Black women nowadays have been involved in many aspects of work despite their race and gender. The black female reporter is a symbol of resilience and strength in the face of adversity. There are many women of color in the field of journalism, they continue to pursue the truth and tell the stories that matter, which inspires others of color to believe that they can also achieve their dreams and make a difference. Below is a list of 50 wonderful and talented black female journalists.
1. Sade Baderinwa
| Sade Baderinwa | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sade Baderinwa |
| Birthdate | April 14, 1969 |
| Age | 54 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Television News Anchor, Television Journalist |
| Employer | The Walt Disney Company |
| Television | WABC-TV (2003–present) |
| Co-Anchors | Bill Ritter (Weekday 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts of Eyewitness News) |
| Background | Nigerian father and German mother |
| Education | University of Maryland, College Park (Degree in Agricultural Business and Resource Economics) |
| Career | Production Assistant at ABC News |
| Notable Achievement | Overcame a hit and run accident in 2004, returning to work after multiple surgeries and physical therapy |
| Guest Appearance | The View – Guest co-host |
| Co-Anchor | 11 p.m. newscast with Bill Ritter (since May 2011) |
| International Role | Regular moderator at the United Nations’ celebration of International Women’s Day |
Folasade Olayinka Baderinwa (born April 14, 1969) is an American broadcast journalist. People know her well by the name Sade Baderinwa. She started her career as a production assistant for ABC News‘ various programs such as This Week With David Brinkley, Nightline, World News Tonight, and News One. She was trained to be a reporter at WUSA-TV, the CBS affiliate in Washington, D.C.
She has been a news anchor at WABC-TV, the ABC flagship station in New York since 2003. And now, she works as a co-anchors on the weekday 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts of Eyewitness News with Bill Ritter.
2. Deborah Roberts
| Deborah Roberts | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Deborah Ann Roberts |
| Birthdate | September 20, 1960 |
| Birthplace | Perry, Georgia, U.S. |
| Education | University of Georgia (BA) |
| Occupation | Television Journalist |
| Notable Credits | Emmy Award, Clarion Award |
| Current Affiliation | ABC News |
| Hosting Experience | 20/20, World News Tonight Weekend, Good Morning America, Lifetime Live |
| Published Book | “Been There, Done That: Family Wisdom for Modern Times” |
| Spouse | Al Roker (m. 1995) |
| Children | 2 (daughter and son) |
| Residence | Manhattan, New York |
Deborah Roberts was born on September 20, 1960, in Perry, Georgia, U.S. She is well-known as a television journalist for the ABC News division of the ABC broadcast television network. Robert graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 1982. By that year, she started her career at WTVM and moved on to NBC in 1990. She received many accolades for her successful career such as the University of Georgia Distinguished Alumnus Award, an Emmy Award, and a Clarion Award.
3. Sheinelle Jones
| Sheinelle Jones | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sheinelle Marie Jones |
| Birthdate | April 19, 1978 |
| Birthplace | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US |
| Education | Northwestern University |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, News Anchor, Correspondent |
| Employer | NBC News |
| Current Role | Co-host of the third hour of Today on weekdays |
| Notable Programs | Host of the educational nature program Wild Child on NBC’s The More You Know block |
| Father | C. Darnell Jones II (U.S. District Court Judge) |
| Previous Experience | WICS (Springfield, Illinois), KOKI-TV (Tulsa, Oklahoma), WTXF-TV (Philadelphia) |
| Years Active | 2000–present |
| Marital Status | Married to Uche Ojeh |
| Children | Three (Kayin, Uche, and Clara) |
Sheinelle Jones was born on April 19, 1978. She is an American journalist and news anchor for NBC News. She joined NBC in 2014, and before then, she had worked for various news outlets over the years, including Fox News. Jones is currently a co-anchor of Today’s weekend edition. She has also contributed to a variety of network shows and specials covering a wide range of topics.
4. Tamron Hall
| Tamron Hall | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Tamron Hall |
| Birthdate | September 16, 1970 (age 52) |
| Birthplace | Luling, Texas, U.S. |
| Education | Temple University |
| Occupation(s) | Television journalist, news anchor, talk show host, author |
| Years Active | 1992–present |
Tamron Hall was born on September 16, 1970, in Luling, Texas, U.S. She graduated from Temple University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. She has held positions at several news networks including KBTX in Bryan, Texas, KTVT in Fort Worth, and WFLD-TV in Chicago, Illinois. From 2007 to 2017, she served as a correspondent at MSNBC, where she conducted a one-on-one interview with Barack Obama. Currently, Hall hosts her own self-titled syndicated daytime talk show while continuing to pursue her career in journalism.
5. Nia-Malika Henderson
| Nia Malika Henderson | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nia-Malika Henderson |
| Birthdate | July 7, 1974 (age 48) |
| Birthplace | Hopkins, South Carolina, U.S. |
Nia-Malika Henderson was born on July 7, 1974, in Hopkins, South Carolina, U.S. She first wrote for The Baltimore Sun and then for Newsday. Henderson has worked for several publications, including The Washington Post and Politico, where she took responsibility for politics and cultural issues. She joined CNN in 2015 and worked on the intersection of politics, identity, and culture in America. Henderson has received several awards for her journalism, including an Emmy in 2016 for her coverage of the Charleston church shooting.
6. Gwen Ifill
| Gwen Ifill | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Gwen Ifill |
| Birthdate | September 29, 1955 |
| Birthplace | New York City, U.S. |
| Alma Mater | Simmons College (BA) |
| Occupations | Journalist, author |
| Years Active | 1977–2016 |
| Notable Credit | The New York Times, PBS NewsHour, The Washington Post, Washington Week |
| Family | Sherrilyn Ifill (cousin) |
Gwen Ifill was born on September 29, 1955, in New York City, U.S. She graduated from Simmons College with a Bachelor of Arts in communications. She soon followed a journalism career after graduating. She worked for Washington Week, covered the White House for The New York Times, and reported the network’s Capitol Hill for NBC channel. Ifill was also a political analyst, who was in charge of moderating the vice-presidential debates in 2004 and 2008. Moreover, she authorized the famous book Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama.
7. Melba Tolliver
| Melba Tolliver | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Melba Tolliver |
| Born | 1939 |
| Birthplace | Rome, Georgia, United States |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Years Active | 1967–1994 |
| Notable Achievements | Broke norms by refusing to cover up her Afro hairstyle during President Richard Nixon’s daughter’s wedding |
| Known For | Breaking racial barriers in broadcasting |
| Professional Journey | – Registered nurse-turned-secretary at ABC |
| Media Engagements | – Co-hosted ABC’s “Like It Is” series with Gil Noble |
| Honors | Received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Empire State College |
Melba Tolliver was born in 1939. She is known as an American journalist and former New York City news anchor and reporter. She gained fame for refusing to cover up her Afro with a wig or scarf while reporting on President Nixon’s daughter’s wedding in 1971, defying network standards. Tolliver worked for various news organizations, including ABC News and WNBC-TV in New York City. From 1976 to 1980, she worked at WNBC before moving to News 12 Long Island from 1986 to 1994 and announced her retirement there.
8. Robin Roberts
| Robin Roberts | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Robin Roberts |
| Birthdate | November 23, 1960 (age 62) |
| Birthplace | Tuskegee, Alabama, U.S. |
| Alma Mater | Southeastern Louisiana University |
| Occupation | Television Broadcaster |
| Current Position | Anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America |
| Years Active | 1983–present |
| Partner | Amber Laign (2005–present) |
| Parent | Colonel Lawrence E. Roberts (father) |
| Relatives | Sally-Ann Roberts (sister) |
| Women’s Basketball | Inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012 |
| Battle with Illness | Successfully battled breast cancer in 2007 and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) |
| Awards and Honors | – Recipient of the Peabody Award for coverage of her illness |
| Other Contributions | – Founder of Rock’n Robin Productions |
| Personal Life | – In a long-term relationship with Amber Laign |
| Additional Facts | – Grew up in Pass Christian, Mississippi, and played basketball and tennis in high school |
Robin Roberts is a 62 years old television broadcaster. She was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, U.S., though she grew up in Mississippi, and attended university in Louisiana. After studying, she soon followed a journalism career as a sports anchor and reporter for WDAM-TV in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She joined ESPN in 1990, however, she achieved her breakthrough as a reporter for Good Morning America on ABC News, as she and her team brought GMA back to the top of the ratings; the program became the number-one morning show again in April 2012. Roberts is also known as the first woman of color and the first openly LGBT woman to host the American TV game show Jeopardy!
9. Robin Robinson
| Robin Robinson | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Robin Carolle Brantley (professionally known as Robin Robinson) |
| Date of Birth | August 4, 1957 |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois |
| Current Residence | Bucktown neighborhood, Chicago, Illinois |
| Occupation | News anchor, reporter, radio host |
| Years Active | 1979–present |
| Employment History | KGTV-TV, San Diego; KMGH-TV, Denver; WBBM-TV, Chicago; WFLD-TV, Chicago; WBBM (AM) NewsRadio 780; WVON-FM |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University |
Robin Carolle Brantley is professionally known as Robin Robinson. She was born on August 4, 1957, in Chicago, Illinois. In 1979, Robinson started her career as a reporter and morning news reader for KGTV-TV in San Diego. She moved to KMGH-TV in 1982 and joined WBBM-TV as a consumer reporter in 1984. She is an experienced news anchor with 27 years as the main news anchor at WFLD.
10. Soledad O’Brien
| Name | María de la Soledad Teresa O’Brien |
| Date of birth | September 19, 1966 |
| Place of birth | St. James, New York, U.S |
| Occupation | Broadcast journalist and executive producer |
Soledad O’Brien was born on September 19, 1966, in St. James, New York, U.S. She inherited the roots of Irish, Scottish descent, and Afro-Cuban descent from her parents. Hence, she has medium tan skin. O’Brien has a background as a pre-med student, hence, she began her journalism career as a medical reporter on WXKS-FM. She belonged to NBC during the period 1991–2003, worked for CNN later on, and recently, in January 2022, she launched a podcast, Everyday Wealth.
11. Stephanie Elam
| Stephanie Elam | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Stephanie Elam |
| Birthdate | January 23, 1974 (age 49) |
| Birthplace | Saratoga, California, U.S. |
| Education | Howard University (B.A. in Broadcast Journalism, 1995) |
| Occupation | Television Journalist |
Stephanie Elam (born January 23, 1974) is a television journalist in the United States. She was born and raised in California, U.S. with her five other siblings. Afterward, she moved to Washington D.C. to attend Howard University and earned a degree in broadcast journalism. At first, Elam worked as a copy editor for Dow Jones Newswires. Later on, she covered corporate earnings for Nightly Business Report. In addition, she also reported business and financial news for CNN’s flagship morning show.
12. Jayne Kennedy
| Jayne Kennedy | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jayne Kennedy Overton (née Harrison) |
| Birthdate | October 27, 1951 |
| Birthplace | Wickliffe, Ohio, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupations | Television Personality, Actress, Model, Corporate Spokeswoman, Producer, Writer, Philanthropist, Sports Broadcaster |
| Education | Wickliffe High School |
| Spouse(s) | Leon Isaac Kennedy, Bill Overton |
| Children | 4 |
| Miss Ohio | 1970 |
| Notable TV Appearances | “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In,” “The Dean Martin Show,” “The Six Million Dollar Man,” “Sanford and Son,” “Starsky & Hutch” |
| Film | “Big Time” (1977) |
| TV Show | “The NFL Today,” “Greatest Sports Legends” |
| Commercial Campaigns | Foster Grant, Chrysler Corporation, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola Corporation (Tab soft drink), Jovan Musk perfume |
| Exercise Video | “Love Your Body” |
| Philanthropy | Co-hosted “The Lou Rawls Parade of Stars” (raised funds for The United Negro College Fund), keynote speaker at Evanston Martin Luther King celebration, national spokesperson for The National Council of Negro Women, speaker at Annual Freedom Fund Dinner |
Jayne Kennedy was born on October 27, 1951, in Washington, D.C., U.S. Grew up in a six-children family in Ohio, she won the Miss Ohio USA pageant in 1970 and went on to compete in the Miss USA pageant. She appeared in many films and television shows, and also worked as a sports broadcaster and journalist. For her contribution to the entertainment industry, Kennedy remains an inspiration to many Black women
13. Joy-Ann Reid
| Joy Ann Reid | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Joy-Ann M. Lomena-Reid (known professionally as Joy Reid) |
| Birthdate | December 8, 1968 |
| Birthplace | Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) |
| Occupations | Cable television host, MSNBC national correspondent, political commentator, author |
| Notable Works | “The Man Who Sold America: Trump and the Unraveling of the American Story” (2019) |
| Television | The ReidOut, AM Joy, The Rachel Maddow Show |
| Political Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jason Reid (married in 1997) |
| Children | 3 |
| @JoyAnnReid | |
| joyannreid |
Joy-Ann Reid was born on December 8, 1968, in New York City, U.S. She is the daughter of a Democratic party member and a college professor. Hence, she graduated from Harvard University in the field of film studies. Reid married Jason Reid in 1997, they have three children together, and by that year, 1997, she began her journalism career as a chair on WSVN channel 7 morning show. She left journalism for a period from 2003 to 2007. For her return, she was the host of the weekly MSNBC morning show, AM Joy.
14. Kristen Welker
| Kristen Welker | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kristen Welker |
| Birthdate | July 1, 1976 |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, White House correspondent |
| Employer | NBC News |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) |
| Co-Anchor | Weekend Today (Saturday edition of Today) |
| Future Host | Meet the Press (starting September 2023) |
| Ethnicity | African-American and White |
| Graduation | Magna Cum Laude graduate from Harvard College (majoring in American history) |
| NBC Roles | White House correspondent, occasional fill-in for NBC Nightly News and Today |
| MSNBC Representation | Represents MSNBC at White House press briefings |
| Marriage | Married to John Hughes |
| Parenting | Has a daughter born in June 2021 through a surrogate |
Kristen Welker was born on July 1, 1976, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. She graduated from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1998, and while studying, she also interned for Today station in 1997. Welker’s career began in ABC affiliates at WLNE-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, then at KRCR-TV in Redding/Chico, California. In 2005, she joined NBC at WCAU in Philadelphia as a reporter and weekend anchor. Welker has been working as NBC’s correspondent since 2010, she is a regular MSNBC representative in the White House press briefings and makes appearances on various programs on the channel.
15. Harris Faulkner
| Harris Faulkner | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Harris Kimberley Faulkner |
| Birthdate | October 13, 1965 |
| Birthplace | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Education | University of California, Santa Barbara (B.A. in Mass Communications) |
| Occupation | Television presenter, news anchor |
| Employer | Fox News Channel |
| Current Shows | The Faulkner Focus, Outnumbered, Town Hall America with Harris Faulkner |
| Emmy Awards | Six Emmy Awards, including Best News Special (2005 Upper Midwest Emmy Award) |
| Early Career | LA Weekly contributor, intern at KCOP-TV, reporter and anchor at WNCT-TV, WDAF-TV, and KSTP-TV |
| Fox News Career | Joined Fox News in 2005, anchored Fox Report Weekend, substitute anchor for Shepard Smith Reporting and The Story |
| Recent Shows | Co-host of Outnumbered, anchor of Outnumbered Overtime, host of The Faulkner Focus |
| Recent Achievement | Honored in Variety’s 2021 New York Women’s Impact Report for her 2020 interview with Donald Trump |
| Spouse | Tony Berlin |
| Children | Two daughters |
| Legal Case | Sued Hasbro for unauthorized use of her name and likeness, settled in 2016 |
Harris Faulkner was born on October 13, 1965, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. She is well known as a television presenter and news anchor for Fox News, where she has worked for more than 15 years. During her career beginning, Faulkner worked as a freelance business writer for LA Weekly and was paid $50 for each article she contributed. She was the evening anchor for Kansas City’s WDAF-TV from 1992 to 2000. She shifted to KSTP-TV in Minneapolis–Saint Paul and left by July 2004. Throughout her career, she earned six Emmy Awards, including the 2005 awards for Best Newscaster and Best News Special.
16. Pat Harvey
| Pat Harvey | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Pat Harvey |
| Born | November 13, 1955 (age 67) |
| Birthplace | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | News anchor, journalist |
| Employers | CBS News, KCBS-TV/KCAL-TV, Los Angeles |
| Notable Work | KCAL News on CBS Los Angeles at 5, 6 & 11 pm |
| Awards | LA Area Governor’s Award, Emmy, L.A. Press Club, RTNA Lifetime Achievement Award, AWRT Genii Award, NABJ Hall of Fame |
| Education | Cass Technical High School, University of Detroit Mercy |
Pat Harvey was born on November 13, 1955, in Detroit, Michigan. She is considered the longest-running anchor in prime time at one station in Los Angeles. And the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors declared Oct. 30, 2009, as “Pat Harvey Day” for her 20th anniversary. Before gaining fame, she used to work on WNEM-TV, an NBC affiliate, and CNN’s morning news program. Throughout her career, Harvey won 25 local Emmy awards, a national Emmy, was named “Best News Anchor”, and so on. She is in the Black Journalists Hall of Fame at the Newseum in Washington, D.C, and is a pioneer for the black journalism.
17. Gayle King
| Gayle King | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Gayle King |
| Birthdate | December 28, 1954 |
| Birthplace | Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S. |
| Education | University of Maryland, College Park |
| Occupations | Broadcast journalist |
| Years Active | 1981–present |
| Title | Co-anchor of CBS Mornings |
| Spouse | William G. Bumpus (1982-1993) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents | Peggy Tucker and Emmett Scott King |
| Time Magazine | Named one of “100 Most Influential People of 2019” |
| Career Highlights | Co-hosted CBS This Morning and its predecessor |
| Relationship | Close friend and associate of Oprah Winfrey |
Gayle King was born on December 28, 1954, in Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S. She used to live in Ankara, Turkey for five years and back to the U.S. where she finished the University of Maryland, College Park, with a degree in psychology. King was a production assistant at WJZ-TV in Baltimore, she met the famous anchor Oprah Winfrey there. King hosted a show called The Gayle King Show, on OWN; it ended on November 17, 2011. She shifted to CBS and had many successful shows CBS This Morning, Norah O’Donnell
18. Leslie Sykes
| Leslie Sykes | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Leslie Ann Sykes |
| Birthdate | June 27, 1965 |
| Birthplace | San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Education | Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia |
| Degree | Bachelor’s degree in English |
| Career | Television news anchor, journalist, and reporter |
| Employer | KABC-TV, Channel 7 |
| Notable Work | Film debut as “Miss Mission” in Spike Lee’s film School Daze |
| Professional Experience | Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, KCOP-TV, WDAM-TV, WVUE-TV, KABC-TV |
| Promotions | Co-anchor of “Eyewitness News” (weekend edition) Co-anchor of the 11am-Noon slot Joined the team on “Eyewitness News This Morning” |
| Residence | View Park-Windsor Hills, Los Angeles |
| Spouse | Patrick W. Spann |
| Children | 1 son |
Leslie Skykes was born on June 27, 1965, in San Diego California, U.S. She attended Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, where she earned a degree in English as her major. She chose her professional career as a journalist, she was assigned to report at Los Angeles Herald-Examiner. Skykes has an internship at KCOP-TV before she had her breakthrough when moved to WDAM-TV, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She shifted her work several times before stopping at KABC-TV, where she is the morning and midday co-anchor of the “Eyewitness News”
19. Mara Schiavocampo
| Mara Schiavocampo | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mara Schiavocampo |
| Birthdate | September 28, 1979 (age 43) |
| Birthplace | Silver Spring, Maryland |
| Education | University of California, Los Angeles; University of Maryland, College Park |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, News Anchor, Podcast Host, Executive Producer |
| Notable Achievements | Four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist |
| Podcast Host | “The Trend Reporter” (iHeart Media) – Reached #1 on iTunes Fashion and Beauty charts |
| TV Show Host | TV One’s “Fatal Attraction: Last Words” |
| Anchor | Revolt TV’s special reports and investigations |
| Commentator and Analyst | Cable news appearances focusing on race and culture |
| Podcast Creator and Co-host | “Run Tell This” – Prominent Black journalists discussing news and current events |
| Network Television Experience | 11 years as Correspondent and Anchor for NBC News, Good Morning America, and ABC News |
| Digital Journalism Pioneer | First digital correspondent in network news |
| Residence | Harlem, New York |
| Spouse | Tommie Porter |
| Children | 2 |
| Heritage | Biracial (Sicilian Italian father and African-American mother) |
Mara Schiavocampo is also called as Mara S. Campo. She is an American journalist and news anchor and was born on September 28, 1979. She got an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a master’s degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. Mara spent 11 years as a Correspondent and Anchor on network television. She anchored shows like “Early Today” and “First Look” on MSNBC and worked for “Good Morning America” from 2014 to 2018.
20. Yamiche Alcindor
| Yamiche Alcindor | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Yamiche Léone Alcindor |
| Birthdate | November 1, 1986 |
| Birthplace | Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Education | Georgetown University (BA) New York University (MA) |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Years Active | 2010–present |
| Employer(s) | NBC News Washington Week (PBS) |
| Spouse | Nathaniel Cline (since 2018) |
| Notable Roles | Washington correspondent for NBC News |
| Notable Coverage | Presidential campaigns of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders |
| Awards | 2020 Aldo Beckman Award for Overall Excellence in White House Coverage from the White House Correspondents’ Association |
| Other Languages | Fluent in Haitian Creole |
| Religion | Catholic |
Yamiche Alcindor was born on November 1, 1986, in Miami, Florida, U.S. She had a chance to intern at the Miami Herald while still in high school. Alcindor initially worked full-time as a reporter for Newsday. In 2011, she covered national breaking news for USA Today. She moved to the New York Times before remaining as correspondent of PBS NewsHour since 2018, where she is the host of Washington Week. She aimed to pursue a career in civil rights journalism and drew inspiration from Gwen Ifill, an African-American journalist, as well as contemporary newspaper coverage of Emmett Till.
21. Sue Simmons
| Sue Simmons | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sue Simmons |
| Birthdate | May 27, 1942 (age 81) |
| Birthplace | New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Television news anchor, actress |
| Years Active | 1970s–present |
| Known For | WNBC-TV New York news anchor |
| Notable Achievements | – Lead female anchor at WNBC from 1980 to 2012 |
| Education | Graduated from Julia Richman High School; chose to work instead of going to college |
| Career Highlights | – Started as a consumer action reporter at WTNH-TV in New Haven, Connecticut |
| Acting Career | – Made acting debut as herself in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit |
| Controversial Moment | In 2008, during a live news teaser, used inappropriate language on-air and later apologized for the incident |
Sue Simmons was born on May 27, 1942, in Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. She began her journalism career at WTNH-TV in New Haven, Connecticut. From 1974 to 1976, she worked for WBAL-TV in Baltimore as an anchor. She moved to WNBC in 1980 and remained there until she retired. Simmons’ last broadcast was on June 15, 2012, Upon her departure, she received farewell messages from her longtime colleagues, as well as numerous sports figures and celebrities. In addition to her journalism career, she is also an actress, she appeared on The First Wives Club, and Elementary as a newscaster.
22. Angela Rye
| Angela Rye | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Angela Rye |
| Birthdate | October 26, 1979 |
| Birthplace | Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Education | Holy Names Academy, University of Washington, Seattle Law School |
| Occupation | Principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies |
| Former Occupation | Liberal Political Commentator on CNN |
| Political Party | Democratic |
| Notable Roles | Executive Director and General Counsel to the Congressional Black Caucus |
| Media Appearances | Special Correspondent on ESPN |
| Controversies | Backlash for defending against rape allegations, Statements about statues of slave owners |
| Additional Role | Appeared as herself in Grownish S3 Ep11 “Alright” |
Angela Rye was born on October 26, 1979, in Seattle, Washington, U.S. Rye started her career as the Coordinator of Advocacy and Legislative Affairs at the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, an organization comprising 120 historically black colleges and universities in the US. After moving to Washington DC, she became a member of IMPACT, a group that promotes civic engagement, political involvement, and economic empowerment among young professionals. In January 2017, she made her first appearance on The Breakfast Club. Rye worked as a political commentator for CNN until shortly before the 2020 presidential election when she was released by the network.
23. Oprah Winfrey
| Oprah Winfrey | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Oprah Gail Winfrey |
| Birthdate | January 29, 1954 |
| Birthplace | Kosciusko, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Occupations | Talk show host, television producer, actress, author, media proprietor |
| Best Known For | The Oprah Winfrey Show, dubbed the “Queen of All Media” |
| Achievements | Richest African-American of the 20th century, former world’s only black billionaire |
| Education | Tennessee State University (BA in Communication, 1987) |
| Career Journey | Started as a news anchor and later hosted “The Oprah Winfrey Show” |
| Contributions | Revolutionized the talk show genre, focused on literature, self-improvement, mindfulness, and spirituality |
| Philanthropy | Known for her charitable work and support for various causes |
| Political Influence | Endorsed Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential race, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom |
| Awards | 18 Daytime Emmy Awards, including Lifetime Achievement Award, Peabody Award, and Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award |
| Additional Facts | Overcame adversity, genetic test revealed African, Native American, and East Asian heritage |
Oprah Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi, U.S. She had experienced several fields such as media executive, talk show host, actress, and philanthropist. In 1976, she moved to Baltimore to co-anchor a television show, and later hosted her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, which became a huge success. She is the owner of Harpo Productions company. Her success has made her an inspiration to many, and she is considered one of the most influential women in the world, especially the black.
24. Carole Simpson
| Carole Simpson | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Carole Simpson |
| Birthdate | December 7, 1940 |
| Education | University of Michigan |
| Career Highlights | First African-American woman to anchor a major U.S. network newscast |
| Notable Awards | Journalist of the Year Award from the National Association of Black Journalists, Emmy Award |
| Contributions | Established the Carole Simpson Scholarship for aspiring minority journalists |
| Notable Book | “Newslady” |
| Teaching Career | Former journalism professor at Emerson College |
| Family Connection | Cousin of sportswriter and ESPN commentator Michael Wilbon |
Carole Simpson was born on December 7, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, she is an American broadcast journalist, news anchor, and author. She graduated from the University of Michigan and started working in radio at WCFL in Chicago before being recruited by WBBM. She shifted to Chicago’s WMAQ and onto NBC News in 1975 and became the first African-American woman to anchor a major network newscast. She had worked since 1982 and made her retirement in 2006. She was a journalism teacher at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts until 2019.
25. Dorothy Butler Gilliam
| Dorothy Butler Gilliam | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dorothy Pearl Butler Gilliam |
| Born | November 24, 1936 |
| Birthplace | Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Alma Mater | Lincoln University (BA) |
| Employer | The Washington Post |
| Notable Achievement | First African-American female reporter at The Washington Post |
| Notable Work | Columnist at The Washington Post (covering education, politics, and race) |
| Activism | President of the National Association of Black Journalists (1993-1995) |
| Teaching | Taught journalism at American University and Howard University |
| Contributions | Created the Young Journalists Development Program at The Washington Post |
| Awards | Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington Press Club (2010) |
| Sorority Membership | Alpha Kappa Alpha |
| Spouse | Sam Gilliam (divorced) |
| Children | Stephanie Gilliam |
| Additional Fact | Established the Adee Butler Writing Center at Wilberforce University |
Dorothy Butler Gilliam was born on November 24, 1936, in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. She has her first job as a secretary for an African-American newspaper while attending Ursuline College. Gilliam had worked for The Washington Post for many years and became the first African-American woman to be hired as a reporter by the journal. She is also an activist, dedicated to public service. She created the Young Journalists Development Program for The Washington Post in 1997 and founded Prime Movers Media in 2004.
26. Maureen Bunyan
| Maureen Bunyan | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Maureen Bunyan |
| Birthdate | 1946 |
| Birthplace | Aruba |
| Nationality | Aruban-American |
| Occupation | Television Journalist |
| Career Highlights | Lead Co-anchor at WUSA for 22 years |
| Awards and Recognitions | “Washingtonian of the Year” (1992) |
| Education | University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee |
| Master’s Degree | Earned in 1980 |
Maureen Bunyan was born on February 27, 1944, in Aruba. She moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her family when she was 11 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Bunyan started her career at WGBH-TV in Boston. She then worked for various TV stations in New York and Washington, D.C. such as WTOP-TV (later become WUSA-TV) where she worked for nearly 21 years. Her work has won several awards, and she was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame.
27. Norma Quarles
| Norma Quarles | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Norma Quarles |
| Born | November 11, 1936 |
| Birthplace | New York City, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Television reporter, anchor |
| Years Active | 1965–2001 |
| Worked For | NBC, CNN, PBS |
| Education | Hunter College, City College of New York |
| Career Highlights | First African-American woman to file reports for a network |
| Notable Roles | Anchor for local morning news at WNBC |
| Movies | The Last Days of Disco (played a reporter) |
Norma Quarles was born on November 11, 1936, in New York City, United States. After attending college, she became a radio reporter in Chicago in 1965. Quarles became the first African-American woman to file reports for a network when she worked as a general assignment reporter for television station WKYC in Cleveland.
She moved to WNBC in New York as an anchor and then produced “Urban Tales” for WMAQ-TV in Chicago. She joined CNN in 1988 as a news anchor for CNN Daybreak and then switched to working as a correspondent. Quarles retired from her position as a reporter for Religion and Ethics Newsweekly on PBS in 2001. She was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame in 1990.
28. Stacy-Marie Ishmael
| Stacy Marie Ishmael | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Stacy-Marie Ishmael |
| Nationality | Trinidadian |
| Occupation | Journalist, Editor |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Economics |
| Experience | – Head of Editorial Operations at The Wall Street Journal |
| Achievements | – Recipient of the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship in Economics |
| Publications | Various articles published in prominent news outlets |
Stacy-Marie Ishmael is known as a former journalist and editor come from San Fernando, Trinidad. She soon moved to Europe for her higher study, at the University of Franche-Comté and the London School of Economics. In 2014, she joined BuzzFeed as managing editor of mobile news, and she had some appearances as a guest on BuzzFeed’s popular podcast Another Round. And in 2016-17, she was a John S. Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford. From 2017 to 2019, Ishmael worked as a senior editor at Apple.
Ishmael is currently the managing editor for crypto at Bloomberg News and the chair of the Foundation Board of the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism
29. Amy Holmes
| Amy Holmes | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Amy Mulenga Holmes |
| Birthdate | July 25, 1973 |
| Birthplace | Lusaka, Zambia |
| Nationality | Zambian-American |
| Occupation | Journalist, Political Commentator |
| Current Employer | PBS |
| Former Employers | TheBlaze TV, MSNBC, NBC News, CNN, Fox News |
| Education | Princeton University (Bachelor of Arts in Economics) |
| Notable Shows | Co-host of PBS’s “In Principle” with Michael Gerson |
| Political Affiliation | Conservative Independent |
| Residence | New York City |
Amy Holmes was born on July 25, 1973, in Lusaka, Zambia. She grew up in the United States and earned a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University. She began her career in politics as an intern for Representative Bill Gradison and later worked as a research assistant for PBS host John McLaughlin. She went on to work for several news organizations, including Fox News, MSNBC, and TheBlaze TV, where she co-hosted the news talk show “Real News” with Will Cain.
30. Malika Andrews
| Malika Andrews | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Malika Rose Andrews |
| Born | January 27, 1995 |
| Birthplace | Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | NBA sports journalist and reporter |
| Employer | ESPN |
| Education | University of Portland |
| Notable Shows | NBA Today, SportsCenter, Get Up, NBA Countdown, Around the Horn, The Jump |
| Accolades | Forbes 30 Under 30 in the sports industry (2021), Emmy nomination for Emerging On-Air Talent |
| Professional Career | Joined ESPN in October 2018, Youngest sideline reporter during the 2020 NBA Bubble, Reporter for the Chicago Tribune, James Reston Reporting Fellow at The New York Times |
| NBA Coverage | Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets |
| Significant Moments | Led the 2020 NBA draft telecast, Sideline reporter for the NBA Finals coverage on ABC, First woman to host the NBA Draft |
| Recognition | Society of Professional Journalists, National Association of Black Journalists, Columbia Scholastic Press Association |
| Residence | Los Angeles |
Malika Andrews (born January 27, 1995) is an American journalist and correspondent for ESPN, covering the NBA. She was born and raised in Oakland, California, and graduated from the University of Portland. Andrews began her career covering high school sports before moving on to covering the WNBA and then the NBA Today (replaced by The Jump). She has received multiple awards for her reporting, including a Sports Emmy. She is highly respected in the world of sports journalism and continues to cover some of the biggest stories in the NBA.
31. Merri Dee
| Merri Dee | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mary Francine Dorham (Merri Dee) |
| Birthdate | October 30, 1936 |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Education | Xavier University of Louisiana (attended) Midwestern Broadcasting School |
| Occupations | News anchor Television personality Philanthropist |
| Notable Credits | WGN-TV (community development director, 1983–2008; anchor/reporter, 1972–83) WSNS-TV (talk show host, 1971–72) WCIU-TV (host, 1968–70) WBEE (radio show host, 1966–68) |
| Spouse | Nicolas Fulop |
| Children | 2 |
| Philanthropy | President and member of the leadership council of the Illinois chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) |
| Survived Kidnapping | In 1971, survived a kidnapping and shooting incident, where she was shot twice in the head at point-blank range |
| Community Service | President of the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Women for the City of Chicago Executive Council member of the Illinois chapter of AARP |
| Charity Initiatives | Raised $31 million in donations for WGN-TV Children’s Charities Advocated for victims’ rights legislation Hosted telethons benefiting Easter Seals and United Negro College Fund |
| Awards and Honors | Honorary Doctorate of Humanities by Lewis University Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ Silver Circle Award Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Illinois’ Center on Women and Gender President’s Award by the United Negro College Fund Inductee into the National Association of Black Journalists’ Hall of Fame |
Merri Dee was born on October 30, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. She is well known for her work at WGN-TV in Chicago from 1972 to 1983 as an anchor/reporter and from 1983 to 2008 as the director of community relations. In addition, she was also president and member of the leadership council of the Illinois chapter of AARP from 2009 until her passing in 2022. Since Dee’s career began, she was prominent as a local celebrity on Chicago radio. Dee had eleven years at WGN-TV in various on-air positions and she was also the station’s director of WGN-TV Children’s Charities.
32. Charlayne Hunter-Gault
| Charlayne HunterGault | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Charlayne Hunter-Gault |
| Born | February 27, 1942 |
| Birthplace | Due West, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Education | Wayne State University |
| Notable Credit | The New York Times |
| Spouse | Walter Stovall (1963–1971) |
| Children | 2 |
| Activism | American civil rights activist |
| Journalism Career | Former foreign correspondent for NPR, CNN, and PBS |
| Awards and Recognition | Two Emmys and a Peabody Award for excellence in broadcast journalism |
| Published Work | Author of “In My Place” (1992) |
Charlayne Hunter-Gault was born on February 27, 1942, in Due West, South Carolina, U.S. She moved to Atlanta in the mid-1990s with her family and attended a predominantly white high school. In 1967, she joined WRC-TV’s investigative news team, and in 1968, she became a metropolitan reporter for The New York Times. She also worked for The MacNeil/Lehrer Report and The NewsHour as a correspondent. Hunter had many awards throughout her career, including two Emmys, a Peabody for her work on South Africa, and the 1986 Journalist of the Year Award from the National Association of Black Journalists
33. JC Hayward
| JC Hayward | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | JC Hayward |
| Birthdate | October 23, 1945 (age 77) |
| Birthplace | East Orange, New Jersey |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Howard University, Southeastern University |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Employer | WUSA9 |
| Known for | First female news anchor in Washington, D.C. and first African American female news presenter |
| Honorary Degrees | Two honorary doctorate degrees from Howard University and Southeastern University |
| Breast Cancer | Diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in 2012, declared cancer-free after tumor removal |
| Charter School | Named in a lawsuit with Options Public Charter School in 2013, later dismissed |
| Retirement | Retired from WUSA9 in 2015 after nearly 43 years of working as a news anchor |
| Notable Interviews | Maya Angelou, Luciano Pavarotti, First Lady Nancy Reagan, South African President Mandela |
| Community Involvement | Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Options Public Charter School, board member of various organizations |
| Advocacy | Promoted mammograms for African-American women after battling breast cancer |
| Awards | Local Emmys, International Film Festival Bronze Medal, Board of Governor’s Award, Washingtonian of the Year, Journalism Hall of Fame, NABJ Hall of Fame Inductee |
J. C. Hayward is also known as Jacqueline Hayward Wilson. She was born on October 23, 1945, and is the news anchor that works for WUSA9, Washington, D.C. She finished her study with two honorary doctorate degrees from both Howard University and Southeastern University. From 1972 until her retirement in 2015, Hayward only worked for WUSA9 as a news anchor. J. C. Hayward was recognized with numerous awards and honors throughout her career, including two local Emmys for her documentary ‘Sahel: The Border of Hell’ in 1972, another local Emmy in 1976, a Bronze Medal from the International Film Festival in 1980, and so on.
34. Robin Givhan
| Robin Givhan | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Robin Givhan |
| Birthdate | September 11, 1964 |
| Birthplace | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Occupation | Journalist, Fashion Editor |
| Notable Position | Fashion critic and correspondent for The Daily Beast and Newsweek |
| Notable Awards | Pulitzer Prize for Criticism (2006) |
| Education | Renaissance High School, Princeton University, University of Michigan |
| Notable Works | “The Battle of Versailles: The Night American Fashion Stumbled into the Spotlight and Made History” |
| Notable Contributions | Covered fashion beat, including First Lady Michelle Obama |
| Writing Style | Blunt, transformative fashion criticism into cultural criticism |
| Additional Achievements | Inducted into the University of Michigan’s Detroiter Hall of Fame |
Robin Givhan was born on September 11, 1964, in Detroit, Michigan. She was the valedictorian at Renaissance High School in 1982, graduated from Princeton University in 1986, and also holds a master’s degree in journalism. Givhan began her journalism career at The Detroit News before moving on to The San Francisco Chronicle and Vogue magazine. She began working for The Washington Post in 1995 and was promoted to fashion editor in 2009. Givhan has written widely about fashion, culture, and politics, and her work has appeared in a variety of national and international journals.
35. Jacque Reid
| Jacque Reid | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jacque Reid |
| Born | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Occupation(s) | Television host, journalist |
| Notable Positions | Lead news anchor of The BET Nightly News |
| Journalism Career | Anchor/reporter for WBSG-TV in Brunswick, Georgia |
| Education | Bachelor of Arts in print journalism from Clark Atlanta University |
| Interests | Health and fitness enthusiast |
Jacqueline Elaine “Jacque” Reid is an American journalist and media personality who worked as the lead news anchor for The BET Nightly News from 2001 to 2005. She is currently a co-host on the NBC New York show “New York Live” and has guest-hosted The View. Reid began her career in journalism as an anchor/reporter at WBSG-TV and WKYT-TV before joining KPRC-TV in Houston and then CNN Headline News. Reid is an active member of the National Association of Black Journalists and a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
36. Kimberley A. Martin
| Kimberley A Martin | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kimberley A. Martin |
| Education | Doctor of Philosophy |
| Alma mater | Harvard University, Stanford University |
| Occupation | Political scientist |
| Employer | Barnard College |
| Specialization | International security, foreign policy, Russia, environmental politics |
| Professional Roles | Ann Whitney Olin Professor of Political Science (Barnard College) |
| Memberships | Council on Foreign Relations |
| Research Focus | Russian foreign and security policy |
| Notable Publications | “Engaging the Enemy: Organization Theory and Soviet Military Innovation” |
| Media Presence | Frequent media commentator |
| Academic Background | A.B. in Government, Harvard University (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa honor society) |
| Academic Positions | Assistant Professor, Political Science Department, Ohio State University |
Kimberley A. Martin was born on January 9, 1984, in Brooklyn, New York, U.S. Martin earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and African-American studies from Wesleyan University in 2003, and later received a Master’s degree in Newspaper and Online Journalism from Syracuse University. She formerly worked for Yahoo! Sports and The Washington Post, currently she is a National Football League reporter for ESPN. Despite being married for almost seven years, Martin and her husband Jeffrey Roberts have not started a family yet.
37. Maria Taylor
| Maria Taylor | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Maria Taylor |
| Birthdate | May 12, 1987 |
| Birthplace | Alpharetta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Alma Mater | University of Georgia |
| Occupation | Sportscaster |
| Employer | NBC Sports |
Maria Taylor was born on May 12, 1987, in Alpharetta, Georgia, U.S. While attending Centennial High School in Roswell, Georgia, she received many accolades as a student-athlete. Taylor continued her study at the University of Georgia, which offered an athletic scholarship. After graduating with a degree in broadcast journalism, she began her career as a reporter and analyst, covering college football and basketball. Maria Taylor is now working as a sports journalist and analyst for NBC Sports after previously working for ESPN
38. Lisa Salters
| Lisa Salters | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lisa Salters |
| Occupation | American journalist, former college basketball player, sportscaster, sports anchor |
| Education | Pennsylvania State University (BA in Broadcast Journalism) |
| Career Highlights | Reporter for ESPN and ESPN on ABC since 2000 |
| Notable Stories | Covered O.J. Simpson civil and criminal trials |
| Awards | Nominated for a Sports Emmy Award in 2008 for the story “Ray Of Hope” |
| Personal Achievements | Played guard for the Penn State Lady Lions basketball team from 1986 to 1987 |
Lisa Salters was born on March 6, 1966, in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, U.S. She has been with ESPN since 2000 and has covered a range of sports, including football, and basketball. Before her career in sports broadcasting, she worked as a correspondent for ABC News, covering major events such as Hurricane Katrina and the 9/11 attacks. Salter currently works as a sideline reporter for ESPN, primarily covering NBA games.
39. Pam Oliver
| Pam Oliver | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Pam Oliver |
| Birthdate | 1960/1961 (age 61–62) |
| Birthplace | Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Education | Florida A&M University |
| Profession | Sportscaster |
| Notable Work | Sideline reporting for NBA and NFL games |
| Career Beginnings | Started broadcasting career in 1985 |
Pam Oliver is a former athlete and sports journalist from Dallas, Texas. Oliver began her broadcasting career as a news reporter in Georgia, Alabama, and New York before transitioning to sports anchoring in Tampa and Houston. She joined ESPN in 1993 and later worked as a sideline reporter for Fox Sports, TNT, and now serves as a sideline reporter for Fox’s NFL broadcasts. Oliver has been with the #2 team since 2014 and her role was extended through the 2016 season.
