Popular WPXI-TV news reporter Mike Holden announced Tuesday morning on social media he will be leaving Pittsburgh this month to take a television news reporting job closer to his native home in Cleveland.
“Personal News: June 24th marks my last day reporting here at WPXI,” Holden wrote in his post. “I’m eternally grateful to yinz for welcoming me into your homes for the last 6 years.
“I appreciate all of you for trusting me to share your stories. I hope that I left you smiling or wanting to know more about whatever I was covering at the moment,” he said.
Holden disclosed in the post he has taken a job at WEWS News 5, and it will be closer to his family. He said he interned at the ABC Scripps station more than a decade ago, before he came to WPXI.
Some Personal News: June 24th marks my last day reporting here at @WPXI. I’m eternally grateful to yinz for welcoming me into your homes for the last 6 years! I appreciate all of you. I’m heading home. Full post here: https://t.co/EbQRyWruSe pic.twitter.com/InMBSfuGN8
— Mike Holden (@WPXIMikeHolden) June 7, 2022
Reached Tuesday afternoon by the Tribune-Review, Holden said he will miss Pittsburgh and its loyal news viewers.
“What I think I learned in my six years here is the smallest stories are still a huge talking point, so I just tried to really immerse myself in everything. I always wanted to do a good job,” said Holden. “I wanted people to see me as their friend, their neighbor, and I always just tried to be myself doing it.”
Holden said it’s always been a career goal to return to his childhood home so his parents could watch his reports.
He also disclosed some news about a family member’s health problems. He said he has been traveling back and forth to Cleveland every weekend the past couple of years to support his father, who has Stage 5 kidney disease and remains ill.
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Holden had his own health scare last fall when doctors diagnosed him with popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. It caused a condition that left him unable to walk, run or put weight on his right foot. He was forced to miss work for six weeks. No surgery was necessary. Holden said he has recovered.
“It was from overuse and over-exercise, and it causes strain on your muscles and ligaments,” he said. “It was such a horrific experience. It was a nightmare. But I feel good. I feel healthy, and I think it’s because I don’t push it.”
Known for his humor and wit, Holden’s Facebook disclosure did not disappoint his fans.
“As for what’s next — I’m heading home to #Cleveland! (Sorry, guys, I know, I’m a traitor),” he said.
“I never anticipated in a million years I would have so many diehard male sports fans coming up to me in grocery stores, gas stations & bars. It really means a lot — especially when you consider I can name no more than 1 player on each roster & the primary source of my viewing habits include the Real Housewives/Bravo,” he quipped.
Holden sees similarities between Pittsburgh and Cleveland.
“We’ve been through some stuff in both towns,” he said. “Pittsburgh and Cleveland have had these incredible comeback stories where people are investing in industry, and there are turning points in medicine and engineering and technology. I never thought in a million years I would end up in Pittsburgh, but I loved it. I fell in love with the bridges and the water and the landscape and the city life.”
In addition to thanking viewers, he expressed appreciation to his co-workers and management at the news station for giving him a chance in his farewell on social media.
