Ponchitta Pierce facts for kids

Ponchitta Pierce was born on August 5, 1942. She is a talented television host, producer, and journalist. She also helps people write speeches and is an expert in how people communicate. Ponchitta started her career in journalism at Ebony magazine. Later, she became the New York editor and then the head of the New York office for Johnson Publications, which owned Ebony magazine.

Early Life and School

Ponchitta Marie Anne Vincent Pierce was born in Chicago, Illinois, on August 5, 1942. Her parents, Alfred Leonard Pierce and Nora Vincent Pierce, were both from New Orleans, Louisiana. When she was in eighth grade, Ponchitta moved to Los Angeles, CA. There, she went to Bishop Conaty High School.

Ponchitta went to the University of Southern California. She earned a degree in journalism with high honors. She also studied at Cambridge University in England. While at USC, she wrote for the student newspaper. She also helped edit the school's yearbook.

Her Career in Media

Ponchitta Pierce started working as an assistant editor for Ebony and Jet magazines in 1964. By 1965, she had become an associate editor. In 1966, she wrote an important article for Ebony magazine. This article was part of a special issue about "The Negro Woman." In it, she wrote, "The Negro woman intellectual is easily one of the most misunderstood, underappreciated and problem-ridden of all God’s creatures."

Working in Television

Ponchitta first appeared on broadcast news in 1967. In 1973, she became a special reporter for CBS News. She also hosted shows for New York's PBS station, WNET. From 1982 to 1987, Pierce worked at WNBC-TV in New York. There, she hosted and helped produce a daily TV show called Today in New York.

In 1979, she reported on the death of former Vice President Nelson Rockefeller. She was a friend of Megan Marshack, an aide to Rockefeller. Marshack called Pierce, who then called for an ambulance.

Writing for Magazines

Ponchitta Pierce has also been a contributing editor for several well-known magazines. These include Parade and McCall's. She was also a roving editor for Reader's Digest. She has written many articles for national publications. Some of these include AARP: The Magazine, Family Circle, More, Newsday, and Ladies Home Journal.

Community Involvement

Ponchitta Pierce is a member of several important groups. She serves on the board of directors for the Foreign Policy Association. She is also on the board for WNET, the Inner-City Scholarship Fund of the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, and Housing Enterprise for the Less Privileges (Help USA). She is also involved with the Cuban Artists Fund.

She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Economic Club of New York. She also serves on the Columbia-Presbyterian Health Science Advisory Council. Additionally, she is on the advisory board for the Center on Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.