Longtime WCBS-TV evening news anchor Dana Tyler gave an emotional and tearful farewell on her last newscast in more than 30 years.
“This is my last newscast. This is my last 6 o’clock news with you here on Channel 2. It’s my last day on Channel 2. I’ve been here 34 years.” Tyler said Wednesday. along with her co-anchor Dick Brennan.
Tyler, 65, began his career with the station in 1990, serving as a weekend co-anchor and general assignment reporter, joining Reggie Harris on New York’s first black anchor team, the station said.
Tyler thanked his colleagues and viewers in a prerecorded message after a video was shown celebrating the longtime journalist’s illustrious career.
“It is an honor to be here and I would like to express my gratitude to the thousands of colleagues in every department here who have worked with me, challenged me, and taught me over the past 34 years and in this moment. I am very honored and have received valuable and constructive criticism and encouragement.
“We have laughed and cried together and done our best for you. My heart is filled with gratitude and respect for my colleagues.”
Tyler said she was proud to share the truth in the New York metropolitan area while “making a difference for the people we work with.”
“Thank you to the viewers of Channel 2. You are loyal, kind and always look out for us,” Tyler said. “During his 34 years, we were always honored that you invited us to your home, your fire station, your warehouse, and so many other places.”
The longtime anchor admitted he covered a lot of “bad news” but said that’s because each story was important to different individuals.
“There’s bad news, violence, disease, abuse, drugs,” she admitted. “Oh, we’ve been through tragedies in the New York area, too, right?
“I have always tried to be respectful and considerate and witness what is happening because I know that every story is an individual, a family, a community.”
Tyler, a self-proclaimed “grammar nerd,” said he always took pride in reporting on good news, such as heroism, parades, good grades and good people.
“You lift our spirits.”
She shared one of the most important aspects that personally impacted her and how the CBS affiliate has been working to improve it.
“One of the biggest changes, and it certainly took a little while, is the diversity, and here I am working on the broadcast, reflecting the audience and the coverage.
“There’s still a lot of work to do, but we’ve put a lot of work into it, and we’re very proud to be a part of that history.”
When the camera returned to Tyler at the anchor desk, she became emotional as she thanked her family before remembering her recently deceased uncle, David Harris.
Harris was the first black pilot for a major U.S. airline, Tyler said. He passed away on March 8th.
Tyler won’t be the only one leaving the 6pm newscast, with Dick Brennan also set to leave the 6pm newscast.
Maurice Dubois and Kristin Johnson will replace the two anchors as co-anchors of the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts, extending the broadcast time to 6:30 p.m.
Tyler, the longest-serving anchor in the history of the CBS affiliate, will contribute articles and interviews to the channel’s terrestrial broadcast and streaming platforms, according to an internal memo circulated by the network earlier this month.
