Afternoon Co-Anchor Hillary Howard To Depart WTOP

Afternoon co-anchor Hillary Howard has announced she will depart Hubbard News 103.5 WTOP Washington on Friday, June 2.

Howard has co-anchored afternoons at WTOP since 2007 following a long run in the Washington market as a television reporter and weathercaster at WTTG, WJLA and WUSA-TV between 1989 and 2005. She originally joined the Hubbard operation as a talk host on “Washington Post Radio” 1500 WTWP in 2006. Howard began her career in radio in her native New York with stops at RKO Radio Network and 1010 WINS along with suburban stations on Long Island and Poughkeepsie before making the move to television. Howard also serves as host of the academic quiz show “It’s Academic” on WETA-TV Washington.

In a letter she shared with co-workers and publicly announcing her departure, Howard wrote:

Colleagues and Friends,
Life is nothing but change. We are young. We are older. We’re awakened by new love and stricken by its end. We are naïve. We are wizened. We plan. Then we meander. And all of it shapes us.

After 18 years at WTOP, I’m remodeling my life. It’s a work in-progress born of hunger for new experiences and learning. I can’t wait to see where it leads.

But it’s also born of timing. WTOP is making a change that allows me the rare opportunity to pursue unexplored avenues.

Wherever those roads lead, each of you has played a role in taking me there. I have deeply enjoyed sharing your joys, journeys, successes, sadnesses, and ridiculously irreverent humor. I’ve loved our universal adrenaline rush during big stories, the eye-rolling over impossibly bizarre and unfathomable events and the collective grief over things we hoped never to report.

The world is changing. As is our industry. And each brings its own challenge. But, working with a team that laughs as easily as it offers shoulders and open arms makes it easier.
My last day is June 2nd. Here’s to old friendships and new beginnings.

With Love,
Hillary

Howard’s departure follows the exits of multiple WTOP anchors last fall after agreeing to take voluntary contract buyouts. Fellow afternoon co-anchor Shawn Anderson remains in the daypart.

■ Personal News ■
My final day @WTOP is June 2nd. This is the letter I shared with colleagues after learning of management’s decision. I’ll miss you talking to you. #RADIO #DMV #DC https://t.co/b39dli4CCd

— Hillary Howard (@hhowardWTOP) May 18, 2023

This story first appeared on radioinsight.com