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.
T.J. Holmes
Air-Time: CNN
First Job: KSNF-TV in Joplin, Missouri
Known For: From President Obama’s “swagga” to a T.I. exclusive interview, Holmes is known for candidly discussing and chatting with figures in the black community.
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Don Lemon
Air-Time: CNN
First Job: WBRC-TV in Birmingham, Alabama
Known For: The easy-going, socially conscious reporter is known for incorporating social media into his broadcast and encouraging a range of opinions on hot topics.
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Soledad O’Brien
Air-Time: special correspondent, CNN
First Job: KRON in San Francisco, California
Known For: The Harvard graduate is known for her documentary style reporting as seen in Black in America.
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Tamron Hall
Air-Time: MSNBC Live
First Job: KBTX in Bryan, Texas
Known For: The Texas-native has a great, upbeat personality and always gets interactive with her news segments.
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Zahra Burton
Air-Time: Bloomberg Television
First Job: Net Financial News in Miami
Known For: The Jamaica native delivers on the spot coverage of hard-hitting financial and market news for a demanding, business-savvy audience.
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Alison Stewart
Air-Time: Need to Know on PBS
First Job: Choose or Lose on MTV
Known For: The seasoned journalist has worked for NPR, CBS and ABC. She’s known for her youthful personality, having started at MTV.
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Robin Roberts
Air-Time: Co-Host, ABC’s Good Morning America
First Job: WDAM in Hattiesburg, Mississippi from 1983-1984.
Known For: Roberts’ decision to share her battle with breast cancer with the viewing public was seen as a brave and heroic act.
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Suzanne Malveaux
Air-Time: White House correspondent for CNN and primary substitute anchor for The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.
First Job: New England Cable News in Boston, Massachusetts
Known For: A serious reporter, Malveaux is known for going the distance to report natural disasters and social issues throughout the country.
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Mara Schiavocampo
Air-Time: NBC News
First Job: CBS Newspath
Known For: Although you can find Schiavocampo contributing to all of NBC’s news shows, she is actually known for being the first “digital reporter” in network television, signifying the industry’s evolution in the face of the growing online medium.
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Deborah Roberts
Air-Time: ABC News
First Job: WTVM-TV in Columbus, Georgia in 1982
Known For: The former NBC reporter is married to The Today’s Show Al Roker. As an ABC reporter, you can find her routinely reporting for the hit prime-time program 20/20.
