Elisa DiStefano, the familiar face of lifestyle and entertainment coverage at News 12 Long Island, has announced she is leaving the station after 17 years on the job.
The reporter and newscaster has two weeks left at News 12 before she begins at a new company in a role that gives her more time to relax and spend time with her family, she said in an emotional video announcing the personal news on social media.
“I am so grateful to have had the privilege of starting our days together for the last 17 years and sharing so many of your stories over all of these years,” she told Long Islanders. “I can’t wait to share the next part of my journey with you.”
DiStefano said she is excited to be heading into “another incredible opportunity to embark on the next chapter of my career.” She later added that she will remain in the same business “doing what she loves.”
Over her time at News 12, DiStefano became a staple of News 12’s lifestyle features and entertainment coverage as the 5 a.m. morning show anchor. Her morning segments included reports on fun things to do on Long Island, celebrity news, traffic, and more. She has received hundreds of supportive comments from her public audience, coworkers, and colleagues on the video posted to social media.
“Tough loss for us, you are Long Island, we will miss you,” one viewer wrote.
“You were our sunshine every morning. You reported on up lifting events and always had a beautiful smile. I can only hope that wherever you go we can follow you,” said another.
For more entertainment coverage, visit longislandpress.com/category/entertainment
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