Jill Becker retiring at 11 Alive in August after 23 years
CREDIT: WXIA-TV
Jill Becker, a fixture in the Atlanta TV market for three decades, announced today that she’s going to retire in August when her contract is up.
“It was a surprise to the staff,” said news director Ellen Crooke. “She’s the heart of our morning news team. She will be very hard to replace.”
By giving seven months notice, Becker is giving 11 Alive plenty of time to find a replacement.
“After more than two decades, I am leaving a news team and a news show that I truly love,” Becker said in a press release. “I am however, looking forward to volunteering and to catching up on 30 years of sleep!”
In an interview later in the day, she said she had been thinking about retirement the past year but only recently told management. She wants to work more with Cure Childhood Cancer, a charity group. (She has a son who had T-Cell Lymphoma at age three. He is now 23 and cancer free.)
“I’m so incredibly grateful that I’ve had this long a run,” she said. “I don’t think people in television expect this type of run in one city.”
She’s worked side by side with several male anchors over the years, including Keith Whitney, Clarence Reynolds, Chuck Moore, Ken Watts, Dennis Douda and even Wes Sarginson for a brief time. Her current co-host is, for the first time, a woman: Karyn Greer.
According to her bio on the WXIA-TV website, she hails from St. Louis and graduated with a bachelor’s degree on mass communications at the University of South Florida in Tampa. She began her TV career in Jacksonville, Fla. then moved to Little Rock, Ark. before coming to Atlanta in 1981 to work for Channel 2 Action News. She joined 11 Alive in 1988.
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By Rodney Ho, rho@ajc.com, AJCRadioTV blog
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136 comments Add your comment
Holden Magroyne
January 25th, 2011
5:01 pm
I sure hope she wasnt forced out due to a contract non renewal. She is awesome!!! My vote is for Julie Wolfe as a replacement.
Ken
January 25th, 2011
5:14 pm
She’s great. The best on their morning team. Sad to see her go, but I’m sure getting to sleep in will be nice. Was it the snowstorm that clinched it?
Sam Sung
January 25th, 2011
5:14 pm
She is wizened and withered. Watching her in HD makes me barf.
erubi
January 25th, 2011
5:18 pm
Jill Becker is one class act…I will miss her!
erubi
January 25th, 2011
5:19 pm
And Sam Sung……you simply are barf.
Kirkwood
January 25th, 2011
5:19 pm
It’s a pleasure when people go out on top. Jill you will be missed.
Grace
January 25th, 2011
5:20 pm
Crawl back under your rock, SSung. You’re off key.
Jill’s GREAT!
Mark (another one)
January 25th, 2011
5:21 pm
Sam: Get a life. You must watch another show in the morning to have such a sour attitude.
Jill has been our wake up news person for many years, and I for one will miss her. She comes across as personable and caring, and she is a professional at her job. My wife and I have watched her for years, and hope she has a great retirement. Hopefully, 11Alive will find a way to convince her to do some part time contributions.
Marie
January 25th, 2011
5:21 pm
Yeah, Sam. Sung your meanie attitude else where!
Reginald
January 25th, 2011
5:22 pm
You are the greatest Jill. I remember the day you joined Hal Suite at the anchor desk on channel 11. You were and still is a bright light for 11Alive! I have laughed and cried with you through the years. May you continue to be bless through your young years!
Atlanta market: Jill Becker retiring at WXIA, 11 Alive in August after 23 years : Media News At This Hour
January 25th, 2011
5:33 pm
[...] Rodney Ho at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports: [...]
dre
January 25th, 2011
5:35 pm
Sam Sung, Wish you knew Jill and husband John and their kids, great folks. It’s time for you to stop your mouth breathing, bloated KFC chicken-eating-for-breakfast-living-in-mommy’s-basement ways and get out and interact with people. I actually never watch local news, but I am fortunate to have known this family for a long time.
Martha
January 25th, 2011
5:35 pm
Jill, thank you for your wonderful smiles and easygoing anchoring. I will miss you and wish you the best, and lots of hours of rest! You are a joy to watch.
say what?
