Veteran WBZ reporter Christina Hager signed off Friday after a 25-year run that saw her covering some of the biggest stories out of New England, from presidential elections to monster blizzards, John F. Kennedy Jr.’s fatal plane crash, and the deadly Worcester warehouse fire.
“All done!” Hager wrote in a post on X Friday. “Overwhelming saying goodbye after 25 years in Boston, 33 in TV news.”
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“Really hard to say goodbye to the AMAZING team of journalists I work with,” Hager added. “What a profound honor!”
In a post of its own, WBZ said Hager has decided to change careers and leave TV news. Hager has not publicly announced her next steps.
WBZ anchors David Wade and Lisa Hughes gave Hager an on-air sendoff, playing a reel of her various news stories from over the years. Wade called the moment “bittersweet,” adding, “Every time Christina Hager was on TV, you knew you were getting the facts, but you also knew you were having that great personality.”
Hager described her career change as “surreal” and said it’s “mind boggling” to look back on the number of people who have trusted her with their stories over the years.
“What an honor,” she said. “I mean, I’m moving on to the next chapter, but I am just always going to be so proud of my time here.”
We want to wish the very best to our Christina Hager who has decided to change careers and leave local news after more than 25 years at WBZ-TV. We’ll miss you @HagerWBZ! pic.twitter.com/ydQeBds8wR
— WBZ | CBS News Boston (@wbz) August 16, 2024
Hughes noted that Hager has covered a wide range of stories “with her hallmark tenacity, compassion, and curiosity.”
In one notable clip, Hager put pet DNA testing under the microscope, swabbing her own cheek and sending it off to a company that promises to identify dog breeds. Late night comedian Stephen Colbert took note of the results.
“The company reported back that Hager was 40% Alaskan Malamute, 35% shar pei, and 25% Labrador,” Colbert read on-air.
Hager praised her colleagues and thanked viewers during her sendoff last week.
Hughes, meanwhile, described Hager as “a terrific journalist and a friend and a colleague we will miss.”
Turning to Hager, she added: “It has been such an honor to work with you, and you’ve brought so much to this newsroom and to this community, and we just wish you the best.”
All done! Overwhelming saying goodbye after 25 years in Boston, 33 in TV news. Feels like I’ve connected w/a staggering # of people & hopefully brought some insight w/my reporting. Really hard to say goodbye to the AMAZING team of journalists I work with. What a profound honor! pic.twitter.com/sIZk5IrOlJ
— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) August 17, 2024
