Stan Bunger Retiring From KCBS/SF
• After nearly 40 years (over two tours of duty) with Audacy’s KCBS All News Radio/San Francisco, morning news anchor Stan Bunger announced his impending retirement, effective Friday, June 11. To commemorate his final day on the air, KCBS All News will look back on Bunger’s amazing career and the major news events he’s covered, and feature interviews with several of his past co-anchors and co-workers, including former news directors.
Bunger was born in San Francisco, raised in San Jose and landed his first professional broadcast job at KRKC/King City, CA in 1977. He was initially hired at KCBS in 1982 as an anchor and reporter and stayed until 1992, when he embarked on a three-year run with KRLD/Dallas before returning to the Bay Area to report on technology for KICU-TV and KRON-TV. He rejoined KCBS in 2000, and the rest is history.
A lengthy staff memo from KCBS Director of News and Programming Jennifer Klurfeld Seelig reads, in part, “One of the joys (and challenges) of our line of work is stringing the ‘right’ words together. We aim for precise, accurate and on-the-mark language. And, we reserve exceptional phrases like ‘the greatest,’ ‘the best,’ ‘legendary,’ ‘acclaimed’ and ‘most successful’ for truly exceptional occasions. Today is one such occasion — as we announce the retirement of Stan Bunger.”
Seelig added, “Stan is the gold standard of news anchoring at KCBS. Indeed, Stan embodies the role of drive-time news anchor. He is steward of his daypart. Quarterback of an award-winning team. A leader. A mentor. He brings passion and creativity into the Newsroom and across the airwaves every day. Stan has never been one to ‘mail it in’ or accept substandard work. He takes charge. He understands what we do — what we’re supposed to do — and, he knows how to help develop and execute a winning strategy. He is smart, thoughtful and decisive — qualities that are essential in a broadcast booth. He challenges broadcast and content status quo and advocates, relentlessly, for a superior product. He sets the bar high — and we are far better off as broadcasters and as a news brand because of it.”
In closing, Seelig said, “For more than 20 years, the Bay Area has awakened to Stan Bunger. Indeed, he is the one narrating the soundtrack of the Bay Area. He sets the agenda for the Bay Area. Many months ago he shared with me his personal agenda: more time in France, more cuddles with his adorable grandchildren, leisurely breakfasts with his wife — and, fewer deadlines, no alarm clocks and an end to his pre-dawn commute. He has more than earned it. We are incredibly fortunate to have had the greatest at the mic for so long – and, we will treasure every additional minute of his anchoring until his final newscast on June 11. Congratulations, Stan — and, thank you.”