40. Cerise Castle
| Cerise Castle | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Cerise Castle |
| Birthplace | California, U.S. |
| Alma Mater | Emerson College |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Years Active | 2014–present |
| Notable Work | “A Tradition of Violence: The History of Deputy Gangs in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department” |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Gender | Female |
| Height | 5 feet 7 inches |
| Languages | English (fluent), Spanish (basic) |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Awards | IWMF Courage in Journalism Award, American Mosaic Journalism Prize, American Journalism Online Award for Best Use of Public Records |
| Courageous Reporting | Investigative series on deputy gangs in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department |
| Previous Work | Associate Producer for Vice News Tonight, Producer at KCRW, Freelanced for the Daily Beast, the Los Angeles Times, LA Magazine, and multiple podcasts |
| Key Moments | Shot with a rubber bullet by LAPD while reporting a George Floyd protest, Detained at an LACSD press conference while reporting |
| Notable Impact | City’s civilian oversight board launched an investigation into deputy gangs after her series |
| Professional Recognition | Received IWMF Courage in Journalism Award for her series |
| Personal | Lesbian |
Cerise Castle is an American journalist who gained recognition for her investigative series on deputy gangs in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. She previously worked as an associate producer for Vice News Tonight and was later hired as a producer at KCRW. She experienced racist microaggressions during her time at KCRW and accepted a buyout to leave her position in 2021. In 2022, Castle received the American Journalism Online Award and the IWMF Courage in Journalism Award for the series. Castle has freelanced for various media outlets and was recently signed with CAA.
41. Cheryl Miller
| Cheryl Miller | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Cheryl Miller |
| Birthdate | January 3, 1964 |
| Birthplace | Riverside, California, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| High School | Riverside Polytechnic High School |
| College | University of Southern California (USC) |
| Position | Small forward |
| Coaching Career | USC (1986–1991), Phoenix Mercury (1997–2000) |
| NBA Reporter/Analyst | NBA TV, TNT Sports, ABC Sports, TBS Sports, ESPN |
| Hall of Fame Inductions | Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| Siblings | Reggie Miller, Darrell Miller |
| College Achievements | 3-time Naismith College Player of the Year |
| International Career | Olympic gold medalist (1984) |
| High School Records | Dial Award recipient |
| USC Records | Career points (3,018) |
| WNBA Coaching Career | Phoenix Mercury (1997–2000) |
| Notable Broadcasting Work | NBA on TNT sideline reporter |
Cheryl Miller was born on January 3, 1964, in Riverside, California. She played basketball at Riverside Polytechnic High School before attending the University of Southern California (USC), where she became a four-time All-American and won two national championships. Miller is currently a basketball coach and analyst, She has coached at various levels, including high school, college, and professional women’s basketball, and has also worked as a commentator for several networks, including TNT, ABC, and ESPN.
42. Jemele Hill
| Jemele Hill | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jemele Hill |
| Born | December 21, 1975 |
| Age | 47 |
| Birthplace | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Education | Michigan State University (BA) |
| Occupation | Sports journalist |
| Years Active | 1997–present |
| Spouse | Ian Wallace |
| Career Highlights | – Worked for Raleigh News & Observer, Detroit Free Press, and Orlando Sentinel |
| Co-founder | Lodge Freeway Media |
| Autobiography | Uphill: A Memoir (2022) |
| Early Life | Raised by a single mother, overcame challenges related to parental drug addiction |
| Career Beginnings | Started as a sports writer for Raleigh News & Observer |
| Controversies | Sparked controversy with tweets critical of President Donald Trump |
| Recognitions | – McKenzie Cup recipient |
| Recent Ventures | – Hosted podcasts: Jemele Hill is Unbothered and Way Down in the Hole (recapping HBO’s The Wire) |
Jemele Hill (born December 21, 1975) is a sports journalist from the United States. She had her first work as a general assignment sports writer for the Raleigh News & Observer. She was covering Michigan State football and basketball for the Detroit Free Press from 1999 to 2005. Starting in 2006, Hill worked at ESPN in different capacities until 2013. In 2017, she was honored with an Emmy Award for Outstanding News Special. Hill also started working with her podcast Jemele Hill is Unbothered in 2019.
43. Zain Asher
| Zain Asher | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Zain Ejiofor Asher |
| Birthdate | August 27, 1983 |
| Birthplace | Balham, London Borough of Wandsworth, England |
| Nationality | British, Nigerian |
| Occupation | News anchor at CNN International |
| Primetime Show | One World with Zain Asher |
| Memoir | Where The Children Take Us (Published by HarperCollins in April 2022) |
| Family Background | Parents: Nigerian descent |
| Education | Keble College, Oxford (BA) |
| Honorary Fellow | Keble College, Oxford University |
| Early Career | Worked as a receptionist at a production company |
| CNN Journey | Hired as a business correspondent |
| Notable Coverages | Boko Haram kidnapping of Chibok schoolgirls |
| Anchored Show | One World with Zain Asher (since 2021) |
| Philanthropy | TEDx talk “Trust Your Struggle” (2015) |
| Residence | Montclair, New Jersey |
| Spouse | Steve Peoples – Associated Press reporter |
| Children | Two sons |
Zain Asher was born on 27 August 1983, in Balham, London Borough of Wandsworth, England. Asher earned a degree in French and Spanish from Oxford University in 2005, and in the subsequent year, she pursued further education at the Graduate School of Journalism located in New York City at Columbia University. She is a news anchor at CNN International, based in New York City. By now, she is responsible for the network’s primetime, global news show One World with Zain Asher airing weekdays at 12 pm ET.
44. Keli Goff
| Keli Goff | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Keli Goff |
| Birthdate | July 20, 1979 (age 43) |
| Birthplace | Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Emmy-nominated producer, playwright, screenwriter, journalist |
| Contributions | Contributor to various news outlets, including “And Just Like That…” and “Mayor of Kingstown” |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree from New York University, Master’s degree in strategic communications from Columbia University |
| Notable Works | Published book: “Party Crashing: How the Hip-Hop Generation Declared Political Independence”, Documentary: “Reversing Roe” (nominated for News/Documentary Emmy Awards), Novel: “The GQ Candidate”, Play: “The Glorious World of Crowns, Kinks & Curls” |
| Publications | The Root, The Washington Post, The Daily Beast, The Guardian, Vogue, The Hollywood Reporter, The Nation, Town & Country, New York magazine |
| Appearance and Media | Made TV appearances on MSNBC, FOX News Channel, CNN, and BBC, Cameo appearance as a political pundit on “Being Mary Jane”, Contributor to various NPR affiliates, Occasional guest host for KCRW’s “Left, Right & Center”, Storyteller at The Moth, On-camera appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher |
| Fashion and Interests | Interest in vintage clothing and historically significant designers of color, Collection of vintage pieces housed in the Texas Fashion Collection, Known for her devotion to using a Blackberry |
Keli Goff was born on July 20, 1979, in Houston, Texas, U.S. She holds degrees from both New York University and Harvard University. Goff’s work focuses on politics, race, and culture, and she frequently appears as a commentator on television news programs. She appeared on numerous TV news programs, including MSNBC, FOX News, CNN, and the BBC, and also had a cameo as a political pundit on “Being Mary Jane”
45. Ivie Ani
| Ivie Ani | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ivie Ani |
| Birthdate | April 17, 1989 |
| Birthplace | Visalia, California, U.S. |
| Other Names | Avriel & the Sequoias |
| Alma Mater | Mt. San Antonio College |
| Occupation | News Reporter |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Black |
| Gender | Female |
| Career Highlights | Notable work as a black female news reporter |
| Education | Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism |
| Languages | English, French |
| Awards | [List of relevant awards] |
| Areas of Expertise | Social justice reporting |
| Current Employer | [Current employer] |
| Previous Experience | [List of previous employers and positions] |
| Notable Projects | [List of notable projects or investigations] |
| Published Works | [List of published articles or reports] |
| Speaking Engagements | [List of speaking engagements or conferences] |
Ivie Ani is a Nigerian-American journalist, writer, editor, and media personality covering culture. She has written for various publications, including The New York Times, GQ, and Vanity Fair. Ani has moderated panels for companies like Sony Music and Twitter and has appeared on numerous news programs, including NPR and Entertainment Tonight. She currently hosts her live radio show “In Full Effect” on Amazon Music’s AMP. Ani has received Harvard’s 2022 Eminence Award and has spoken at various universities
46. Taylor Rooks
| Taylor Rooks | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Taylor Rooks |
| Birthdate | May 22, 1992 (age 31) |
| Birthplace | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Education | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
| Occupation | Sportscaster |
| Years Active | 2012–present |
| Current Shows | Thursday Night Football, Bleacher Report, Turner Sports |
| Previous Work | SportsNet New York, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network |
| Notable Roles | Host, reporter, correspondent |
| Achievements | Sports Emmy Award nominee (2019, 2020) |
| Family Background | Daughter of Thomas Rooks (top rushing leader for the Illinois Fighting Illini), niece of Lou Brock (St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer), and niece of Marv Woodson (former NFL player for Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints) |
| Additional Work | Football and basketball recruiting reporter for scout.com, interned with PGA Tour, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, and Fox Sports/Scout.com |
| Notable Stories | Broke multiple stories in football and basketball recruiting |
Taylor Rooks was born on May 22, 1992, in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. She studied broadcast journalism major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. During her college years, she gained valuable work experience through internships at Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Fox Sports/Scout.com, and the PGA Tour. She appeared on CBS Sports Network reporting on the WBB Pre-NIT Championship at 19 years old.
