Out the Door in Phoenix

KTVK/KPHO Reporter Mike Watkiss says that when his contract ends on Aug. 17, you can stick a fork in him.

He's done.  

Asked if there be any on-air celebrations to commemorate his 22 years with the stations, he replied:

"I hope not, I pray not," Watkiss says in his instantly identifiable rumble of a voice. "I don't need to see my checkered career all dredged up again. I want to be able to walk out of there with my head held high."

Before working in Phoenix, Watkiss worked on the show "A Current Affair" for 8 years. 

"When 'A Current Affair' came on the air, all of the American purist journalists said, 'This is horrible,' and the ultimate result was the whole industry jumped in behind us. I did some of the best, most hard-hitting work in my career for 'A Current Affair,' and also a lot of bullshit."   

Post-retirement plans including finishing the book — he's written 200 pages  — and acting. He's recently finished three films and is working with his son on a screenplay inspired by his career. 

He plans to stay in the Phoenix area and has no desire to work in another television market. 

"I'm not going to do day-to-day news anymore," he says. "I'm an old man now, and (I don't want) the day-to-day pressure. I've lived most of my career going too fast and beating myself up." 

"There’s a lot of folks in television, and not all of them would stand out like Mike," says Ed Munson, station VP and general manager. "He has a very unique style. He's a guy that grabs the throat of the story and hangs on to it. He's not afraid to go into situations that others would be timid to do. He's a bulldog that way."

H/T AZCentral

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