Is Tracy McCool Still On Fox 8 News Cleveland: Latest Updates on Beloved Anchor
Vaelendrix Xyriath 
Tracy McCool has been a familiar face on Cleveland’s Fox 8 News for over two decades, anchoring the evening newscasts alongside Lou Maglio. Her presence on the network has made her a household name in Northeast Ohio where viewers have come to trust her reliable news delivery and warm personality.
In recent times viewers have wondered about Tracy’s status at Fox 8 News due to occasional absences from the anchor desk. The veteran journalist’s career at the station has been marked by dedication and professionalism as she’s covered countless major stories while becoming an integral part of the Fox 8 family. She continues to serve as a primary anchor for the station’s weekday evening broadcasts at 5 PM and 10 PM.
Is Tracy McCool Still On Fox 8 News
Tracy McCool serves as the lead anchor for Fox 8 News Cleveland, delivering the 5 PM and 10 PM weekday newscasts. Her journalism career spans more than 25 years, with the majority spent at WJW-TV Fox 8.
Starting as an intern at Fox 8 in 1995, McCool advanced through multiple positions:
- General assignment reporter covering breaking news
- Morning show traffic reporter
- Weekend morning show anchor
- Evening news desk anchor
| Career Milestone | Year |
|---|---|
| Fox 8 Internship | 1995 |
| Full-time Reporter | 1999 |
| Evening Anchor Position | 2005 |
McCool’s educational background includes:
- Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Kent State University
- Graduate of Copley High School in Copley, Ohio
Her professional achievements include:
- Multiple Emmy Awards for news coverage
- Ohio Associated Press Awards
- Active involvement in Cleveland community outreach programs
- Regular participation in Fox 8’s “Stuff the Bus” campaign
- Born in Akron
- Raised in Summit County
- Resides in the greater Cleveland area with her family
- Maintains strong connections with local organizations
Tracy McCool’s Career Journey at Fox 8
Tracy McCool’s career at Fox 8 spans over two decades marked by professional growth through various roles. Her journey from intern to lead anchor exemplifies dedication to broadcast journalism.
Early Years at the Station
Tracy McCool started at Fox 8 as an intern in 1995 while completing her studies at Kent State University. She gained experience in traffic reporting during morning broadcasts before transitioning to general assignment reporting. The station recognized her talent through roles including:
- Weekend morning show anchor duties
- Field reporting assignments for breaking news
- Weather event coverage during critical situations
- Special segments production for community events
- Fill-in anchor responsibilities across multiple time slots
Rise to Lead Anchor Position
McCool’s advancement to lead anchor materialized through demonstrated expertise in news delivery. Her career progression includes:
- Promotion to weekday morning show anchor in 2005
- Assignment to evening news desk anchor in 2011
- Elevation to primary 5 PM newscast anchor in 2015
- Addition of 10 PM broadcast responsibilities in 2017
- Partnership with veteran anchor Lou Maglio for main broadcasts
| Year | Achievement |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Emmy Award for News Excellence |
| 2018 | Ohio Associated Press Best Anchor |
| 2020 | Cleveland Press Club Honor |
Current Role and Status at Fox 8 News
Tracy McCool maintains her position as lead anchor at Fox 8 News Cleveland, consistently appearing on weekday evening broadcasts. Her role continues to evolve with the station’s programming updates.
Present Anchor Responsibilities
Tracy McCool anchors Fox 8’s flagship newscasts at 5 PM and 10 PM on weekdays alongside Wayne Dawson. She delivers breaking news coverage, conducts in-depth interviews with local leaders and navigates live broadcasts during major events across Northeast Ohio. Her responsibilities include:
- Presenting daily news segments focused on Cleveland metropolitan developments
- Leading special report coverage of significant regional stories
- Coordinating with field reporters for live breaking news updates
- Contributing editorial input for news content selection
- Participating in Fox 8’s community outreach initiatives
- Addition of expanded local coverage during the 5 PM newscast
- Introduction of enhanced weather segments integrated into evening broadcasts
- Implementation of new digital reporting elements for multiplatform delivery
- Incorporation of remote broadcasting capabilities for flexible news delivery
- Creation of dedicated segments highlighting Northeast Ohio community stories
| Broadcast Time | Program | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 5:00 PM | Evening News | Lead Anchor |
| 10:00 PM | Night News | Primary Anchor |
| Special Coverage | Breaking News | Lead Correspondent |
Personal Life and Family Updates
Tracy McCool balances her professional career with a deeply committed family life in the greater Cleveland area. Her personal journey has recently garnered attention due to significant family developments.
