Brenda Blackmon facts for kids

Brenda Blackmon is a well-known American news anchor. She is famous for her long career presenting the news, especially at WWOR in New York City from 1990 to 2013. She also worked at WPIX News, co-anchoring the weeknight 6:30 PM newscast.

Early Life and Career

Before becoming a news anchor in New York, Brenda Blackmon worked in other cities like Nashville, Tennessee and Columbus, Georgia. In Columbus, she made history as the first black anchor. Before she started her journalism career, Brenda also worked as a plus size model.

She is very educated! Brenda Blackmon graduated with high honors (magna cum laude) from Fairleigh Dickinson University, earning both a bachelor's degree (B.A.) and a master's degree in public administration (MPA). She also received special honorary doctorates from Caldwell College and Fairleigh Dickinson University for her achievements. Today, she helps guide Fairleigh Dickinson University as a member of its Board of Trustees.

A Long Career in News

Brenda Blackmon joined WWOR in 1990. By 1994, she became a regular anchor, presenting the news alongside many co-anchors like Rolland Smith, Sean Mooney, and Harry Martin. She was a key part of the news team during the entire UPN network era (1995-2006) and for the first seven years of the MyNetworkTV network era (2006-2013).

Later, on December 8, 2015, WPIX announced that Brenda Blackmon would join their team. She started on January 11, 2016, co-anchoring the 6:30 PM newscast with Kaity Tong. She left the station on September 9, 2016, after that newscast was canceled. Brenda Blackmon currently lives in New York.

Awards and Recognition

Brenda Blackmon has received many important awards for her excellent work in broadcasting. She has won four Emmy Awards, which are very prestigious awards for television. She was also nominated for 15 Emmys!

In 2010, she received a broadcasting award from McDonald's. Her hometown even recognized her as "One of the Century's Most Influential" people. Brenda Blackmon has also won more than a dozen Associated Press Awards and two Edward R. Murrow Awards for Broadcast Excellence, which are highly respected in the news industry.

Giving Back to the Community

Brenda Blackmon is very involved in helping her community. She volunteers at SHARE for special events. In 2010, the Queens Courier News selected her as "Woman of the Year." She also received the Shirley Chisholm Award for her public service.

Brenda is a strong supporter of finding a cure for lupus, which is a health condition. She actively participates in the national campaign through the Alliance for Lupus Research and her own foundation, the Kelly Fund For Lupus, Inc.