BURBANK, CALIF. — “I‘m beyond grateful to be in such an awesome city surrounded by extremely talented journalists.”
That’s what the newest arrival to a Los Angeles television station’s news team, Niku Kazori, had to share on Facebook, as she has departed the Cox Media Group-owned dual CBS and Telemundo affiliate serving Seattle.
Her new role at ABC Owned Stations West Coast flagship KABC-7 in L.A.? According to a company spokesperson, it is as a freelance reporter.
At KIRO-7, Kazori was a key member of the morning news team, offering traffic, weather and anchor desk responsibilities. She joined the station in March 2022, after returning to the U.S. from Okinawa, Japan, where her then-fiancée was stationed. Previously, she was at KENS-5 in San Antonio, as the morning traffic anchor; Kizori departed in May 2020, concluding a three-year run. She’s also worked at WVLT-8 in Knoxville, as a general assignment reporter.
Kizori offered her farewells to KIRO viewers last week. On her Instagram feed, she shared:
For once in my life, I’m choosing myself over a job I love, and my health after working long days on a few hours of sleep the past 2 years. I’m extremely grateful for the endless opportunities I was given here…. From starting off a reporter right when I came back from Japan, to traffic within a couple of months, then weather, and finally anchoring. At the end…. It was hard to say what my exact “title” was… I was just referred to as the utility player and I loved it. 🙏 I was beyond lucky to work in a challenging news market with smart, dedicated, and experienced Journalists, and I know all these long hard days have prepared me for what’s to come.
Interesting, Kizori is a Houston native; former KTRK-13 head Wendy Granato in July was appointed President/GM of KABC-7, replacing the now-retired Cheryl Fair.
