MILWAUKEE, WIS. – After starting her news career in 1976 and subsequently spending 38 of those years at WISN 12, veteran journalist, anchor and reporter Kathy Mykleby has announced her retirement. In late November, Mykleby will deliver her final news broadcast and begin her new chapter.
“It seems impossible to adequately describe the significance of Kathy’s influence on local news and the viewers who rely on it,” says Jan Wade, president and general manager of WISN 12. “Her tireless work for more than four decades is a lasting tribute to the very best our profession strives to deliver.”
Mykleby is a renowned journalist, receiving awards and recognitions from numerous organizations, including the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, the Milwaukee Press Club, the Associated Press (AP) and the United Press International (UPI). She was inducted into Milwaukee’s Silver Circle by the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, served as 2010/2011 president of the Milwaukee Press Club and won a regional Emmy Award for storytelling about Alzheimer’s Disease. In 2017, Mykleby co-anchored the newscast that earned WISN 12 News an Edward R. Murrow Award for “Best Large Market Newscast.”
“It has been a blessing and an honor to work in this field for so long. I’m so proud of the stories I’ve shared, but I’m also excited to take a step back and now focus on my own adventures.” says Mykleby. “Whether it’s featuring thousands of kids on Tuesday’s Child or working alongside TV legends such as Mike Anderson, Jerry Taff, David Davis, Tammy Elliot, and of course my current co-anchors Joyce Garbaciak, Patrick Paolantonio, Toya Washington, Mark Baden, and Dan Needles, I feel very lucky to have had all of these opportunities.”
Along with Tuesday’s Child, Mykleby has been a Milwaukee mainstay for local programming, including ‘On Assignment,’ ‘Season To Celebrate,’ and multiple Super Bowl appearances. Throughout her respected career, she has also been involved in national and international events, including the Iran hostage crisis, the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, massive food drops in Somalia, American rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan, and more.
“We couldn’t be more thankful to Kathy for her years of dedicated service or more thrilled for her to live this next chapter to the fullest” adds Wade. “I think I speak for all Milwaukeeans when I say she’ll forever hold a place in our hearts.”