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**Summary:**

After a distinguished 40-year career at WCVB-TV in Boston, veteran broadcast journalist Karen Holmes Ward is retiring. Known for her dedication to covering the Black community and public affairs, Holmes Ward has held roles as Director of Public Affairs and Community Service and host of the award-winning program “CityLine.” WCVB officials praise her as a legendary leader and community activist who has amplified the voices of communities of color. Holmes Ward expressed gratitude for her time at WCVB, emphasizing the platform it provided for her to serve the community and connect organizations with resources. Her work has been recognized with multiple awards and Hall of Fame induction.

**News Article:**

**Longtime WCVB Journalist Karen Holmes Ward to Retire, Leaving Legacy of Community Advocacy**

**BOSTON, MA** – Veteran broadcast journalist Karen Holmes Ward, a fixture at WCVB-TV for over 40 years, will retire later this month, the station announced last week. Holmes Ward, who serves as Director of Public Affairs and Community Service and hosts the acclaimed program “CityLine,” is lauded for her unwavering commitment to covering the Black community and public affairs issues in Boston.

“For more than forty years, Karen has embodied the heart and soul of local television: service to community,” said Andrew Vrees, WCVB president and general manager. “Through her leadership on CityLine… Karen has been an essential voice — not only at WCVB and our immediate communities, but across the region. She has made WCVB stronger. She has made our communities better.”

During her tenure, Holmes Ward has been a champion for communities of color, using her platform to amplify voices and address challenges. “CityLine” has garnered numerous awards for its impactful reporting, including Associated Press and Emmy awards, and has featured interviews with prominent figures such as Regina King, Denzel Washington, and Spike Lee.

“It has truly been the honor of a lifetime to dedicate my career to WCVB,” Holmes Ward said in a statement. “From day one, I’ve been privileged to serve our community — not just by amplifying voices, but by forging meaningful connections between nonprofits and the station’s resources.”

WCVB officials praised Holmes Ward as a “legendary public affairs leader and community activist,” highlighting her role in spearheading the station’s public affairs initiatives and advocating for civil engagement, education, and equity.

Holmes Ward’s career includes prior roles at WEEI News Radio, WILD 1090 AM, and WGBH-TV. She holds degrees from Boston University and honorary doctorates from Boston University, Cambridge College, and Merrimack College. In 2018, she was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Her departure marks the end of an era for WCVB, leaving a legacy of impactful storytelling and community engagement.

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