January 25th, 2011
5:43 pm
I will miss Jill. I remember her on WSB and she was great then. Some mornings I tune to WXIA and I enjoy the relationship between Jill and Karen. So sad for her to leave. Atlanta is losing its “true” journalist.
John V.
January 25th, 2011
5:47 pm
I think Sam Sung is playing a cynical joke with his unpleasant words meant to inflame, but his inappropriate and potential hurtful comments make me wonder – for the first time – whether the AJC needs to exert a little more editorial control over what is displayed in the comment section. Free speech is important, but so is responsible speech, and giving the megaphone to any fool who writes in to spoof or spew waste space that could be given to more thoughtful readers who actually want to say something honest and constructive. This is my first time to offer a comment; I primarily read and enjoy what others have to say. I don’t know Jill but I have heard for years that she and her family are exactly the sort of people who make Atlanta a good place to live.
Rufio
January 25th, 2011
5:47 pm
Congrats Jill……your a class act……we loved you and Karen Minton when you two were together at WSB. Who would have thought you two would stay in the Atlanta Market for so long ?
Stefanie
January 25th, 2011
5:47 pm
Wow! Mornings will certainly not be the same. I sure will miss you, Jill.
Sweetah
January 25th, 2011
5:51 pm
So sad to hear this news; I watch Jill every morning! She will be missed. I hope she does some “specials” for them…she is wonderful. It’s like losing a member of my family!
Tweets that mention Jill Becker retiring at 11 Alive in August after 23 years | Radio & TV Talk -- Topsy.com
January 25th, 2011
5:52 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Nathan Faulkner and Rodney Ho, Atlanta Rio . Atlanta Rio said: Jill Becker retiring at 11 Alive in August after 23 years: CREDIT: WXIA-TV Jill Becker, a fixture in the Atlanta… http://bit.ly/fmA1cP [...]
Logic 88
January 25th, 2011
5:57 pm
Sam Sung is a moron.
diane canfield
January 25th, 2011
6:01 pm
Jill Becker is definitely ONE CLASS ACT. I have watched her every a.m. for 20 something years…………remember when her kids were born…………I will miss her smile and quick wit. Congratulations JILL.
Juanita
January 25th, 2011
6:03 pm
Jill is a great lady, she will be missed very much. I thought her and Karen made a good couple. Wishing her all the best.
Kevin C
January 25th, 2011
6:04 pm
Rodney, I think you meant to say University of South Florida, which is in Tampa. UF is in Gainesville.
Brannon
January 25th, 2011
6:07 pm
What a Great Gal!
I’ve always had a bit of a crush on her.
freidenker
January 25th, 2011
6:09 pm
don’t watch a.m. tv so haven’t seen Jill much but i know i don’t want to see sam sung, ever. sam, how many welfare checks does it take to buy an hd tv? …or is it your mom’s?
Inman Park Boy
January 25th, 2011
6:14 pm
Classy lady, will be missed. Vaya con dios!
Connie
January 25th, 2011
6:15 pm
Jill is the best there is in Atlanta morning TV. This will be two legends in Atlanta televsion, Jill and John Pruitt with Channel 2, who will have retired within one year. I hope that she will enjoy her retirement but will be back for specials.
Tom B
January 25th, 2011
6:17 pm
Julie Wolfe….. ggggrrrrrrrrrrrr.. she has my vote too!!!
Tom B
January 25th, 2011
6:20 pm
i one time sent out a request to send a video for a school project to at least 20 news casters… she was the only one that replied…. so much class…
my 82 mother loves her to pieces… God bless you Jill and your family
StuckInTraffic
January 25th, 2011
6:21 pm
Oh, no! I will miss her so much!
eddy
January 25th, 2011
6:21 pm
Jill is the type of person that makes watching the news worthwhile. She conveys a quiet sense of calm….never too much nor too little. I wish her well in her retirement. In this day when divas seem to be everywhere on TV, she has class! It is never about her but about the news or about others. Best wishes Jill. The volunteer world has gained quite an ally.
