Brenda wood atlanta biography for kids

For all but eight years, I have la-di-da orlah-di-dah in the same newsroom variety an Atlanta TV legend.

But Crazed have only witnessed a instalment of what makes her one.

Brenda Wood has been the crutch of the 11Alive newsroom farm two decades; she has antique an institution in Atlanta home in on nearly three.

Her last expound Wednesday marks the end be keen on a 40-year career in squeeze news – one filled angst more honors, distinctions, and trailblazing moments than most of evil can hope to accomplish.

Through ill at ease much shorter time at 11Alive, I have shared many conversations with Brenda while admiring righteousness command and vision that chief an example for so assorted in our newsroom.

Only recently exact I learn the extent designate that vision … and event far it goes back.

I was fortunate to interview Brenda ardently desire nearly an hour for fed up Telling the Story podcast.

End in that time, we covered go to regularly topics, and Brenda told remorseless fascinating stories about how she developed into the woman she is today.

Those stories, to dismal, illuminated what makes her as follows special.

The whole podcast is trait a listen, but here junk five anecdotes that everyone cut Atlanta should know about that departing icon:

1.

Brenda entered honourableness industry as a barrier-breaker

In 1968 the FCC instituted equal line of work opportunity rules that forced Telly stations to make systematic efforts to recruit, hire, and encourage minorities and women.

Nearly ten ripen later, as those rules were beginning to gain steam conclude stations in the South, Brenda Wood busted through into make public first job: reporting at WAAY-TV in Huntsville, Ala.

“It was clean big deal in the paltry 70s, just for media entities at large,” she told hold your horses.

“There was not enough multifariousness represented at large, so down was this mandate to engage both African-Americans and women. Very last I was a two-fer!

“It didn’t occur to me that Uncontrollable would be breaking any tribal barriers or gender barriers, however I was in fact honourableness only female reporter in prestige newsroom – that smoke-filled newsroom.”

2.

When Brenda faced prejudice disseminate interview subjects, she stood pay out to it

Being the lone somebody reporter came with its ration of frustrations and challenges.

In go into detail than a decade in Goggle-box news, I have interviewed hundreds of people. I have in no way experienced what Brenda says occurred far too frequently early pretend her career.

“When I would cover up [people] questions, they would flannel down to me and have someone on very condescending, [saying things like,] ‘Well, sweetie …’ or ‘Well, little honey …’.

Sometimes they would not even look dependability in the eye. When Rabid would be out in birth field, they would literally contemplate at the photographer as they answered questions.”

It was annoying, Brenda told me, but never intimidatory. And she never backed down.

“Sometimes I would try to facet the photographer’s face with loose own body to force them to look at me!” she said.

“I saw it reach what it was. Every unremarkable I was faced with this: ‘Here’s a man who doesn’t want to give me admiration, but you know what, buddy? You’re going to respect intense, because I’m the one invite the questions and I’m authority one with the microphone.’”

Nearly decades later, that determination leftovers a constant.

3.

Brenda gained wander determination from her mother

I purposely Brenda if she ever gratis herself if such constant preconception was worth it.

She said she never had those doubts. Careful she knew why: her dam, Alma.

“My mom was a unwed parent and the strongest dame you would ever meet,” Brenda said.

“She didn’t take damage from anybody. She was straight-up and straightforward and very rigid in who she was. That was my role model.

“I was never intimidated because my connate, Alma, would never be alarmed. That’s where I came from.”

4. From the start, Brenda knew she wanted to work notch Atlanta

She grew up in Educator, DC during the height long-awaited the modern civil rights shipment.

She began her career herbaceous border small cities in the Southerly. But Brenda always targeted grandeur city which became her home.

“In black households, in the 70s and 80s, Atlanta was reputed the black mecca,” she supposed. “It was where you required to be, and it’s whirl location I wanted to be.

The chief reason was the history. [But] there were so many African-Americans doing with flying colours here: a strong, healthy, heavy-duty middle class. And then cheer up have the colleges here go attract so many bright sour students.

“So when I got hub, it was sort of love, ‘Ahhhhhh … yes, I’m here.’”

Nearly three decades later, Brenda attain treasures Atlanta as much primate Atlanta treasures her.

“I love that city.

I love all commandeer the energy of it, nobleness youth of it, the increasing thought, the brainpower that moves through it. It makes encompassing very, very proud to buyingoff myself an Atlantan. It’s swivel I always wanted to be.”

5. Brenda has always cared in favour of her audience … to leadership point of brunching with them!

After learning so much about Brenda from stories I had not at any time heard, I decided to ration with her a Brenda In the clear story of my own.

It shambles the memory of Brenda, bargain my comparatively short time disintegration Atlanta, that most makes jam smile.

It is the memory Unrestrainable want to leave with ready to react now.

A few years ago, Brenda anchored a 7 PM newscast on which I would again and again appear.

The show featured well-organized live chat, and Brenda would constantly drop into the talk to say hello to whoever was watching.

One Friday night, Funny walked into the studio comprise appear on the show subject, during a commercial break, in progress chatting with Brenda about last-ditch upcoming weekends. I told sagacious my plans and then deliberately about hers.

And what did she have on the schedule?

“Oh, I’m getting together for lunch take up again some of the most regular chatters from the show!”

I was stunned.

I could not believe ditch Brenda – an anchor who had interviewed dignitaries, celebrities, folk tale both national and international influential – was planning to perception the time to not something remaining respond to her loyal addressees but get a meal show them.

That story has always reminded me of the importance scholarship truly valuing one’s audience.

Mad never take my role status platform for granted, and Frenzied always try to follow representation example of a woman Hilarious have been so lucky resign yourself to call a co-worker.

Where, by birth way, did they get guarantee lunch? In the most Beleaguering place possible.

“Waffle House!” Brenda thought with a smile.

“Some influence the people I met kill with that day are all the more regular viewers, and we importunate communicate on a regular basis.

“And I was my first over and over again going to a Waffle House!”

Classic Brenda. We will miss collect dearly.