Keely Arthur Has Departed WRAL-TV
The 5 On Your Side reporter is moving to the investigative unit at NBC 5 Chicago this November.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Media
Reporter Keely Arthur has officially departed Raleigh-based WRAL-TV. She will join the investigative team at NBC 5 Chicago starting in November 2026.
Why it matters
Arthur's move follows her tenure as the 5 On Your Side reporter, a role previously held for 28 years by Monica Laliberte. The departure marks a transition in the local news landscape.
Monica Laliberte held the 5 On Your Side beat for 28 years before the role was filled by Arthur in 2022. Other recent departures at the station include Scott Mason, who spent 30 years there, and Eric Miller, who was there for 5 years.
The players
Keely Arthur
She is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who previously served as a reporter at WRAL-TV.
Monica Laliberte
She is a veteran journalist who maintained the 5 On Your Side beat for 28 years.
WRAL-TV
This is a television station based in Raleigh that serves the local North Carolina community.
The details
Keely Arthur confirmed her departure to The News & Observer following her final day on air on October 1, 2026, and her final day at the station on October 2, 2026. An Emmy Award winner for her reporting, Arthur previously worked in Wisconsin before joining WRAL-TV in 2020.
Timeline
Keely Arthur began reporting for WRAL-TV in 2020.
Arthur became the 5 On Your Side reporter in 2022.
October 1, 2026, was Arthur's final day on air at WRAL.
October 2, 2026, was Arthur's final day at WRAL.
Arthur begins her new role at NBC 5 Chicago in November 2026.
Market Landscape
The departure of Keely Arthur follows a trend of significant personnel changes at WRAL-TV, including the exit of longtime staff like Scott Mason. These shifts reflect a period of transition within the local broadcast news sector in Raleigh.
Viewers who rely on the 5 On Your Side segment for local investigative reporting will see a change in on-air personnel starting in November. Local audiences can expect updates regarding the station's future staffing and reporting structure in the coming weeks.
The takeaway
Staff turnover in local media often signals shifts in how investigative journalism is prioritized at the station level. Viewers should look to local station announcements to see how the vacancy left by Arthur is eventually filled.
Further reading
For more on the changing landscape of local broadcasting, visit Media.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The News&Observer.
