Kevin Newman recently announced on his Twitter account that August 20, 2010 will be his last day as Global National anchor.  Newman has anchored the half-hour newscast since its debut on September 3, 2001.

Newman has been active in television broadcast news since 1981, initially in an on-air role for Global Toronto’s Sportsline.  Newman’s anchor credits include ABC’s World News Now (1994-97), Good Morning America (1996-99) and CBC’s Midday (1992-94.)

Newman’s Twitter post mentions “rest and renewal,” a sentiment The Canadian Press parrots.  I honestly think Newman means this.  He’s managed morning, afternoon, evening and late-night news shifts, picking up two Geminis, two Emmys and a Peabody in the process.  What’s left for the 50-year-old to do?

I don’t think Newman should return to news anchoring.  CTV News is too stuffy for his personable approach.  Nothing can save CBC News, now that it’s embraced superficiality.  American television news is mediocre at best.

Either Kevin Newman’s leaving Global at just the right time, or he’s leaving North American network journalism at the right time.  He’s a talking head, but a damned professional one.  Personally, I’ll miss Newman.

Howard Bernstein of Medium Close-Up has posted a “very trustworthy rumour” (his words) that Lloyd Robertson will resign from his role as CTV National News anchor very soon.

Robertson has refuted the rumour, dismissing it as “a fascinating work of fiction” on CKNW’s The Bill Good Show.  The 76-year-old anchor insists that, contrary to Medium Close-Up’s assertion, he is not tired of the daily grind.

Lloyd Robertson is one of North America’s longest-lasting anchors, at least on a national level.  Robertson has anchored CTV National News since 1976, sharing the desk with Harvey Kirck until 1984.  He previously anchored CBC’s The National from 1970 to 1976.  The man is a Canadian broadcasting legend.

On the other hand, Robertson’s 76.  Robertson is a classy and durable anchorman, but I wonder how much time the man has left.  Robertson has to pass the torch at some point in the near future.

I should note that I do not watch CTV National News.  I find it too self-important.  I respect Robertson for his longevity, but network news broadcasts as a whole are obsolete in the digital age.  Robertson, Kevin Newman and Peter Mansbridge are all talking heads in the grand scheme of things.