Outgoing WGCL Anchor Sharon Reed talked to the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Rodney Ho.

Reed announced that she is leaving the struggling Meredith station after the May book. She has not yet said what she plans on doing after she leaves. “Out of respect for the TV station. I’m not leaving today or tomorrow. I have another month to go. I feel committed to the remaining stretch... I am going to show up every day and do what I’ve been doing. I will work every story for every available viewer and work for every tenth of a ratings point,” Reed said.

One thing about Reed that separates her from almost all other talent in this business? She can take a punch. Reed has a number of critics that say all kinds of things about her. Some of it is true and some is complete BS, but she just keeps moving forward and lets the comments just slide off her back.

Talking about her haters and critics, Reed says, “I tend not to have a whole lot of time for people who have their own hidden agendas and don’t put their names on it. It’s convenient for people to believe their failures are somebody else’s fault. I’m a positive person. I’m upfront. People who know me see me as kind and decent. We’ve all had experiences and taken our lumps in this business. I think it’s silly.”

As to anchoring the show alongside tinfoil hat wearing Anchor Ben Swann? “I liked Ben. We had a good rapport. I knew we got along because we had an authentic, honest relationship. We are both political junkies. I pride myself on an open mind. If it was something I didn’t agree with, I just said, I wasn’t interested in hearing that. Whatever it was, he was honest with me. It made work fun in that regard and challenging for him in some other ways. Ben is a very skilled broadcaster. Ben’s path is Ben’s path. Sharon’s path is Sharon’s path. The reason we got along is it was a real relationship,” Reed says.

When it comes to Weather Anchor Ella Dorsey? Reed kind of pulls her punch a bit, but you can read between the lines, “I’m going to keep my conversation with Ella private. She is a talented meteorologist and story teller. I did tell her that. We did talk about growth. We talk about all kinds of stuff. I love that about her. I don’t respect cowards who seek to undermine or professionally sabotage a colleague when you could simply show courage. Go tell Ella how you feel... She’s tough as nails. Understand that criticism comes with the territory. Sometimes you need to own it. Sometimes you need to ignore it.”

As for her boss, WGCL News Director Steve Doerr, whom Reed was very instrumental in getting hired at the station? “I know his patterns. I know his practices. He’s a proven guy in our industry. He came in with enormous challenges. He’ll know how to pivot when I walk out the door. Steve will do what Steve needs to do.”

Whatever is next, you can bet that Sharon Reed will take her fans and her critics with her wherever she goes. Sharon’s path is Sharon’s path.