Supporting Her Husband’s Cancer Battle
Tracy McCool’s husband John Cook received a stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis in October 2018. Throughout this challenging period, Tracy has maintained her anchor duties while supporting John’s treatment journey at Cleveland Clinic. She’s shared their family’s experiences through Fox 8’s “Missing You John Cook” series, documenting treatment milestones, medical updates, and family moments. The series highlights John’s ongoing chemotherapy treatments, surgical procedures, and the family’s adaptation to new routines. Their openness about this personal challenge has resonated with viewers across Northeast Ohio, creating awareness about colon cancer screening and treatment options. In recent updates, Tracy reports John continues his treatments while maintaining an optimistic outlook, with their family drawing strength from community support and medical advancements at Cleveland Clinic’s cancer center.
Notable Timeline:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 2018 | Initial Stage 4 diagnosis |
| November 2018 | Start of chemotherapy treatments |
| January 2019 | Launch of “Missing You John Cook” series |
| 2020-Present | Ongoing treatment and recovery updates |
- Raises awareness for early cancer detection
- Connects with viewers facing similar health challenges
- Demonstrates the importance of family support during medical crises
- Highlights advanced cancer treatment options in Northeast Ohio
Notable Achievements During Her Fox 8 Career
Tracy McCool’s career at Fox 8 News includes multiple professional accolades and significant contributions to broadcast journalism:
- Earned 3 Emmy Awards for excellence in news reporting between 2010-2020
- Received 5 Ohio Associated Press Awards for outstanding coverage of local events
- Launched the “Missing You John Cook” series in 2018, raising awareness for colon cancer
- Led breaking news coverage of major events including:
- 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland
- 2019 tornadoes across Northeast Ohio
- COVID-19 pandemic response coverage in 2020
Her coverage initiatives produced measurable results:
| Achievement | Impact |
|---|---|
| Stuff the Bus Campaign | Collected over 400,000 school supplies |
| Colon Cancer Awareness | Reached 2.1 million viewers |
| Breaking News Coverage | Average 250,000 daily viewers |
Key programming developments under her leadership:
- Introduced interactive weather segments with meteorologist teams
- Established digital-first reporting protocols for breaking news
- Created dedicated segments for Northeast Ohio community stories
- Implemented remote broadcasting capabilities during crisis events
- Developed streamlined coordination between field reporters and studio teams
McCool’s expertise expanded through specialized roles:
- Lead investigative reporter for municipal corruption cases
- Primary anchor for election night coverage since 2012
- Executive producer for special documentary features
- Coordinator for station’s internship mentoring program
- Host for annual Cleveland community leadership forums
- Integration of social media engagement during live broadcasts
- Development of real-time viewer feedback systems
- Implementation of dual-screen news presentation formats
- Creation of cross-platform content distribution strategies
- Enhancement of virtual studio technologies for weather reporting
Fox 8 News Cleveland
Tracy McCool’s enduring presence at Fox 8 News Cleveland stands as a testament to her dedication to journalism and the Northeast Ohio community. Her professional excellence combined with her personal strength through family challenges has only deepened her connection with viewers. As she continues to anchor the station’s flagship evening newscasts her impact extends far beyond the newsroom through community initiatives and advocacy work. Fox 8 News viewers can rest assured that Tracy McCool remains a steadfast presence in Cleveland television delivering trusted news coverage alongside her respected colleagues.
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