Goodbye, Stefani Booroojian. Fresno TV anchor announces retirement after 42 years

Stefani Booroojian — a staple in local television news, as well as a proud ambassador of the Armenian community and the city of Fresno — has announced she is retiring.

Booroojian, 65, will finish out anchoring the evening newscasts on KSEE 24 this week before conducting her final show Friday.

Her journalism career spans 42 years.

“It’s hard to leave because I’ve enjoyed this job so much,” Booroojian told The Bee. “But it just seemed like the right time. I am of retirement age. This was totally my decision.

“There are projects and other interests I’d like to pursue. I am looking forward to enjoying this next chapter in my life.”

Humble and caring

In an industry and a television market in which on-air personalities often come and go, Booroojian provided a consistency unmatched since joining the Fresno NBC affiliate on March 31, 1982.

Booroojian not only survived continued changes in the industry, she set a standard for local TV news.

Booroojian, whose educational background consists of Fresno High, Fresno City and Fresno State, often is praised for her work ethic, professionalism and storytelling ability.

But it’s her humbleness and caring personality that seemed to endear her to others and was reflected in her on-air presence.

Among the topics Booroojian covered and cared much for:

• Highlighting the struggles and triumphs of the Armenian community both locally and overseas.

• Championing pride in Fresno and the central San Joaquin Valley.

• Bringing attention to “Buddycheck,” a monthly reminder for people to reach out to others to remind them to do a self-examination for breast cancer.

“Working on projects that impact people,” Booroojian said, “that’s been the most gratifying.”

In addition, Booroojian’s old-school journalism approach to keep the spotlight on the story she was telling — and not herself — made her well respected in the media.

“She never seemed interested in being a local celebrity,” said former KSEE 24 anchor Evan Onstot, who co-anchored with Booroojian from 2014-2019. “I do think she was very interested and enjoyed being a local journalist, telling local stories.”

Booroojian would go on to inspire fellow Fresnans looking to get into TV news, especially in the Armenian community.

“Growing up and watching Stefani as an Armenian kid, you felt like you had a place in the journalism world, too,” said Alexan Balekian, who co-anchored with Booroojian from 2018-2024. “Then you start working with her, you see that from Day One to probably her last day, she puts 100% in what she does.

“You saw it, you felt it. She works so hard. She was passionate about the community as a whole. She never took being on air here for granted.”

Starting, staying in Fresno

Booroojian began her media career by working in radio while at Fresno State.

Then, she became aboard KSEE 24 as a reporter/trainee, followed by a stint as a producer.

Booroojian recalled helping write the weather segments for the anchors to read, with the station in between meteorologists at the time.

“I wasn’t thinking of being a main anchor,” Booroojian said in an interview with The Bee in 2022 when the station celebrated her 40-year tenure. “I was just thrilled to be in the journalism business.”

When she got her break as a full-time reporter, Booroojian said she was nervous to be on air but pushed through.

Still, she needed a bit of her family’s help.

“I remember having to buy some appropriate clothing,” Booroojian said. “I had to ask my parents to help me because I didn’t have much money!”

Booroojian eventually became an anchor following a change of news directors, first doing morning cut-ins, which were five-minute newscasts that aired during the Today Show.

Then she started anchoring the noon newscast alongside longtime anchor Bob Long, who was one of Booroojian’s instructors at Fresno State.

“He was very tolerate of this young rookie sitting next to him and trying to learn,” Booroojian said. “The way I was taught was story before self.”

Over the years, Booroojian was paired with other memorable on-air personalities like: Bud Elliott, Paul Schaffer, David Marcus, Jon Brent, Lorie Hernandez, Alex Delgado, Onstot and Balekian.

Booroojian didn’t intend to stay in her hometown her whole career. But the opportunities to tell stories of Fresno, and events in her personal life kept her from leaving.

“Life happens,” Booroojian said. “My career progressed. I had my kids here, got married here and worked a crazy schedule for decades that my family was very supportive of. There were many reasons it made sense to stay in Fresno.

“It might not have been exactly how I originally planned it all. But I’m happy how it worked out.”

Fresno, too, benefited from Booroojian staying in Fresno.

Marc Cotta, Booroojian’s husband who also was on TV in Fresno as a KJEO sports anchor from 1980-1992, said Booroojian’s biggest impact on air might’ve been during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While some news stations had employees work and conduct the news from their home, Booroojian regularly went into the KSEE 24 studio to deliver the news.

“Seeing her sit in the studio — Stefani Booroojian, this person who the audience has watched for years — I believe it was a major comfort for a lot of people who had no idea of what was going to happen next,” Cotta said. “People were stuck in their homes, not seeing their loved ones in person. But you could see a familiar face on the KSEE 24 news. I believe that helped some people.

“We’re going to miss having her on air.”

Heading into retirement

When Booroojian reached 40 years in the business in March 2022, she considered retiring then.

“It’s a great job and it’s an opportunity that needs to be passed on to someone else at some point,” Booroojian said in 2022. “But I’m not ready yet.”

Booroojian said nothing specific led her to finally choose to retire. She did think of retiring earlier this year, but the timing didn’t seem right.

But with her children living elsewhere and some of the most important stories that Booroojian wanted to tell already having been already told, she decided now was time.

“I don’t even want to use the word retirement,” Booroojian said. “I’m not retiring from life. There are other things for me to do. I’m nervous and a little sad.

“I do plan on traveling more, and will enjoy staying on trips a little longer without worrying about having to get back for work.”

Booroojian had parting words of wisdom for those looking to get into TV news:

“My advice would be that before focusing on any of the cosmetic parts of the job or the notoriety, young people should strive to be a good storyteller. And be ready to work hard.

“Those who do will be the most successful in this field.”