BRENDA BLACKMON
Emmy Award Winning News Anchor
Edward R. Murrow Award Winner
Founder, The Kelly Fund for Lupus
Author
Speaker's Fee Range
$10,000 and up + Travel & Accommodations
Brenda Blackmon is an Emmy Award winning New York television news icon and a published author. Most recently, she anchored PIX11 News at 6:30 p.m and My9 News at 10:00 p.m. She’s still one of the most recognized lead anchors in New York, where for 23 years she covered presidential elections, global exclusives, and stories that shaped the country, such as 9/11. In addition to multiple Emmy wins, she has received two Edward R. Murrow Awards for Broadcast Excellence and more than a dozen Associated Press Awards.
Brenda landed her first television job as an anchor at WRBL in her hometown of Columbus, Georgia. In this role, she made history as the station’s first African American news anchor. The city honored her as “One of the Century’s Most Influential.”
She has won numerous awards for decades of experience in journalism and received community citations, and notable honors. The Network Journal recognized her as one of the “25 Most Influential Black Women in Business.” She was also honored with the Shirley Chisholm Award for public service and was named “Woman of the Year” by the Queens Courier Newspaper.
Brenda is active in the community with organizations like SHARE-support for women with breast and ovarian cancer. She is the founder of The Kelly Fund for Lupus, Inc., a 501(c)(3) dedicated to supporting those affected by Lupus, educating the public about the autoimmune disease, and helping to find a cure for her daughter, Kelly and others. As a part of her ongoing efforts to raise awareness and funding for Lupus, Brenda has published 2 books whose proceeds are donated directly to The Kelly Fund for Lupus.
Brenda graduated Magna Cum Laude from Fairleigh Dickinson in New Jersey where she later taught as an adjunct professor and now serves on the Board of Trustees. She also holds a Master’s Degree (MPA) in Public Administration and has received two honorary doctorates.
She lives in Bergen County, New Jersey.
Brenda landed her first television job as an anchor at WRBL in her hometown of Columbus, Georgia. In this role, she made history as the station’s first African American news anchor. The city honored her as “One of the Century’s Most Influential.”
She has won numerous awards for decades of experience in journalism and received community citations, and notable honors. The Network Journal recognized her as one of the “25 Most Influential Black Women in Business.” She was also honored with the Shirley Chisholm Award for public service and was named “Woman of the Year” by the Queens Courier Newspaper.
Brenda is active in the community with organizations like SHARE-support for women with breast and ovarian cancer. She is the founder of The Kelly Fund for Lupus, Inc., a 501(c)(3) dedicated to supporting those affected by Lupus, educating the public about the autoimmune disease, and helping to find a cure for her daughter, Kelly and others. As a part of her ongoing efforts to raise awareness and funding for Lupus, Brenda has published 2 books whose proceeds are donated directly to The Kelly Fund for Lupus.
Brenda graduated Magna Cum Laude from Fairleigh Dickinson in New Jersey where she later taught as an adjunct professor and now serves on the Board of Trustees. She also holds a Master’s Degree (MPA) in Public Administration and has received two honorary doctorates.
She lives in Bergen County, New Jersey.