Signing Off in The Big Apple

Back in August of 2017, FTVLive was the FIRST to report that WABC Anchor Lori Stokes was going to cross the street to The Firm’s WNYW.

Stokes did just that and now in a big blow for the Fox O&O, she just announced that she is leaving the station.

In an IG post, Stokes said:

“After much consideration, I have decided to retire from the anchor desk and the business I have been dedicated to for the past 40 years. My last day with Fox5 will be September 30th.

Fox5 has been so wonderful to me since I joined in 2017, consistently providing me with new opportunities—from co-hosting their flagship morning show Good Day New York to becoming the station’s first solo, African American anchor on the 6 o’clock news.

I am incredibly grateful for my colleagues and bosses at New York’s Fox5 and WABC. I have had a historic career at leading stations across the country, from production assistant at WDVM in 1984 to primetime anchor today.

Over the years I have been able to report on the biggest stories such as 9/11, John F. Kennedy Jr.’s death, the Boston Marathon bombing, the Columbine and Newtown massacres, the Blackout of 2003, and Hurricanes Sandy and Hugo. I was the first African American to broadcast on MSNBC. I broke the news of fashion icon Gianni Versace’s death and covered the inaugurations of President Obama and President Clinton, as well as Republican and Democratic conventions. I have interviewed figures such as President Gerald Ford, Senator John McCain, Oprah, Spike Lee, Alex Rodriguez, Joe Theismann, Robin Roberts, James Brown, Harry Belafonte, Gore Vidal and countless others who have impacted our world. I have partnered with the very best journalists, directors and producers. I look back on my career and can truly say I am blessed.

Most importantly, I want to say thank you to the millions of viewers across generations who have given me the best days and gotten me through the hardest ones. They have trusted me with reporting the news every day—both the good and the bad. I will forever owe my success to the viewers.

As my countdown with Fox5 begins, I look forward to my final weeks and will borrow a phrase from Serena Williams by simply saying, “I’m evolving.””