Brooks Blanton, who has been the vice president and news director of Fox 2 Detroit since October 2025, announced Monday, Aug. 24, that he is leaving the station.
Blanton said in a statement: "After much thought and reflection, I have come to the decision to step aside as FOX 2's news director. As my time here comes to an end, I want to express my sincere gratitude to each of you for your dedication, hard work and camaraderie. I will miss you all."
There will be an internal and external search to find Blanton’s replacement, according to the station.
The move comes in the midst of Fox 2 Detroit anchor Taryn Asher's lawsuit against the television station for gender discrimination, which she claims led to her being fired. She has been off the air since
late November 2025.
On Aug. 14, the station filed a response in federal court to Asher’s suit and alleged that she exhibited "unprofessional behavior," including "outbursts in the newsroom" and the use of profanity.
Asher's legal team at the Southfield-based Sommers Schwartz law firm responded to the station’s filing by telling the Free Press: "We strongly disagree with Fox’s characterization of Ms. Asher’s workplace behavior."
In early August, Kellie Rowe, a popular member of the Fox 2 news team, announced that she would be leaving the station after 10 years
Blanton is a Michigan native and TV news veteran who came to Detroit from Grand Rapids, where he was news director for ABC affiliate WZZM-TV. Before that, he led news teams in Charlotte, North Carolina, and at Fox affiliate WXMI-TV in Grand Rapids. He also previously worked at the Fox News Atlanta bureau, two stations in Phoenix, Arizona and WILX-TV in Lansing.
Paul McGonagle, senior vice president and general manager of Fox 2 Detroit since July 2025, said in a statement that Blanton will be missed. “We are grateful for his contributions and wish him nothing but the best in his next chapter."
Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: News director at Fox 2 Detroit resigns after serving less than a year
