"It’s too Painful for Me to say Goodbye in Person"

Longtime San Francisco Reporter/MMJ Maureen Kelly told her co-workers she is leaving KRON.

Kelly has worked in the San Francisco market for 30 years and at Nexstar’s KRON since 2005.

Kelly has not been on the air since 2021. Kelly was with a station-hired security guard who was shot and killed out on a story in Oakland, CA, back in November 2021.

The staff at KRON was sent this internal email from News Director Joshua Palefsky.

It was obtained by FTVLive:

Hi Team,

Reporter Maureen Kelly has made the decision to leave KRON4. 

I can't say enough about Maureen and the impact she has made in our newsroom over the past two decades at KRON. As a San Francisco native Maureen had a great pulse on the issues that affected everyday people in the city. Maureen's work on the fentanyl crisis earned her two awards for journalistic excellence, during that coverage she saved a someone's life by administering Narcan to a person overdosing. Among Maureen's many other accomplishments at KRON; her investigative work exposing allegations of abuse against children with special needs at a local daycare and leading our in-depth coverage of the homeless issue. Many people don't know but Maureen started on the assignment desk before successfully transitioning to a reporter, carrying her passion and tenacity from the newsroom to the field. Maureen has always been a great journalist, friend and mentor. We'll miss her and wish her all the best. 

Maureen wrote a few words and asked I share them with all of you.

"I hope you understand that under the circumstances, it’s too painful for me to say goodbye in person.

I practically grew up at KRON and have many good memories and started many friendships that I will cherish always.  Thanks to everyone who helped me along the way to become a better journalist and co-worker.  I will take everything you collectively taught me as I go forward into this next chapter of my life.  I wish you all nothing but the best."

Joshua Palefsky
News Director 
Nexstar Media Inc.