Kaity Tong to Leave PIX11 After More Than Three Decades, Marking the End of a Remarkable New York TV Career

One of New York City’s most respected television journalists is preparing to sign off for the final time. Kaity Tong, whose calm reporting style and trusted presence have made her one of the most recognisable faces in local news, will retire from PIX11 at the end of August after an extraordinary broadcasting career spanning more than five decades.

PIX11 confirmed that Tong’s final day with the station will be August 30, bringing to a close a 34-year chapter with the network and ending one of the longest-running careers in New York television news. Her retirement also marks the conclusion of a professional journey that earned the respect of colleagues, viewers, and journalism organisations across the country.

For generations of New Yorkers, Kaity Tong became much more than a news anchor. She was a familiar and dependable voice who reported on some of the region’s biggest stories while maintaining a reputation for professionalism, accuracy, and compassion. Her consistent presence on television helped build lasting trust with audiences throughout the metropolitan area.

Tong joined PIX11 in 1992 after already establishing herself as one of New York’s leading broadcast journalists. Before arriving at the station, she worked at WABC, where she served as both a reporter and anchor. Throughout her career, she shared the anchor desk with several legendary broadcasters and became known for her thoughtful reporting and composed on-air delivery.

PIX11 management described Tong’s retirement as the close of an important era for the station. Colleagues praised her not only for her journalism but also for the mentorship and leadership she provided behind the scenes. Those who worked with her have frequently described her as someone who set high professional standards while encouraging younger journalists entering the industry.

Although many viewers associate Tong with journalism from the very beginning of her career, she once revealed that broadcasting was never part of her original life plan. During her induction into the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 2025, Tong shared that she initially hoped to become a college professor.

At the time, she was pursuing doctoral studies in Chinese and Japanese studies at Stanford University. However, a summer job working as a morning editor and producer at KCBS All-News Radio in San Francisco unexpectedly changed the direction of her life. What began as a temporary opportunity soon developed into a lifelong career in television journalism that lasted for more than 50 years.

Her work has been recognised with numerous honours throughout the years. Tong received multiple regional Emmy Awards, recognising excellence in television journalism, along with the prestigious Governors’ Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. These awards reflected both her reporting skills and her long-standing contributions to local broadcasting.

In October 2025, Tong received another significant honour when she was inducted into the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. The recognition celebrated her decades of service to journalism and acknowledged the lasting impact she made on television news in New York.

Beyond the newsroom, Tong has also been recognised for her commitment to community service. Various Chinese American organisations, children’s advocacy groups, and women’s organisations have honoured her for supporting community initiatives and using her public platform to encourage meaningful causes.

Tong’s personal story has also inspired many viewers. Born in China, she immigrated to the United States with her family when she was four years old. She grew up in Washington, D.C., where journalism became an important part of her life through the influence of family members. Her great-uncle, Hollington K. Tong, served as Nationalist China’s ambassador to the United States and was also an accomplished writer. Her mother worked as a respected broadcaster and producer for Voice of America, exposing Tong to the world of journalism from an early age.

As a naturalised American citizen, Tong later received the Ellis Island Medal of Honour, an award recognising individuals whose achievements reflect the nation’s immigrant heritage while making valuable contributions to American society.

In recent years, Tong also used her platform to raise awareness about health issues. In 2023, she publicly shared that doctors had diagnosed her with Stage 1 lung cancer despite the fact that she had never smoked and had experienced no noticeable symptoms. By discussing her diagnosis openly, she encouraged women—especially those of Asian and Chinese backgrounds—to speak with their healthcare providers about whether lung cancer screening might be appropriate for them. Her willingness to share her personal experience brought greater public attention to the importance of early detection.

Throughout her career, Tong became known for maintaining credibility during major news events while treating every story with fairness and respect. Whether covering breaking news, community issues, or major developments affecting New Yorkers, she built a reputation for delivering information clearly and responsibly without unnecessary drama.

Her retirement closes a remarkable chapter in New York broadcasting history. As local television continues to evolve in the digital age, few journalists have achieved the level of trust and recognition that Tong earned over several decades. Her influence extends beyond the broadcasts she delivered, shaping younger journalists and leaving a lasting standard for excellence in local news.

While viewers will no longer see Kaity Tong behind the PIX11 anchor desk after August 30, her legacy will continue through the countless stories she reported, the journalists she mentored, and the lasting confidence she built with audiences across New York. Her retirement represents not only the end of a distinguished career but also the celebration of one of local television’s most respected and admired journalists.

Sources

• PIX11 News
• New York State Broadcasters Association
• National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
• Ellis Island Honors Society