‘Nick News’ anchor secure in her chair

While the broadcast networks have been changing news anchors at lightning speed these days, one familiar face remains in her chair year in and year out: veteran newswoman Linda Ellerbee at “Nick News.”

“Oh lord, I never thought I’d have a show go this long without cancellation,” Ellerbee said on the eve of the Nickelodeon children’s show’s 15th anniversary special on Sunday. “I’m the luckiest journalist in television.”

The former correspondent for ABC and NBC was approached by the cable network about launching a weekly news show for children just as the United States was entering the Gulf War in 1991. It would be something informative but not frightening, a show that would put the week’s news in historical perspective for youngsters who were just beginning to follow current events.

Four Emmys and two Peabody Awards later, the show endures, and Sunday’s special will look back at the 15 “Nick News” stories Ellerbee considers the program’s most compelling.

After that, Ellerbee plans to get back to work on more shows. The 61-year-old journalist jokes that she doesn’t plan to stay in the game as long as 88-year-old Mike Wallace.

“But I’m not ready to go yet,” she added. “I’d like to see a 20th anniversary.”