NBC5’s Stewart Ledbetter, a trusted political journalist and fixture of Vermont’s broadcast news industry, has announced his retirement after 40 years of service at the station. 

“I never imagined back in 1983, when I got my professional start, that I would spend four decades telling the story of Vermont,” Ledbetter said. “It’s been an absolute joy meeting tens of thousands of people across my home state, and I could not be more grateful for the experience.”

His last scheduled broadcast will be Friday, February 16th.

“Stewart’s unwavering passion and dedication to local journalism have done so much to better our community over the last 40 years,” said WPTZ/WNNE General Manager Ryan Rothstein. “Stew’s contributions within our NBC5 newsroom cannot be overstated; throughout his career, he has helped his fellow journalists in so many ways and made us all better at what we do.  He leaves behind a remarkable legacy, and we are thrilled for Stew to enjoy his well-deserved retirement.” 

Ledbetter began his reporting experience as editor of his high school paper, later volunteering at WRUV-FM while studying economics at the University of Vermont. After a stint in radio news reporting at WJOY-AM and WQCR-FM (now WOKO) in South Burlington, he joined NBC5 in 1984, covering City Hall and the Statehouse in Montpelier. 

Throughout the 1990s Ledbetter served at NBC5 news director, adding newscasts and launching the first station website. He returned to ‘the field’ in 2000 and spent the next twenty years covering the Statehouse each winter. 

Ledbetter reported on every major political race in Vermont, moderated countless live debates, and traveled the country to cover the presidential campaigns of Gov. Howard Dean and Sen. Bernie Sanders. 

From 2007 until 2023, Ledbetter served as moderator of the Friday reporter roundtable, “Vermont This Week”, on Vermont Public (PBS). He now anchors the 5:30pm weekday newscasts and Sunday public affairs program, NBC5 In Depth.

“To be a ‘witness to history’, as journalists often are, has been a real honor, and often a thrill,” Ledbetter said, “whether covering lawmakers or elections, the environment or economic change.”

Ledbetter’s work has earned broadcast awards from the Vermont and New York AP, a regional EMMY, and the 2015 national Edward R. Murrow award for continuing coverage which he shares with a colleague. He was inducted into the Vermont Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2019. 

Ledbetter said he’ll take some time to determine what’s next but plans to return as an NBC5 political contributor later in the year. “There are very few people who can provide the wealth of knowledge Stewart has when it comes to state politics,” said NBC5 News Director Michael LaFlesh. “We’re grateful to know we’ll still have access to a valuable resource, to provide our community with his insight.”