740 KTRH listeners have emailed me asking about the whereabouts of "Houston's Morning News" anchor Shara Fryer. They say she has not been on-air lately, and no explanation has been given.
I found that Fryer's image and social media links have been removed from the KTRH website's morning newscast page. However, she is still listed in the text field along with co-anchor Jimmy Barrett, whose photo remains online.
On Tuesday morning, I emailed my official KTRH contact and Fryer. I have not heard back from either yet.
I did point out to KTRH that Fryer is still listed in the text field, and so far, after my email, her name has remained. This could mean she is still involved with the show in some way.
Listeners' nerves are a little high with the recently reported IHeartMedia layoffs nationwide. As I have blogged, two people have been laid off from the Houston cluster.
Fryer joined KTRH in September 2012 with then-host Matt Patrick.
Before transitioning into her new radio career, Fryer spent over 25 years in TV with ABC13 KTRK Houston, co-anchoring with Dave Ward.
In addition to anchoring, Fryer earned many honors for her reporting and long-form coverage in her EMMY award-winning "IN FOCUS" documentaries and "Up Close and Personal" interview segments with everyone from US presidents to foreign heads of State.
Fryer was recently honored with the Dave Ward Excellence in Media Award at the 2022 Crime Stoppers of Houston, Houston Heroes Award Luncheon.
Before joining Channel 13 in Houston, Fryer built her career across Texas at television stations like KSAT 12 San Antonio, KVUE 24 Austin, and KLRN Austin.
Fryer is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, has been honored as a Woman of Distinction by the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, received the Ben and Julie Rogers Ecumenism Award from the Anti-Defamation League of Houston, the Community Builder Award from the Grand Masonic Lodge of Houston, and has been recognized by the governments of Japan and Israel for her efforts toward international goodwill. She has also served as the Director of the World Affairs Council of Houston.
A cancer survivor, she has dedicated much time to cancer outreach initiatives and established the Shara Fryer Cancer Research Fund within the Department of Surgical Oncology at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
