Stefani Booroojian has announced her retirement after 42 years of anchoring and reporting on KSEE 24.

“It’s finally time for me to say goodbye. I’m excited about it. I’m nervous about it. I’m a little sad about it, of course, because I love the people that I work with. But, this is my choice, and I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life,” Booroojian announced Monday morning on her Facebook page.

Her last day is Friday.

“The timing just seemed right now for me. So it’s happening,” she told Media Man.

Technology has been one of the biggest changes in her 42 years. Film was the main form of broadcasting when she started.

“Our equipment got smaller and smaller and smaller and we could get faster at doing things,” Booroojian said. “Ultimately, you have to know how to write a story. So that part hasn’t changed.”

Buddy Check Most Impactful

Booroojian said her “Buddy Check” project — stories about women battling cancer and reminders to check for breast cancer once a month (on the 24th!) — have had the most impact.

“It has been a true honor to report on local women, brave women who chose to tell their story and would trust me to tell it. That’s been … an amazing project,” Booroojian said.

Reporting on location from Armenia has been “life altering.”

“It’s really brought me so much closer to my culture,” Booroojian said.

Booroojian won an Emmy for her “We Are Fresno” stories, reporting on everyday people.

Anchor Partners Remember

Booroojian earned her first anchor assignment, on the noon news with KSEE legend Bob Long. She has worked on nearly every newscast with several anchors since.

Alexan Balekian co-anchored with Booroojian from 2018 to 2023. They formed the first all-Armenian broadcast team in the nation.

“Stefani is the consummate professional. She is very passionate. She will never phone it in. She is a continuous mentor, e. Every single day. She not only brings knowledge, but, a sense of real compassion to journalism. And I would say, the morals and values of that old-school journalism,” Balekian said.

Rich Rodriguez shared the anchor desk with Booroojian from 2001 to 2008.

“Behind the scenes, she is one of the funniest people I’ve ever been around. She tells funny stories. She’s very animated. She’s just a pleasure,” Rodriguez — who now anchors and reports for KMPH Fox 26 — said.

Related Story: KSEE Recruits Its New Anchor From Sacramento

Started in Radio Before Anchoring

After graduating from Fresno State in 1981, the Fresno-born and bred Booroojian started at rock radio station KKDJ 106 (now the FM signal for KMJ 105.9) with news segments.

Booroojian debuted at KSEE, the Fresno NBC affiliate, on March 31, 1982 as a reporter-in-training and news writer. She eventually worked her way on air as a reporter, and cut-ins during the “Today” show.

“I do appreciate all of the people that have watched for so many years. KSEE 24 has been such a big part of my life … and this is a big moment for me,” Booroojian said in her Facebook video.

Two years ago, while KSEE celebrated Booroojian’s 40 years in the business, Mayor Jerry Dyer presented a special proclamation live on the air.

KSEE Hires New Reporter Out of College

Jennifer Zucker joined KSEE 24/CBS 47 this month as a news reporter. She recently graduated from the University of Arizona, where she worked at the campus TV station.

“I am so grateful for this incredible opportunity starting out in market 53. All of my work and experience that I have accomplished at UATV 3 and UArizona Journalism has led me to this point,” she wrote on LinkedIn.