Black History: Special Delivery!!
Carole Simpson (1940 – ) is an award winning pioneer in the field of broadcast journalism. As an African American female journalist, she has achieved many “firsts” in the field.
Simpson was born in Chicago, IL in 1940. She excelled in school was encouraged to go into teaching because of the lack of opportunities available to women and people of color in the field of journalism.
Simpson attended the University of Illinois and then transferred to the University of Michigan where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1962. She was the only African American journalism major in her graduating class. Her first job after college was working at Tuskegee University as a journalism instructor as well director of the university’s information department.
She began her broadcast career at WWTW, a public access station in Chicago. Simpson would go on to achieve several “firsts” throughout her 40 year career in journalism:
- Simpson became the first woman to broadcast radio news in Chicago in 1965
- She was also the first African American woman to anchor a major television network evening newscast when she joined NBC Nightly News in 1970
- Simpson was also the first woman or minority to be the sole moderator of a presidential debate in 1992.
Simpson ended her broadcast career in 2003 but continued to work for ABC as an ambassador, traveling on behalf of the network visiting schools to educate students on the changing media landscape. She officially retired in 2006.
Throughout her career she experienced, racism sexism; still she persevered and continued to excel. In 2007, Simpson joined Emerson College, in Boston, MA as a journalism instructor and leader in residence.
Simpson married James Marshall in 1965. They have one daughter, Dr. Mallika Joy Marshall and one son, Adam Marshall.
Sources:
http://www.diversityjournal.com/10122-news-lady-the-carole-simpson-story/
http://www.blackenterprise.com/event/carole-simpson-legacy-journalism/
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