Reynelda Muse facts for kids

Reynelda Muse (born November 16, 1946) is a former American television news anchor. In 1969, she made history by becoming the first woman and first African American television news anchor in Colorado. She co-anchored a news show at KOA-TV (now KCNC-TV) in Denver. Later, in 1980, she was one of the first anchors to join CNN, a major news network. Reynelda Muse has won many awards, including an Emmy Award. She has also been recognized in several halls of fame for her amazing work. A special scholarship, the Reynelda Muse Television Journalism Scholarship, helps African American students who want to study television journalism.

Early Life and School

Reynelda Ware was born in Ohio. Her parents were Arthur Allan Ware and Evelyn Cook. She has one sister. Reynelda went to Ohio State University. She studied English and earned her bachelor's degree in 1968.

A Trailblazing Career in TV News

Starting Out in Denver

After college, in 1968, Reynelda Muse started working at KOA-TV (Channel 4) in Denver. She was a general reporter, covering many different types of stories. The station's new owner, General Electric, wanted to hire diverse people. However, some people in the newsroom were not welcoming to her. One reporter even threw his notes at her and told her to write the story herself. She also felt that other newscasters tried to stop her from covering "hard news" stories.

A few months after becoming an anchor, she decided to wear her hair in an Afro style. Some staff and viewers did not like this. Once, she even offered to quit her job. This happened when she was asked to change a story that made one of the station's advertisers look bad. But General Electric told the station to hire her back right away.

In 1969, Reynelda was promoted to co-anchor the 12:00 noon news program with Clyde Davis. This made her the first woman and first African American television news anchor in Colorado. By 1974, Muse and Davis were co-anchors for the important 5:00 pm and 10:00 pm newscasts.

Making History at CNN

In 1980, Reynelda Muse left Channel 4 to join CNN in Atlanta, Georgia. She was one of the first 12 anchors hired by the new network. CNN started broadcasting on June 1, 1980. Reynelda co-anchored the 8:00 pm news with Lou Waters. For the next four years, she traveled between Atlanta and her home in Denver to be with her family.

Back to Denver News

In 1984, Reynelda Muse returned to Channel 4. She co-anchored the station's new Colorado Evening News program at 6:30 pm with Bill Stuart. She stayed in this role until November 1997.

Beyond the News Desk

Besides her news anchoring, Reynelda Muse also worked on other TV shows. She co-hosted Smith & Muse on KRMA-TV, a weekly interview show. She also hosted American Skyline, a series about arts and culture in the U.S. For many years, her voice was heard on the underground trains at the Denver International Airport. Her pre-recorded messages greeted and guided passengers.

In October 1997, Reynelda Muse announced she would retire from television news. Her last newscast was on November 26, 1997. She explained that changes at the station, like replacing the 6:30 pm news with a game show, influenced her decision. She also felt that TV news was becoming less focused on important stories. She believed that the focus on making money was hurting good journalism.

After retiring, Muse took on freelance projects. She did voice-over work, produced documentaries, and offered media advice.

Community and Arts Involvement

Cherry Creek Arts Festival

Reynelda Muse was very involved with the arts community in Denver. She was a spokesperson for Arts for Colorado. She also served on advisory boards for many arts groups. These included the Mayor's Commission on the Arts, Culture and Film, and the Cherry Creek Arts Festival. She also supported the Denver International Film Society and the Shadow Theatre, a black theater company. She even created a weekly segment for KCNC-TV called "City Beats" that highlighted the arts.

She also shared her knowledge by giving guest lectures. She spoke at the University of Colorado School of Journalism and other schools.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Reynelda Muse won an Emmy Award in 1988. She received it for writing and reporting a documentary called Ramses II for KCNC-TV. She was also nominated for Emmy Awards in 1990, 1993, and 1996.

In 1993, she was the first woman to receive the Broadcaster of the Year award from the Colorado Broadcasters Association. She also won the First Amendment Freedom Prize. This award came from the Anti-Defamation League. The Colorado Black Journalists Association gave her their Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993. In 1976, the Colorado Press Women named her their annual Woman of Achievement.

She has been inducted into several halls of fame. These include the Denver Press Club Hall of Fame (1996) and the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame (1997). She was also honored by the Silver Circle of the Heartland Chapter of NATAS (1997). In 1999, she joined the Broadcast Pioneers of Colorado Hall of Fame.

Fifteen years after she retired, readers of Denver Post chose her as one of "Colorado's most influential women."

The Reynelda Muse Television Journalism Scholarship was created in her honor in 1998. The Colorado Association of Black Journalists gives this scholarship every year. It helps an African American student who is studying television journalism at a college in Colorado.

Personal Life

Reynelda Muse's first husband was Daniel Muse. They married in 1969 and had three children. In 1997, Reynelda married Marion Iverson. After she retired from TV news, Reynelda moved to Gary, Indiana. Her husband, Marion Iverson, was a professor at Indiana University Northwest there.