Former TV news reporter hired as Washington County spokesperson
Washington County officials announced Thursday they have hired a former television news reporter to serve as the county’s spokesperson.
Nicole Ford will begin her role as Washington County’s director of public relations beginning Monday with responsibilities of releasing statements on behalf of government officials, updating the county’s social media platforms and communicating with members of the media, among other job duties.
“I’m excited to take on this role and serve the community I’ve spent years reporting on in a new capacity,” Ford said in a written statement. “I look forward to working with county leaders and residents to build strong lines of communication and share all the good news coming out of Washington County.”
Ford most recently has worked as a reporter for WPXI-TV and also spent time reporting for KDKA-TV, covering topics ranging from local government to the courts. According to a county press release, she has “extensive media experience … with deep ties to the region” and spent the past decade as a reporter, covering many issues across Western Pennsylvania.
“Her strong understanding of local issues, media dynamics, and community engagement will allow her to oversee county communications and strengthen the flow of information between Washington County, members of the media, and residents,” county officials said in a written statement Thursday announcing her hiring.
Ford is originally from Mars, and she studied journalism at West Virginia University. She will be paid an annual salary of $84,460 in her role as director of public relations. Her final day on the air at WPXI was Friday.
Ford replaces Patrick Geho, who was hired as county spokesman in January 2024 but resigned from the newly formed position this past March after he was arrested and charged in a prostitution sting operation in East Palestine, Ohio. Online court records indicate Geho is scheduled to go to trial Oct. 15 in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court on misdemeanor charges of engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools.