Former News Anchors Transition to Lifestyle Television in Career Shift

A growing number of former news anchors are reinventing their careers, swapping breaking news for lifestyle television in a shift that highlights changes in both the media industry and audience preferences.

Recently, former Texas-based news anchors Delaine Mathieu and Karen Grace launched a lifestyle show focusing on real estate, home design, and local culture, following similar career moves by other media personalities. Their transition reflects a broader trend of journalists moving away from traditional news formats and into lifestyle programming, where topics such as home improvement, travel, food, and wellness resonate with wider audiences.

Experts say this trend is driven by several factors:

• Burnout in traditional newsrooms: Covering daily crises, politics, and hard-hitting issues can take an emotional toll, prompting journalists to seek more fulfilling and less stressful content areas.

• Growing popularity of lifestyle content: Audiences are increasingly drawn to softer, visually engaging content that offers inspiration, escapism, and practical advice.

• More career flexibility: Lifestyle shows provide longer career longevity, fewer high-pressure deadlines, and opportunities for personal branding in the digital space.

“I loved covering important issues, but after years in the newsroom, I wanted to focus on something lighter and more positive,” says Karen Grace, now co-hosting a San Antonio-based real estate and lifestyle show. “Telling stories about beautiful homes, travel, and food still allows me to connect with people—just in a different way.”

Lifestyle television has become a highly profitable sector, with networks investing heavily in home renovation, travel, wellness, and true-life storytelling formats. Streaming platforms and social media have further expanded opportunities for former news personalities to create independent digital content, launching YouTube channels, podcasts, and branded partnerships.

While some traditional journalists criticize this shift as a departure from serious reporting, others argue that informational storytelling can take many forms. Viewers still seek trusted voices, whether for breaking news or guidance on lifestyle choices.

As audiences continue prioritizing lifestyle content, more journalists may find that pivoting to entertainment and service-oriented media offers a rewarding second act in their careers.