Susan Shaw

This past Monday (2/23), Nexstar's WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids) announced the upcoming retirement of longtime main news anchor Susan Shaw, marking the end to a remarkable broadcasting career that has spanned nearly 40 years, including more than 3 decades of dedicated service to West Michigan audiences. Her final day behind the desk will be Friday, March 27.

Shaw, who currently anchors News 8 at Noon, 5pm and 6pm, joined WOOD TV8 in October 1994. Throughout her time at the station, she has been committed to delivering accurate, impactful news and has earned the trust of news viewers in West Michigan.

“For more than 30 years she has been a trusted voice delivering the stories that matter most to West Michigan, anchoring with grace, integrity, and unwavering professionalism,” said longtime co-anchor Brian Sterling. “She helped define an era of news in our market, and our decades-long partnership was built not just on mutual respect on camera but on a genuine collaboration and trust. I am forever grateful for her friendship.”

Over the course of her career, Shaw led coverage of some of the region’s most significant events, including the passing of President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford, decades of Michigan election nights, and countless moments of breaking news. Her reporting has been recognized repeatedly by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, the Associated Press, and the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which honored her with an Emmy Award for Best News Anchor in Michigan and later inducted her into the prestigious Silver Circle in 2018.

News Director Brad Kessie reflected on Shaw's impact, saying, “Sue’s professionalism epitomizes everything good about WOOD-TV.  She’s a trusted colleague and one of Michigan’s most reliable journalists.  What a pleasure it’s been to learn about News 8 from one of this station’s legendary anchors.”

Beyond the anchor desk, Shaw has been deeply engaged in community service, supporting organizations including i understand and Mosaic Counseling. She has emceed and hosted events for dozens of local organizations and has played an integral role in WOOD TV8 initiatives such as the Salvation Army Angel Tree and Nexstar’s Day of Caring.

“Through historic moments, hard days, and celebrations, she showed up with integrity, steadiness, and heart. Her legacy is woven into this community. We will miss her greatly and wish her the best in her well-deserved retirement,” WOOD TV8 Chief Meteorologist Ellen Bacca said of Shaw.

Shaw began her journalism career at WWTV/WWUP-TV in Cadillac before anchoring at WEYI-TV in Flint, WPDE-TV in Myrtle Beach, and later WNEM TV5 in the Saginaw/Flint/Bay City/Midland region, where she anchored the 6pm and 11pm newscasts.

“It's been an honor serving West Michigan viewers for all these years,” said Shaw. “I will certainly miss the excitement, but it's the right time for me to step away from the desk. My goal since day one has always been to deliver the news to viewers of all ages and backgrounds in a professional and respectful manner on a daily basis. There's something unique and special about our community, and I'm so proud to call it home.”

Shaw has no plans to leave West Michigan behind. “My husband and I recently moved to the lakeshore and I'm looking forward to spending more time near the water with our dogs and hopefully improving my golf swing. I'm excited to think about what projects might be next. My devotion will always be with this community as well as my WOOD TV family and their continuous hard work to remain West Michigan's news leader.”