Chuck Stokes may be a native of Cleveland, but that doesn’t make the impact he’s had on Detroit any less important.

From civic activism to newsroom commentary, he has helped shape how Detroiters view themselves on one of the state of Michigan’s longest-running public affairs programs (Spotlight on the News) and is a frequent guest and panelist on statewide shows such as PBS’s “Off the Record.”

Chris Stokes is a graduate of the historic HBCU Morehouse College, and he went on to earn a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

From there, he kicked off a successful career in television, signing on as an on-air reporter in Nashville, Tennessee, before making the transition into editorial leadership, production, and public affairs.

After relocating to Detroit, Stokes took on the role of Executive Producer of Special Projects in the news division at Channel 7 (WXYZ-TV), later becoming Public Affairs Director and Editor of the same network.

It was a complex position that put him in charge of directing the channel’s editorial voice as well as driving its coverage of politics, public policy, and social issues.

Today, Chris Stokes is currently a producer (and moderator) of Spotlight on the News, which started in 1965 and is Michigan’s longest-running weekly public affairs show.

As for his achievements, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Detroit’s chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists in 2001, as well as an impressive 12+ Emmys for his editorial reporting and two for his documentary contributions.

He was also inducted into the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2011 and has served as President of the National Conference of Editorial Writers and in leadership positions in local Detroit organizations like the Historical Society of Michigan and the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation.

In short, Chris Stokes isn’t just another Detroit news anchor.

He’s the city’s editorial conscience, helping shape headlines with a degree of transparency and truth that is hard to come by in broadcasting.

Victoria Jackson (Editor In Chief)

Victoria Jackson is a lifelong student and sharp-eyed documentarian of all things Detroit, from its rich musical roots and cultural icons to its shifting neighborhoods, storied architecture, and underground legends. With her finger firmly on the pulse of both the city’s vibrant past and its rapidly unfolding future, she brings a deeply personal, historically grounded lens to every piece she writes.

Published on: October 8, 2025