0
0
One of the few journalists who I liked. She and Wolf Blitzer. Lately, it appears journalism has taken a turn from neutrality to crusader-like advocacy. Many people feel the mainstream networks use their platforms to feed us the wrong information. And when I say wrong, I’m not talking about amateur journalism. But at the end of the day, she is among my favorite journalists. Here is a list of my top 5 journalists.
1. Gwen Ifill – In 1999, this legendary reporter became the first woman of African Descent to host a nationally televised U.S. public affairs program. That’s according to Washington Week in Review. She is the most successful female African American news correspondent of all time. I’m not just saying this because she’s a black woman. Or because biography.com cite her as “working for the Washington Post, The New York Times, NBC and PBS. Gwen Ifill was the first African-American woman to moderate a vice presidential debate. In 2013, Ifill and Judy Woodruff became co-anchors and co-managing editors of PBS NewsHour, becoming the first women to anchor a network news program.”
2. Stephen A. Smith – He may not always be politically correct. He may even upset you with his viewpoints on certain debatable matters. But, if you’re contemplating some blood pressure raising, smack jaw reporting, there is no better person than my man, Stephen A. Smith. This sports television personality hosts radio shows as well. When you need a crash course on what’s happening in the league, this trash-talking ESPN commentator shall come through you deep in the end zone within minutes.
3. Nima Elbagir – I greatly respect this journalist because of her share grit in reporting. Of course, I would love to see her behind a desk, running her show like Christiana Amanpour. However, I can’t say I’m not impressed with her fieldwork. Nima Elbagir goes deep into the trenches. She goes where the bullets are flying, the blood is still fresh, the victims are languishing, and the tyrants are still in action. No paycheck can drive someone to be as brave as this ingenious journalist. I believe her determination comes from a place of respect for humanity. And because of that, she ranks very high on my list of top journalists.
4. Jefferson Sackey – I am humbled to say I know this award-winning journalist. One of the graces I experienced earlier in life was when my father was a lecturer in Liberia; I had two very close friends, Yaw Twumansi and David Adu Saponge. They are Ghanaians. Growing up with those guys made it obvious to jell the media consultant, Jefferson Sackey. He is also a brilliant filmmaker and a very skilled PR Strategist. I know this from working with him. Sackey is another go-getter who is fearless in his meticulous approach to Journalism. Having been the Media Relations Officer to the current President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, and serving as Ghana’s Foreign Minister, he was also a news presenter for the Accra-based radio station Joy FM.
5. Ben Tierney – Sometimes, underdogs go into the deep dark, scary places to tell a story that the big wigs have ignored. Ben Tierney was that way. A good journalist takes a somewhat neutral position but still stands for human rights, equality, common sense, and justice. Before Tierney became one of Canada’s most distinguished reporters, he “worked his way up from a copyboy at the Calgary Herald.”*
