The pride of Fresno: Recently retired broadcaster Stefani Booroojian’s impressive career | Opinion

If a local Broadcast Hall of Fame is ever created, KSEE24’s recently retired anchor Stefani Booroojian will be a charter member for her more than four decades of reliable, relatable, award-winning, community-connected TV news.

When Booroojian’s 42-year career with the station began, female anchors were too often considered adornment for local newscasts whose stars were men.

Women presented feature stories or weather, while men brought us news and sports.

A cynical columnist might point out that, in local TV news, women were supposed to attract male viewers, while not prompting females to tune out.

But Booroojian always seemed to be at least an equal partner on any anchor team, making each stronger and more appealing. She could also anchor by herself when the occasion demanded, an increasingly lost art.

Her experience in the market was vital to newscast credibility as new-to-Fresno anchors and reporters cycled through KSEE — part of a churn factor afflicting TV news as stations try to maximize profits at the expense of experienced staff with higher salaries.

She brought a calm, authoritative, intelligent, sincere, open and community-oriented presence to viewers. It didn’t matter whether she was on in the morning, at noontime or at night, Booroojian could reach viewers and make it look easy.

Her accomplishments were numerous over the years.

Buddy Check, a monthly reminder for women to do a breast self-examination and remind a friend to do the same, began under Booroojian’s guidance in 1995. How many women have benefited from that simple promotion is incalculable.

In recent years, Booroojian spent significant time in Armenia learning more about her cultural heritage and helping us understand that important component of our Central Valley community. Her reporting focused on humanitarian efforts by Valley residents, which were tested last year when fighting erupted between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno Karabakh. It wasn’t getting much attention on American newscasts, so we learned from local newscaster Booroojian.

She brought the same display of reportage and understanding on a reporting trip to Lebanon focused on a medical mission to that Middle East hot spot.

Meanwhile, when telethons were a bigger deal than they are today, Booroojian’s time on air seeking viewer donations always produced results. TV anchors are called upon to host fundraising events and appear at other community functions. Just showing up, though, isn’t always enough, and at the events I’ve attended where Booroojian was involved it was apparent she’d spent plenty of time preparing.

I’ve heard more than a few people over the years praise Booroojian for helping them find their way upon arriving at KSEE24. It’s a tough, competitive business, and sometimes it looks like newbies to this market don’t get a lot of guidance, but Booroojian took time out of her schedule to mentor them.

As Booroojian signs off at KSEE24, she leaves behind a substantial legacy that enlightened viewers, nurtured other staffers, saved lives and inspired careers.