After five decades of delivering the news to New Yorkers, Chuck Scarborough, a staple in the local broadcasting scene, has announced his retirement. Having been a lead anchor at WNBC TV since the Nixon presidency, through the Vietnam War, and during New York City’s fiscal crisis, Scarborough’s departure marks the end of an era. He made this surprising announcement during his last broadcast on Thursday.
Although Scarborough, age 81, had hinted at stepping down in recent weeks, his official farewell was still a shock to his dedicated followers.
New York Senator Chuck Schumer shared his well-wishes on Twitter, saying, “From one Chuck to another: Best wishes on your next chapter, Chuck. You didn’t just tell us the news, you made NYers feel at home and for that we thank you.”
Scarborough began his tenure at NBC News in March 1974, co-anchoring the 5:00 PM news with Jim Hartz at WNBC-TV. Over the years, he ascended to become the station’s main anchor for the 6pm and 11pm news slots. By 2003, he was often referred to as the “dean” of New York-area newscasters, a title bestowed upon him following the retirement of WABC-TV’s Bill Beutel.
Throughout his career at WNBC, Scarborough has worked alongside many notable figures including Marv Albert, Len Berman, Jack Cafferty, Dr. Frank Field, Pat Harper, Pia Lindstrom, Sue Simmons, Al Roker, and Tom Snyder.
Although stepping down from daily anchoring duties as of December 12, Scarborough plans to continue contributing to special reports and other projects at WNBC.
Below is a transcript of Scarborough’s heartfelt final sign-off, or you can listen to it in the video above.
Chuck Scarborough: This marks my last night as your evening news anchor on NBC 4 New York.
I am deeply thankful for your trust over these years. It has allowed me to witness firsthand the unfolding of our city’s and our world’s most critical moments.
Just a few months after my start here in 1974, President Nixon resigned, marking the first time a U.S. president had ever done so.
In 1975, New York City faced a severe financial crisis, and the Vietnam War ended tumultuously.
Since then, we have experienced a constant stream of significant events: blackouts, riots, crime waves, hurricanes, blizzards, financial downturns, public and private corruption, the tragedy of 9/11, wars, and a global pandemic.
Equally vital have been the stories of human triumph in arts, science, acts of kindness, recovery, and resilience.
The overarching lesson from these experiences is our collective resilience. We have faced adversity and emerged stronger.
I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to work with so many talented journalists who have dedicated their lives to delivering the news, often at great personal risk.
In this era where truth is often obscured, the principles of accuracy, objectivity, and fairness in journalism have never been more crucial.
As I leave, I reflect on the immense responsibility and honor of working at NBC, a network founded by an immigrant who started by selling newspapers. This legacy is a constant reminder of our duty to provide reliable and engaging news.
It’s crucial to occasionally step back and appreciate our city, our nation, and the progress we’ve made, despite our challenges.
Thank you, and good night.
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