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Fox 5's Ernie Anastos reflects on 30-year career in N.Y.
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Fox 5's Anastos talked about what has kept him a successful anchorman/WNYW
Webster defines an anchor as “anything that gives or seems to give stability or security.”
A picture of Ernie Anastos could be offered next to the entry. For more than 30 years the anchorman has been a model of stability. While he hasn’t necessarily been stable in remaining at the same job address throughout, when looking at his career as a whole, viewers are happy to see him no matter what channel his mic flag says.
Anastos’ resume is like very few. In fact, among current anchors, only Chuck Scarborough of WNBC has logged more on-air time (35 years) in New York. (Of course, Scarborough has managed to take it one step further— working all of those years with one station.)
But Anastos came to New York in 1978, and he has never left. The Fox 5 anchor explained his lasting success. “I’ve always enjoyed being around people. … I think that when people look at me on the air they feel that I’m approachable.”
He outlined several factors for his longevity: credibility, integrity and respect. “…They have faith in me for what I do, because I’m been doing it for so long. … It’s important to be a watchdog in the business, not a lapdog, not an attack dog, particularly as an anchor,” Anastos said.
There’s another piece to his television news survival--appearance. “I happen to be blessed with a great family. …I eat good food. I exercise. And I think inner happiness …really translates into how you look.”
Anastos admitted, though, without the talent and hard work, there would be no longevity. He has earned a combination of 30 Emmy awards and nominations over the years.
Since coming on the New York scene at “Eyewitness News” more than three decades ago, local news coverage has changed dramatically. At that time, Channel 7 had only two produced newscasts (6 and 11 p.m).
“Years ago, local news was really limited to the local news,” Anastos recalled. “Now your local newscast is filled with national and international news.”
As for the future, Anastos pondered, “I’m not sure anybody really has the answer. … Is it all going over to the Internet? Is it going to split up? We have HDTV, you have more channels. …I think it’s exciting.”
Also exciting for Anastos has been the ability to work with some of greats in broadcasting. When starting out in New York, by way of WABC, Anastos recollected, “I worked with two extraordinary people to begin with--Roger Grimsby and Bill Beutel--who were icons in this market.” He considered Beutel “a master at what he did.”
Anastos teamed with Rose Ann Scamardella for the 11 p.m. broadcast. “I loved working with [her]. … She was a Brooklyn gal. A great personality, very similar to Rosanna Scotto.”
He called the late Jim Jensen, who he replaced at WCBS, a “very dear friend.” Anastos said he learned a lot from the veteran anchorman.
A legendary anchorman in his own right, Anastos also has a special place in his heart for the longtime face of WNBC. He said Scarborough is a wonderful guy who has made a tremendous contribution to local TV news.
Part of Anastos’ contribution has been made off-camera, authoring two books on a topic near and dear to his heart. He wrote “Twixt: Teens Yesterday and Today” in 1983, documenting the history of youth in America. In 2007, Anastos penned the children’s book “Ernie and the Big Newz,” geared at 6- to 8-year-olds as future broadcasters.
A devout family man, Anastos said, “I go out and speak to so many schools in the New York area, 3, 400 kids at a time. And I teach them about being a reporter. I have a little copy for them to read and we talk about positive stories. And I give the money to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.”
He acknowledged, “I think that having a role in helping and encouraging young broadcasters is a part of what I call my legacy. … I work with universities and smaller schools and try to be part of the next generation of broadcasters. That to me is very important, very personal.”
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