Station officials in a statement described Holmes Ward as a “legendary public affairs leader and community activist” and “a driving force in spotlighting the voices, achievements, and challenges of communities of color in Boston and surrounding suburbs.”
In a statement, Holmes Ward expressed gratitude for a fulfilling career with a trusted employer.
“WCVB has been more than a workplace — it’s been a home, a platform, and a calling,” she said.
“It has truly been the honor of a lifetime to dedicate my career to WCVB,” Holmes Ward’s statement said. “From day one, I’ve been privileged to serve our community — not just by amplifying voices, but by forging meaningful connections between nonprofits and the station’s resources.”
She added: “Whether helping organizations large or small share their mission, raise critical funds, or reach new audiences, I’ve embraced the charge entrusted to me by WCVB’s General Managers with deep gratitude and purpose.”
Andrew Vrees, WCVB president and general manager, said Holmes Ward’s “commitment to thoughtful, inclusive journalism” made her “an essential voice” at the station, in its programming, and amid the community.
“For more than forty years, Karen has embodied the heart and soul of local television: service to community,” Vrees said in the statement. “Through her leadership on CityLine, her guidance in our community outreach initiatives, her contributions and counsel to Hearst Television’s community initiatives, and her deep commitment to ensuring we reflect the diverse fabric of Greater Boston, Karen has been an essential voice — not only at WCVB and our immediate communities, but across the region. She has made WCVB stronger. She has made our communities better.”
“CityLine,” a cornerstone of WCVB’s public affairs programming, has received numerous accolades for its impactful work, winning Associated Press and Emmy awards, the station’s statement said.
Holmes Ward interviewed many notable personalities on the show, including Regina King, Lupita Nyong’o, Forest Whitaker, Octavia Spencer, Denzel Washington, Louis Gossett Jr., Barry Jenkins, and Spike Lee, according to her WCVB bio.
“I’ve had the extraordinary opportunity to tell the stories that matter — stories that reflect the vibrancy, resilience, and richness of our city’s communities of color,” Holmes Ward’s statement said. “It has been a profound privilege to shine a light on voices too often overlooked, and to celebrate the people and cultures that make Boston so dynamic and diverse.”
Station officials also applauded Holmes Ward’s influence in spearheading “all of WCVB’s important and impactful public affairs initiatives.”
“She has been a tireless advocate for civil engagement, education, and equity, serving as a trusted voice and liaison between WCVB and the diverse communities it serves,” WCVB’s statement said.
Holmes Ward graduated from Boston University’s School of Public Communications. She has received honorary doctorates from Boston University, Cambridge College, and Merrimack College.
Before working at WCVB, Holmes Ward was a writer at WEEI News Radio; news director at Boston’s WILD 1090 AM, where she hosted a daily one-hour talk show; and a reporter at WGBH-TV.
In 2018, Holmes Ward was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame. She also received a lifetime achievement Silver Circle Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Tonya Alanez can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her @talanez.