MEDIA

TV reporter Steve Krafft is leaving Fox 10 after 34 years, and he tells us why

The Republic | azcentral.com

Steve Krafft has been at Fox 10 since 1985.

Steve Krafft, who has been a reporter at Fox 10 (KSAZ) for 34 years, is retiring.

"After 34 years, I'm hanging up my old ear weenie," Krafft, reached at a Chicago Cubs spring-training game, said Thursday.

And, for the record, "ear weenie" is slang for the device TV reporters wear in their ear.

His last day on the air will be Friday, March 1.

Krafft is a two-time Emmy Award winner and has been recognized as Arizona Journalist of the Year. He started with the station in 1985. At Channel 10, he had the second-longest run of anyone currently on the air, following Linda Williams.

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"I’m not sure what my next move is," Krafft said. "But I’m not trying to work at some other TV station or work on the air. I’ve had a long time doing it, for which I’m very grateful, at a stable place that’s let me do my thing with minimal interference for a long period of time."

There was no grand plan or big moment that changed his mind, Krafft said.

"I just wanted to take a break from media, frankly, and do other things," he said. "I've been doing this every day, pretty much … for 34 years in a row. I could probably do it another few years, but I don’t really want to."

Fox 10 anchor Troy Hayden posted a video interview with Krafft on Facebook this week in which he wished Krafft well.

It's unusual for a TV reporter to stay in the same market for too long — 34 years is an eternity, and Krafft knows it.

"I've been very, very lucky," he said. He also appreciates Fox 10 giving him such free reign.

"I have a screw loose, I guess," he said, "and they've allowed me to never tighten it."

Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Twitter: @goodyk.

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