Traffic Headache
January 25th, 2011
6:29 pm
Like John Pruitt, Jill Becker was a beacon of stability on local news while instability reigned throughout. Happy trails, Jill.
godoggo
January 25th, 2011
6:32 pm
Jill Becker: Class, authoritative, caring, kind, elegant, brains, endless smiles, endearing, humble (even when i see her in Publix), enduring, and just the type of wife, partner, parent, employee, or friend i’d enjoy having while on this planet for such a short time. Thanks for starting our day and sharing yourself with us for soooo many years
Gary ~
Holler if you hear me ?
DebDoes
January 25th, 2011
6:45 pm
Jill, you have been a bright star on TV for so long. Your Atlanta family will miss you. Good luck in your next career doing charity work and enjoy your retirement!
RODERICK
January 25th, 2011
6:47 pm
SAM SUNG ….SHUT THE HOLE THAT MAKES THE NOISE
Mark
January 25th, 2011
6:49 pm
Please hire someone as intelligent, thoughful and well spoken as Jill. Atlanta news stations are becoming more and more dull as they hire cartoons rather than jounalist. She is one of the best!
J Bay
January 25th, 2011
6:49 pm
I will miss Jill as she has set a high benchmark for anyone who attempts to replace her. I like Karyn just fine, but Jill was the only one who evens out Chesly…try as he might he is quick to grate on my nerves. 11 Alive, you have your job cut out for you to keep me as a regular morning viewer with Jill leaving.
Sad2CUGo
January 25th, 2011
6:49 pm
Best wishes Jill. I have enjoyed watching you every morning. The relationship and interactions between you, Karyn and Chesley is the absolute best on any Atlanta newscast.
taylor
January 25th, 2011
6:50 pm
Jill will you will really be missed!
Jim Warren
January 25th, 2011
6:51 pm
Gosh, this is just terrible for all of us who won’t know how to wake up happy without Jill there. She is hands down my favorite over the years. Jill, you have earned your retirement and we all owe you a debt of gratitude for the joy you have brought to so many. I thank you.
CJKatl
January 25th, 2011
7:02 pm
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo! I cannot imagine not waking up with Jill Becker. Jill is the only reason I put up with hearing about the Wizometer in the morning.
Chris
January 25th, 2011
7:03 pm
Jill Becker was part of my morning routine for so many years. I remember when she worked mornings with Guy Sharpe, and that was a LONG time ago. She is professional and competent, and I’ll miss her. Although I must confess I have switched to WSB in the mornings…I just couldn’t tolerate the Channel 11 “we want to HELP you” campaign. I have a feeling Jill wasn’t feeling it either.
Macatac
January 25th, 2011
7:15 pm
Will truly miss Jill. She was is the highlight of the morning show who is bright, cheerful and makes you feel like you almost know her as a neighbor or close friend. Wish her the best.
Cathy Coggins
January 25th, 2011
7:16 pm
Enter your comments here
Dondee
January 25th, 2011
7:18 pm
Well, when she goes I won’t have much of a reason to watch 11 in the am. Wishes for a happy retirement!
Honestly
January 25th, 2011
7:22 pm
She is the reason why I watch 11Alive in the morning. Wow and congrats on your retirement.
It'sAlwaysOne
January 25th, 2011
7:25 pm
Sam Sung…You jackwagon!!!!
Janet
January 25th, 2011
7:30 pm
Jill is one of the main reasons I settled on WXIA’s morning news when I moved to Atlanta and she always seems like a class act. She will be missed — hope she has the retirement she deserves and wants.
