WTKR honors its history-making female journalists on 75th anniversary скачать в хорошем качестве

WTKR honors its history-making female journalists on 75th anniversary

In celebration of its 75th anniversary, WTKR News 3 anchor Jessica Larche honored the pioneering women who helped shape the station’s history by breaking barriers in local television news. Central to Larche's tribute was Becky Livas, who became the first Black female television news reporter in the Hampton Roads market in 1972 when she was hired by WTAR-TV (which later became WTKR). Livas, described as a “living legend,” reflected on her career and the responsibility she felt as a trailblazer, noting that Black journalists often had to be “better than other people just to be [on television].” Her reporting work from 1972 to 1980 laid the groundwork for future generations of women in broadcasting. Livas’ success built momentum for other barrier-breaking women at the station, including Barbara Ciara, a longtime anchor and former NABJ president, and Barbara Hamm Lee, who became the first Black female news director in Hampton Roads television. Larche gathered the group for the anniversary celebration, where they shared both the triumphs and challenges they faced to advance in the industry. Throughout the piece, the honorees emphasized that their struggles helped open doors for others, demonstrating how courage, talent, and resilience not only shaped WTKR’s legacy but also reflected broader progress in local media.