06-10-2010/06-15-2010/06-25-2010 SIGNS OFF TODAY VETERAN REPORTER BEV CHAPMAN 'RETIRING' Bev Chapman, a five-time Emmy award winning writer and reporter who's worked for KMBC-TV for over 20 years and has been a reporter for nearly 35 years, has announced she is "retiring" (actually, she has referred to it as "recess" with her friends) from the ABC affiliate. Her last day will be today, June 25. "Since I am SERIOUSLY TOO YOUNG to retire, I am calling this 'recess,'" Chapman joked to friends in a note. "I have lots of storytelling opportunities ahead of me and have agreed to work on special projects at Channel 9 in the fall. "Don't ever let anyone tell you that "quitting" is giving up. It's a willful act and I've spent 35 years working my way to this point." She will be missed as well as her amazing way of telling a story. "Let's just say that everyone loves her," said a colleague. "She is absolutely one of the best reporters I have ever worked with at any station." During her career she's worked as an anchor, weathercaster, covered sports, politics and general assignments. Some of her most high-profile stories took her to Spain, Vietnam, France, Africa, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. She is a faculty member of the National Press Photographer Associations' Advanced Team Storytelling Workshop, volunteering her time to teach young journalists. It should be noted that Chapman was not part of the lawsuit filed in 2008 by Kelly Eckerman, Peggy Breit and Maria Antonia claiming they were discriminated against the station because of their age and gender. Chapman is recognized for her community activities. Her biggest commitment is an annual medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic. She also volunteers her time to "Back In The Swing," a fundraiser for breast cancer research and wellness programs. She and her husband are avid bicyclists and travelers who have pedaled their way across more than a dozen foreign countries, as well as parts of Kansas and Missouri. She is a 1975 graduate from the University of Missouri's prestigious broadcast journalism school.
06-10-2010 HUGE LOSS "I worked with Bev at KMBC for close to 4 years. I have to say that Bev’s leaving KMBC is going to be a huge loss to the journalism community and Kansas City as a whole. Bev is a true person on and off camera with a kind heart and love for those who she works with and the community." --Nick Dutcher
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