WESH Anchor Jim Payne Announces Retirement

Jim Payne

After a 45-year career, 23 years in Central Florida, WESH  Orlando, Fla., news anchor Jim Payne plans to retire in September.

Payne joined WESH, Hearst’s NBC affiliate, in December 2000 as weekend anchor and reporter from WRAL Raleigh, N.C. Four months later he was anchoring weekdays at 5 and 11 p.m. Since then, he has anchored all of WESH’s evening newscasts, launching the 4 p.m. edition in 2006, and the 10 p.m. news airing on co-owned WKCF in 2008.

“My wife and I have been talking about retirement for some time now, but only  recently  did I actually start listening,” Payne told his co-workers. “My mentors and friends all told me I’d know when the time was right, and they were certainly correct. The time goes by so fast. One day we’re raising young boys, the next we’re making plans around grandchildren. I have been blessed beyond belief professionally, working with some of the most talented people in broadcast journalism, working at a great big powerful TV station that uses its powers for good.”

In addition to anchoring newscasts, Payne has played important roles in multiple WESH 2 special reports and projects – most notably the Peabody Award-winning 2003 report on the shoddy state of the rapidly expanding housing market, “Building Homes, Building Problems”; the 2002 documentary “Code Blue: Crisis in the E.R.,” which was honored with an Edward R Murrow award; and hours of extensive coverage surrounding the Shutle Columbia disaster which also garnered an Alfred I. duPont award for the station.

In 2016, Payne helped launch “WESH 2 Chronicle,” the station’s magazine show focusing on all things Central Florida. From exploring Horse Country to Disney’s transformation into a holiday wonderland, Payne’s stewardship of “Chronicle” has brought Central Floridians in-depth stories about the community. With Payne at the helm, “Chronicle” also tackled Central Florida’s affordable housing crisis as well as its struggles with recycling, a special which earned the program a National Headliner Award and the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists’ top prize for a magazine program.

On the anchor desk, has helped thousands of Central Floridians weather dozens of hurricanes, and to get the region’s best television news coverage and context around numerous events impacting them — including the Pulse Nightclub massacre and the attacks of 9/11; the deaths of Caylee Anthony and Trayvon Martin; and dozens of major trials including those of Casey Anthony, George Zimmerman and Noor Salman.

“Jim Payne is a true community champion,” said WESH President-GM John R. Soapes. “A top-notch journalist, dedicated to the people of Central Florida, Jim has poured his heart into every newscast and project he’s undertaken at WESH 2. We applaud his efforts and his amazing career and are grateful for his exceptional work here over the past two-plus decades,” Soapes added.

Payne will continue to anchor the 6 and 11 p.m. news until Sept. 1.