Kaity Tong facts for kids

Kaity Tong (pronounced "kite-ee") was born on July 23, 1947, in China. She is a well-known American journalist who has worked on television for many years. Since 1981, she has been a news anchor in New York City, bringing important stories to viewers.

Early Life and Education

Kaity Tong came to the United States from Qingdao, China, when she was four years old. Her parents, George and Anita Tong, gave their names more American-sounding spellings. In 1985, Kaity became a United States citizen.

Growing up in Washington, D.C., she was inspired by her great-uncle, Hollington Tong. He was an ambassador from China to the U.S. and a famous writer. Kaity's mother also worked in broadcasting for the Voice of America.

Kaity attended Bryn Mawr College on a scholarship. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature with high honors. She then went to Stanford University for her master's degree in Chinese and Japanese studies.

While at Stanford, Kaity started working in broadcasting. She took a summer job at KPIX-TV All-News Radio in San Francisco. This summer job turned into a year-long role at the top news radio station in San Francisco. This experience led her into the news business.

Career in Television News

Kaity Tong's television career began in 1976 at KPIX-TV in San Francisco. She was first hired as a writer but quickly became a street reporter. Her first story on TV was about new carts at the airport.

In 1979, she moved to KCRA-TV in Sacramento, California. There, she became a co-anchor for the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts. She soon became the most popular news personality in Sacramento.

In 1981, Kaity moved to WABC-TV in New York City. Within two years, she was co-anchoring the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts. She worked with anchors like Tom Snyder and Ernie Anastos.

Later, she moved to the 6 p.m. newscast and continued to anchor the 11 p.m. news. Kaity also appeared as a newscaster in several movies. These included Moscow on the Hudson, Wolf, and The Manchurian Candidate.

In 1991, Kaity Tong left WABC-TV. Station management said it was a business decision related to her high salary.

In 1992, Kaity joined WPIX as a top female anchor. She co-anchored the 10 p.m. newscast with different partners for many years. She later became the weekend anchor for the station. In 2016, she briefly returned to weekday news before moving back to weekends.

Awards and Recognition

Kaity Tong has received many awards for her work. She was honored with the Exceptional Achievement Award from The Women's Project. She also received the Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary International.

The New York Women's Agenda gave her a Star award. The Chinese America Arts Council recognized her for her excellent communication skills. She also received awards from the Chinese-American Planning Council and the Organization of Chinese Americans.

As a naturalized citizen, Kaity Tong was given the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. This award celebrates immigrants who have made important contributions to the United States.

In 2018, the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences gave her the Governor's Emmy Award. This award recognized her four decades of reporting news with honesty and care. Kaity has won several Emmy Awards over the years. These include awards for covering events like "9/11 America Remembers" and "9/11 Day of Tribute."

Her name has even inspired many Chinese-American parents in New York to name their children after her.

Personal Life

Kaity Tong has a son named Philip Long from her first marriage to Robert Long. Robert Long was a news director at Los Angeles's KNBC-TV. She later married photographer Patrick Callahan, but they are now divorced.

Kaity Tong is also a descendant of the famous Chinese philosopher Confucius. She is the 77th generation in his family line.

See also

• Chinese Americans in New York City
• New Yorkers in journalism