Longtime New York City TV anchor announces retirement after revealing Alzheimer’s diagnosis
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Bill Ritter, a veteran news anchor at ABC New York station WABC, announced his sudden retirement after revealing he has early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Ritter, who has been a familiar face on New York evening news since 2001, expressed his commitment to truthful reporting and his sadness at stepping down.
- Despite his diagnosis, Ritter plans to continue reporting on Alzheimer’s, focusing on its impact on patients, families, and the high costs of treatment and care.
- Ritter’s career includes joining WABC in 1998, anchoring the 11pm newscast in 1999, and the 6pm newscast from 2001, with prior experience at the Los Angeles Times and California local TV.
- He acknowledged that while treatments may slow progression, there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, a disease that also affected his father.