Kentucky Educational Television (KET) announced on Monday that long-time program host Renee Shaw will be retiring at the end of July, wrapping up a 29-year career with the statewide public broadcasting network.
Beginning her KET career as a reporter and associate producer, Shaw has been connecting viewers with the issues, leaders and conversations in Kentucky. As Director of Public Affairs and Moderator, Shaw currently hosts Kentucky Edition each weeknight as well as Kentucky Tonight, KET’s signature public policy discussion series. In addition, she moderates KET Forums and election coverage.
“Renee is one of the most trusted and respected voices in Kentucky journalism, known for her thoughtful reporting, in‑depth interviews, and commitment to civil, informed public discourse,” said KET Executive Director and CEO Shae Hopkins. “We are deeply grateful for everything she’s done to serve communities across the state, and we wish her all the best in this next chapter.”
“Renee’s retirement is well-deserved but will leave a huge hole in the public discourse about politics and policy in Kentucky,” said Kentucky Today Editor Lawrence Smith, who has worked with Shaw for years. “She is a treasure who will be irreplaceable.”
Over the years, Shaw has played a central role in the expansion of KET’s public affairs coverage to include a daily current events series, townhall-style forums, and multi-platform initiatives around issues such as aging, opioid addiction and youth mental health.
“For nearly three decades, KET has been my professional home and offered me such rich opportunities,” said Shaw. “To sit across from governors, lawmakers, artists, educators and everyday Kentuckians has been a privilege. I have always believed that if the last thing I did becomes the last thing I did, it had better be the best thing I did. As I look back on this journey, my heart is full of gratitude for the viewers who trusted me, the colleagues who inspired me, and the Commonwealth that allowed me to tell its stories.”
During her tenure at KET, Shaw won three Ohio Valley Regional Emmy awards and has been inducted into the Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame, the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame, and Western Kentucky University’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni.
No word yet on who will succeed her at KET.
Photo of Renee Shaw by Patrick Brumback
