KNWA has announced evening anchor Neile Jones is leaving the Fayetteville, Ark. NBC affiliate.
“I’m headed home to be near my immediate family,” Jones said in a statement. “I want to watch my nieces grow up, spend time with my sister and brother-in-law and, of course, be with my mom and dad.”
“We have an amazing ‘work family’ environment at this station that resonates with our staff. When Neile came to us with her decision, we knew it was what she truly wanted and it was what was best for her. We celebrate her commitment and leadership at our station and in our community for the past 17 years. We know she will be an excellent asset in her future endeavors,” says Kelsey.
AdvertisementJones first joined the station in 1997, before local news programming was offered. Over the past 17 years, she worked very hard to earn her spot at the evening desk, coming up through a variety of jobs including commercial production, weather, reporting and both weekend and morning anchor. In that time, she’s championed many worthwhile causes and dedicated much of her time to Northwest Arkansas non-profits. Her most notable efforts were to raise awareness for breast cancer, through her work with the Ozark affiliate for Susan G. Komen for the Cure Association, and her work with the Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence to help end the cycle of abuse. Jones shared her own story of survival in her autobiography, “Look Again…Because You Can”.
During her time as KNWA evening anchor, Jones earned a Mid-America Emmy Award for reporting, and her tireless efforts to help advance worthy causes in our community earned her many accolades including the Domestic Peace Award from the Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Foundation Cameo Award for Volunteerism.
Despite her exit from the station, Jones says her faith in the mission of KNWA is stronger now, more than ever.
“I’m a second generation journalist,” Jones says. “That is part of why I have always seen my position at KNWA as one of service. I’ve been blessed to live in a community that allowed me to be of service while doing a job I have loved. And I can honestly say KNWA Northwest Arkansas News is something rare. It is a place where the people in front of the camera and behind the lens truly believe their jobs are an act of service to their community. You can bet this team will continue to be just as involved as it always has been when it comes to caring about the community, gathering the facts and giving people, who might not otherwise have one, a voice.”
Jones’ last day on the KNWA anchor desk will be October 2nd. An announcement about the new KNWA news main anchor will be coming soon.