KFTA News Anchor Brad Reed Announces Departure

The primetime news anchor for local Fox affiliate KFTA-TV, Channel 24, is leaving the station.

Brad Reed said on air Thursday night he is leaving his job as the main anchor and executive producer of the Fox News Edge newscast.

KFTA is the sister station of local NBC affiliate KNWA-TV.

Reed’s final day anchoring the news will be May 14. His contract was set to expire in July 2015. However, according to KNWA/KFTA news director Brook Thomas, Reed had a clause that allowed him to exit if he left the industry entirely.

“He was only required to provide ample notice, which he did several weeks ago,” Thomas said.

Reed, a Springdale native, said he plans to return to school and become a doctor.

“He has a long, tough road ahead of him, but I’ve personally watched him start at the bottom here and work his way to the main anchor desk,” Thomas said. “He is tireless, passionate, genuine, hard-working and always positive. I believe Brad Reed can accomplish any challenge he sets his mind to.”

According to his biography on the Fox website, Reed took a job at KNWA in 2006 as a camera operator, started reporting in 2008 and one year later accepted his current role as news anchor for Fox News Edge.

Reed, according to Thomas, was instrumental in developing the 9 p.m. newscast on KFTA, and, most recently, a 5:30 p.m. newscast.

The 9 p.m. newscast won a Mid-America Emmy Award in 2010 for best evening newscast.

Reed’s replacement as Fox News Edge will be announced Monday, Thomas said.

KNWA/KFTA is owned by Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. of Irving, Texas.