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Karen McNew, WSLS co-anchor and Ten On Your Side Health Team leader, has taken local medical reporting to a new level in the field. McNew has been with WSLS Newschannel 10 since 1998. She has a health team of specialists throughout our area who are available to answer viewer questions and provide additional perspective to national health stories.

She currently co-anchors the 5, 5:30, 6 and 11 p.m. broadcasts. Karen has had several different roles in the newsroom since she has been here. She was hired to anchor Newschannel 10 Today, the station’s local morning newscast. The newscast took home the Virginia Association of Broadcasters award for best morning show the two years McNew was on the desk.

A promotion to the 5 p.m. anchor chair launched her medical reporting. In the time that she has been with WSLS she has won The Radio and Television News Directors Foundation Jaque L. Minnotte award for excellence in medical reporting, The Associated Press’ Douglas Southall Freeman Award for Public Service Through Journalism for her role in National Hearing Day, and a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for best feature. The feature focused on a local miracle baby, born weighing less than a pound, who grew to be a healthy little girl.

Karen’s background is rooted in Southwest Virginia. She grew up in Blacksburg and graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Communication Studies. She started her career in Bluefield, WV at WVVA. During her two years in Bluefield she was a photographer, producer, reporter, editor, and anchor. McNew also has a strong background in radio.

Karen enjoys running and spending time with her husband Matt and Luckie their dog.