Lee Thornton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lee Thornton
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| Born | November 14, 1941 |
| Died | September 25, 2013 (aged 71) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
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| Education | District of Columbia Teachers College (BA), Michigan State (MA), and Northwestern University (PhD) |
| Occupation | Journalist and professor |
| Years active | CBS correspondent (1974-1981), NPR host for "All Things Considered" (1982-1992), CNN correspondent (1983-1997), and professor at the University of Maryland for the Phillip Merrill College of Journalism (1997-2013) |
| Employer | CBS, NPR, CNN, and the University of Maryland |
| Known for | First African-American woman to cover the White House |
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| Awards | NABJ Hall of Fame Honoree, 2013 |
Lee Thornton (November 14, 1941 – September 25, 2013) was an American journalist and professor. She worked as a correspondent for major news organizations like CBS, CNN, and NPR. Lee Thornton was also a professor at Howard University and the University of Maryland. She made history as the first African American woman to report on the White House. In 2013, she was honored by being inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame.
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Lee Thornton's Early Life and Education
Lee Thornton was born on November 14, 1941, in Leesburg, Virginia. She finished high school at Roosevelt High School in 1959. She then went to the District of Columbia Teachers College.
In 1968, she earned a master's degree from Michigan State University. She later received her doctorate from Northwestern University in 1973. Lee Thornton passed away on September 25, 2013.
Lee Thornton's Journalism Career
Lee Thornton began her career at CBS in 1974. In 1977, CBS gave her an important role. She became the first African American woman to report on the White House. This meant she covered news about President Jimmy Carter's administration.
After her time at CBS, she worked for a CBS news station in Detroit. In 1982, she joined National Public Radio (NPR). She became a weekend host for their news program, "All Things Considered." She was the first Black host for this radio show.
Teaching Journalism
After working at NPR, Lee Thornton started teaching. She became a professor of broadcast journalism at Howard University. Later, in 1997, she joined the Phillip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park.
She was the interim dean of the College of Journalism in 2008 and 2009. This made her the second African American woman to be a dean there. She retired from teaching in 2011. In 2010, she took on a new role. She became the University's Interim Associate Provost for Equity and Diversity.
Lee Thornton's Impact on Journalism
Lee Thornton was a trailblazer in journalism. She was known for breaking barriers for women, especially African American women. She was the first African American woman to cover the White House for a major TV network, CBS News.
Her work inspired many other journalists. For example, Robin Roberts was the first Black woman to be an anchor on ESPN. Athena Jones of CNN, an African American woman, covered the Donald Trump administration. Soledad O'Brien, a Latina reporter, also covered the White House and national news. These journalists followed in Lee Thornton's footsteps.
Mentoring Future Journalists
Lee Thornton was also known for her teaching. She taught many students about journalism at Howard University and the University of Maryland. At the University of Maryland, she helped create several shows for the University's channel, UMTV.
One special show she helped start was called "Front and Center." This show won awards. It featured interviews with other journalists. "Front and Center" was shown on the University's channel. It was also broadcast nationally and even internationally on WorldNet.
Awards and Recognition
Lee Thornton received several awards for her work. These awards recognized her contributions to journalism and teaching.
- NABJ Hall of Fame (2013)
In 2013, she was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame. This honor happened after her passing. In 2011, the University of Maryland named her their "Outstanding Woman of the Year."
A scholarship was also created in her name in 2017. The Radio Television Digital News Association established this scholarship. It helps support future journalists.
See also
