Maria Stephanos Is Leaving Fox 25

Maria Stephanos Photo via the Massachusetts Concention Center Authority

Boston television fixture Maria Stephanos is departing her home of 18 years tomorrow.

Stephanos’s employer, WFXT, announced that in a surprise press release that the longtime anchor is leaving the station and that her last broadcast will be on Friday. In the relese Stephanos said she is leaving to “pursue new professional endeavors.”

“During my time at FOX 25, I have covered so many amazing stories and events. Working alongside this talented group of journalists has been a privilege for me, every day. I will miss working with this extraordinary team, but I know FOX 25 is in good hands and will continue to grow. I am beyond blessed, to deliver the news in the place where I grew up. New England viewers are savvy and smart and I love them for that. Thank you for making me part of your family,” said Stephanos in the release.

Stephanos, a Groveland native and Emerson graduate, was a key part of the station’s steady growth and sustained success in the 2000s that made into a ratings winner across virtually all demographics. Before that she was a State House reporter for WBUR making $15,600 a year. She loved it but she did not think she had the voice for radio and decided to pursue TV instead at the urging of current WBZ legend Carl Stevens.

Her departure from the station is the latest in series of high profile personnel moves at the station since it was aquired by Cox Communications last October. Longtime investigative reporter Mike Beaudet announced during the summer that he is leaving the station to teach investigative journalism full time while anchor Sorboni Banerjee and her husband and fellow WFXT reporter Jarrod Holbrook left the station in the spring for Tampa.

The changes at WFXT have also meant less conversation and more reporting. The station has hired extensively since Cox took over while cutting back on commentating segment, axing yakker Doug “VB” Goudie in the process.