Ellerbee’s grit and professionalism have been rewarded with several Emmys, Peabody awards, and numerous other accolades.
The groundbreaking news program helped bridge the gap between children and the current events unfolding around them.
Like manyretired news anchors, Ellerbee seems to be living her best life in obscurity.
In an interview withTV Insider, Ellerbee recalled how she broke the news of her retirement to Nickelodeon.
“The decision was made more than a year and a half ago,” the newswoman shared.
I think it’s time."
After dedicating most of her life to journalism, Ellerbee was ready to move on.
“I didn’t want to die in the saddle,” she confessed.
“There are other things I want to do in life.
I’m not going to go lie on the beach; I’m just quitting television.”
What else does 44 years in television news qualify me for?"
As the broadcaster toldNewsday, newsrooms of the time were notoriously inhospitable towards women.
“The networks were very slow in hiring women,” she explained.
“In fact, their attitude was that ‘putting the broads in broadcasting’ would ruin the party.”
Thus, she kept pressing forward and ultimately became a broadcasting icon.
During the interview, Ellerbee revealed that sexual harassment was rampant in the newsrooms where she used to work.
“Yeah, Me Too.
Me Too,” she said, in reference tothe Me Too movement.
“I could say that absolutely honestly.
But the hostile workplace, absolutely.
She quickly followed up with her doctor, but was told it was nothing serious.
Six months later, she returned for a biopsy and was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer.
About a year later, Ellerbee was finally cancer-free.
In 2017,StreetEasyreported that the news anchor was selling her posh, multi-level townhouse in the West Village.
Upon leaving the city, Ellerbee settled into a slower pace of life.
Ellerbee described the people of Puerto Vallarta as “warm, friendly, generous and welcoming.”
She also pushed back against negative perceptions about Mexico and criticized the American media for misrepresenting the country.
“But the media love noise, and too many journalists currently making it don’t live here.
Some have never even been here.”
And unfortunately, she’s not the only journalist to have publicly dealt with a cancer crisis.
In 2002, Ellerbee’s colleague and close friend, Cokie Roberts, discovered she had breast cancer.
After announcing her diagnosis, Roberts continued working on-air.
She also used her platform to preach the importance of recognizing possiblebreast cancer symptomsand having regularbreast cancer screenings.
About six months after her diagnosis, Roberts was officially in remission.
Tragically, her breast cancer returned in 2016, and she died from the disease in 2019.
Upon Roberts' death, Ellerbee penned a tribute to the renowned journalist.
“Cokie looked at her world.
And explained it,” she wrote in an op-ed forCNN.
She did that better than I.”
“I’m angry because Cokie is gone,” the anchorwoman stated.
Go sit on that bench again.
You don’t belong in the room where it happens."
The TV anchor was more than happy to share her insider knowledge with Jane.
What other profession can you say that about?"
Ellerbee also explained that journalism is a multidisciplinary profession.
“A liberal arts degree helps,” she said.
“you should probably learn language, psychology, history, politics and geography.”
According to herBig Speakprofile, the broadcasting legend charges $30,001 $40,000 for her services.
