ABC journalist Jordan Dafnis Ryan, known to viewers for her polished on-air presence, has revealed she is walking away from television news permanently.
The 28-year-old former morning reporter for KOCO 5 News, the ABC affiliate in Oklahoma City, shared the news on Instagram over the weekend, opening up about her choice just hours after signing off from the station for the final time.
She began the video by explaining that being a news anchor had always been her dream, ever since she was a young girl living in Arizona.
‘Overall, this career, the people that I’ve met in the community that I’ve gained has been incredible,’ Dafnis Ryan said.
She said the people she encountered through local news had deeply inspired her, describing the opportunity to work in broadcast journalism as a true ‘blessing.’
But with two young children at home, Dafnis Ryan explained that she ultimately made the emotional and difficult decision to leave her television role behind.
Previously, she worked as a morning reporter for News 9 in Oklahoma City.
‘When you have kids, things change, and it’s been apparent and made clear over the past year that I cannot function and be the best mom I can be with a schedule that you have to have in news,’ Dafnis Ryan explained.
Glamorous ABC anchor Jordan Dafnis Ryan has announced that she is quitting the television industry for good
Dafnis Ryan, 28, who worked as a morning news reporter for ABC-affiliated Oklahoma City network KOCO 5 News, took to Instagram this weekend to share more about her decision, just hours after she marked her last day at the channel
Although she said she loves her morning shift, she added that it just wasn’t sustainable anymore.
‘I can’t keep waking up this early in the morning while having two kids under three, and it’s just clear that even as they grow older, we’re just not going to make it work,’ she said.
Typically, morning newscasters wake up between two and four am.
Despite this, she said it was a ‘tough decision’ to have to make, and one that she made along with her family.
‘My husband has been so supportive of whatever I’ve decided to do, but this is just what’s going to be best, and I have peace,’ the news anchor shared.
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‘God has changed my heart and shown me that I am so much more than whatever my career is, and my identity is through Him and so that is a peace that I have, knowing I can walk away,’ she continued.
But this isn’t the end of the road for her career.
Dafnis Ryan said that she will ‘definitely’ still have to continue working, and has a few ideas up her sleeve.
As she now has two young kids, she said that she has made the difficult decision to step away from her role
Dafnis Ryan has two children, daughter Lydia, who is nearly one year old, and son Colt, two-and-a-half, with her husband, Hunter Ryan
‘I’m very excited for the next chapter, and I’m excited to just be able to spend time with my kids and just be present with my kids,’ she said, before jokingly admitting that she has felt like a ‘zombie.’
‘Praise God for the opportunity to walk away and praise God for the opportunity to have been in this industry,’ she concluded.
‘It’s all through him and I am just so grateful for every part of this journey and so ready for what’s next.’
Dafnis Ryan has two children, daughter Lydia, who is nearly one year old, and son Colt, two-and-a-half, with her husband, Hunter Ryan.
In the comment section of her video announcement, many commended her for making the difficult choice to step away.
‘Very few people know the grind of a morning news schedule, and you always brought great energy! You bring that same grind and energy to the next venture and you’ll be great,’ one Instagram user wrote.
Another agreed: ‘Always trust in him – so much more important to be with your children and raising them.’
Previously, Dafnis Ryan was a Thunder Girl dancer for the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team.