Rats
January 25th, 2011
7:31 pm
Very sad to see Jill go. For sure, will miss her. But can she take Chesley with her, please? He is an embarassment to our city…
jean
January 25th, 2011
7:35 pm
Jill don’t leave. When I moved to the area, I was so excited to Chris Holcomb. I remeber when he started in Macon.
martha
January 25th, 2011
7:46 pm
oh no!!! this is terrible!!! but i sure hope jill enjoys her retirement — you know she will enjoy her work with cure childhood cancer — she has got to know tho how much she will be missed — we long time atlantans love you jill becker
LackLusterLife
January 25th, 2011
7:48 pm
Jill I am so happy for you that you are retiring to enjoy your life. I wish I could retire from Atlanta Public Schools, I am so sick of that place, there is no joy there and I have to keep going there daily until I can retire or die. Enjoy the rest of your life.
JAG
January 25th, 2011
7:51 pm
Congratulations Jill! You are the BEST morning news anchor by FAR! I always feel a bit down when I don’t see you on the news! I was glad to see you back this morning and will miss you when you’re gone!
Kimy
January 25th, 2011
8:03 pm
Jill will be missed. Thanks for everything you have done for Atlanta. Enjoy your retirement because it is well deserved. I will continue to watch until your last day.
Tech Man
January 25th, 2011
8:03 pm
Jill Becker ROCKS!
Jacki Labat
January 25th, 2011
8:04 pm
Love her! Class act!!!! Enjoy retirement to the fullest!
Shirley
January 25th, 2011
8:09 pm
I was shocked to her that Jill Becker is retiring, she will be missed. With the economy the way that it is i dono’t blame her for getting out while she can. May God bless her and her family.
Melvin
January 25th, 2011
8:12 pm
Jill is simple AWESOME!!!!!
Vernon
January 25th, 2011
8:22 pm
Positive and smiling….everyday…made my world brighter!
qwerty
January 25th, 2011
8:22 pm
Jill and I have been having our morning coffee together for years! Jill, I’ll miss you. I do not look forward to having my coffee with someone new.
Good luck to Jill in the future. She’ll be missed!!!
HENRY
January 25th, 2011
8:24 pm
YOU’RE THE GREATEST………AND I WILL MISS YOU
Winnie
January 25th, 2011
8:24 pm
I remember seeing you on TV when we first moved to GA 26 years ago. Congratulations on your retirement. CURE is also dear to me. My teenaged son died of cancer 11 years ago. CURE was a very important part of our cancer experience. They will be blessed to have you as a volunteer.
Coffee High Trojan '73
January 25th, 2011
8:26 pm
Hey sam sung! You must not be watching the Jill Becker I have been watching for 30 years. She is a CLASS ACT! Why are you so negative? Is your anal nerve crossed with you optic nerve?
SWAT Native
January 25th, 2011
8:33 pm
Here comes Suchita!
Doris M
January 25th, 2011
8:33 pm
Sorry to hear that Jill Becker is leaving 11 Alive. She’s had some very good years in Atlanta. But it’s good to leave while you’re on top. I retired five years ago after working 37 years and have not missed it at all. My life is so full now, I wonder how I had time to work. Best of retirement to you!
Colorado R.
January 25th, 2011
8:35 pm
Geeeezzzzz, Who will I keep up with for my ATL News here in Colorado.
A class act!!!
B. White
January 25th, 2011
8:43 pm
Glad to see her go and a fresh face come in.
rod
January 25th, 2011
8:48 pm
Jill, I have been with you from WSB to 11Alive. I feel we are related. you have always been great and I will miss you. Good luck
Atlantarama
January 25th, 2011
8:54 pm
I really think Jill is the best anchor in Atlanta, and I’m sad to see her go.
Mike Bell
January 25th, 2011
9:04 pm
Hey-ooooh! I’m available to take over her morning slot and I promise a non-stop laugh riot with my HILARIOUS sports impersonations.
bwell
January 25th, 2011
9:05 pm
I MUST BE GETTING OLD!!!!!!! Thank you sooooooooooooo much Ms. Jill for being real and bringing us the news with a smile, you will be missed; but a well deserved retirement! God bless you and your family.
dagnabit
January 25th, 2011
9:15 pm
I watched Jill Becker for years and I missed her very much after Chumpley drove me from 11alive. Have a great retirement Jill.
bobo
January 25th, 2011
9:28 pm
hey sammy sung mu le u 2 funny.
