Chioji calls it quits at WESH 2 News

Wendy Chioji describes herself as a "Big J" journalist. But after two decades at WESH2 News, she decided it was time to leave the small screen news business.

"It's tough to go, but the time is right," Chioji, 46, told the Star-Banner on Thursday afternoon, shortly after a news release about her leaving was issued. Chioji will remain in her anchor role at the Orlando NBC network station until the end of the May sweeps period.

In an industry noted for short careers and job hopping, Chioji defied the odds by lasting 20 years at WESH. She has been in TV news for 25 years, and during that time witnessed revolutionary changes in the industry — particularly during the past few years, when management shifts, corporate pressure and increasing competition from the Internet has turned the news game inside out.

"It's changed for television, it's changed for newspapers and it's changed for everybody," Chioji said. "News values are changing and sometimes they just get tossed aside or blurred. Some of the stuff you see on television news today, and in newspapers, you would have never seen five years ago.

"I've always considered myself a 'Big J' journalist [sticking to traditional news values of fairness and integrity] and it can be a challenge doing that today."

Her philosophy was simple: Adhere to high standards and be herself.

"I loved connecting with people and I tried to give them my best," Chioji said. "People can tell when you are throwing junk out on the air. I never did."

Chioji, who will be moving to Park City, Utah, to operate a high-tech cycling business for sports enthusiasts, makes it clear today's journalists have to keep pace with technology and news gathering breakthroughs.

"We have no choice but to keep up," she said. "Television and newspapers have to roll with the punches and keep pumping up the Internet. People aren't waiting anymore for the nightly newscast or morning paper, they want to know what's happening now."

Chioji is a decidedly old-school reporter, able to report hard news and features.

"Wendy is a great reporter, because she knows how to relate to people in a human way, and she knows how to ask questions" said Stephen Stock, who spent 15 years reporting at Channel 2 before moving to a Miami CBS station last year.

"Wendy loves news and she thoroughly enjoys getting out and talking to the people in the community," Stock added. "In TV, especially with an anchor, what you see is not necessarily what you get. With Wendy, what you see is what you get. She's not an anchor/TV star. She's a classy person and outstanding journalist."

It showed in Chioji's reporting.

She won an Emmy for a series called "Heroin Emergency." She also earned the prestigious duPont Columbia Award for coverage of the Shuttle Columbia disaster. She reported on Pope John Paul II's trip to Cuba and the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

Still, Chioji's best-remembered story was about her own ordeal with breast cancer.

"That's what people always talk to me about," she said. "I had to walk a tightrope on that one. I wanted to get the information out to the public about breast cancer, but I didn't want to make myself the story."

Stock, known for his hard-hitting investigative stories, was impressed. "She handled the cancer story just right — but that's Wendy."

Stock said many veteran journalists have left WESH 2 News in the past few years. "I'm not surprised Wendy is leaving," Stock said. "There have been many changes at WESH and I think she had been thinking about this for a long time."

Chioji makes it clear, it was her decision to leave and she was not pushed out. "This is what I wanted," she said, adding she was grateful to WESH and Hearst-Argyle, the station's owner.

"Wendy is an icon in this community, she will be greatly missed," Jim Carter, WESH president and general manager, said in a prepared statement. "Wendy is an institution in Central Florida," Stock said. "I think her leaving is a blow to the station and leaves a big void to fill."

For Chioji, it's time to pack up her two cats and head to Park City, about 35 miles outside of Salt Lake City. She is a fitness buff and can't wait to get there to ski, ride her bike and take care of the cycling business.

But what if the news bug bites again, and Chioji starts itching for a story?

"I'm not sure if that will happen," she said with a laugh, "but if it does, I'll find something to do."

Anthony Violanti may be

contacted at 867-4154 or Anthony.violanti@starbanner.com.