Anchor Shiba Russell leaving 11Alive after six years

Shiba Russell is leaving 11 Alive. CREDIT: WXIA-TV

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

Shiba Russell is leaving 11 Alive. CREDIT: WXIA-TV

Anchor Shiba Russell has decided to leave 11Alive after six years.

Jennifer Rigby, news director, sent out a note Wednesday morning to staff.

The Emmy-winning journalist didn’t say what her next job will be, but she is moving back to the Northeast. Her daughter is attending Drexel University in Philadelphia this fall. In a text with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, she said she will provide more details next week.

“We’re very sorry to see her leave but understand the familial reasons,” said 11Alive general manager John Deushane.

Russell, who came from the NBC affiliate in New York City, started at 11Alive in 2016 anchoring mornings, was moved for six months to afternoons in 2017, then placed back to mornings, where she stayed until last year. 11Alive management then shifted her again to afternoons, where she has been the past year.