Dustin Nolan, a former anchor for KWQC TV6 in Iowa made national news with a now viral farewell on air due to the reasons he gave for not only leaving the station, but his entire journalism career. Nolan started his announcement by saying, “Well, I’ll try to get through this,” as he grew emotional over saying goodbye to his colleagues and viewers.
“Well, before we go this morning, I have an announcement. Today is my last day here at KWC TV6. I have chosen to step away from the news industry. Before I say goodbye, I just want to say I hope every one of you that’s allowed me to be a part of your mornings know just how important that I have taken this job, how much it means to me that you’ve trusted that you’ve trusted me these past few years to bring you the news in the morning,” Nolan continued.
He then talked about how he has tried to do his best to bring the news to viewers and be as transparent as possible during his career. “I promise you, I’ve given you everything I have. I’ve never tried to be perfect or what many think a newsman is supposed to be, but I have always done my best to be transparent, bringing you the facts, and I’ve always been myself. I’ve loved being able to provide a public service to this place we all call home, the Quad Cities,” the now former anchor said at the time.
“When it comes to this job, all I’ve ever wanted to do is report on the issues that really matter. I’ve always believed that we, as a local news station owes you the viewers the best that we can do because without you none of us would be able to do this job. I also believe that we as a local news station have to be more than trends or sanitized news because it makes people feel uncomfortable,” Nolan explained.
Nolan then said that the purpose of the media, its true mission, is to get people out of their bubbles and comfort zones and encourage them to think more deeply about the world around them. “That’s why the facts matter and that’s why we do what we do here. We have to take people out of their bubbles and comfort zones and make them think about the world we all live in. And this is a bittersweet goodbye,” he said.
“Yes, I’m looking forward to my next chapter in life, but it’s not easy to say goodbye. The hardest part of this job for me is the realization that I won’t be working with Jenna anymore, because she isn’t just the greatest co-anchor on the news desk, but she is the greatest co-anchor in life as well. And if you don’t have a Jenna in your life, I suggest you find one because she makes dreams come true in every way another human can,” he said, growing more emotional, fighting back tears.
He then paid homage to several of his other co-workers at the station. “And to the great, great, and talented people here at TV Six, like Ken Phelps, Mike Ortiz, Ryan, our morning producer, Kaylee and Madison, our morning directors, and people like Diana as well, and all the other wonderful people here that I’ve worked with at TV6,” he continued.
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“I just want to say thank you for being great professionals and more importantly, great people. There will be no more TV tomorrows for me. So, for everyone who’s allowed me to be a part of their morning, I really do thank you. Good day, and goodbye,” Nolan said, wrapping up a moving, tearful goodbye that took the world of social media by storm due to its genuineness.
Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video