Miami TV’s Rudabeh Shahbazi is abruptly out of her news anchor chair. Here’s why.
Rudabeh Shahbazi is moving on to a new, exciting job, but reportedly with a bitter taste in her mouth about her last one.
The former WFOR-CBS4 evening news anchor told Miami’s Community Newspapers that some hard feelings remain with her former employer.
After Shahbazi informed her bosses that she was leaving, they immediately ended her contract, which had three months left to go, she told the media outlet Tuesday.
Moreover, the TV journalist reported that they wouldn’t allow her back in to the Doral offices to retrieve any of her belongings.
Shahbazi did not specify where she will be working now, only that it is a “national reporting/anchor” position.
On Twitter May 8, she announced, “After five incredible years in South Florida, I am excited to announce that I have accepted a national anchor/reporter position (tba). I will deeply miss everything that makes our community so special. Thank you for allowing me into your homes - it has been a true privilege.”
WFOR has since deleted her professional Twitter account.
She told MCN that her email was also deleted and her bio no longer appears on the website.
“I had planned to stay through my contract end date,” Shahbazi wrote in her message to co-workers, according to the newspaper.
The German-born, Oregon-raised reporter is staying positive.
“Right now I am concentrating on moving forward in the new position, which I am very excited about,” said the Emmy winner. “I am so blessed to have worked at WFOR with such talented, kind, hardworking, amazing people.”
Prior to her stint in South Florida, where she started on the early morning news, Shahbazi worked at stations in Los Angeles and Phoenix, among others. She received her undergraduate degree in journalism at Pepperdine University and earned her master’s from the University of California, Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
“Rudabeh was a valued and highly regarded member of our news team,” said WFOR General Manager and Vice President Adam Levy in a statement to the Miami Herald Wednesday. “While we are happy to see her get an opportunity to advance her career and wish her continued success, we made the decision to terminate her employment once we learned she signed a deal with a competitor.”
This story was originally published May 13, 2020 at 10:26 AM.
