Emily Matson, ‘Beloved’ Pennsylvania News Anchor, Dead at 42: 'A Shining Light’

News of Matson's death was shared by Erie News Now, the local broadcast outlet where she worked for 17 years

The Erie, Pennsylvania community is mourning the loss of one of its own.

Emily Matson was a news anchor at Erie News Now, where she worked for 17 years before the local broadcast outlet "learned" of her death. The outlet's parent company, Lilly Broadcasting, confirmed the news in a statement released Monday.

“It is with a very heavy heart that we have learned of the passing of our beloved Erie News Now news anchor Emily Matson,” the company said, adding that “Emily was a shining light in our newsroom, delivering news with a passion and love she had for the Erie community and Northwest Pennsylvania.”

“We loved Emily dearly and our hearts go out to the Matson family and her husband Ryan at this time,” the statement concluded.

According to Deadline, she was 42. No cause of death was revealed.

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In a tribute on Facebook, one of Matson's Erie News Now colleagues, reporter Jamison Hixenbaugh, called her death “utterly devastating.” He added that “there are no words to describe the loss of Emily.”

“Working side-by-side with her off-and-on for the past 15 years, I can vouch...she was one of the most wonderful people I've ever met,“ Hixenbaugh continued. “She was such a talented journalist and anchor, but even more, she was an incredible friend.“

WVLT-TV anchor Christyn Allen, who previously worked with Matson at Erie News Now, described her former colleague as "the brightest light" in a lengthy Instagram tribute.

“She was a fiercely loyal friend, and if you were lucky enough to be one of her people, you'd hit the jackpot. She always made sure her people were taken care of. I'm so thankful our paths crossed, and we never lost touch,“ Allen wrote.

According to Matson’s profile on the outlet’s website, she started her broadcast news career by working at the NBC affiliate WICU-TV, producing a morning show before leaving that post to become a general assignment reporter.

“I feel I'm really making a difference in the Erie community, meeting new people, and telling the stories that affect everybody every day,” she said, per her profile, which also noted that she was a two-time recipient of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters’ Outstanding Spot News award.

As a member of the Erie News Now team, she co-anchored the 7 p.m. desk with John Stehlin and then the 11 p.m. desk alongside Mike Ruzzi.

“I must be dreaming! An anchor gig in my hometown! I am so happy to be in Erie, telling the stories which impact my neighbors every day,” Matson said of her job, per her profile page.

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