Monica Pearson, veteran anchor for Channel 2 Action News, prepared to step away from the anchor desk Wednesday after 37 years with the station.

Pearson has been the face of WSB-TV for nearly four decades, building a loyal fan base while covering metro Atlanta's biggest news stories and donating countless hours to the community and charitable causes.

“While I must admit that I wasn’t looking forward to Monica’s retirement, I am blessed to have experienced the many farewell events honoring her spectacular career,” said Tim McVay, vice president and general manager for Channel 2 WSB-TV.  “Seeing first-hand the impact Monica has had on the people in our community has been inspirational."

“She lights up the camera and warms up the room. I’ve never seen anything like it. And her energy is boundless when it comes to her family, her job and her support of the community. Monica makes over 150 speaking engagements each year, lending her name and time to those in need. She gives voice to the issues and interests of this city which she loves as much as it loves her back. She’s a very special and unique person that we love and will miss very much,” McVay said.

Celebrating an Icon

The celebration of Monica's career began with her retirement announcement in February and continued right up to her final newscast. In the past several months, Monica has been honored by local, county and state officials, received a commendation on the floor of Congress, and she was sent a congratulatory letter from President Barack Obama.

Monica has been honored by fellow journalists, recently receiving the Lifetime Legacy Award from the National Association of Black Journalists and possibly future journalists -- a group of first graders at Finch Elementary in Atlanta dedicated a reading corner to the anchor who has read to children at the school for the last decade.

One thousand viewers signed up to tour the WSB-TV studios in June and each had a chance to personally meet Monica. Just two weeks ago, hundreds of community leaders, friends and colleagues paid tribute to Monica during a gala event at the Fox Theater hosted by Good Morning America's Robin Roberts.

Tuesday, Monica and fellow Channel 2 anchor Jovita Moore toured Atlanta radio stations to discuss the transition on the anchor desk and Monica's future.

"I'm going to do the things I've always wanted to do," Pearson told the hosts of the Bert Show on Q100. "I'll be at the University of Georgia majoring in a masters degree in telecommunications."

Beginnings

When she joined the Channel 2 Action News staff in 1975, Pearson became Atlanta's first woman, and, first minority to anchor the 6 p.m. news.

“Joining Channel 2 Action News was an almost impossible dream come true for me when I came here from Louisville’s WHAS-TV,” said Pearson.  “It took a great deal of courage on the part of WSB-TV’s management team at the time to hire me, a black woman, to co-anchor the nightly news in Atlanta, Georgia in 1975. With that one hire they broke the color and gender barrier in local news in a major Southern city. I worked hard to repay that support every day and night over these 37 years. I’m honored to have played a role on the number one local news team in the country covering the news of this remarkable city and surrounding communities.”

She is a native of Louisville, KY, growing up in what is known as “Smoketown” and graduating from an all-girl Catholic High School, Presentation Academy, where she has established a scholarship in her name. The University of Louisville graduate reported for The Louisville Times for five years, then worked in public relations before joining WHAS-TV in Louisville, her last stop before moving up to WSB-TV.

“It’s been my honor to work with Monica,” said Marian Pittman, station manager and former news director for Channel 2. “In many ways, she’s the heart and soul of this newsroom. She’s a team player, and her sources and community connections open doors to stories that might go untold otherwise. She’s taught us all about giving back, reporting with care, concern and staying true to the viewers. She’s been an invaluable leader, coach and friend to everyone in the newsroom and she will be missed!”

Important Stories and Big Interviews

When asked to recall the big stories over her career Monica replied, “Covering President Jimmy Carter’s acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize, live from Oslo, Norway, reporting on President Obama’s inauguration, live from the Washington Mall, interviewing Daddy King, Maynard Jackson and Andrew Young; there have been so many historical, important moments over 37 years that it is both easy and hard to tick them off,” said Pearson. “Frankly, every time I start listing, someone reminds me of something else. Like the Olympic Park bombings in 1996. I had gone home after the 11 p.m. news. Thank goodness I lived just around the corner from the station. I came right back to work with no makeup and went straight on the air for what became a defining moment in the Olympic Games.

“And then there’s ‘Close-ups,’ my long running special program in which I interviewed a ‘Who’s Who’ among celebrities like Usher, Jamie Foxx, John Travolta - I even danced with him!, Sean Connery - one of the most handsome men in the world! - Brittany Spears, Ray Charles. Oh the list goes on and on. I loved that show because it gave me a chance to ask people those questions that everybody wanted to know.

“I will never forget traveling to Africa with Former Ambassador Andy Young. While making a special show on the amazing work he’s doing there, I traced my African roots to Cameroon.”

Jovita Moore, Additional role

Jovita Moore, a 14 year Channel 2 veteran reporter and current co-anchor for Channel 2 Action News at 5 and 11 p.m., has gradually taken on some of Monica’s duties. Starting July 26th, she will temporarily co-anchor with John Bachman at 4 p.m. and Justin Farmer at 6 p.m. “We are taking some time to decide who will take on which shows,” said Pittman. “We have a great team of anchors and a lot of newscasts. That gives us multiple options for consideration.”

In speaking of her colleague’s growth from weekend anchor to one of Channel 2’s mainstay anchors, Monica said, “Talking about Jovita is easy, starting with how she jumped right into working in the community her first years here, a commitment she’s maintained and increased over the years. I saw that and knew she was special and for real.

“She’s smart, earned her master’s degree from Columbia University. Still, she’s one of those people you find so easy to talk to. Jovita can talk to anyone about anything."

“She works hard. I watched her develop from weekend anchor and reporting during the week. I remember when she was named to the 5 p.m. she cried in the newsroom. That was a special moment for all of us. Jovita is her own person on the air. She doesn’t try to be anybody else.”

 “Monica blazed the trail that opened the doors for women and for people of color in local news,” said Moore. “Her success inspired other stations to make the same leap. I don’t forget for a moment that I am following in very important and courageous footsteps. She’s been an inspiration and mentor over my 14 years here. I’m proud to have worked alongside her for more than a decade.”

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