Farewell to ‘HearSay’
After 25 years on the air, Cathy Lewis is saying goodbye to role
Cathy Lewis became the founding host of WHRO’s “HearSay” 25 years ago. In May, her reign will come to an end.
On Wednesday’s noon show, Lewis announced her departure from the station’s flagship public affairs program.
“In this extraordinary year that has us all a bit introspective, I’ve made a decision to turn this hour — and this microphone — over to someone else,” Lewis said.
Lewis’ “HearSay” launched in October 1996. She hosts the show on WHRV 89.5 FM four days a week, Monday through Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. Her last show will be Wednesday, May 26.
Forty years ago Lewis came to the area to work at WAVY-TV as a general assignment reporter, a move she describes as “being the smartest thing I ever said yes to” next to marrying her husband, Win Lewis.
In 1993, she took a job at
WNIS (790 AM) as Sunday afternoon talk show host, according to a 2016 Pilot story, before launching “HearSay.”
During her tenure, Lewis has given air time to listeners and myriad guests, from political candidates, civic leaders to local reporters. She also interviewed Barack Obama in 2000.
Lewis is known for keeping an air of civility in her conversations with all — even when topics get heated.
“I think of the show as a conversational welcome mat. When you come into the hour, you have a seat at the table and we’ll have some good conversation, a little fun and learn a thing or two along the way,” she said in a statement about her departure.
“Modern political debate is a gladiatorial contest. It really does very little to explore the complexities of governance and illuminate the best candidate to face them. I’ve always found that conversations do that. They don’t need to be combative because when you let people speak, they
“I’ve always found that conversations ... don’t need to be combative because when you let people speak, they will reveal themselves.”
— Cathy Lewis, host of WHRO’s “HearSay” public affairs program for 25 years
will reveal themselves.”
Lewis has often been included on lists of the region’s most influential people, including Inside Business’s Power List.
She’s frequently served as a moderator for the Norfolk Forum, leading conversations with big names like Anderson Cooper, James Carville, Tucker Carlson and at Old Dominion University’s Presidential lecture series.
For now, Lewis is staying tight-lipped about her future plans. She’ll slowly
spill the beans about what’s next over her remaining weeks behind the mic, she said.
“I have some exciting plans taking shape, all built around what I believe is now vitally important: bringing people together with decision-makers and thought leaders so we all have a seat at the table along with the tools, encouragement, and community to make a difference in the world around us,” Lewis said.
“For now, I am deeply indebted to our wonderful audience as I am to every producer who has shaped this show since our first day. I’m also indebted to John Morison, the WHRO President who said yes to this show and to Bert Schmidt, the president who every day gives us free rein to do what we think is right. That’s a great gift. I’m proud of the work we’ve done together at a station built on strong core values, like truth and integrity, which the world needs now more than ever.”