NH
January 25th, 2011
9:30 pm
I watched her mostly in the early 90’s. She was on at noon. I remembered when she took off for her ill son. Not strikingly beautiful but just solid good person.
Dan
January 25th, 2011
9:40 pm
I agree with the comment about Chesley. I saw the noon show today and Cheryl Lemke did an awesome job. I really enjoyed seeing her in the field during the snow we had. She did a great job on The Weather Channel for years. I hope to see more of her in the future.
JNorton
January 25th, 2011
9:58 pm
So sorry to hear this; she’s a fixture on TV in Atlanta and I have loved to wake up with her my whole life as well as on NoonDay, etc. Best wishes to her and her family.
TVboy
January 25th, 2011
10:03 pm
i love how libs and do-gooders always start their posts by saying, ‘well i’m for free speech, BUT…’ yea we know what you’re saying — please shut up anyone who offends me in the least. ok, we get it. but as for jill, she’s great – but in fact she is getting on up there. time for some new blood. she would probably agree. i think karyn greer should go solo on that show and they should bring back live sports like they did not so many years ago. that is all
Johnboy
January 25th, 2011
10:11 pm
Does anyone know how old Jill is? My guess is 56
ed
January 25th, 2011
10:16 pm
Maybe the morning “ole timer” on WSB Radio will take a cue from Becker’s move and hang it up. Nobody is indispensable in broadcasting although there are a few who might think otheriwse about themselves. A changing market calls for changing faces and times.
WiseWoman
January 25th, 2011
10:19 pm
Love some Jill; Karen, too….but I stopped watching after the news director hired Nene for the morning news! Me thinks Ms. Jill said enough is enough. C-YA! LOL Meanwhile – Nene is asking someone to put together her audition tape as we write (not skilled enough to do it herself). Best wishes, Jill….do enjoy your retirement — you deserve it.
Chris
January 25th, 2011
10:19 pm
Oh no, what will we do? Who gives a rats ass? ALL Atlanta news people suck.
MediaHead
January 25th, 2011
10:58 pm
Jill is great anchor and will be missed. Good luck in your retirement, catch some fish for the Mediahead aka gumbyhead.
Mary
January 25th, 2011
11:07 pm
What a delightful lady. She will be tremendously missed. My best to her….enjoy retirement …it is great!
Richard
January 25th, 2011
11:07 pm
Sad to see her retire. I think either Jeff Hullinger or Keith Whitney would make a good morning co-anchor to Karyn.
My Two Cents
January 25th, 2011
11:40 pm
Woke up many mornings listening to her on Channel 1. Best of luck in your retirement. They are going to have a tough time finding someone who can walk in your shoes!
numbnuts
January 26th, 2011
12:14 am
Really hate to see you go, Jill…you’ve always done a great job!
gadgetgeel
January 26th, 2011
12:38 am
We love her.. Go and be what you want to be Jill..
gadgetgeek
January 26th, 2011
12:39 am
We love her.. Go and be what you want to be Jill..
Sam Sung
January 26th, 2011
12:53 am
See what happens when you offer an honest opinion? If said opinion does not coincide with the dumb masses, the personal attacks (at least what cretins think what might be personal) commence along with SCREAMED demands to: “Shut up!” Not to mention the cries for the ajc to censor what is nothing more than opinion contrary to the majority. Very well. Most of the lemmings here are just drooling fanboys over the uber-humanitaitarian and hell-competent Lady Dame Jill Becker. I, as you don’t have to guess, am not. And — send me the crap to hell — I said so. To boot, i was “mean” in how i expressed it. BFH. Jill Becker is too old to show her blotchy chest and wrinkled neck. It ALL shows up in nauseating deatils on HDTV. This is the plain truth. And, if it offends you (as it so obviously does), well, TFB.
tvBoy
January 26th, 2011
1:07 am
for real. i mean, unless you’re related to jill, why are you taking what is said about her so personally? its just an opinion. let someone have theirs and move on.
