City of Tampa honors WFLA’s Rod Carter as he leaves station

After over two decades on the air, Tampa anchor Rod Carter is leaving the Sunshine State for a new opportunity. But he couldn’t leave town without the city giving him a proper sendoff.

The WFLA-News Channel 8 anchor is headed to work at a station in Raleigh, North Carolina. First, though, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor declared March 12 “Rod Carter Day.”

Castor joined members of Tampa’s Black History Committee and the Tampa Police Department’s Black History Committee for a farewell tribute to Carter Friday afternoon outside city hall.

“Rod has kept Tampa residents informed for 2+ decades as an exceptional journalist & true talent,” she tweeted.

Carter, an alumnus of Florida A&M University, was a familiar face to Tampa residents on weekend newscasts. He served on the board of the National Association of Black Journalists.

In addition to his years as a local journalist, Carter was also a community champion, said a release from the city. He gave his time as a master of ceremony for a number of programs hosted by the city of Tampa.

Carter tweeted: “I’m super excited about this next chapter - but will definitely miss my family here in Tampa. But thanks to the power of zoom — I’ll always be around.”