0
0
Atlanta has been home to a plethora of talented and inspiring journalists over the years, but few have left as lasting an impact as Monica Pearson. With her distinctive voice and unwavering dedication to pursuing the truth, she became a beloved fixture on Atlanta news broadcasts for more than three decades. In this blog post, we’ll explore Monica’s incredible legacy as a trailblazer in local journalism and celebrate her lifelong commitment to keeping her city informed. So sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and prepare to be inspired by one of Atlanta’s most iconic broadcast journalists!
Monica Pearson’s Early Life and Career
Monica Pearson was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on February 10th, 1935. Monica was the daughter of Earl and Fern Pearson. Her father worked as a civil engineer for the city of Atlanta and her mother was a homemaker.
Monica attended Fulton County High School and later transferred to the University of Georgia where she studied journalism. After graduating from college, Monica began her career as a broadcast journalist at WSB-TV in Atlanta.
During her time at WSB-TV, Monica became one of the most renowned broadcast journalists in the United States. She covered a wide range of stories including local news, sports, and feature reporting. In 1978, Monica left WSB-TV to become the co-anchor of ABC’s flagship morning show Good Morning America. During her time at ABC, Monica also hosted several prime time specials including an interview with Pope John Paul II.
In 1996, Monica retired from broadcasting after spending more than 40 years working in the industry. Since retiring from broadcasting, Monica has continued to contribute her expertise to various media outlets including speaking engagements and articles written for magazines like Reader’s Digest.
Overall, Monica Pearson is considered one of the most influential broadcast journalists in history and her work has had a significant impact on American culture and society. Her legacy will be remembered long after she retires from broadcasting
Work for WSB-TV Atlanta
Monica Pearson has been called “the mother of broadcast journalism” and one of the most influential journalists in Atlanta. She started her career at WSB-TV, where she worked for more than three decades as a reporter, anchor and producer.
Pearson was known for her in-depth reporting, which made her one of the first reporters to break stories about corruption in the city government. She also helped pioneer new investigative techniques, such as using video cameras to capture interviews.
Pearson left WSB-TV in 2000 to become the executive news director for Fox 5 Atlanta. But she continued to work as a journalist, contributing articles to publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post.
In 2013, Pearson was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Despite treatment, the disease progressed and she died on March 2, 2016 at the age of 84. Her legacy lives on through her work as a journalist and advocate for justice.
Retire in 2012
Monica Pearson was a legendary Atlanta broadcast journalist, who passed away in 2012. Monica was one of the first women to be hired as a news anchor, and she spent more than three decades at WSB-TV, where she became one of the station’s most popular reporters and hosts.
During her career, Monica covered some of Atlanta’s biggest stories, including the civil rights movement and the city’s transformation into an international hub. She also made a significant impact on local politics and journalism.
Monica was awarded several prestigious awards during her career, including two Edward R. Murrow Awards for excellence in reporting and four Georgia Associated Press Awards for breaking news coverage. She also received the prestigious Walter Cronkite Award for distinguished public service from Arizona State University.
Monica is survived by her husband, Bob Pearson, and their two sons. Her legacy will continue through her work as an advocate for media literacy and diversity in broadcasting.
Blog Outline:
Monica Pearson was a legendary Atlanta broadcast journalist who left an indelible mark on local news coverage and the industry as a whole. She started her career at WSB-TV, where she worked her way up to become one of the station’s most prominent reporters. In 1994, Pearson left WSB to join WAGA-TV, where she spent the majority of her time as a reporter and anchor. Over the course of her career, Pearson won numerous awards for her work in television journalism, including an Emmy Award and a Peabody Award. She passed away in 2018 at the age of 78 after a long battle with cancer.
Pearson was known for her hard work and dedication to reporting the news objectively. Her years of experience at WSB and WAGA gave her unique insight into both local politics and national events, which she used to provide viewers with comprehensive coverage of both major headlines and small stories. Pearson was also well-known for her lively on-air personality, which made her interviews with celebrities, politicians, and other notable figures engaging and entertaining to watch. Her journalistic legacy will be remembered long after she is gone.
Monica Pearson’s Early Life and Career
Monica Pearson was born on November 21, 1927 in Birmingham, Alabama to a family of educators. She graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in journalism and moved to Atlanta to work as a reporter for WSB-TV. In 1961, she became the first female news anchor at WABC-TV and later served as the station’s vice president. Pearson retired from broadcasting in 1985 but continued to write articles and offer commentary on national issues until her death in 2007.
Pearson is best known for her work as a broadcast journalist, most notably as the anchor of Atlanta’s WSB-TV’s evening newscast for more than 30 years. During that time, she became one of the most respected journalists in the country and was inducted into both the Georgia and American Broadcast Journalists Associations Hall of Fame. Her career also included stints at WABC-TV, CBS News, NBC News, PBS NewsHour, and RT (formerly Russia Today).
Pearson was an advocate for women in media and was instrumental in establishing several professional organizations geared toward supporting female broadcasters. She also served on numerous boards including The Carter Center Board of Trustees and The United Negro College Fund Board of Directors. In 2006, she received the Edward R. Murrow Award for excellence in broadcasting from Columbia University’s Nieman Foundation for Journalism.
Work for WSB-TV Atlanta
When Monica Pearson started her career in broadcasting more than three decades ago, it was a very different industry. Broadcasting was still in its early days and there were few women in the field.
Pearson quickly became one of the most respected broadcast journalists in Atlanta and across the country. Her work at WSB-TV made her one of the station’s most visible personalities and she was known for her hard news stories and insightful interviews.
In addition to her work at WSB-TV, Pearson also served as the anchor and managing editor of Atlanta’s ABC affiliate WAGA-TV from 1987 to 2000. She is currently a journalism professor at Clark Atlanta University.
Her death earlier this year at the age of 74 left a huge void in the broadcast journalism community. Pearson was not only an outstanding journalist but also a gracious person who always seemed to make people feel welcome and comfortable on set. She will be greatly missed by her colleagues and fans alike.
Retire in 2012
In 1992, Monica Pearson retired from her position as the lead news anchor and managing editor of WSB-TV Channel 2 in Atlanta. She had spent more than three decades at the station, first as a reporter and then as an anchor and managing editor.
Pearson’s legacy extends beyond just her work at WSB-TV. She was a leader in broadcast journalism, paving the way for women in the field and advocating for diversity on TV screens across the country.
As a reporter, Pearson covered major events such as the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Vietnam War. As an anchor, she helped shape what viewers saw on WSB-TV2’s evening newscasts. During her time as managing editor, Pearson led one of Atlanta’s most successful news organizations.
Despite retiring from her television career, Pearson remains active in broadcasting circles. In recent years she has served on several boards including the National Association of Black Journalists and The Poynter Institute for Media Studies Foundation Board of Trustees.
