Chuck Scarborough Announces Retirement After 50 Years at NBC 4 New York

On Thursday, November 21st, broadcast journalist Chuck Scarborough, the longest-serving anchor at NBC 4 New York, announced his retirement from daily anchoring duties, marking the end of a record-setting career that spanned over 50 years. Scarborough’s final broadcast will air on Thursday, December 12, during the 6 p.m. newscast.

Reflecting on his career, Scarborough expressed gratitude to his viewers. “There is only one word: gratitude,” he said. “Our WNBC viewers welcomed me into their homes for more than 50 years, trusting me to present the news free of any agenda, faithful to the fundamental principles of accuracy, objectivity and fairness—and to bring them vital, timely information during our darkest and brightest hours. That has been an extraordinary honor.”

Scarborough, 81, joined WNBC on March 25, 1974, quickly becoming a trusted presence in homes across New York City. Over his storied career, he has led coverage of major events both locally and globally, reporting from Europe, the Middle East, and South America. His exceptional journalism has earned him 36 local Emmy® Awards, a National Emmy, and the prestigious Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for his contributions to Hurricane Sandy and COVID-19 coverage.

President and General Manager of NBC 4 New York, Eric Lerner, praised Scarborough as “the gold standard in American broadcast journalism.” He added, “His skills as an anchor, reporter, and newsroom leader are unmatched – and he is a pretty special guy off-camera too. We are fortunate that after Chuck’s last newscast next month, he will return to his News 4 New York family from time to time and report on special projects.”

In addition to his journalism career, Scarborough is a U.S. Air Force veteran, a commercial pilot, and an accomplished author of three novels. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree Summa Cum Laude from the University of Southern Mississippi and an Honorary Doctorate from Mercy College.

Though the announcement of his successor for the 6 p.m. newscast is still pending, Scarborough’s legacy will undoubtedly continue to shape New York City journalism for years to come.