TheLazyComic
January 26th, 2011
1:16 am
I wonder if they’ll replace her with a… (GASP)… a male anchor. Ha ha ha. I was only joking people. We know that working males are a thing of the past.
never again
January 26th, 2011
1:32 am
Now that she is gone there is no reason at all to watch their news. It is overly simplistic, juvenile, and non informative
erubi
January 26th, 2011
5:31 am
Sam Sung, you obviously are visually stimulated…guess you wouldn’t have been one to tune into Uncle Walter Cronkite’s CBS evening news…his wrinkled face would have spoiled your dinner. There is so much more to broadcasting than looks..
SCY
January 26th, 2011
5:36 am
Every time one of these types of stories runs here comes the demons who can’t live unless they are deriding someone or making a nasty hate filled remark, for no purpose except to demonstrate what kind of evil there truly is in the world…its very disheartening and disgusting. What a poor excuse for a life some people must have….
ga girl
January 26th, 2011
6:46 am
I love Jill Becker. Can’t stomach Karyn Greer though and had to switch to channel 2.
B-Bro
January 26th, 2011
7:41 am
Thanks Jill for all the great years of your excellent work, you have always been great. Good luck on your retirement I’m sure you’ll find yourself with much more to do than before than when you were employed. If you hurry you can make the warm weather somewhere south for a few weeks
Tracy Franklin
January 26th, 2011
7:46 am
Wow what a shocker! I have woken up with Jill for the last 15 years. I wil really miss her. I vote for Julia Wolf to replace her.
Skipjack
January 26th, 2011
7:55 am
Watching Jill is like watching my next door neighbor do the news. Just a regular lady like someone you’d have over for dinner one night or at a neighborhood party. (Carol Sbarge is in the same league) Sad to see her go.
Valerie H..
January 26th, 2011
8:07 am
Best Wishes to Jill…I have always enjoyed watching her!
Sam
January 26th, 2011
8:07 am
Love Jill! I remember her waaaay back on Noonday – used to go home at lunch and watch her show. I even remember when she took a several months’ long leave when her son was sick. Just won’t be the same in the mornings without her.
Philip
January 26th, 2011
8:16 am
What a class act she has been throughout the years. She will be missed.
Buckeye
January 26th, 2011
8:20 am
Jill is simply a natural – the friendly next door neighbor. Class and grace.
I question if she has had enough of the new liberal ” we help you” crapola imparted by management.
We watched 11Alive for years and years and we knew all was right with the world when Jill threw it to Guy Sharp for the ” hot, hazy and humid” forecast.
11Alive has lost this household, however, and not because of Jill Becker. The “Wizometer”? Please.
They are clearly appealing to Atlanta’s black segement of the market. And the “Help Desk” during the snow storm. Please. Based on some of the questions aired it appears we live in a city full of idiots.
Best wishes, Jill.
Buckeye
January 26th, 2011
8:22 am
In the meantime, find Dagmar Midcap and bring her back to replace Jill. Love those sweaters!
Road Scholar
January 26th, 2011
8:37 am
Jill, just a warning about your pending retirement….it’s not as good as they say…it’s better! Since you have spent so much time helping and informing Atlantans, I hope you and your family the best of health for a long retirement. I stopped watching Channel 2 a few years ago because of the “blood and guts” stories strung together. Channel 11 reports the news but doesn’t linger on the sad stories.
Whoever asked Jill’s age, you were in bad taste (but not as bad as Sam S). She is still 39!
SamS: Bless your heart!
LL
January 26th, 2011
8:50 am
Jill is a “class act”…she will be missed….enjoy your retirement!
Listener42
January 26th, 2011
8:57 am
When I worked in the 11Alive newsroom, I don’t think I ever saw Jill get angry or flustered. Of course, I was rarely there until after 8am, but still. She was a great colleague and while she definitely deserves the break, it’ll just be… strange… to not see her there.
