Sheri Jones

WLNS-TV (Lansing) anchor Sheri Jones has announced her retirement after almost 37 years of bringing the news to Mid-Michigan viewers.  The station notes on its website that Jones’s contributions to broadcasting have earned her a well-deserved place in the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, solidifying her status as a respected journalist.

Jones joined WLNS in February, 1989.  She holds a BS in Communications from Michigan State University.  The Lansing State Journal notes that Jones landed an internship at the station and afterward worked in radio in Grand Rapids. She began work at WLNS as a part-time news assistant, working evenings and on classic rock station WMMQ-FM (Lansing) in the mornings. A year of three-hour naps twice a day later, a full time slot opened up at the TV station and Jones planted her feet in the 11 p.m. time slot.

"I've been at the 11 o'clock news the whole time, 37 years," Jones said. She did evening broadcasts too, over the years, but has kept that late morning shift.

Sheri is respected and beloved by the Mid-Michigan community for her warm, steady, and compassionate presence. Her dedication to journalism is further evident through her multiple accolades and memberships in prestigious organizations.

She is an inductee of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and a member of the Silver Circle with the Michigan chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Her commitment to excellence has also garnered her Emmy nominations and accolades from the Associated Press and the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.

WLNS News Director Jam Sardar said, in a statement, that Jones is off-camera just how she is on-camera. "She treats everyone from the governor to the custodian with interest, respect and grace," Sardar said. "Sheri Jones has - in so many ways - told stories and taken actions that have made an actual difference in this community and made the lives of mid-Michiganders better. No one will fill Sheri's shoes."

Beyond her professional achievements, Jones has ventured to places like Japan as part of Lansing’s Sister City program, contributing to cultural understanding and international relations. Jones also spent time in China taking part in economic development efforts on behalf of the city of Lansing and the state of Michigan. Over the years, her spirit has shone through with her involvement with Habitat for Humanity Capitol Region, where she led a team to Kenya, Africa, to build a home for a deserving family in Homa Bay.

In Lansing, Jones has championed causes such as the opioid crisis, mental health, gun safety, and sex trafficking through her role at the station. Jones has also taken the lead in organizing station initiatives, hosting debates and telethons, and fostering community engagement and awareness.

Since 1994, Jones has been the spokesperson for Mid-Michigan Crime Stoppers, producing segments that have aided in the capture of many of the area’s most wanted fugitives. In 2018, Crime Stoppers had an 80% success rate in taking fugitive felons off the street.

On-air, Jones told viewers that her last day at the anchor desk will be May 9, but adds, "This isn't retirement for me," Jones says. "It's a re-set...and I'll still be here, enjoying all our moments together."