Springfield television station KY3 has announced its newest hire is veteran television anchor and Missouri native Emily Pritchard.
The award-winning broadcast journalism will take over as co-anchor on KY3 News at Noon and 6:00 p.m. with Steve Grant later this year.
"I'm so excited to be coming home. This is a dream opportunity for me to join the talented team at KY3 and to bring my family back to Missouri where this magical journey began for me," said Pritchard.
Pritchard grew up in Waynesville.
She is a graduate of Waynesville High School and the University of Missouri.
"This is my home and the community that shaped me. There is something truly special about coming back to where my curiosity about the world began. I grew up watching KY3 and I had my first taste of journalism in my classes at Waynesville High School," said Pritchard. "Now it's a full circle moment for me to be able to share how special a place this is with KY3 viewers in Missouri, Arkansas and beyond."
A broadcast journalist for more than 15 years, Pritchard has anchored and reported at KPNX (NBC) in Phoenix, WHDH in Boston, KY3's Gray sister station KMOV (CBS) in St. Louis, KXTV (ABC) in Sacramento, California, WBND (ABC) in South Bend, Indiana, and at KOMU (NBC) in Columbia, Missouri.
Pritchard has led coverage of major events including political elections, protests, severe weather including blizzards and wildfires, consumer issues, and she loves being able to highlight what makes communities unique.
Some of her favorite stories to share have focused on veterans and their experiences, which is important to her having grown up in a community shared with Fort Leonard Wood.
She most recently won a Rocky Mountain Regional Emmy Award for Morning Newscast for her coverage leading up to the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Phoenix.
Her love of sports started at an early age cheering on the Missouri State Lady Bears and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Some of Pritchard's career highlights have blended her passion of being a sports fan and a journalist. She's been on the forefront of major headlines covering the University of Notre Dame Athletics including the football team's appearance in the 2013 National Championship, the Fighting Irish Women's Basketball Team appearances in the Final Four and the St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup win in 2019.
Pritchard's family is looking forward to calling Springfield home including her 5-month-old daughter, Quinn, her husband, Brian and their German Shepherd/Husky mix Wayne.
KY3 General Manager Brian McDonough says “we are excited and honored to have someone with Emily’s reputation work for us at KY3. We look forward to her sharing her knowledge and hard work with the newsroom.”
Pritchard is looking forward to spending time with family doing some of her favorite pastimes including floating the Big Piney River and catching Mizzou football games in person. "I am counting down the minutes until I can first say the words, 'KY3, the Place to Be,' as I used to recite this to my parents in our living room. I know how special and how rare an opportunity this is, and I couldn't be more excited,” said Pritchard.
Viewers will see Pritchard in various newscasts and promotions over the coming weeks on KY3 before she takes over as co-anchor on July 28, 2025.
Long-time KY3 anchor Lisa Rose’s last newscast before her retirement will be July 25 during KY3 News at 6 p.m.
“While we will sorely miss Lisa Rose in the newsroom, we are excited about this new phase we are entering with Emily. She will continue KY3’s legacy of excellence and commitment to the community,” added McDonough.