If her replacement is internal, my money’s on Jennifer Leslie or Jaye Watson. But I’m fairly certain it’ll be someone from outside the market.
tman
January 26th, 2011
8:59 am
Will miss you Jill and I wish you the best.
Vashtai
January 26th, 2011
9:24 am
Jill is the best and will be missed by many of us long time viewers. I just hope and pray that this is truly voluntary on her part, and that she is not being forced out.
GA Peach
January 26th, 2011
9:36 am
I watched Jill every morning UNTIL she just kept running her mouth about how FAT people were and she was always quick to judge people who did not look like her. I am glad she is leaving. Those of you have mentioned the names of Guy Sharpe and John Pruitt she does not belong in the same sentence as them. They were true New Icons she is a look down her nose at you person.
Kevin
January 26th, 2011
9:38 am
I agree with John V at 5:45 pm. AJC needs to use some discretion so that free speech is also respectful.
BubBye
January 26th, 2011
9:39 am
Jill is a classy lady, and still darn fine looking. I wish her well.
Sigh
January 26th, 2011
9:40 am
Congrats Mrs. Becker, have a great rest of your life, I grew up watching you and you will be missed!
Rob
January 26th, 2011
10:01 am
Sam Sung: You are not a genius comedian. You’re just a run-of-the-mill jerk.
Sincerely,
Society
To the Surprise of Atlanta’s WXIA, Anchor Jill Becker Announces Retirement - TVSpy
January 26th, 2011
10:39 am
[...] was a surprise to the staff,” Ellen Crooke, WXIA’s news director, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “She’s the heart of our morning news team. She will be very hard to [...]
Brett Martin of flickedup.com
January 26th, 2011
11:25 am
I never met her personally but I always thought she was a wonderful addition to the morning show over at 11. As the Road Warrior for many years over at Fox 5 (1999-2007) I can relate to her willingness to want to catch up on sleep. The shift is very unforgiving on the body and mind.
Jill performed her news duties well and I hope she has a great retirement. I know their morning show was neck and neck with us in the ratings when I was there. In recent years they (WXIA) has pulled ahead of Good Day. I am sure she is a big part of that reason.
Cheers,
Brett
tvBoy
January 26th, 2011
11:33 am
kevin – free speech is free speech – it is not limited to respectful or nice, feel-good speech. you can paint it over with pretty colors all you want, but you’ll change your mind one day when you go to express your opinion on something you don’t like, and find some1 doesn’t feel what you are saying is nice, kind or respectful. then what will you do?
The hard truth
January 26th, 2011
12:02 pm
Sam Sung, you are such a waste of internet space. Go back to sports talk radio or just slither under a rock
Vashtai
January 26th, 2011
12:59 pm
Why have a live sports segment at 5:am to 7:am when no live sporting events are taking place during that time? I am sure Randy Waters doesn’t miss that schedule.
If you watch with any regularity, it’s quite apparent there is a genuine chemistry between Jill, Karyn and Chesley. Chesley is a very snappy dresser, unlike Cheryl Lemke, who hasn’t bought a new piece of clothing since the 80s.
'Bie Jones
January 26th, 2011
2:29 pm
What a class act she is! The cause of curing childhood cancer is as noble as any, and very near to far too many people.
Best of the Best to Jill in her future endeavors.
Tweets that mention Jill Becker retiring at 11 Alive in August after 23 years | Radio & TV Talk -- Topsy.com
January 26th, 2011
3:51 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Laura Scholz, tvebookdotcom. tvebookdotcom said: Jill Becker retiring at 11 Alive in August after 23 years http://bit.ly/fP7z6V [...]
Eric
January 26th, 2011
5:02 pm
I didn’t see this coming. I hope she’ll likely come back as a free-lance reporter and contributor… and her not disappear from local TV news completely.
As for who’ll be her successor… I could picture Valerie Hoff as the only in-house pick… Val moving to the weekday morning shift… Jennifer Leslie re-claiming the weekend morning anchor position.
