Last broadcast for KREM anchor Jane McCarthy

KREM 2 evening anchor Jane McCarthy delivered the news in Spokane for the last time Tuesday.

McCarthy, who had anchored for KREM since January 2010, is moving to Seattle to be closer to family.

McCarthy’s husband of 17 years, Tim Robinson, has been working in media relations for Seattle Public Schools for a year, and the two have been traveling on weekends to see one another. McCarthy has accepted a communications and branding position with Boeing.

“They’ve been doing the back-and-forth thing, which has got to be very rough and difficult, so I’m really super happy that she landed with a great company,” Tom Sherry, KREM 2 chief meteorologist, said. “At the same time, it’s really sad for us. She puts the ‘K’ in kindness and the ‘P’ in professional. She’s the absolute best. I’m on Team Jane all the way.”

McCarthy said her proudest achievement during her time at KREM was winning the National Murrow Award, which she earned with photojournalist Brett Allberry for a story about an elite swimmer who practiced in a hotel pool.

“I’m just grateful to the management here, who allowed me to be myself and focus on telling stories particularly through my franchise called ‘Project Inspire’,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy created Project Inspire eight years ago. It was born of her coverage of Spokane native Steve Gleason, an NFL star and ALS patient.

“His family is really special to me now, and they’ve welcomed me into their home over the years and certainly been gracious with their time,” McCarthy said. “I’d love to stay in touch with them and keep seeing the great things that Steve does for people with ALS.”

Both Sherry and KREM evening anchor Mark Hanrahan said KREM was losing a leader in the newsroom.

“Her opinion is well respected and sought out in the newsroom,” Hanrahan said. “She serves like an editor in some respects for our newsroom.”

Even in this leadership role, Sherry said McCarthy’s characteristic kindness shined through.

“She could be tough when she needs to be tough,” Sherry said. “She’ll let you know; those times are far and few between. She’s able to get what she wants accomplished, and she’s able to help lead the newsroom and mentor younger people in a way that doesn’t involve a lot of browbeating.”

Sherry said McCarthy joined the newsroom at a key moment.

“I’m one of the old guys, and she came to KREM for me personally at a time when we were in a bit of turmoil,” Sherry said. “We had just lost our main female anchor, and it was handled in a horrible way through management that is no longer there. And we were just a ship without a rudder, and she came in and she was just a blessing.”

Sherry was speaking of Nadine Woodward’s departure from KREM. Woodward went on to work as an anchor at KXLY until she retired earlier this year.

Woodward is now a candidate for mayor, running against current City Council President Ben Stuckart.

McCarthy said she will miss most her coworkers and the Spokane community. Hanrahan said he assumes what most people in Spokane know of McCarthy is her friendly and genuine persona on the evening news.

“I think it’s important for people to know that’s exactly how she is off camera as well,” Hanrahan said. “She cares about this community, she cares about the people she covers, she cares about the people that she works with.”