In 2014, Rooks started working as an on-air host and reporter for the Big Ten Network and achieved much fame for her coverage of the Big Ten games and social media interaction. Two years later, she became a host and anchor for SportsNet New York while also working as a sideline reporter for CBS Sports Network during the 2016-2017 college football season
47. Christy Winters Scott
| Christy Winters Scott | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Christy Winters Scott |
| Occupation | Sports commentator |
| Broadcasting Networks | ESPN, FSN, The Big Ten Network (BTN), NBC Sports Washington, Raycom Sports |
| Lead Analyst for | BTN Women’s Basketball (since 2016) |
| NBA Analyst | Washington Wizards (NBC Sports Washington) (since 2012) |
| WNBA Games Commentator | Washington Mystics |
| Birthplace | Reston, Virginia |
| High School | South Lakes High School |
| High School Achievements | Led South Lakes to a 29-0 record and won the Virginia AAA State Title |
| College | University of Maryland |
| College Achievements | Second-highest scorer in Maryland history |
| Professional Career | Played in Pistoia, Italy, and Fribourg, Switzerland |
| Coaching Career | Assistant Coach at George Mason, Maryland, and Georgetown |
| Coaching Achievements | Turned around South Lakes program, won district championships |
| Awards | ACC 50th Anniversary Team |
| Residence | Reston, Virginia |
| Family | Husband: Jerome Scott |
Christy Winters Scott is a former professional basketball player who played in the WNBA and internationally. She was awarded a complete athletic scholarship to compete in basketball for the University of Maryland from 1986-1990. Winters-Scott transitioned to coaching and worked as an assistant coach for George Mason, Maryland, and Georgetown from 1993-1997, 1997-2002, and 2004-2005, respectively. After retiring from professional basketball, she became a basketball analyst and commentator for ESPN and the Big Ten Network.
48. Sage Steele
| Sage Steele | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sage Steele |
| Birthdate | November 28, 1972 (age 50) |
| Birthplace | Panama Canal Zone |
| Alma Mater | Indiana University Bloomington |
| Occupation | Sportscaster |
| Notable Credit | ESPN SportsCenter |
| Title | Co-host of 12pm (ET) SportsCenter on ESPN |
| NBA Countdown | Former host of NBA Countdown on ESPN and ABC |
| SportsCenter | Former full-time host of ESPN’s flagship show |
| Coverage Highlights | Hosted SportsCenter’s daytime coverage of the NBA Finals and covered NBA Finals |
| Family Background | Daughter of Gary & Mona (O’Neil) Steele |
| Education | Graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a Bachelor of Science degree in sports communication |
| Broadcasting Career | Worked at various TV stations including WSBT-TV, WISH-TV, WFTS, Fox Sports Florida, and Comcast SportsNet |
| Additional Roles | Co-hosted Miss America pageant and Scripps National Spelling Bee |
| Controversy | Suspended by ESPN in October 2021 for controversial remarks |
| Personal Life | Married to Jonathan Bailey, three children |
| Philanthropy | Board member of Pat Tillman Foundation and V Foundation for cancer research |
| Transgender Rights | Made comments opposing the rights of transgender people in sports |
Sage Steele (born November 28, 1972) is an American television anchor who co-hosts SportsCenter on ESPN at 12 pm ET and covers various sporting events on SportsCenter on the Road. She used to host NBA Countdown on ESPN and ABC for four seasons and was a full-time host of SportsCenter before that. Steele has a Bachelor of Science degree in sports communication from Indiana University Bloomington. She worked for several TV stations before joining ESPN in 2007. She hosted the Miss America pageant, the Scripps National Spelling Bee, and guest-hosted on The View.
She was suspended with pay by ESPN on October 5, 2021, for controversial remarks she made about COVID-19 vaccine mandates, women who dress in a way she feels is provocative, and Barack Obama’s race.
49. Cari Champion
| Cari Champion | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Cari Champion |
| Birthdate | June 1, 1978 |
| Birthplace | Pasadena, California, U.S. |
| Education | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Occupation(s) | Broadcast journalist, television personality |
Cari Champion was born in Pasadena, California in 1978 and attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where she studied English and mass communications. Champion began her broadcasting career in West Virginia, then worked in Santa Ana and West Palm Beach, Florida. She was fired from her anchor job in Atlanta in 2007 for allegedly using profanity on air. She joined the Tennis Channel in 2009 as a courtside reporter and anchor for the Court Report news segment.
In 2012, Champion joined ESPN as the host of First Take, a live debate show on ESPN2. he was promoted to anchor on SportsCenter in 2015 and left ESPN in February 2020. From August 2020 to February 2021, she co-hosted Cari & Jemele (Won’t) Stick to Sports with Jemele Hill on the Vice TV network.
50. Farai Chideya
| Farai Chideya | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Farai Chideya |
| Birthdate | July 27, 1969 |
| Birthplace | Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Occupation | Novelist, multimedia journalist, radio host |
| Education | Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Harvard College |
| Notable Accomplishments | – Produced and hosted “Pop and Politics with Farai Chideya” |
| Publications | Author of the novel “Kiss the Sky” and three non-fiction books |
| Radio Programs | Former host of “News & Notes” on National Public Radio (NPR) |
| Podcast | Produced and hosted “One with Farai” for Public Radio International (PRI) |
| Awards | Various awards for journalism and contributions to media |
| Speaking Engagements | Speaker on various topics including civic engagement and politics |
| Judging | Served as a judge for the American Mosaic Journalism Prize |
Farai Chideya was born on July 27, 1969, in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. She graduated from Harvard in 1990 with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in English literature. Moreover, Chideya is the owner of a 15 years-old radio series on politics, Pop, and Politics with Farai Chideya, and online journalism, PopandPolitics.com. She also served as a political analyst on several news networks including CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, ABC News, Fox News, BET, and HBO.