If 11 is considering thinking outside the box, I could picture 11 attempting to woo 1 of the following names to Atlanta…
– Dan Kloeffler, formerly of MSNBC
– Sarah Broadhead, WXMI-TV morning anchor
– Makayla Zurn, former KTVZ-TV anchor/reporter
– Jed Mescon, WRCB-TV morning anchor
Just some thoughts.
Eric
January 26th, 2011
5:03 pm
I’ll certainly miss waking up to Jill on 11Alive’s morning show.
DGF
January 26th, 2011
5:58 pm
For all the people who are going on and on about how great Jill is and how humble and nice and kind, etc., I’d like to share my recollection of her from a time I met her.
My grandfather was a news editor at 11Alive and on one occasion I went with him to the station. During the newscast there was a problem with the footage shown. Afterwards I was eating breakfast with my grandpa in the break room and Jill was at another table. I was about 12 or 13 at the time. Jill proceeded to make an insulting comment to my grandpa about his mistake with the news footage in front of me. Not only was I shocked then but I still remember the incident to this day.
So for all you people that think Jill poops gold and is some kind of perfect person…she’s not. She’s like everyone else. She obviously does good things, but she also does bad things…like insult a co-worker in front of his young grandson.
Oh, and to Mike V who “for the first time” thinks comments should be moderated because of what Sam Sung wrote, you must be incredibly unobservant. What Sam Sung said would only rate about a 3 on a scale of 1 to 10 for harsh comments on the AJC. Mike, go read the comments on the political blogs.
i love kim
January 27th, 2011
12:37 pm
to all the censors out there. move to china
GJ
January 27th, 2011
12:59 pm
May God continue to Bless you and your family. You will be missed!
Jill and Karen were a great team.
Too Long
January 27th, 2011
1:21 pm
Wow it is about time!! Now they need to SHAKE THE TREE and get rid off more, STARTING WITH THE MANAGEMENT!!!!!
Lurkinator
January 27th, 2011
7:05 pm
The end of an era… Jill Becker, you will be sorely missed!
Dee
January 27th, 2011
7:10 pm
I wish Jill the best in her well-deserved retirement, but I am sad she won’t be around anymore. She really has been a bright spot in my morning news viewing for years. It won’t be the same without her. What a classy lady.
Janice L Cook
January 28th, 2011
4:22 am
Jill, what a shocker. You, Karyn, and Chesley, are my morning favorites. Love the banter between the three of you. However, I can understand your wanting to volunteer more, and catch up on your sleep.. And yes, I second the motion: You are definitely a Classy Lady.
lexijay
January 30th, 2011
9:04 am
Really going miss Jill on the morning news. Great job Jill, a hard act to follow!!!!
willdave
January 30th, 2011
7:28 pm
I thought Jill Becker had joined WSB-TV back in the 1960s. It seemed like she had been there forever before she made the jump to 11Alive. So I actually thought she had been a fixture on Atlanta television for over forty years. Or perhaps it just seemed that way.
At any rate, I congratulate Ms. Becker for having established an exceptionally long career in a very competitive industry. My best wishes to her in retirement.
Bob
January 31st, 2011
8:01 am
She joined the news team just as I arrived a transplant from St. Louis. Sad to see her go, but understand completely that at some point the long road must come to an end. Morning news in the ATL will not get any better.
Julie
January 31st, 2011
9:07 am
Atlanta local news will never be the same when Jill Becker retires. She is truly a class act.
Connie
February 1st, 2011
3:59 pm
Your easy going attitude and light humor have been a great way to start my day at 5AM, Jill. Enjoy this next chapter in your life!
Pita
February 1st, 2011
7:42 pm
Jill, I will really miss you on the morning news! You are a class act and I love to start my day with you, Chesley and Karyn. You are the reason I love 11Alive news in the morning. Congratulations!
P.S. ‘Sam Sung’ is an a_ _ who probably has a small, wizened and withered body part of his own. Anyone else agree with me?
Pita
February 1st, 2011
7:48 pm
‘Jelly Sandwich Meat’ – Ditto what I said about ‘Sam Sung’