Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Jim Lokay has announced he is leaving WCVB-TV ABC 5 after four years at the Boston station.

Jim tells New England One that "It's just time." He says that he's "had more good fortune than I ever imagined at CVB. I've witnessed more history - both good and bad - than I thought possible. I've had the honor of working alongside two amazing women (Antoinette and Danielle) with whom I've forged lifetime friendships, as well as many others at the station."

Jim had anchored the weekend morning newscasts since joining the station in October 2011. He was offered a contract extension with WCVB, but ultimately turned it down last month for personal reasons. He has most recently been reassigned to reporting for the stations evening newscasts. Frank Holland is currently filling-in on the anchor desk until a permanent replacement is named.

Family played a big role in Jim's decision to leave WCVB.

He tells us that now, he has a "rare chance to spend some time with my parents, my dad in particular. He suffered a massive stroke just six months into my tenure at CVB, and I've racked up more JetBlue points than I care to count going back and forth to be at his side. So I'm going to enjoy some time with him, and then move onto the next challenge. It won't necessarily mean a return to my hometown, where I worked for 8 years, but I hope it will mean a chance to be closer."

Jim has nothing but respect for his bosses at WCVB, and told us that "Bill [Fine, WCVB President and General Manager] and Andrew [Vrees, WCVB News Director] took a chance on me when they hired me in 2011, and I can't thank them enough for that opportunity. But it's just time."

Jim joined WCVB from KDKA-TV CBS 3, the CBS owned and operated station in Pittsburgh, PA. in 2005, he was hired as station's first traffic and transportation reporter. He later took on a general assignment reporter role, and then took over the stations consumer reporting franchise. He was also a primary fill-in news anchor at the station.

During his time at KDKA, Jim also hosted a variety of non-news programs including the station's New Year's Eve special and the annual "Children's Hospital FreeCare Fund Telethon."  In addition, he also co-hosted pre-game shows featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Penguins and served as an occasional talk radio host at KDKA-AM radio.

Jim has also worked as a reporter and anchor at News 10 Now (now YNN) in Syracuse, NY; and as a anchor and editor at Metro Networks. In addition to his work in broadcasting, Jim has been on the Board of Directors of the American Liver Foundation since 2006.

A native of East McKeesport, PA, Jim is a 2002 graduate of California University of Pennsylvania in California, PA where he studied communications.

You can learn a bit more about Jim, and read his "11 Questions" feature here.

Other than his immediate plans to spend time with family, Jim has not said what's in his future. His last day at WCVB is on October 31.

Jim Lokay 2015 Demo Reel/WCVB-TV

 

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS