BREAKING NEWS! Denver News Director to Retire

The staff at Denver’s KMGH was told just minutes ago that their longtime News Director Holly Gauntt has decided to retire.

Gauntt has been at the Scripps station for nearly 7 years and before that, she was the ND across the street at KDVR/KWGN.

In her 4 decades plus of TV news, Gauntt has run newsrooms in Denver, Seattle, Philly, and was the VP of News for Fisher Communications.

Here is the email that was sent to the staff just minutes ago and obtained by FTVLive.

During the last couple of decades as a News Director, I’ve written a lot of emails about people departing the newsroom. You’ve all seen a fair amount in the 5 1/2 I’ve been here. Co-workers have moved on for a variety of reasons. Some for a bigger market, some for higher pay, others for a different role and many for family. This time the email is about me, and the reasons are simple. It’s time for me to live life without feeling the need to be connected 24/7. It’s time for me to watch the news rather than live it. It’s time to prioritize family and fun and exploration. It’s time, after 41 years in this business, to walk away from the day-to-day craziness and chaos that is the business we’ve chosen!

 The decision to retire is bittersweet. I don’t know what life is like untethered from 24/7 news. It will surely be an adjustment for me. I’m scared and excited and anxious to explore and discover a different kind of living. I consider myself so incredibly lucky to end my newsroom career where I began it, in my home state of Colorado. And I will be eternally grateful that my final years as a News Director have been spent working for an incredible company like Scripps. It is truly one of, if not the best, Journalism companies in the world. I am so grateful for the leadership and conviction of this company. All of you who are in Scripps, don’t for a single day, take it for granted. This company believes in the power of good Journalism and the importance of connecting with the people we serve. 

 And now to my team, family really, at Denver7. I’m so incredibly proud of everyone, from each and every department. We’ve weathered a lot together. The pandemic, riots, mass shootings, horrific fires and so much more. How lucky we’ve been to have one another to lean on and learn from. I could not have asked for a better group of people with whom to end this chapter of my life. I’m so incredibly proud of the good we’ve done through our Journalism and just as importantly through our community projects. Everyone at this station embraced Denver7 Gives. Through our little 501C3 we’ve made an incredible difference for so many people. We’ve raised nearly two million dollars since we started the fund and we’ve used every penny to change the lives of people victimized by disasters, scams, and misfortune. We should all be proud of that.

 One last thing. Please, please do not give up on our business. As I said at the Silver Circle, this world needs Journalists. I know it’s a hard business. Many of you have been screamed at and spit on and demeaned. And sadly, much of that has happened while you worked your hearts out covering horrific and heartbreaking stories. But don’t give up. This world needs Journalists to expose corruption and wrongdoing while also making a difference in our communities through the food and toy drives and the compassionate reporting. Don’t give up. It’s all too important. And what you do matters greatly.

 I will be here for a few more months as Dean looks for my replacement. By the way, he’s the best. Don’t take him for granted! I’m confident he will find the absolute right person to take the reins of the newsroom. He, above everyone else, understands the importance of a great culture, the significance of good Journalism and the value of the people who work here. My last day at Denver7 will be April 28th. I’ll take some time to enjoy fewer responsibilities and to move to the home we’ve built in the Latitude Margaritaville development near Hilton Head, SC. And then I’ll surface to do some freelance, remote work. Could be consulting, could be writing, could be teaching. Just won’t be running a newsroom. I don’t think I can quit this business cold turkey! 

 And, I think I’ll take advice from Albert Einstein. “Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery into which we were born.”

And never, ever stop the Shenanigans!