The American workforce is aging broadly, with the number of people still working at age 65 or older nearly doubling in the new millennium, according to a 2016 Pew Research Center analysis of data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most aging employees, however, don't have to do it live on camera in front of hundreds of thousands of viewers.
Those viewers, meanwhile, also are growing older — and fewer — increasing the pressure on TV stations as they seek to replace familiar faces.
Recent retirees at top-rated ABC-owned WLS-Ch. 7 include longtime anchors Ron Magers and Linda Yu. In addition, veteran political reporter Charles Thomas retired this month, and Frank Mathie is calling it quits next month after 50 years as a reporter at the station.
"We have a long tradition and legacy of experienced talent at the television station," said John Idler, president and general manager of ABC 7. "The challenge for us is that our viewers get very comfortable, and if somebody chooses to retire and end their career, change is hard for our viewers sometimes."
Connecting on-air talent with the audience translates into ratings, revenue and an intimate relationship that can last decades. Keeping it going means navigating everything from medical and personal issues to the ultimate decision to leave in a very public manner.
Earlier this month, Rob Stafford, 58, who co-anchors the 10 p.m. newscast for NBC 5, told viewers he was going to the Mayo Clinic to undergo a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy to fight a rare blood disorder. He expects to be off the air for four to six months, with veteran anchor Dick Johnson tapped to replace him. ABC 7 anchor Hosea Sanders revealed last month that he will be off the air for prostate cancer surgery. The station issued a news release Feb. 28 announcing Sanders' surgery.
"We do have to consider our audience and what the message is to them," Channel 7's Idler said. "But what's paramount is how the individual wants to handle it, because it's their health issue."
