Stokes joined the station as part of an effort to increase ratings on WABC's morning newscast and helped bring the broadcast to #1.

Stokes began her journalistic career as the medical reporter and then weekend co-anchor at WCIA in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois in 1986.

During her tenure at the cable TV station, Stokes covered the Columbine High School Massacre and the death of John F. Kennedy, Jr. in 1999.

Stokes and Bartelstein proved to work well and eventually helped bring Eyewitness News This Morning back to the number one position it had enjoyed in previous years.

The pair eventually took over anchoring duties for Eyewitness News at Noon, replacing Nancy Loo and David Ushery once again.

Lori Stokes left Eyewitness News in August 2017 and, on October 4, 2017, started her tenure as co-host of Good Day New York with Rosanna Scotto on Fox 5 WNYW replacing Greg Kelly.