.

You can find him on platforms like Twitter and Facebook, where he often posts about news stories, journalism insights, and community events.