Brenda Blackmon

Who is Brenda Blackmon?

Brenda Blackmon is an African-American anchor based in New York City. Blackmon co-anchored the 10pm newscast on WWOR-TV with Harry Martin until it was cancelled. Blackmon joined the station in 1990 as a general assignment reporter and fill-in anchor. In 1991, she was promoted to weekend anchor and was promoted to weekday evening anchor in 1993. She first co-anchored with Rolland Smith then Sean Mooney then Ernie Anastos and finally Harry Martin.

Before going to New York City, Blackmon worked in Nashville, Tennessee and Columbus, Georgia where she was the first black anchor. Before becoming a journalist, Blackmon worked as a plus size model. She graduated magna cum laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University and received honorary doctorates from Caldwell College and Fairleigh Dickinson University. She now is a member of the Fairleigh Dickinson University Board of Trustees.

Blackmon has won four Emmy Awards and has been nominated for 15 Emmys. Blackmon received a broadcasting award from McDonald's in 2010 and WWOR presented a special salute in honor of her career and was recogonized as "One of the Century's Most Influential Person". Blackmon has also won more than a dozen Associated Press Awards in addition to winning the Edward R. Murrow Award for Broadcast Excellence.