Summer Smith Biography, Age, Husband, Salary, Net Worth, Career, WWSB-ABC7
Summer Smith is a broadcast journalist and anchor at WWSB (ABC7) in Sarasota, Florida, who co-anchors the station’s 12:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. newscasts. A Manatee County native and longtime regional reporter, she combines local roots with nearly 25 years in television journalism and also teaches aspiring journalists as an adjunct professor.

Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Summer Smith (often credited as Summer Smith-Pope on social platforms) |
| Profession | TV News Anchor, Reporter, Adjunct Professor |
| Current Employer | WWSB-ABC7 (Sarasota / Suncoast) |
| Typical Newscasts | 12:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. (weekdays). |
| Education | B.S. in Communication — Florida State University; M.A. in Journalism — Florida A&M University. |
| Location / Hometown | Manatee County / Sarasota area (native). |
| Years in Journalism | ~25 years (regional & national markets). |
| Other Roles | Adjunct Professor, University of South Florida (teaches news writing). |
| Marital Status | Married (husband named Bryan). |
| Children | Three — Camden, Campbell and Layton. |
| Pets | Two dogs and three cats (listed on station bio). |
| Net Worth (est.) | Estimated $200K–$900K (see Salary & Net Worth section). |
Early Life & Education
Summer Smith is a native of Manatee County, Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Florida State University and later completed a Master’s Degree in Journalism at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). Those credentials laid the foundation for a career that includes reporting across Florida and other U.S. markets before returning to her home region.
Career Journey
Early Career & Markets
Summer’s career spans nearly 25 years with reporting and anchor roles in multiple markets, including Tampa, Tallahassee and other stations across the U.S. She’s worked coverage ranging from local elections to presidential visits and severe-weather reporting.
WWSB / ABC7 — Local Anchor & Community Reporter
At WWSB ABC7 (Suncoast) Summer serves as a primary anchor for the midday and early evening newscasts. Her work blends daily hard news, human-interest features and community coverage for Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. Her station bio emphasizes local engagement: she routinely attends community events and volunteers locally
Teaching & Community Work
In addition to anchoring, Summer teaches news writing as an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida (USF), mentoring future journalists. She’s active in local outreach and often appears at community programs and charity events.
Recent Activity (2024–2025)
Summer continues weekday anchoring duties at WWSB and posts regular community updates on social media (Instagram/X/Facebook). Her reporting in 2024–2025 includes local education zoning coverage, health stories and community events.
Personal Life
Summer keeps an active family life in the Suncoast area. She’s married to Bryan and they have three children — Camden, Campbell and Layton — and a household full of pets, per her station biography. Summer often shares family and community moments on social platforms.
Awards & Recognitions
Public profiles and station bios highlight Summer’s long tenure and trusted local reporting rather than a long list of national awards. She’s recognized locally for consistent community coverage and for mentoring journalism students; professional indexing sites list her byline and station credits.
Physical Statistics
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | Not publicly listed |
| Weight | Not publicly listed |
| Hair Color | Blonde (as pictured on station profile & social pages). |
| Eye Color | Not publicly listed |
| Public Image Notes | Professional on-air appearance; station headshots available on WWSB author page. |
Memorable Quotes
- “I love my job and covering storms is part of the job. I am no hero. But, I hope our reporting helps keep people informed and safe.” — Social post attributed to Summer on her platform.
- “When I’m not anchoring the news at WWSB ABC 7, I teach future journalists at USF in Tampa.” — Social/bio line used on X and Muck Rack profiles. (X (formerly Twitter))
Controversies
There are no major public controversies tied to Summer Smith in reputable sources as of 2025. Her public footprint is focused on reporting, teaching and community work. (No credible reporting indicates professional misconduct or major scandal.)
Favorites (Publicly Observed)
- Civic focus: Community events and local education issues (frequent reporting topics).
- Social tone: Family-focused posts and local sports (children’s baseball/volleyball).
Salary & Net Worth
Estimating salary and net worth for local anchors requires combining industry benchmarks with market data:
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a median annual wage for news analysts/reporters of about $60,000 (May 2024 median) — a national baseline for journalists. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Local market estimates for Sarasota anchors vary: Salary.com and Glassdoor indicate typical ranges from $59k–$92k+ depending on experience and station; WWSB anchor estimates on Glassdoor cluster around $70k–$130k for experienced anchors in the area. (Salary.com)
Estimated salary (Summer Smith, 2025): $60,000–$110,000 (annual), depending on contract, years at station and additional income streams (adjunct teaching, speaking). (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Estimated net worth (2025): $200,000–$900,000. This is an industry-style estimate that factors steady local TV earnings, adjunct pay, and typical mid-career savings/investments for regional television professionals. (Note: no public financial disclosures exist for private staff.) (Payscale)
Interesting Facts
- Summer is a Manatee County native who has returned to anchor in her hometown market.
- She balances weekday anchoring with part-time teaching at USF, helping train the next generation of journalists.
- She uses social media actively under @summersmithtv and the station accounts to promote community stories and events.
Social Media & Official Profiles
(Official public accounts and station pages)
- WWSB authors / “Meet the Team” (official bio): mysuncoast.com — Summer Smith. (https://www.mysuncoast.com)
- Instagram: @summersmithtv (family, community posts). (Instagram)
- X / Twitter: @SummerSmithABC7 (station account / posts). (X (formerly Twitter))
- Facebook: Summer Smith ABC7 (official page). (Facebook)
- Professional listings: Muck Rack – Summer Smith (WWSB). (Muck Rack)
Image alt text suggestions (for CMS):
- Alt for headshot: “Summer Smith WWSB news anchor headshot — Sarasota ABC7 anchor” (use for author box).
- Alt for community photo: “Summer Smith reporting at Manatee County community event — WWSB ABC7 reporter.”
Frequently Asked Questions (H2)
Q1: Who is Summer Smith?
A: Summer Smith is a news anchor and reporter at WWSB-ABC7 Sarasota who co-anchors the midday and early evening newscasts and teaches journalism at USF.
Q2: Where did Summer Smith go to school?
A: She holds a B.S. in Communication from Florida State University and a Master’s in Journalism from Florida A&M University.
Q3: Is Summer Smith married?
A: Yes. Her station bio lists her husband Bryan and three children: Camden, Campbell and Layton.
Q4: Does Summer Smith teach?
A: Yes — she is listed as an adjunct professor who teaches news writing at the University of South Florida.
Q5: What does Summer Smith cover most often?
A: Local news, community features, education and weather-related safety reporting are frequent beats in her portfolio.
Q6: How can I contact Summer Smith?
A: The WWSB author page lists an email contact ([email protected]) for viewer contact and tips. (https://www.mysuncoast.com)
Conclusion
Summer Smith is a locally rooted broadcast journalist who returned to anchor in her hometown market while also shaping future journalists in the classroom. Her profile reflects steady professional experience, community engagement, and on-air dependability. If you found this profile useful, please share it with readers who follow local Suncoast journalism.












