by Danielle Kwateng
The broadcast news industry has historically been a majority white world. As much as the news stories discussed are about people of African descent, the anchors and reporters often look nothing like their subjects. Luckily, many large news companies are diversifying their staff– hiring people of color to work on and off camera. If you haven’t noticed, CNN has especially embraced diversity hiring for their anchor positions.
Nevertheless, it’s a hard road for any journalist wanting to make it on the air waves. With or without a journalism degree, many aspiring reporters have to start off working in small, obscure towns with hopes of gaining experience, exposure and a reel to send to the big networks and big markets.
Like their contemporaries, all the following journalists started on the small circuit and grew in notoriety. Click through our list of the most well-known African-American on-air reporters.
