Kim Stephens, a familiar face on KMPH Fox 26’s “Great Day” for 23 years, is leaving the morning show she helped launch, marking a significant departure amid a period of substantial change within Fresno’s local television news industry.
Stephens’ final broadcast is scheduled for November 25. Her exit follows that of her original co-anchor, weatherman Kopi Sotiropulos, who retired in March. The duo had been fixtures in viewers’ homes since the show’s inception in 2003.
Stephens announced her departure via Instagram, revealing her transition to a full-time, tenure-track position with Fresno State’s Media, Communications and Journalism Department. She has served as an adjunct professor at the university since 2015.
"I don’t expect to see this new chapter as ending one career for another," Stephens stated on social media. "I really see it as carrying the best of journalism forward. For years people have trusted me to tell their stories and now I get to help prepare young journalists to do the same ethically."
Broader Talent Shifts in Fresno News
Stephens’ departure occurs as multiple Fresno television stations experience considerable talent turnover. At ABC30, anchor Jason Oliveira is moving to the evening newscasts, succeeding Warren Armstrong, who is slated for retirement in November. Cory James has returned to ABC30 to fill Oliveira’s previous role on “AM Live,” after a previous stint at the station and a period at WCBS in New York. ABC30 has also seen the departure of three other on-air personalities, with Sydney Berger taking over as sports director.
KSEE24/CBS47 has also reported a series of exits, including Ben Morris, Brian Dorman, Briana Byus, and Jason Takhtadjian. Responding to viewer inquiries about the changes, Dorman, along with Byus and Lauren Wallace, indicated that such shifts are common in newsrooms when multiple contracts expire around the same time. "There’s going to be a whole bunch of new talented people coming in," Dorman remarked.