Watch: Pat Ciarrocchi’s Final Broadcast at CBS3
After 33 years, Pat Ciarrocchi anchored her final newscast for CBS3 during Thursday’s 12 noon broadcast. On air, Ciarrocchi got choked up after being surprised by longtime co-anchor Ukee Washington.
“I was really good until you showed up,” she said. Washington thanked her for helping to teach him the ropes. “You turned a sports guy into a news man,” he said. He then played a taped tribute to Ciarrocchi (see below.)
Ciarrocchi announced her retirement last week, saying the decision came after the coverage of the Pope Francis visit to Philadelphia. Ciarrocchi began her career in broadcasting in 1974 at WAMS Radio in Wilmington and later became a reporter for WHAG-TV in Hagerstown, Md. In 2014, she became the first female inducted into the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
In an exit interview on the CBSPhilly website, Ciarrocchi offered this advice to young broadcasters: “Develop your curiosity and love of what’s happening in the world. We are a global neighborhood. We are affected by all that happens around us. Have a desire to enlighten and enrich those who choose to listen to you, or read your work. Be fair. Be accurate. If the only thing you think about is being a “star” on TV, find other work.”
She also discussed her future plans: “Time to re-boot. I have ideas. I think I could be good at something else. This work has given me tremendous skills to think, extrapolate, synthesize, and act. I think that translates. I will let everyone know what is next. For now, it’s finding the right vessel to collect all the love that fills me.”
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