A Top NYC Anchor Resurfaces Across The Street

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Some 45 days ago, longtime WABC-7 morning co-anchor Lori Stokes departed the ABC O&O, tearfully saying goodbye after 17 years at the station. It turns out she’s far from done as a morning news anchor in the Big Apple: She’s just joined FOX’s crosstown WNYW-5, where she’ll be paired with another veteran NYC anchor.


In an announcement made Tuesday afternoon, the FOX O&O revealed that Stokes will be joining Rosanna Scotto as the co-host of Good Day New York. 


Update: Stokes debuted with Scotto on Thursday, Oct. 5.


The return to Big Apple television allows Stokes to sleep in just a little bit more: Good Day New York airs from 7-10am; WABC-7’s morning news starts at 4:30am.

WNYW VP/GM Lew Leone was thrilled to be welcoming Stokes to the station. “As a longtime fan, I couldn’t be more excited for Lori to join the FOX 5 family,” he said. “Her experience, knowledge, professionalism, success and commitment to the local community make her an ideal partner for Rosanna Scotto and the Good Day New York team.”

At WABC-7, Stokes was most recently paired with co-anchor Ken Rosato, who continues in that role. Together, the two delivered what became for many years the most-watched local TV newscast in the U.S. She joined the station in April 2000 and, while not confirmed, it is believed that ABC declined to extend her contract.

Just before 7am on Aug. 16, Stokes was given an on-air opportunity to say farewell to WABC-7 viewers. She ended her message on “a super-high note,” concluding, “I am constantly told, ‘Lori, you’re always smiling, even so early in the morning!’ It’s because I love saying, ‘Good morning, I’m Lori Stokes,’ and letting you know that we’re going to get through this, together.”

In prepared comments provided by WNYW Tuesday (10/3), she spoke highly of her former competitor, and alluded to some of her final words said on WABC.

She said, “I can’t wait to be a part of Good Day New York, a show that has always had its finger on the pulse of the greatest city in the world. With 20 years as a news anchor in this market, there isn’t another local broadcast that captures the energy of this city and that blends local, national and international news with entertainment as seamlessly.  I’m once again looking forward to saying ‘Good morning, I’m Lori Stokes!’ and helping our viewers get their days started!”

From 1996-2000, Stokes was an anchor at MSNBC.

Prior to that, she spent four years as a key anchor at ABC-affiliated WJLA-7 in Washington, D.C. From 1990-1992, Stokes was an anchor at FOX-affiliated WBFF-45 in Baltimore.

She began her career as a Production Assistant at WUSA-9 in Washington, D.C. in 1984.