A memo was issued today at Fox61 announcing that 10 pm anchor Susan Christensen is stepping down after 13 years as the station’s main co-anchor. Our sources assure us that despite what the press release says this wasn’t Susan’s choice. And it can’t be attributed to weak ratings; the 10 pm news apparently just scored one of its best ratings periods.
It seems clear that if you’re an on-air woman at Fox61 who is over 30 you have a target on your back. Witness Laurie Perez being removed from the weekend night anchor chair, Rebecca Stewart being taken off weekday mornings, and now Susan.
Here’s the memo:
Fox 61 Announces the Retirement of News at Ten Anchor
Anchor Susan Christensen is retiring from the broadcast news business after a successful 21-year career. She has been with the station for almost 13 years as main anchor of the award-winning News at Ten, the state’s only prime time and hour-long newscast. Christensen also is the longest serving news anchor in the station’s history.
“I’ve truly enjoyed being in the TV news business. It’s been an exciting and demanding career with so many rewards,” Christensen said. “Leaving a career I love is a very difficult decision, but for me and my family it’s the right choice now. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband and two healthy young children, and it has become evident this past year with my daughter in kindergarten all day that working nights isn’t ideal when it comes to raising a family.”
During Christensen’s tenure with the station, she won and was nominated for more than a dozen Emmy Awards by the New England Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. She also has earned a number of other awards including the 2005 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Michael Shoenbrun Excellence in Television Reporting” Award, 2003 National Multiple Sclerosis Public Education Award and 1997 “Best Feature” Award by the Connecticut Associated Press. In addition, Christensen launched and hosts the award-winning Fox Focus reports, which profile the most amazing Connecticut citizens who give back to their community.
“I’ve met so many wonderful people in this job, especially through my Fox Focus reports. They are truly the most inspiring residents who make a positive difference and I was fortunate to be able to tell their stories on a weekly basis,” added Christensen.
Christensen strongly believes in giving back to the community, currently holding a seat on the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut Board of Directors and volunteering for many non-profit organizations in the Greater Hartford region. She hosted the Muscular Dystrophy telethons aired on WTIC raising record dollars in recent years. Christensen also served as host of the Fox 61 Student News Awards for the past 12 years.
Bob Rockstroh, Fox 61 news director said, “Susan is extremely professional and very polished on the anchor desk. She has a passion to serve the community and has done a good job representing the station on-air and in the community. I wish her all the best.”
Christensen praised her colleagues at the station saying the Fox 61 News at Ten would not be the No. 1 late news in the market without a very talented crew.
Her last newscast is scheduled for Friday, June 19 at 10 p.m.
[…] Courant/Fox 61 is leaving. WTIC anchor Susan Christensen’s last newscast will be Friday. The Laurel has an idea of what is behind it […]
It’s not surprising she’s being forced out if you remember the kind of management they’ve installed recently.
Will Erika Arias replace her at 10pm?
Or will Rebecca Stewart take her place?
Or maybe they will name a young unqualified reporter to the spot (Jennifer Lahmers?)
Erika is a possibility but Rebecca is no enough of a babe. The Jennifer is a good bet. All FOX 61 cares about is looks and ratings. I hate it.
young, dumb=$cheap. The ship is starting to sink!
Is Susan out because of her age? Maybe she should hire Janet Peckinpaugh’s lawyer.
It won’t be Rebecca, who deserves the promotion. Remember she was actually DEmoted from the morning show which she loved back to weekends, she’s over 30, too old for a female on Fox.. Sue was not renewed obviously because shes approaching her mid 40s and is too old, but she was never interesting to watch, either. No-name 20-something airhead models have been loaded in. Erika Erias (whatever) is boring and average. If I was Shelly Sinland, I’d watch my back too. I watch Fox, actually all the news shows, less and less. Zzzzzzzzzz….
I agree with CTdude = there is less and less reason to watch local news. They don’t seem to have a clue about what people want in a news show.
[…] full-page ad today bidding adieu to 10 pm anchor Susan Christensen (click on the ad to enlarge it). Strategic move, […]
Susan was a lovely anchor woman. Very professional. Clear and precise .. I will miss her.
FOX 61 panders to the lowest common denominator. Itx clear the station does not care about viewers; all anyone has to do is look at the (lack of) content. The station has become a distant farm club of professional news. There is no substance.
So it’s Erika Arias, at least for now. And didn’t they manage to make her look weird. What’s with that hairdo? I hope they have a big budget for hair spray!
Took a quick look again tonight. Same weird over-sprayed hairdo which isn’t offset by the low cut top.
Hmmm. No Erika Arias on Fox61 at 10.