Brenda Blackmon
Brenda Blackmon is an African-American anchor based in New York City. Blackmon anchors the PIX11 News weeknights at 6:30 with Kaity Tong. Blackmon joined the station in 2016 as an anchor. She first co-anchored in New York at WWOR-TV 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 with a B.A and MPA 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. Her hometown recognized as "One of the Century's Most Influential". Blackmon has also won more than a dozen Associated Press Awards in addition to winning two Edward R. Murrow Awards for Broadcast Excellence.
Blackmon is active in community involvement. Blackmon volunteers at SHARE for special events. Brenda was selected as Woman of the Year by Queens Courier News in 2010. Blackmon also received the Shirley Chisholm Award for public service. She is an active participant in the national campaign to find a cure for lupus, through the Alliance for Lupus Research and her foundation, the Kelly Fund For Lupus, Inc.
On December 8th, 2015, WPIX announced the hiring of Blackmon to co-anchor their new weeknight 6:30pm newscast with Kaity Tong. Blackmon started on January 11th, 2016. She currently resides in New York.
References
http://njmonthly.com/articles/lifestyle/people/making-her-own-news.html
http://www.my9nj.com/story/18553933/brenda-blackmon